Biomedical subjects

J Janik

Publications and source records attributed to J Janik.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Pilot study of interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells combined with immunomodulatory doses of chemotherapy and sequenced with interferon alfa-2a in patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Experiments in animal tumor models suggest that the antitumor effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) or IL-2 in combination with lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells can be enhanced by chemotherapy agents such as cyclophosphamide or doxorubicin or by the biologic agent interferon alpha. PURPOSE: We determined the toxicity and clinical response rate of an IL-2-LAK cell regimen modified by the addition of moderate, immunomodulatory doses of chemotherapy and sequenced with interferon alfa-2a (IFN alpha-2a) in patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: IL-2 (3-6 million units/m2 per day) was administered by continuous infusion on days 0-5 and days 11-16. LAK cells were infused on days 11 and 12 or on days 11, 12, and 14. Low doses of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/m2) and doxorubicin (25 mg/m2) were given on day 9 before the LAK cell infusions. Following the IL-2-LAK cell infusion, IFN alpha-2a (12 million units/m2) was administered for a total of nine doses to complete a cycle of treatment. A total of 89 patients were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: For each histology, there were eight partial responses in 40 assessable patients, for an overall response rate of 20% (90% confidence interval = 10%-33%). The median response duration was 5 months, although two patients with renal cell carcinoma and one patient with metastatic melanoma had almost complete disappearance of tumor and are still responding after 26+, 22+, and 26+ months, respectively. Toxic effects were severe in patients receiving the highest dose of IL-2 administered in this study and similar to those reported with other high-dose IL-2-LAK cell regimens. Although toxic effects were completely reversible in most patients, there were four treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen is active in patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma and produces meaningful responses in a small percentage of these patients; however, it is not clear whether cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and IFN alpha-2a as used in this protocol appreciably augmented the antitumor activity of the IL-2-LAK cell regimen.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Effects of immobilization stress on tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neuronal activity and prolactin levels in lactating and non-lactating female rats.

The effects of immobilization stress on the prolactin secretory response and on the activity of the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons were determined in intact, virgin female rats on the morning of diestrus or proestrus and in post-partum, lactating female rats. The virgin females exhibited a significant increase in circulating levels of prolactin which was evident by 1 minute and persisted during the immobilization (5 minutes). In contrast, the prolactin secretory response in lactating females was significantly attenuated compared to non-lactating animals. The activity of the TIDA neurons was not altered by the 5 minutes of stress. Even after 30 minutes of immobilization, TIDA neuronal activity was not affected in either the lactating or cycling females. These data suggest that the cycling female rat is capable of a prolactin secretory response to the stressor without inhibition of TIDA neuronal activity. It seems likely that prolactin releasing factors mediate this response. In contrast, stress did not produce a similar prolactin increase during lactation. It seems likely that, during lactation, the pituitary is not sensitive to releasing factors unless the TIDA neurons are inhibited. There appear to be differences in the sensitivity of the pituitary depending on the physiological state of the model employed.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

New long-acting bromocriptine (Parlodel MR and Parlodel LAR) in the treatment of pituitary tumours with hyperprolactinemia.

In order to assess the efficacy and tolerability of new long acting bromocriptine: Parlodel MR (oral form) and Parlodel LAR (injectable form suitable for repeatable administration) 40 patients (29 women and 11 men) with pituitary tumours with hyperprolactinemia (PRL 70 micrograms/l) were investigated in a double blind study. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 20. In the first group Parlodel R or Parlodel MR in equivalent doses was given, the other group was administered Parlodel R or Parlodel LAR. During the next 6 months 20 patients were treated with Parlodel MR and the other 20 with Parlodel LAR. In all patients pituitary and peripheral hormones, CT scan and visual fields were examined before and after 28 days of bromocriptine treatment. During the next six months 20 patients were treated with Parlodel MR while the other 20 with Parlodel LAR. Serum PRL fell in all patients and values in the normal range were obtained in 36 patients. In 30 out of 35 patients with signs of pituitary tumour in CT scan, a significant tumour shrinkage was observed. Most patients achieved considerable clinical improvement: disappearance of galactorrhoea, resumed menses in women, increased potency in men. There were no difference in efficacy in Parlodel R, Parlodel MR and Parlodel LAR, but in the case of Parlodel LAR the least number of side effects was found. Treatment with long acting bromocriptine-Parlodel MR and LAR of patients with pituitary tumours with hyperprolactinemia is an efficacious, safe and better tolerated method than Parlodel R treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Mixed pituitary tumours--effects of bromocriptine treatment: Parlodel MR and Parlodel LAR.

Majority of pituitary tumours secrete one of the named hormones: PRL, GH, ACTH, proopiomelanocortine, alpha and beta subunit of TSH, LH, and FSH. Some of those tumours secrete two or more hormones. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of bromocriptine (Parlodel MR and LAR) upon secretion of hormones and tumour size in 10 patients with mixed pituitary tumours. In all patients pituitary and peripheral hormones, CT scan and visual fields were examined before and after treatment with bromocriptine: Parlodel MR and LAR. Bromocriptine treatment decreased PRL secretion in all 10 patients; GH--in all 6 in whom it was increased; TSH--in 2, FSH--in 2 and alpha-subunit in all 6 in whom they were increased. In 5 patients treatment resulted in shrinkage of the tumour mass by 20 to 35%. In all examined subjects clinical improvement was achieved. Our results demonstrate that bromocriptine (Parlodel MR and LAR) is very effective and well tolerated in the treatment of patients with mixed pituitary tumours particularly those with hyperprolactinemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Results of 3-stage treatment: (I) corticotherapy, (II) linear acceleration and (III) orbital decompression in 206 patients with malignant Graves ophthalmopathy].

There is no, so far, a rational method of therapy based upon the etiology of autoimmune Graves' ophthalmopathy. As a malignant Graves' ophthalmopathy we defined the most severe eye changes leading to the sight loss or permanent disability of vision which are classified as exceeded class 3c according to the eye changes classification of the American Thyroid Association [27]. The aim of the study was to develop the most efficacious method of therapy for malignant Graves' ophthalmopathy. The material consisted of 206 patients treated according to the 3-stage method: 1-st--corticotherapy, 2-nd--radiotherapy, including linear accelerator, 3-rd--orbital decompression. Moreover, in four patients plasmapheresis was applied and in additional five cyclosporine was administered. In all 206 patients the estimation of the results of the treatment was based on the Donaldson ophthalmopathy index [4]. It has been proved that corticotherapy combined with linear accelerator radiotherapy has been the most efficacious method of treatment. It has also the least number of side effects. Orbital decompression as the 3-rd stage of treatment was employed in those cases in which the previous two stages of medical therapy were unsuccessful.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1990

[Ocular hydrodynamics in patients with infiltrative-edematous exophthalmos in Graves' disease].

Hydrodynamics of the eyes was investigated in 57 patients with exophthalmos, with various degree of infiltrative changes. Open angle glaucoma was not found in any case. In 12 eyes (10.5 p.c.) one observed a raised IOP (over 21 mm Hg)--checked by means, of an applanation tonometer with the patient looking straight on; in 24 eyes (18.4 p.c.) the IOP was near the upper limit of the normal pressure. Characteristic for glaucoma pathological changes of the optic disc and the visual field were absent in examined patients. All of them had the filtration angle open. The authors found a statistically significant dependency between the IOP and the degree of changes in the motor muscles, conjunctival tissue and in the lids. The authors suggest that the changes in the intraocular pressure have an external cause and stem from the disturbances of the venous circulation with exclusion of the primary hypertension.

Adult↗

PubMed1978