VASCULAR EMBOLOTHERAPY-HOW MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Emergency and elective embolotherapy of various systemic arteries in 64 patients was carried out at a tertiary centre of Armed Forces. Specific indications were haemoptysis (n=43), preoperative (n=18), haematuria (n=1), epistaxis (n=1) and chemoembolization (n=1). The procedures were performed with gelfoam pellets (n=46), gelfoam pellets and absolute alcohol (n=1), polyvinyl alcohol particles (PVA) (n=14), steel coils (n=2) and Adriamycin-in-oil emulsion (n=1). Embolotherapy resulted in complete haemostasis in 37 (82.2%) out of 45 cases of haemorrhage. In eight cases (17.8%), it resulted in significant improvement. Complete haemostasis was achieved in both cases of haematuria and epistaxis. Pre-operative embolotherapy resulted in considerable reduction of peroperative blood loss in all the cases. Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular carcinoma resulted in partial regression of the tumour. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety and reliability of vascular embolotherapy for control of life threatening haemorrhage and preoperative reduction of lesions.KEY WORDS: Embolization, Embolotherapy, Haemorrhage     

A STUDY OF NALOXONE AND DOXAPRAM AS AGENTS FOR THE REVERSAL OF NEUROLEPTANALGESIC RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION IN THE CONSCIOUS RABBIT

The effectiveness of naloxone and doxapram in reversing therespiratory depressant actions of fentanyl and droperidol inthe rabbit has been examined. Both drugs did not reverse fullythe depression of respiratory frequency produced by the neuroleptanalgesicagents. Doxapram also failed to reverse fully the depressionof minute volume produced by fentanyl and droperidol, althoughnaloxone was adequate in this respect. However, analysis ofarterialized venous blood showed that both naloxone and doxapramnot only prevented the increase in PCO₂ caused by fentanyl anddroperidol, but caused also a significant decrease. A reductionin PCO₂ was seen also when either naloxone or doxapram was givento untreated rabbits. With doxapram this appeared to be a resultof pure respiratory stimulation. Naloxone also produced a reductionin standard bicarbonate.     

Comparison of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of propiverine and oxybutynin for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome

AIM: To compare the effects of propiverine and oxybutynin on ambulatory urodynamic monitoring (AUM) parameters, safety, and tolerability in patients with overactive bladder. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, crossover study. Patients (n = 77) received two of the following treatments during two 2-week periods: propiverine 20 mg once daily, propiverine 15 mg three times daily, oxybutynin 5 mg three times daily, and placebo. AUM parameters, salivary flow, visual near point, and heart rate were assessed. RESULTS: A consistent order in the efficacy between active treatment groups was observed for the reduction in mean involuntary detrusor contractions (IDCs; oxybutynin 15 mg 相似文献   

Host response and tumour biological behaviour in the two histological types of gastric carcinoma

It appears that there is validity in categorizing gastric carcinoma into two histologic types, intestinal and diffuse. The local host tissue response in 92.5% of cases of the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma was of an exudative nature. Diffuse gastric carcinoma in 70% of cases incited a dense productive fibrosis. Pools of mucin and large number of 'signet-ring' cells were mostly encountered in the intestinal type of carcinoma. Applying Dukes' parameters the tumour was found to be more than three times more invasive in cases of diffuse carcinoma. The prognostic bearing of the two histologic types, different host tissue response, behaviour of the tumour in terms of mucous production and local extension are discussed and it is suggested that diffuse gastric carcinoma carries a worse prognosis than the intestinal type. Study of a larger series of cases and longer follow-up with controlled treatment is essential to confirm this assessment.     

Induction of hypoglycaemia in Japanese encephalitis virus infection: the role of T lymphocytes

We report here development of hypoglycaemia in the convalescent phase of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection in mice by the induction of antigen-specific Ly1⁻2⁺ T cells in the spleen which mediate hypoglycaemia through the generation of soluble T cell hypoglycaemic factor (TCHF). The TCHF acted in a dose-dependent manner and was found to be trypsin-sensitive and thermolabile. It was purified on Superose-12 high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) gel filtration column and purified protein migrated as a ~25-kD band on SDS–PAGE. The JEV-induced hypoglycaemia coincided with an increased circulating glucagon level, without any alterations in blood insulin and growth hormone concentrations. These effects were mimicked by TCHF. These results indicate that JEV-primed T lymphocytes mediate hypoglycaemia through the production of a soluble hypoglycaemic factor.     

THE COST OF TREATING GENITAL WARTS

Background. Genital warts is a common sexually transmitted disease treated by a variety of medical specialists. Standard therapies offer symptomatic relief but cannot ensure lasting remission. Using the clinical literature, claims databases, and a panel of experienced practitioners, the relative efficacy, cost, and cost effectiveness of five common treatments for genital warts were assessed in this study. Methods. We reviewed the clinical literature for the following genital wart therapies: podofilox, podophyllin, trichloroacetic acid, cryotherapy, and laser therapy, focusing on their relative efficacy. Physicians experienced in treating genital warts defined standard treatment protocols for men and women patients with moderate wart burdens. Using national claims data and protocols developed by physicians, we derived three economic models based on provider charges, third-party payments, and a resource-based relative value scale, respectively. Results. The literature review demonstrated highly variable success and recurrence rates among treatment methods and failed to show that one treatment provides consistently superior efficacy. In the economic models, treating women generally proved more costly than treating men per episode of care. This was due to the need for more extensive follow-up visits in the treatment of women. Total costs were highest for cryotherapy and lowest for a patient-applied therapy that reduced the need for follow-up visits. Conclusions. Clinicians should consider both clinical and cost issues when choosing the appropriate treatment for patients with genital warts.