Psychopharmacological studies on the interactions between alcohol and oxazepam with regard to reaction behavior. 1st communication. Changes of psychomotor coordination and reaction behavior]

The interactions between oxazepam and ethanol were investigated in a pharmacopsychological study. The results of the psycho-experimental investigations are reported in this paper. The effects of oxazepam and/or ethanol doses given to 14 subjects with known blood concentrations of the respective substances were monitored and compared to placebo effects. - An analysis of the experiments with respect to the psychomotoric responses showed a tendency towards motoric instability under ethanol (A), whereas in the placebo experiment a relatively constant level of efficiency was maintained. In the oxazepam experiment (C) a slowing of the psychomotoric functions was observed. The concomitant influence of ethanol and oxazepam accentuates the motoric instability with a delay of the motoric responses. These effects remain visible, though slightly modified, after the administration of both substances at intervals (E). The experiments showed a decrease in efficiency during continuous exercise, a delayed response to optic and acoustic stimuli, and a retardation of the entire behavioral pattern under the influence of ethanol and oxazepam. The results indicate the existence of marked interactions between ethanol and oxazepam.     

Renal carcinoma in adolescents

Renal adenocarcinoma is an infrequent tumor in children. The clinical and radiographic findings in 4 adolescents with such tumors are described. The surgical therapies of these patients and the possible role of adjunctive chemotherapy and radiotherapy are discussed.     

Endometriosis of the colon (author's transl)

This report is concerned with a twenty-five year old female with endometriosis of the recto-sigmoid-colon. Due to medication intolerance a trial with hormone therapy had to be discontinued. After several years of illness an ileus and ureter-stenosis developed and several operations were necessary to alleviate these conditions. A survey of the frequency and localization of extragenital endometriosis followed by a discussion of pathogenesis, clinic and alternatives of therapy.     

Oligoclonal measles virus-specific IgG antibodies isolated from cerebrospinal fluids, brain extracts, and sera from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and multiple sclerosis

Measles virus-specific antibodies were isolated from sera, cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and brain extracts of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) by absorption with measles antigens and subsequent acid elution of the antigen-antibody precipitates. Electrophoretically homogeneous measles antibodies were isolated from CSF or brain extracts in five patients with SSPE and in five out of seven patients with MS. Homogeneous IgG antibodies were also demonstrated in the sera from all SSPE patients and from three of the MS patients. The antibodies isolated from various control sera and from pooled CSF were electrophoretically heterogeneous. The results support the concept of a local synthesis in the nervous system of oligoclonal IgG antibodies to measles virus in all patients with SSPE and in some patients with MS. In SSPE, most or all oligoclonal IgG proteins of the CSF or brain carry measles antibody activities. In MS, only part of the oligoclonal IgG appears to be associated with measles antibody activity.     

The relation between physician and patient age in family practice

A study of 100 selected Wisconsin family physicians demonstrated that younger physicians generally had more contact with younger patients, middle-aged physicians had an even distribution of patient age contacts, and older physicians had more contact with older patients. The increase in older patients became pronounced for 56 to 60-year-old physicians. Generally a ten-year increase in physician age was accompanied by a five-year increase in patient age. The rising average age of the American population, combined with the direct physician-patient age relationship demonstrated here suggest that geriatrics will become increasingly relevant not only in the continuum of medical education but also for the individual practicing physician.     

First therapeutic experience with cis-platinum(II)diamindichloride (NSC 119875) in metastasizing ovarian and testicular carcinoma

Ten patients with metastatic testicular or ovarian carcinoma were treated with cis-platinum II diaminedichloride. All had received prior chemotherapy with other agents. A therapeutic effect was seen in 7 cases, though it was of short duration in all instances. The drug proved to be very nephrotoxic and caused marked bone marrow depression. The future of this highly effective cytostatic agent, either with different dosage schedules or in combination with other drugs, is discussed. The possibility of new platinum derivatives with a better therapeutic index is also mentioned.