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Biomedical subjects

K Mattson

Publications and source records attributed to K Mattson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Complications of treatment of small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Improvements in therapy for small cell carcinoma of the lung have been achieved with treatment regimens that result in significant toxicity. The workshop of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer focused on the following complications of chemotherapy and radiotherapy: leukopenia and resultant infections, esophagitis, pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac toxicity, second malignancies, neurologic complications, and psychosocial effects. The data regarding the incidence and management of these complications are briefly reviewed, and recommendations for further studies are noted.

Aged↗

Mild intravasal haemolysis associated with flu-syndrome during intermittent rifampicin treatment.

Sixteen patients were given high-dose intermittent rifampicin treatment (900 mg twice weekly) in order to record side-effects of the flu-type. Three patients who experienced a febrile reaction were re-challenged under strict hospital supervision with a single dose (900 mg) of rifampicin. Two patients showed a distinct febrile response together with rapidly subsiding symptoms typical of the rifampicin-induced flu-syndrome, whereas the third patient's reaction was clinically different. During the challenge, the changes in a number of laboratory tests were indicative of a mild haemolytic reaction in the two patients with flu-syndrome. Plasma haemoglobin steeply increased within a few hours following the ingestion of the dose. This was associated with an acute increase in the total bilirubin and with a gradual decrease in the blood haemoglobin and haematocrit values. In further support of a drug-induced haemolysis was the findings that both patients showed a distinct reticulocyte response several days after the challenge. No such changes were seen in the third patient, whose reaction was later demonstrated to be related to isoniazid. The flu-syndrome thus may represent a first warning sign of intravasal haemolysis, which, if massive enough, eventually could lead to haemolytic crises and renal failure.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Comparison of ketotifen, disodium cromoglycate and placebo in the treatment of adult patients with mild extrinsic asthma.

Sixty-four patients with mild of moderate extrinsic asthma were treated with placebo for 1 month and thereafter with ketotifen (1 mg twice daily, orally), disodium cromoglycate (inhalation of 20 mg, four times daily), or placebo for 2 subsequent months. The trial was performed at four different centres and the treatments were compared using double-blind technique. We found no difference between the effect of ketotifen, disodium cromoglycate and placebo on the patients' daily measurements of evening peak expiratory flow, daily score values or respiratory symptoms of the number of salbutamol puffs required to control symptoms. There was no difference between the treatment groups with regard to the patients' estimates of changes in airway sensitivity to different non-specific stimuli: fumes, tobacco smoke, cold air, and exercise. The only significant effect of DSCG was a minor (4%) increase in the mean morning value for peak expiratory flow. The findings suggest that the addition of ketotifen or disodium cromoglycate to the regimen is unlikely to give further benefit in asthmatic patients, whose symptoms are reasonably well controlled by small doses of bronchodilating drugs.

Adult↗

Prognostic value of doubling time in lung cancer.

The volume doubling time (DT) of 27 measurable primary pulmonary carcinomas was calculated. The prognostic value of the DT was analysed in relation to survival, age, initial size of the tumour, histology, duration of symptoms, and treatment. The survival was longest in slow-growing carcinomas. Small-cell carcinomas and other anaplastic carcinomas had the shortest DT. A close correlation was found between DT, survival, and Feinstein's symptom-staging.

Adult↗

Clinical experience with cefamandole in pneumonia.

The efficacy and patient acceptance of i.m. cefamandole 1 000 mg 8 h and 500 mg 8 h, were compared in the treatment of assumed community-acquired pneumonia in 59 hospitalized adult patients. Of 31 patients treated with 1 000 mg 8 h, 94% had a satisfactory clinical response with a 13% bacteriological failure rate. Of 28 patients treated with 500 mg 8 h, 89% had a satisfactory clinical response with a 60% bacteriological failure rate. The only side effect registered was pain at the injection site after doses of more than 1 000 mg. The pain could be eliminated by the addition of 0.5 ml of lidocaine to the drug solution before injection.

Adult↗

Preventive effect of ketotifen, a new antiallergic agent, on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatics.

The preventive effect of ketotifen, a new drug with anti-histaminic and antiallergic properties, on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction was studied by open assessment in twenty-four adult patients with extrinsic asthma. A single oral dose of 1 mg ketotifen reduced the post-histamine mean drop in peak expiratory flow from 33 to 16% of the basal values (P less than 0.001). After a 4 weeks' regimen of 1 mg ketotifen twice daily the post-drug histamine-induced fall in PEF was further significantly reduced (P less than 0.001). Tests performed after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment showed no additional decrease in bronchial reactivity to histamine. Tests performed 1 week after cessation of treatment showed return of bronchial reactivity to the pretreatment level. The results suggest that a single dose of ketotifen has a marked preventive effect on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction and that this effect is enhanced during continued treatment.

