Management of malignant pericardial effusion and tamponade.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Livingston.
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Because of the methodologic differences and limited data, the sensitivity and specificity of the dexamethasone suppression test in children are in question. In our study we used 0.5 mg of dexamethasone and a 4 p.m. cortisol sample to perform the DST on 32 hospitalized prepubertal children diagnosed by a structured interview (DICA) and DSM-III criteria. Cortisols differed significantly by ANOVA among principal diagnoses, with highest values in children with major depression (MDE) or separation anxiety (SAD) and lowest in those with behavior disorders (BD). Using 5.0 micrograms/dl as a cutoff value for positive DST, MDE and SAD are positively and BD negatively associated with positive DST results. Rating scales for anxiety and depression showed no significant association with cortisol level. We conclude that the DST in this sample shows excellent sensitivity but its specificity is limited to distinguishing depressed or anxious children from those with pure behavior disorder.
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Of 127 relatives of 12 anxious and 11 depressed children, 72% received Family History RDC diagnoses, most commonly depression and alcoholism. The family histories of the two groups were similar, suggesting that childhood depressive and anxiety disorders may be familially related.
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In a series of 15 children, abnormal dexamethasone suppression test (DST) responses were most common in depressed children and those with separation anxiety disorder. The authors raise questions about the specificity of the DST and the nature of separation anxiety.
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From November 1976 to November 1978, the Southwest Oncology Group treated 254 patients with extensive (metastatic) small cell carcinoma of the lung with combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy with and without BCG immunotherapy. Patients receiving BCG achieved a response rate of 50% versus those patients not receiving BCG of 46% (P = .704). Response duration was 20 weeks for the BCG arms and 23 weeks for the no-BCG arms; survival was 28 weeks for the BCG arms versus 29 weeks for the no-BCG arms. An adverse effect in patients surviving more than one year was detected; those continuing to receive BCG had significantly shorter survival, 60 weeks versus 85 weeks (P = .019). Toxicities of the programs were not affected by the addition of BCG immunotherapy. It appears that BCG immunotherapy has no beneficial effect on response rate or duration of response in programs using chemotherapy and radiotherapy for control of metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung. In addition, because of the adverse effect on long-term survival, we do not recommend the addition of BCG immunotherapy as a treatment modality in this tumor type.
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The pharmacokinetics of the new cephalosporin Ro-13-9904 were studied in six healthy male volunteers receiving a 500-mg dose as a bolus intravenously. Tissue penetration of the antibiotic was estimated by using a cantharides blister method. The data obtained fitted a two-compartment open model. The mean elimination half-life was about 8 h, which is considerably longer than that of other beta-lactam compounds. The distribution volume was 4.3 liters in the central compartment. Levels of Ro 13-9904 in blister fluid exceeded those in serum after 6.5 h. Approximately 60% of the antibiotic was excreted in the urine.
The pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and moxalactam were compared in six healthy male volunteers aftr the administration of 1-g doses intravenously. Penetration of the compounds into tissue fluid was studied in cantharides-induced blisters. Both serum and tissue fluid levels of moxalactam were higher than those of cefotaxime. The elimination half-life of cefotaxime was 1.2 h, and that of moxalactam was 2.85 h. On the average, 50.5% of cefotaxime and 87.5% of moxalactam were recovered in the urine in 24 h.
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The pharmacokinetics of the broad-spectrum penicillin Bay k 4999 were studied in six healthy male volunteers. A 2-g dose was given by the intravenous route. The tissue penetration of the antibiotic was studied by both dermabrasion and blister techniques. A total of 26.4% of the drug was recovered in the urine in 24 h, 79% of this being excreted in the first 2 h. The elimination half-life in serum was 1.3 h. The dermabrasion levels of Bay k 4999 were generally similar to those in serum, but after 1 h the blister fluid levels of antibiotic were greater than those in serum. Different drug levels obtained by blister and dermabrasion techniques may be due to the different composition of the two fluids.
Brain involvement in small cell carcinoma of the lung is a common phenomenon occurring in from 29 to 45% of patients. Because of this, it was suggested that prophylactic brain irradiation be made a part of treatment plans for small cell carcinoma. In December 1974, the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) began treating patients with combination chemotherapy and irradiation of both the primary lesion and whole brain. In two years, there were 390 patients entered into the study. In patients with extensive disease only 6 of 152 prophylactically irradiated patients developed CNS signs or symptoms of CNS recurrence. In limited disease, 6 of 88 prophylactically treated patients had CNS recurrence and in only 4 was this the site of initial failure. We feel prophylactic brain irradiation in small cell carcinoma of the lung is of benefit.