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Effect of capsaicin on substrate oxidation and weight maintenance after modest body-weight loss in human subjects.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether capsaicin assists weight maintenance by limiting weight regain after weight loss of 5 to 10 %. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, ninety-one moderately overweight subjects were randomly assigned to an intensive group that underwent all the measurements, and an extensive group that underwent the same measurements except the metabolism measurements. After a 4-week very-low-energy diet (VLED) intervention, a 3-month weight-maintenance period followed. During weight maintenance, subjects were divided into a capsaicin (135 mg capsaicin/d) and a placebo group. Body mass was measured before and after the VLED and after 1, 2 and 3 months of weight maintenance. The mean body-mass loss during the VLED was 6.6 (SD 2.0) kg (7.8 (SD 1.8) % initial body mass), and was not different between the subsequent treatment and placebo group. During weight maintenance, mean % regain during treatment was not significantly different compared with placebo (33.3 (SD 35.7) v. 19.2 (SD 41.8) %, P=0.09). RQ was significantly less increased during weight maintenance in the treatment group compared with placebo (0.04 (SD 0.06) v. 0.07 (SD 0.05), P<0.05), indicating a relatively more sustained fat oxidation. Fat oxidation (g/h) after weight maintenance was higher in the capsaicin group compared with placebo (4.2 (SD 1.1) v. 3.5 (SD 0.9), P<0.05). These results indicate that capsaicin treatment caused sustained fat oxidation during weight maintenance compared with placebo. However, capsaicin treatment has no limiting effect on 3-month weight regain after modest weight loss.

Adult↗

[Effect of the nutrition level and sex on the energy maintenance requirement of broilers and rats].

In 3 experiments young broiler chickens were supplied on various feeding levels in the growth range between 200 and 2500 g live weight (2.8 and 2.0 in experiment 1, 2.8, 2.3 and 1.8 in experiments 2 and 4, maintenance = feeding level 1.0). In experiments 1 and 2 short-time measurings (30 min) of heat production by means of gas exchange were made at 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 g live weight in the post-absorptive state and on the maintenance level of feeding. In experiment 1 the heat production of the restrictively fed chickens was in 3 out of the 4 stages of development studied significantly lower by 10-14% than that of the intensively fed ones. In experiment 2 such an effect could not be observed. Fed on the level of energy maintenance, broilers weighing approximately 2000 g (experiment 3) did not show a significant influence of the sex on heat production as a result of 30-minute gas exchange measurings in the post-absorptive state. In experiment 4 24-hour measurings of the energy metabolism were carried out in the growth development in periods of feeding on the maintenance level by means of indirect calorimetry. In the live weight range between 0.9 and 1.3 kg there was only a low, non-significant decrease of the energy maintenance requirement of 4-6% of the highly restrictively fed chickens in comparison to the intensively fed ones. After continued feed restriction (live weight range 1.7-2.2 kg) an energy maintenance requirement reduced by 17% was measured. In an analogously arranged experiment with 24-hour energy metabolism measurings (experiment 5) male Wistar rats in the growth range between 70 and 280 g were supplied on the feeding levels 1.8 and 1.4 resp. In all three periods studied on the feeding level maintenance--beginning at 140-150 g live weight--the highly restrictively fed animals showed a slightly reduced energy maintenance requirement by 8%, 3% (non-significant) and 6% in comparison with the intensively fed animals.

Animal Feed↗

[The energy metabolism of growing swine in a live weight range of 10-50 kg. 3. Energy maintenance requirement of growing swine].

Investigations into the energy maintenance requirement yielded the following results: For the energy maintenance requirement (EMR) in dependence on live weight (LW) using the relation EMR = aLWb from 13 experiments, an exponent of the live weight of 0.647 +/- 0.054 (0.57 to 0.73) was found out. Increasing the protein content in the feed from approximately 17 to approximately 45% in 6 experiments lowered the energy maintenance requirements about 14, 4, 6, 2, 6 and 12% respectively. The animals' development had no influence on the difference. The amount of the energy maintenance requirement varied greatly between the experiments. Exclusively in the experiments with barrows, a lowest value of 634 and a highest value of 931 kJ metabolizable energy per kg LW0.62.d was measured. On average of 19 comparisons the energy maintenance requirement derived from growth and maintenance periods by means of regression analysis was significant (alpha = 0.05), about 4% higher than the energy maintenance requirement measured on maintenance level directly.

