Small proportions: what to report for confidence intervals?

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 2005; 14: 239–247.     

Phase II study of 10-ethyl-10-deaza-aminopterin (10-EdAM; CGP 30 694) for stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer

Summary Thirty-one patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with intravenous 10-EdAM on a weekly basis. The starting dose was 80 mg/m², with subsequent doses adjusted depending on evidence of toxicity. There were 20 men and 11 women with a median age of 58 years (range, 33–75). Response was evaluated in 30 patients, 5 with evaluable but not measurable tumors and 25 with measurable indicator lesions. There were no complete remissions; 3 patients achieved partial remission. Nine patients had a minor response, 6 showed no change, and 12 had progressive disease. Median survival for all 31 patients was 43 weeks (range, 12–65+). During the first 3-week period, the 10-EdAM dose was reduced or withheld in 19 patients (because of stomatitis in 12, SGPT elevation in 3, skin rash in 2, and granulocytopenia in 2), escalated in 11 patients, and unchanged in 1 patient. A mean of 34–88 mg/m²of 10-EdAM (median, 50) was given per week during the first 5-week period. Myelotoxicity was infrequent and there was no significant nephrotoxicity. Considering the modest side effects of this treatment and the conservative dose-modification schedule which mandated substantial dose reductions, we conclude that 10-EdAM is a promising antitumor agent for NSCLC.     

Characterization of cytomegalovirus isolates from patients with AIDS by DNA restriction analysis

Thirty-seven isolates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were obtained from a group of 20 promiscuous homosexual men, either suffering from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the time of CMV isolation, or who developed AIDS subsequently. The isolates of CMV were characterized by the method of DNA restriction analysis. All epidemiologically unrelated strains of CMV exhibited different fragment migration patterns and no one strain appeared to be associated with AIDS or any particular disease pattern in these patients. Sequential isolates of CMV were obtained from nine patients in the study group either from different sites at the same time or from the same site on different dates. In the case of seven of the men, viruses with minor differences in restriction profile were obtained, possibly representing sub-populations of an endogenous strain of CMV. In two of the patients, reinfection with different strains was apparent. We conclude that reinfections with CMV in AIDS patients can occur, but the isolation of strains exhibiting major differences in genome structure seen by restriction enzyme analysis was uncommon.     

同种异体黑素细胞移植治疗白癜风

0　引言　白癜风患者免疫紊乱 ,黑素细胞 (melanocyte,MC)异体移植有可能不被排斥 ,治疗如成功将有很大临床前景 [1 ] .探索同种异体黑素细胞移植后的效果很有意义 .1　病例报告　女 ,2 7岁 ,确诊白癜风 (稳定期 ) ,患者皮肤自幼出现色素脱失斑 ,逐渐增多扩大 . 1996年外用“敏白灵”,前2 mo有效 . 1999- 0 7外用补骨酯酊 ,日服 5 g· L- 1 硫酸铜 10m L和中药 1剂 ,转移因子 4m L ,sc,1· 2 d- 1 .皮损缩小 ,4mo后稳定 .用健康男青年环切的包皮培养 MC,第 4代大约80 %融合时 ,用 2 .5 g· L- 1 胰酶消化 5 min,加入含 2 0 0 g·L- 1小…     

ECT as a form of restraint

ECT is controversial as a form of therapy, with lay and psychiatric objectors. Restraint is also controversial, though often necessary. The Ontario Mental Health Act of 1978 allows the psychiatrist to restrain patients without consent if there is risk of physical danger. The act mentions "chemical and mechanical" means. ECT is not dealt with as a form of restraint. A case is described of a manic male who during 2 episodes of psychosis presented a serious threat of assault to staff. The next of kin was reluctant to sign consent for "treatment" because of fear of the patient's later resentment. An application to the Review Board for permission to treat would have taken a week. On both occasions attempts to control the patient with chemotherapy were totally unsuccessful despite the use of rapid neuroleptization, paraldehyde, barbiturates and mechanical restraints. In both admissions 4 ECT given over 2 days produced rapid behavioural control. ECT was then discontinued because the patient declined to give consent for ECT as treatment and he no longer presented a threat. Medical and legal consultation were necessary and the consensus was that ECT as restraint may be justified on the basis of clinical judgment. In such cases ECT is safer, more reliable and more humane than chemotherapy or mechanical restraints. The authors discuss the current public and professional antipathy towards ECT. There is risk of death for the patient in circumstances where legal barriers prevent the appropriate use of electro-shock and a U.S. case is mentioned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)