Phase I pilot study of the effects of trovafloxacin (CP-99,219) on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in healthy men

INTRODUCTION: We report on a cost-effective easy-access software developed for the functional integration of the clinical records and history of oncologic patients with the management of the Day Hospital of the Radiotherapy Department of the University Hospital A. Gemelli, in Rome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The software was designed to archive the clinical records and history of oncologic patients and the relative chemotherapy, to manage the examination scheduling, to draw up nursing files with the planned therapy and to make statistical analyses of the department activity. Five forms are available: the patient form, recording patient data; the admission form, recording the type of therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, tests, medical examinations, etc.), the relative cost and chemotherapy protocol, detailing for instance the type of drug; the nursing file, detailing chemotherapy schedule and the dilution of each drug; the menu, to select and retrieve any record. The minimum configuration requires a 386 Intel CPU, 4 Mb RAM and 4 Mb free on the hard disk. The software is the File Maker Pro 2.1 for Windows which can interact with Apple Macintosh computers. RESULTS: Since October, 1995, we have saved the clinical records of 272 oncologic outpatients (2415 entries in all), with a mean of 201/month. This computer system permitted us to save and retrieve data for both clinical and didactic purposes and to plan our activity. CONCLUSIONS: One year after it was implemented and used in clinical practice, the system is a cost-effective and user-friendly tool for the management of the Radiochemotherapy Day Hospital of our Radiotherapy Department.     

High performance fully-depleted tri-gate CMOS transistors

Fully-depleted (FD) tri-gate CMOS transistors with 60 nm physical gate lengths on SOI substrates have been fabricated. These devices consist of a top and two side gates on an insulating layer. The transistors show near-ideal subthreshold gradient and excellent DIBL behavior, and have drive current characteristics greater than any non-planar devices reported so far, for correctly-targeted threshold voltages. The tri-gate devices also demonstrate full depletion at silicon body dimensions approximately 1.5 - 2 times greater than either single gate SOI or non-planar double-gate SOI for similar gate lengths, indicating that these devices are easier to fabricate using the conventional fabrication tools. Comparing tri-gate transistors to conventional bulk CMOS device at the same technology node, these non-planar devices are found to be competitive with similarly-sized bulk CMOS transistors. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3-D) simulations of tri-gate transistors with transistor gate lengths down to 30 nm show that the 30 nm tri-gate device remains fully depleted, with near-ideal subthreshold swing and excellent short channel characteristics, suggesting that the tri-gate transistor could pose a viable alternative to bulk transistors in the near future.     

Quantification of mitral regurgitation by velocity-encoded cine nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVES: The feasibility of velocity-encoded cine nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging to measure regurgitant volume and regurgitant fraction in patients with mitral regurgitation was evaluated. BACKGROUND: Velocity-encoded cine NMR imaging has been reported to provide accurate measurement of the volume of blood flow in the ascending aorta and through the mitral annulus. Therefore, we hypothesized that the difference between mitral inflow and aortic systolic flow provides the regurgitant volume in the setting of mitral regurgitation. METHODS: Using velocity-encoded cine NMR imaging at a magnet field strength of 1.5 T and color Doppler echocardiography, 19 patients with isolated mitral regurgitation and 10 normal subjects were studied. Velocity-encoded cine NMR images were acquired in the short-axis plane of the ascending aorta and from the short-axis plane of the left ventricle at the level of the mitral annulus. Two independent observers measured the ascending aortic flow volume and left ventricular inflow volume to calculate the regurgitant volume as the difference between left ventricular inflow volume and aortic flow volume, and the regurgitant fraction was calculated. Using accepted criteria of color flow Doppler imaging and spectral analysis, the severity of mitral regurgitation was qualitatively graded as mild, moderate or severe and compared with regurgitant volume and regurgitant fraction, as determined by velocity-encoded cine NMR imaging. RESULTS: In normal subjects the regurgitant volume was -6 +/- 345 ml/min (mean +/- SD). In patients with mild, moderate and severe mitral regurgitation, the regurgitant volume was 156 +/- 203, 1,384 +/- 437 and 4,763 +/- 2,449 ml/min, respectively. In normal subjects the regurgitant fraction was 0.7 +/- 6.1%. In patients with mild, moderate and severe mitral regurgitation, the regurgitant fraction was 3.1 +/- 3.4%, 24.5 +/- 8.9% and 48.6 +/- 7.6%, respectively. The regurgitant fraction correlated well with the echocardiographic severity of mitral regurgitation (r = 0.87). Interobserver reproducibilities for regurgitant volume and regurgitant fraction were excellent (r = 0.99, SEE = 238 ml; r = 0.98, SEE = 4.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that velocity-encoded NMR imaging can be used to estimate regurgitant volume and regurgitant fraction in patients with mitral regurgitation and can discriminate patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation from normal subjects and patients with mild regurgitation. It may be useful for monitoring the effect of therapy intended to reduce the severity of mitral regurgitation.     