Animal Feed↗

Long-term weight-loss maintenance: a meta-analysis of US studies.

BACKGROUND: Current perception is that participants of a structured weight-loss program regain all of their weight loss within 5 y. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the long-term weight-loss maintenance of individuals completing a structured weight-loss program. DESIGN: Studies were required to 1) have been conducted in the United States, 2) have included participants in a structured weight-loss program, 3) have provided follow-up data with variance estimates for > or =2 y. Primary outcome variables were weight-loss maintenance in kilograms, weight-loss maintenance as a percentage of initial weight loss, and weight loss as a percentage of initial body weight (reduced weight). RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Successful very-low-energy diets (VLEDs) were associated with significantly greater weight-loss maintenance than were successful hypoenergetic balanced diets (HBDs) at all years of follow-up. The percentage of individuals at 4 or 5 y of follow-up for VLEDs and HBDs were 55.4% and 79.7%, respectively. The results for VLEDs and HBDs, respectively, were as follows: weight-loss maintenance, 7.1 kg (95% CI: 6.1, 8.1 kg) and 2.0 (1.5, 2.5) kg; percentage weight-loss maintenance, 29% (25%, 33%) and 17% (13%, 22%); and reduced weight, 6.6% (5.7%, 7.5%) and 2.1% (1.6%, 2.7%). Weight-loss maintenance did not differ significantly between women and men. Six studies reported that groups who exercised more had significantly greater weight-loss maintenance than did those who exercised less. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after completing structured weight-loss programs, the average individual maintained a weight loss of >3 kg and a reduced weight of >3% of initial body weight. After VLEDs or weight loss of > or =20 kg, individuals maintained significantly more weight loss than after HBDs or weight losses of <10 kg.

Adult↗

A comparison of bone marrow transplantation with maintenance chemotherapy for patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission.

Twenty patients treated with maintenance chemotherapy for acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia after achieving complete remission were compared with 13 patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling. The median age was 27 years for both maintenance chemotherapy patients (range 17-42 years) and for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (range 16-42 years). The 1-year survival for maintenance chemotherapy was 80% vs. 54% with bone marrow transplantation (p = NS). Complete remission durability was 70% at 1 year for maintenance chemotherapy (34% projected for 5 years) compared with no relapses in the first year with bone marrow transplantation (p = 0.01). Patients on maintenance chemotherapy were hospitalized for an average of 22 days (range 0-171 days) during the first 12 months of treatment. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation were hospitalized for an average of 82 days (range 41-113 days) in the same time period. Severe hematologic toxicity was seen in 13/13 bone marrow transplantation patients and 6/20 maintenance chemotherapy patients. Chronic graft-vs.-host disease occurred in 3/7 surviving bone marrow transplantation patients. Maintenance chemotherapy had an average first year cost of +3,076.00 for patients who did not relapse and +48,827.00 for patients that relapsed. The first year costs for bone marrow transplantation averaged +84,102.00. Thus, maintenance chemotherapy was associated with a better early survival, less toxicity, and lower cost than bone marrow transplantation in the first year after initiating therapy. However, fewer relapses with bone marrow transplantation suggest that it will yield a higher long-term survival rate.

Acute Disease↗

Interferon-alpha and 13-cis-retinoic acid as maintenance therapy after high-dose combination chemotherapy with growth factor support for small cell lung cancer--a feasibility study.