Adolescent↗

A controlled study on the preventive effect of ketotifen, an antiallergic agent, on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatics.

We studied the preventive effect of ketotifen, an oral drug with antianaphylactic and antihistaminic properties on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in controlled cross-over experiments in twenty-six adult patients with extrinsic asthma. Both a single dose of 1 mg ketotifen and 4 weeks treatment of ketotifen, 1 mg twice daily, failed to reduce the methacholine-induced drop in peak expiratory flow. The spirometric findings remained unchanged during ketotifen treatment. There was no difference between treatments with ketotifen and placebo with regard to the patients assessment of the severity of asthma or airway sensitivity to tobacco smoke, fumes or dusts, or exercise. The results suggest that treatment during 4 weeks with ketotifen does not reduce unspecific broncial hyperreactivity in patients with extrinsic asthma.

Adolescent↗

Pulmonary infections after renal transplantation.

The prevalence of pulmonary infections has been assessed in a series of 93 patients who succumbed after renal transplantation. Pneumonia was considered to be the immediate cause of death in 15 patients; microscopic examination revealed further 10 cases, with pneumonic foci in the lungs. Consequently, the prevalence of pulmonary infections was 27%. Pneumonia was diagnosed on chest X-ray in only 48%, with "uraemic lung" as the most common confounding diagnosis. Clinical microbiology disclosed pathogenic bacteria in the sputum in 40% of the cases. It is concluded that the diagnostic yield would be enhanced by more frequent chest X-rays and presumably with more invasive methods of acquiring specimens for microbiological studies. It is also possible that the application of more stringent criteria for the use of high-dose intravenous steroids for supposed rejection will lead to less pneumonia in patients with renal transplants.

Bacteria↗

Treatment of acute bronchitis and pneumonia with cefaclor.

An open, non-comparative clinical trial of cefaclor in adults with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (54 patients) or pneumonia (24 patients) is reported. The dosage of cefaclor used was either 250 mg or 500 mg taken orally three times daily. Clinical cure was obtained in 39 of 42 (93%) of patients on the lower dose and 32 of 33 (97%) on the higher dose. Side effects were minimal and the antibiotic was very well tolerated. Microbiological evaluation was possible in 32 of 75 (43%) of patients in whom potential pathogens were identified before treatment. Microbiological 'cure' was achieved in 17 of 32 (53%), the majority of whom had received the higher dose. The lack of correlation between the clinical and microbiological results cast further doubts on the value of the standard sputum culture methods in the diagnosis and management of lower respiratory tract infection. Cefaclor is useful in the management of acute lower respiratory tract infections by virtue of its excellent clinical efficacy and safety.

Acute Disease↗

Determination of specific airway conductance by a simplified plethysmographic procedure.

Attention is drawn to the fact, obvious for simple mathematical reasons, that in patients that airway obstruction the values for specific airway conductance (SGaw) calculated directly from the flow-pressure loop registered during quiet breathing with a constant-volume body plethysmography closely approximate the values obtained by the conventional plethysmographic method which includes temporary interruption of the airflow. The simplified procedure may be useful e.g. in serial determinations of SGaw in situations where simultaneous measurement of the lung volume is not considered essential.

Airway Obstruction↗

Controlled study of the bronchoconstriction effect of pindolol administered intravenously or orally to patients with unstable asthma.

Pindolol, a beta-blocking drug, was given intravenously (0.2 mg) to 4 patients and orally (15 mg) to 4 patients, all in remission after acute exacerbation of asthma. In all cases it induced chest tightness and marked decrease in specific airway conductance, FEV1 and FVC and maximum expiratory flow at low lung volumes. The increase in airway obstruction after pindolol was not reversed by inhalation of a beta-sympathomimetic aerosol. The results suggest that conventional doses of pindolol may cause significant worsening of asthma in patients with unstable disease.

Administration, Oral↗

Three cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis associated with aspergilloma.

Three cases of parenchymal sarcoidosis with aspergilloma are described. Emphysematous bullae due to the basic disease were thought to predispose to aspergillomas. The roles possibly played by disturbances in cell-mediated immunity, associated with sarcoidosis, and by corticosteroid therapy are discussed. Antimycotics were effective in this difficult combination of diseases. Although the aspergillomas were not completely cured, a decrease in the amount of sputum and in the frequency of haemoptysis was noted for long periods. These drugs may also be useful as protective medication against invasive aspergillosis during corticosteroid therapy in patients with aspergilloma.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