EFFECT OF TOPICAL PAROMOMYCIN ON CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY DURING CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical paromomycin treatment on the development of immunity during cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods. Three parameters of immunity were measured in the course of the disease: leishmanicidal effector activity, lymphocyte proliferation (cell-mediated immunity), and antibody levels (humoral immunity). Peripheral blood specimens of 55 treated and 36 untreated patients were tested. Results. The main results of this study showed that there was a significant delay in the development of leishmanicidal effector activity and to a lesser extent also a delay in the development of antigen-specific proliferative response in the treated compared with the untreated group. No difference was observed between the groups regarding the values achieved in the various tests. Conclusions. These results suggest that topical paromomycin treatment delays the development of cell-mediated immunity but does not affect the levels of immunity that are eventually achieved.     

Psychological characteristics and the effectiveness of patient-controlled analgesia

We have evaluated the level of state and trait anxiety, neuroticism,extroversion and coping style as predictors of the effectivenessof patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in 110 patients undergoingtotal abdominal hysterectomy. After operation patients wereallocated to receive pain control with either PCA or im injections(IMI). Pain was assessed using the short form McGill pain questionnaireat 6, 18 and 24 h after operation, and by recording the amountof analgesic consumed in the first 24 h after surgery. Bothstate anxiety and coping style were significant predictors ofpostoperative pain, irrespective of the method of analgesiaused. Patients using PCA experienced significantly better paincontrol than those receiving IMI. However, it was those withhigh levels of state anxiety who experienced the greatest reductionin pain with PCA. In addition to achieving better pain control,patients who received PCA used significantly less analgesiaand were discharged earlier than patients who received IMI.(Br. J. Anaesth. 1995; 74:271–276)     

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF BENZENE ON A STRAIN OF MYELOID CHLOROLEUKEMIA IN MICE AND ON CHANGES PRODUCED IN THE LEUKEMIC CELLS BY THE CHEMICAL

Oral administration of 5 mg. of benzene six times weekly to 46 mice that hadbeen injected 24 hours before with the cells of the myeloid chloroleukemia 1394,considerably prolonged the survival of the animals, and in 16 of these mice itseemed to prevent the development of the disease. The spleens of the animals sotreated increased in size at a much slower rate than those of the untreated animals,and the leukemic infiltration of the organs was delayed.

Five mg. of benzene given in a similar manner to mice with advanced chloroleukemia likewise prolonged the survival time of the mice and also slowed therate of increase of the size of the spleens; 25 mg. given five times in a 6 day periodto mice with this leukemia brought about a marked reduction in the size of thespleens. Further treatments slowed the rate of enlargement of the spleens andsurvival was prolonged.

In 8 mice bearing subcutaneous tumors composed of the cells of the chloroleukemia the oral administration of 25 mg. of benzene five times in a 6 day periodfollowed by 5 mg. given six times weekly brought about the disappearance of thelocal tumors as determined by palpation, but in 6 mice the tumors recurred andkilled the animals. Microscopic examination of tumors of mice treated with benzene showed advanced degenerative changes in leukemic cells.

Note: The authors with to thank Miss Pauline Pope, Miss Mary Boon, and Miss Lucille Wolf for theirtechnical assistance.