This randomized phase II multi-center study was designed to determine the time to progression, duration of response and the feasibility of an intensified maintenance regime consisting of a combination of interferon (IFN)-alpha and retinoic acid after high-dose combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer. The patients received four courses of combination chemotherapy consisting of ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide, with higher doses of ifosfamide and carboplatin given in the first course, with routine growth factor support. Responding patients were then randomly assigned to one of three maintenance therapy arms. All patients with limited disease (LD) were given thoracic radiotherapy before maintenance therapy and those who had also achieved a complete response (CR) or minimal residual disease (MRD) received prophylactic cranial irradiation. In Arm 1 patients received IFN-alpha-2a, 6 MIU s.c. TIW for 4 weeks, followed by 3 MIU s.c. TIW, and 13-cis-retinoic acid 1 mg/kg/day p.o. BID daily. In Arm 2 patients received trophosphamide 100-150 mg/day p.o. BID. No maintenance treatment was given in Arm 3, the control group. Maintenance therapy was continued for 1 year. Eighty-five patients were treated according to the protocol. Twenty-one patients achieved CR, four achieved MRD and forty-two achieved partial responses to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sixty patients (71%) were randomly assigned for maintenance treatment. Median survival was 17.1 months in the IFN-alpha-retinoic acid arm, 12.4 months in the trophosphamide arm and 13.5 months in the control arm. One-year survival rates were 82, 56 and 55%, respectively. Duration of response was 6.5, 5.5 and 4.7 months, respectively. Time to progression was 8.6, 8.0 and 6.8 months, respectively The differences were not statistically significant. The IFN-alpha-retinoic acid maintenance treatment was well tolerated. Patients who received IFN-alpha-retinoid maintenance therapy lived longer after the onset of progressive disease. The treatment regime was effective, feasible and well tolerated.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy on cognitive functions.

BACKGROUND: This study examined cognitive side effects of maintenance electroconvulsive (ECT) in comparison with maintenance pharmacotherapy after index ECT. METHOD: Clinical outcome data and neuropsychological measurements were compared in 11 maintenance ECT patients and 13 control patients treated with maintenance pharmacotherapy after index ECT. Data were gathered in a prospective naturalistic study during follow-up. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics and effects of index ECT between groups. In control patients treated with maintenance pharmacotherapy, cognitive function as well as depression ratings remained stable. During maintenance ECT neuropsychological test performance and depression ratings improved slightly but not significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychological functioning during the maintenance phase of treatment did not differ between the two treatment groups. Cognitive function remained stable during maintenance ECT.

Aged↗

Maintenance therapy in duodenal and gastric ulcer disease: survey of practice amongst British gastroenterologists.

We have used a postal questionnaire to obtain data on the practice of maintenance therapy for peptic ulcer disease by members of the British Society of Gastroenterology. Completed questionnaires were returned by 434 members. Ninety-six per cent used maintenance therapy for patients with duodenal ulcer and 81% for gastric ulcer. Maintenance therapy was considered to be safe (duodenal ulcer 91%; gastric ulcer 78%), acceptable to patients (duodenal ulcer gastric ulcer 89%; gastric ulcer 80%) and to reduce the incidence of ulcer complications (duodenal ulcer 81%; gastric ulcer 68%). There was consensus that increasing age of patient, current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, previous ulcer complications, and ulcer relapse after surgery were relatively strong indications for maintenance therapy. However, the proportion of patients who received maintenance therapy varied widely amongst respondents (from < 10% to > 50%). There was no agreement on the optimal duration of therapy, nor on management of patients who relapsed during maintenance therapy. It appears that the criteria for use of maintenance therapy need to be better defined, and that established knowledge about the practice of maintenance therapy should be better disseminated and acted upon.

Age Factors↗

The isolation and maintenance of the human pilosebaceous unit.

