Randomized placebo trial of myeloprotection with goralatide in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts or esophagus, treated with a carboplatin-fluorouracil combination

Eighty-four patients with locally advanced, non metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck or esophagus, were included in a multicentric double-blind randomized trial, comparing goralatide (12.5 or 62.5 micrograms/kg/day, d1-d4) to placebo, associated with carboplatin (400 mg/m2, d1) and 5-fluorouracile (1 g/m2/d continuous IV over 96 hours). Haematological toxicity was analysed on 221 cycles of chemotherapy. All but one patient were evaluable because of early death without haematological toxicity. No significant difference was observed for mean nadir of leukocytes, granulocytes, platelets counts and hemoglobin level. Duration of haematological toxicity was no significantly different for the two groups of patients. Anemia and lymphopenia were more frequent in the goralatide treated patients. Clinical and biological tolerability of goralatide was excellent.     

Recurrence and death in non-small cell lung carcinomas: a prognostic model using pathological parameters, microvessel count, and gene protein products

Optimized stent expansion by high-pressure inflations of oversized balloons has initially been derived from experience obtained with the Palmaz-Schatz stent, whereas there is little experience with this strategy in the Wallstent. By using this approach with quantitative coronary angiographic guidance, 20 Wallstents and 20 Palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted in 34 patients and consecutively examined by conventional two-dimensional (2D) intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) and three-dimensional (3D) ICUS on the basis of the application of a pattern recognition algorithm. Ultrasound criteria of adequate stent expansion were defined as a complete apposition of the stent to the vessel wall, a stent symmetry index (SSI = minimum/maximum lumen diameter) > or = O.7, and a stent-reference lumen area ratio (SRR = Minimum intrastent lumen area/Average of proximal and distal reference lumen area) > or = O.8. In all cases a smooth angiographic lumen and a negative diameter stenosis, on the basis of a distal reference, was achieved. For the Wallstents ICUS showed a higher SSI (2D, 0.95 +/- 0.04 vs 0.85 +/- 0.09; p < 0.001; 3D, 0.90 +/- 0.09 vs 0.82 +/- 0.11, p < 0.05) and a lower SRR (2D, 0.66 +/- 0.12 vs 0.81 +/- 0.13, p < 0.005; 3D, 0.63 +/- 0.14 vs 0.74 +/- 0.15, p < 0.05) than for the Palmaz-Schatz stents. Ninety percent of failure in meeting these criteria resulted from a low SRR. The incidence of incomplete stent apposition (one in both stents) or SSI <0.7 was low and generally associated with an SRR <0.8. The Wallstents met the ICUS criteria less often (2D, 2(1O%) vs 10(50%), p < 0.01; 3D, 3(15%) vs 9(45%), p < 0.05), were significantly longer (35.1 +/- 7.7 mm and 14.3 +/- 3.3 mm, p < 0.0001), and generally demonstrated a larger vessel tapering, measured as proximal minus distal ICUS reference lumen area (1.33 +/- 2.91 mm2 vs 0.44 +/- 1.97 mm(2), not significant). Wallstents meeting the ICUS criteria, however, showed less vessel tapering (0.18 +/- 1.64 mm(2)). Thus optimized stent expansion was followed by excellent angiographic results for both Palmaz-Schatz and Wallstent. Although angiographic results and visual assessment of the ICUS examination suggested a good outcome, few Wallstents met the ICUS criteria in contrast to the Palmaz-Schatz stents. The low value of the SRR in the Wallstents is likely to be caused by vessel tapering, suggesting that this criterion may be unsuitable in assessing the adequacy of the expansion of relatively long stents such as the Wallstent.     

Operations standards for global ATM networks: network element view

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has completed work on a series of standards on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) equipment functional operations and network element management. The objective of these standards is to enable flexible design and interoperability of network elements for use in a global ATM network, independent of any specific implementation. This article discusses these standards with respect to their development and application in planning ATM networks. Specifically, it addresses the following: the modeling approach taken in the development of the ITU standards, key operational features specified in the ATM network element functional model, and the capabilities of the ATM network element management interface. Examples of ATM equipment are provided to illustrate how the functional models specified in the ITU standards may be used by network planners and equipment manufacturers to specify and develop ATM equipment tailored to specific needs, while ensuring network interoperability. The article concludes with some points on the future enhancement of these and related ATM equipment operations standards     

Has interleukin 2 modified the outcome of metastatic kidney cancer?

Mesenteric Cystic Lymphangiomas is a rare benign tumor. The first case was described after an autopsy in 1507 by Benivieni, an anatomist from Florence. In 1880 by Tillaux. Since then many cases have been described. None of these cases is associated with a non specific necrosis due to Bauhins' valvula compression; in the following lines we are going to describe this exceptional case.     

The minimum dosage of praziquantel in the treatment of Taenia saginata, 1986-1993

Patients who have a unicornuate uterus with a noncommunicating rudimentary horn that contains an endometrial cavity are at risk for endometriosis and obstetric complications. As in this case, resection of the rudimentary horn can be performed laparoscopically without increased risk to the patient and with some potential benefit.     

The differential involvement of adrenoceptors in challenges of different intensities

We investigated a family with optic atrophy which occurred in childhood or early adulthood plus late-onset cerebellar ataxia. The magnetic resonance imaging in the proband revealed cerebellar atrophy. The proband and her brother were homoplasmic for the most common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 11778 mutation associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). This study showed further evidence that central nervous system lesions can occur in cases of LHON mtDNA mutation.     

European medical schools and tobacco

Following a survey in 19 European countries of the habits, attitudes and knowledge of medical students regarding tobacco, World Health Organisation European Office and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease jointly circulated to the Deans of all European medical schools a summary of the results, including figures for mortality for smoking-related diseases in their countries and a brief questionnaire concerning faculty action on the tobacco problem. The response rate was just over 50%, higher in Northern Europe (66%) than in Southern (35%) or Eastern (38%). Only 8% of faculties had a specific teaching module on tobacco. In most it was either systematically (35%) or unsystematically (55%) integrated in other teaching. Teaching hospitals, teaching areas and faculty meetings were said to be smokefree by over 90%; figures were lower for other areas. Seventy-seven per cent of Deans intended to discuss our approach with their teaching staff; 72% gave the name of a staff member with a particular tobacco interest.     

Liquid-gel partitioning using Lipidex in the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in cod liver oil

A technique was developed for transfer of fat and polychlorinated biphenyls from cod liver oil into the lipophilic gel Lipidex 5000. Subsequent elution of the gel separated about 60% of the fat from the sample. Following further purification on aluminium oxide and silica gel, toxic non-ortho- and mono-ortho-PCB congeners were isolated in two separate fractions on charcoal. Recoveries were studied by addition of twelve different PCB congeners to 0.2 g of fat. The non-ortho-PCBs were labelled with 13C. The recoveries of 5-50 ng of the unlabelled compounds were 80-100% and those of 50-100 pg of the labelled compounds were 76-106%.