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma with unusual mitochondrial findings: a case report

In 1996 a randomized sample of 4,020 Swedish adolescents from three birth cohorts were sent a questionnaire consisting of 50 items concerning habitual sun-related behaviours and attitudes, knowledge about melanoma, risk perception and self-image. A total of 2,615 questionnaires were returned. Girls sunbathed and used sunbeds more than boys at all ages. Sunbathing and sunbed use increased with age. Boys who were most satisfied and girls least satisfied with themselves sunbathed most. Those who were least satisfied with themselves used sunbeds most frequently. Girls reported a higher perceived susceptibility to melanoma than did boys. The perception of susceptibility increased with age. Those who were least satisfied with themselves reported feeling most susceptible. The overall main reason for sunbathing was appearance, both for own sunbathing, and to an even higher degree, as a supposed reason for other adolescents' behaviour, and was reported most frequently by girls and the older age groups. The second most 'important' reason for sunbathing was 'feeling warm and comfortable'. Preventive programmes aimed at a change of sun related behaviours among Swedish adolescents have to be tailored to the climate and cultural conditions and must take into account that having a tan, and the warmth of the sun, are highly valued by most adolescents.     

Cobalamin analogues modulate the growth of leukemia cells in vitro

Analogues of cyanocobalamin (CN-Cbl), with functional groups attached to either the various propionamide groups of the corrin ring or to the ribose-nucleotide linker arm, have been evaluated in a cobalamin (Cbl)-dependent in vitro cell growth assay. In this bioassay, CN-Cbl supported, in a dose-dependent manner, the growth of the murine lymphoma BW5147 and the Cbl carrier protein, human apo-transcobalamin II, reduced the required concentration of Cbl by 100-1000-fold. Any chemical modification of Cbl decreased its ability to support cellular viability and proliferation, with several of the modifications abrogating activity completely. All of the Cbl analogues that promoted growth required the presence of apo-transcobalamin II for the optimal support of cell growth. Generally, Cbl analogues modified at the d-position of the corrin ring and, to a lesser degree, analogues modified at the b- position supported cell growth, whereas analogues with modifications at the e-position did not support cell growth. Mixing experiments demonstrated an inverse order of potency of Cbl analogues to inhibit cell growth. Thus, Cbl analogues with modifications at the e-position were potent inhibitors, whereas b-analogues exhibited only partial inhibitory activity at high molar excess, and d-analogues had no inhibitory activity at all. These results indicate that modifications at the e-position of Cbl abolish the ability of Cbl to support cell growth and generate potent inhibitors of Cbl-dependent cell growth.     

Echocardiographic identification of infective endocarditis within a congenital left sinus of Valsalva-right atrial communication

A rare case is described of infective endocarditis within a congenital left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to right atrial communication diagnosed by a combination of precordial and transesophageal echocardiography. The respective roles of precordial and transesophageal echocardiography in this case are discussed with regard to both diagnosis and surgical decision making.