We have previously developed methods for the isolation and maintenance of human sebaceous glands and hair follicles. However, in long-term culture the maintenance of both is suboptimal. This may be due to a lack of stem cells, which are thought to be located in the bulge area of the hair follicle, and this region is not present in either model. Isolation of the entire pilosebaceous unit would retain this region, and may lead to improved maintenance of both structures. We describe a method for the isolation of viable, individual, pilosebaceous units by microdissection from human scalp face-lift skin. The viability of isolated pilosebaceous units has been determined by light microscopy, patterns of DNA synthesis by [methyl-3H] thymidine autoradiography, and lipogenesis by [U-14C] acetate uptake into lipids. When maintained for 7 days in supplemented Williams E medium, isolated pilosebaceous units showed a significant increase in length. This was due to the production of a keratinized hair fibre which grew at the in vivo rate of 0.3 mm/day. Light microscopy and [methyl-3H] thymidine autoradiography confirmed that after 7 days maintenance the hair follicle retained apparently normal morphology and patterns of DNA synthesis, However, the morphology of the sebaceous gland on maintenance was more variable, generally showing luminal keratinization. Moreover [methyl-3H] thymidine autoradiography of sebaceous glands showed a marked reduction on maintenance. The rates and patterns of lipogenesis by the whole pilosebaceous unit were, respectively, lower and different from those seen with isolated human sebaceous glands; this indicates that the bulk of pilosebaceous lipogenesis is derived from the hair follicle. Rates of recovery of [14C] from 2 mM-[U-14C] sodium acetate into thin-layer chromatography plates after 7 days maintenance decreased, although this was not statistically significant, indicating that rates of lipogenesis may fall on maintenance. Pilosebaceous units were maintained for 7 days on Gelfoam (an absorbable gelatin sponge) at the media-air interface. Initial results show a marked improvement in sebaceous gland morphology. It is possible, therefore, to obtain viable human pilosebaceous units by microdissection, and to maintain them in vitro for up to 7 days, with apparently full retention of hair follicle function, but only partial retention of sebaceous gland function.

Autoradiography↗

Periodontal maintenance in a specialist periodontal clinic and in general dental practice.

OBJECTIVES: To monitor the efficacy of periodontal maintenance whether conducted in a specialist periodontology clinic or in the practice of the referring general dentist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five subjects with a diagnosis of moderate-severe chronic periodontitis who were referred to the specialist clinic received periodontal non-surgical therapy. Following a 6-month healing phase, subjects were randomly allocated to one of two groups: A (n=18, periodontal maintenance provided within the specialist clinic) or B (n=17, periodontal maintenance provided by the referring general dentist in accordance with written instructions provided by the specialist). All subjects were examined at months 0 (corresponding to 6 months post-completion of non-surgical therapy), 6 and 12. Full-mouth plaque index (PI), % bleeding on probing (%BOP) and probing depth (PD) measurements were recorded. PDs were also recorded at eight test sites which, prior to non-surgical therapy, exhibited PD 5-8 mm, BOP and radiographic alveolar bone loss. Standardized radiographs were exposed at test sites at months 0 and 12, and bone changes assessed using digital subtraction radiography (DSR). RESULTS: As a result of the non-surgical therapy, statistically significant improvements in all clinical parameters were recorded. In the maintenance period, mean PI increased significantly from months 0 to 12 (p<0.05), but this increase did not differ significantly between groups A and B (p>0.05). No other clinical parameters changed significantly in the maintenance phase of the study. Reductions in %BOP, mouth mean PD and mean test sites PD achieved by the non-surgical therapy were maintained and did not differ significantly whether subjects were allocated to group A or group B (p>0.05). Current smokers had significantly deeper PD than non-smokers and former smokers at all time points (p<0.05), although otherwise, smoking status did not affect the outcomes of the study. DSR analysis identified statistically non-significant, slight, alveolar bone loss in both groups between months 0 and 12. CONCLUSION: In the short term, periodontal maintenance can be provided in general dental practice with the same expected outcomes compared with maintenance that is provided in a specialist clinic, providing that general dentists are given specific instructions regarding the maintenance regimen. A strong emphasis on effective plaque control is necessary.

Adult↗

Predictors of vigorous exercise adoption and maintenance over four years in a community sample.

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about the correlates of adoption and maintenance of vigorous exercise. The purpose of this study was to understand the sociodemographic correlates of exercise adoption and maintenance in a community sample. METHODS: 917 women and 229 men completed annual surveys as part of a community-based weight gain prevention trial over four years. Multivariate regressions evaluated predictive factors for maintenance of vigorous exercise over time in regular exercisers, and predictors of adoption of exercise in adults who were sedentary at baseline. RESULTS: Exercise maintenance at Years 2 and 3 was associated with ethnicity and exercise level at baseline, while exercise maintenance at Year 4 was associated with television watching, BMI and exercise at baseline. Exercise level at baseline was associated with exercise initiation at Year 2 and Year 3. Income level, marital status, and smoking status predicted exercise initiation at Year 4. CONCLUSIONS: Predictors of vigorous exercise maintenance were more consistent than predictors of vigorous exercise initiation. Results suggest that those who adopt vigorous exercise are a heterogeneous group and intervention messages could be more broadly focused. These data also suggest that exercise maintenance interventions should continue to target low-income populations with messages regarding smoking, weight and television. Clearly further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to exercise initiation and maintenance, and to develop effective interventions to improve levels of physical activity levels.

Journal Article↗

Maintenance therapies for proliferative lupus nephritis: mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and intravenous cyclophosphamide.

For the treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis, long-term cyclophosphamide (CY) regimens are efficacious, however, at the expense of substantial toxicity. In the last decade, sequential regimens of short-term CY induction followed by either mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (AZA) maintenance have shown to be efficacious and safe reducing the long-term exposure to CY. In a maintenance study including predominantly Hispanics and African-Americans, the patients who received MMF and AZA maintenance had a higher cumulative probability of remaining free of the composite of death or chronic renal failure (CRF) compared to quarterly intravenous CY (IVCY) maintenance (89% in MMF, 80%, in AZA and 45% in IVCY). Likewise, MMF and AZA maintenance were associated with significantly lower incidence of severe infections (2% in each MMF or AZA, and 25% in IVCY), sustained amenorrhea (6% in MMF, 8% in AZA, and 32% in IVCY), and hospitalizations (one hospital-days per patient-year in each MMF or AZA, and 10 in IVCY). In a European induction study including predominantly Caucasians, patients who received any of two sequential regimens, low dose versus high dose IVCY induction both followed by AZA maintenance, had a high cumulative probability of remaining free of treatment failure (84% in low dose IVCY and 80% in high dose IVCY; treatment failure defined as a composite of free of corticosteroid resistant flare, nephrotic syndrome, doubling creatinine, and persistent elevated creatinine). Low dose IVCY and high dose IVCY induction were associated with low incidence of sustained amenorrhea (4% in each group) and severe infections (11% in low dose and 22% in high dose IVCY induction). Of interest, most of the severe infection episodes occurred while patients were receiving IVCY induction. Finally an Asian study demonstrated that patients with proliferative lupus nephritis could be effectively treated with short-term oral CY induction followed by AZA maintenance. The cumulative probability of complete remission was 76%. The relapse rate was only 11%. The incidence of permanent amenorrhea and infection were 8% and 33%, respectively. None of the Asian patients had an increase in serum creatinine level to double the baseline value. Maintenance therapies with MMF or AZA following short-term CY induction in a sequential regimen are efficacious and safe for the treatment of high-risk patients with proliferative lupus nephritis.

Adult↗

Cocaine use in persons on methadone maintenance.

Although cocaine use had increased dramatically among all levels of society over the past several years, its use by heroin addicts has existed for decades. To determine whether the prevalence or the pattern of cocaine use changes once an addict enrolls in methadone maintenance, a survey of cocaine use among persons in methadone maintenance therapy was conducted. Of the 613 persons surveyed, 229 (37%) chose to participate, with 33 (14%) considered invalid because of incomplete responses. Of the remaining 196 (86% of the participants), 64 (33%) indicated no cocaine use prior to methadone maintenance, and 132 (67%) reported some prior use. Once treatment had begun, 9 (14%) with no history of prior use admitted to at least one event within the last 6 months, and 55 (86%) reported no use. Of those reporting use prior to methadone maintenance, 41 (31%) stopped usage and 91 (69%) continued. Of the total participants, approximately half used cocaine at least once during methadone maintenance. Among those who used cocaine before and during methadone maintenance, the predominant route of administration was parenteral, 72 (54%) and 46 (51%) participants, respectively. It should be noted that there was a net gain of 17% of patients who stopped using cocaine as a result of entering methadone maintenance. Indices of cocaine use by random urinalysis over the preceding 6 months, for the entire clinic population, revealed only 86 (14%) to 110 (18%) patients to have urine samples positive for cocaine. Although cocaine use decreased on methadone maintenance, its use is still considerable, with the pattern of use differing from the recreational cocaine use in a non-narcotic-dependent population. Random urinalysis for cocaine appears to be an insensitive indication of prevalence of use.

Cocaine↗

Oral nifedipine maintenance therapy after acute intravenous tocolysis in preterm labor.

AIMS: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance oral nifedipine in pregnant women initially treated with intravenous ritodrine plus verapamil for preterm labor. METHODS: The study included 73 patients with preterm labor with intact membranes. Patients were randomized to receive either maintenance oral nifedipine therapy (n=37) administered 20 mg every six hours or no treatment (controls, n=36) after discontinuation of acute intravenous tocolysis. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the mean +/- SD time gained from initiation of maintenance therapy to delivery (26.65 +/- 18.89 vs. 16.14 +/- 12.91 days, p=0.007) and the gestational age at delivery (37.03 +/- 2.06 vs. 35.1 +/- 3 weeks, p=0.003) were higher in the nifedipine maintenance therapy group. The proportion of patients who required one or more courses of subsequent intravenous therapy and perinatal outcomes were similar in the maintenance therapy and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The gestational age and time gained from initiation of maintenance therapy to delivery were longer in women receiving oral maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine. However, maintenance therapy did not decrease the recurrence of preterm labor episodes or improve perinatal outcomes.

Administration, Oral↗

Higher maintenance cyclosporine dose decreases the risk of graft failure in North American children: a report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study.

Because of changing cyclosporine dosing patterns over the years, maintenance doses in 1469 living donor and 1486 cadaver donor index renal transplants in patients who were 0 to 20 yr of age of the time of transplantation were reviewed. All grafts had at least 30 days' function. Eighty-nine percent of living donor patients and 95% of cadaver donor patients were maintained on cyclosporine for 12 months after transplantation. Among patients receiving cyclosporine, the maintenance 12-month dose in living donor graft recipients increased from 6.4 mg/kg per day for patients who had transplants done in 1987 to 7.9 mg/kg per day for patients who had transplants done in 1992 (P = 0.02). Among cadaver donor graft recipients, the mean 12-month maintenance dose increased from 6.4 mg/kg per day in 1987 to 7.8 mg/kg per day in 1992 (P = 0.01). At 6 months after transplantation, the maintenance cyclosporine dose in 1103 living donor graft recipients who retained graft function during the subsequent 6-month period was 7.1 mg/kg per day, compared with a 6-month dose of 3.9 mg/kg per day in 28 patients who lost their graft in the subsequent 6-month period. For 1041 recipients of cadaver donor grafts who retained graft function through 12 months after transplantation, the 6-month maintenance cyclosporine dose was 7.4 mg/kg per day, compared with 5.4 mg/kg per day in 59 patients whose graft failed in the subsequent 6 months. In patients who did not have an acute rejection episode during the first 12 months after transplantation, the rate of subsequent "late" rejections was 22% for patients with a 12-month maintenance cyclosporine dose < or = 4.0 mg/kg per day, and 16% for patients whose 12-month maintenance cyclosporine dose exceeded 8.6 mg/kg per day. A proportional hazards regression analysis, using cyclosporine dose as a time-dependent covariate, showed that the hazard of graft failure was reduced 5 to 6% for each incremental increase of 1 mg/kg maintenance dose of cyclosporine (within the dose range studied) for both living and cadaver donor source transplants.

Adolescent↗

[Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin for superficial bladder carcinoma: study on significance of additional maintenance instillations of bacillus Calmette-Guerin].

The efficacy of maintenance bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillations for superficial bladder tumors was studied by prospective randomized trial. From June 1985 to October 1988, 42 newly diagnosed patients with superficial bladder carcinoma (pTa or pT1) were treated by transurethral tumor resection and subsequent five daily instillations of mitomycin C. Then they were divided into non-maintenance group (22 patients) and maintenance group (20 patients) by randomization. The patients received six weekly instillations of 80 mg of BCG. Tokyo strain (Japan BCG manufacturing Co., Tokyo, Japan), suspended in 40 ml of physiological saline, and the patients in the maintenance group received four additional instillations of BCG every three months. We could not complete the six-week course of BCG instillations in three patients due to adverse effects (two in non-maintenance group and one in maintenance group) and we lost six patients from follow-up within one year (one in non-maintenance group and five in maintenance group). The mean follow-up period of the remaining 33 patients was 28.1 months. Of these 33 patients, six patients had been found to have recurrent tumors, and the over-all three-year non-recurrence rate was 82%. Before employing BCG, when we used only mitomycin C after TUR-Bt, the three year non-recurrence rate was 58%. This indicates prophylactic effect of BCG instillations. The stage of the initial tumor of the six recurrent cases were all pT1b. The non-recurrence rate of the patients with pT1b tumor was significantly lower than that of the patients with pTa and pT1a tumor. However, multiplicity and grade of tumors did not affect the non-recurrence rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intravesical↗

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT): a review of historical and clinical issues.

Methadone maintenance has been evaluated since its development in 1964 as a medical response to the post-World War II heroin epidemic in New York City. The findings of major early studies have been consistent. Methadone maintenance reduces and/or eliminates the use of heroin, reduces the death rates and criminality associated with heroin use, and allows patients to improve their health and social productivity. In addition, enrollment in methadone maintenance has the potential toreduce the transmission of infectious diseases associated with heroin injection, such as hepatitis and HIV. The principal effects of methadone maintenance are to relieve narcotic craving, suppress the abstinence syndrome, and block the euphoric effects associated with heroin. A majority of patients require 80-120 mg/d of methadone, or more, to achieve these effects and require treatment for an indefinite period of time, since methadone maintenance is a corrective but not a curative treatment for heroin addiction. Lower doses may not be as effective or provide the blockade effect. Methadone maintenance has been found to be medically safe and nonsedating. It is also indicated for pregnant women addicted to heroin. Reviews issued by the Institute of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health have defined narcotic addiction as a chronic medical disorder and have claimed that methadone maintenance coupled with social services is the most effective treatment for this condition. These agencies recommend reducing governmental regulation to facilitate patients access to treatment. In addition, they recommend that the number of programs be expanded, and that new models of treatment be implemented,if the nationwide problem of addiction is to be brought under control. The National Institutes of Health also recommend that methadone maintenance be available to persons under legal supervision, such as probationers, parolees and the incarcerated. However, stigma and bias directed at the programs and the patients have hindered expansion and the effective delivery of services. Professional community leadership is necessary to educate the general public if these impediments are to be overcome.

Adolescent↗

[Tolerance and efficiency of intravesical instillation of Calmette-Guérin in the prophylactic treatment of superficial bladder tumors, using a maintenance treatment].

UNLABELLED: Maintenance treatment with complementary BCG instillations in the prevention of superficial bladder tumour could improve the results of this immunotherapy. This maintenance treatment is limited by accentuation of the adverse effects related to BCG. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of maintenance treatment on tumour recurrence and progression, and to evaluate the influence of adverse effects on maintenance treatment and the recurrence rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 72 patients were treated with six weekly instillations of 81 mg of BCG (Immucyst) followed by three complementary instillations 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months later. Adverse effects (AE) were classified into four classes, according to their type, severity and duration, and were recorded prospectively for 518 instillations. An adverse effect score was determined for each patient. RESULTS: 84.9% of patients did not present any recurrence, 12.5% developed recurrence and 2.6% progressed. The instillation regimen was completed by 19% of patients, the dose had to be decreased for 57% of patients and treatment had to be discontinued for 39% of patients. An initial adverse effect score (AESi) greater than 1.5 was associated with an increased risk of discontinuation of treatment or reduction of the dosage during maintenance treatment (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance treatment was associated with a very low recurrence and progression rate. We have established and validated an adverse effect severity scale and the consequences of these adverse effects on maintenance treatment. This scale could be used to prospectively define the most appropriate maintenance instillation regimen, by preventively decreasing the doses or deferring instillation.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