Tetrahydrocannabinol vs. prochlorperazine. The effects of two antiemetics on patients undergoing radiotherapy

The authors tested the effectiveness of orally administered delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as compared to prochlorperazine for the alleviation of symptoms, such as vomiting and nausea, experienced by patients receiving radiotherapy. The test subjects rated the severity of their illness, as well as the extent of their subsequent moods, their level of concentration, their amount of physical activity, and their desire for social interaction. They chose the drug they preferred and recorded its side effects. The use of THC was slightly more beneficial than the use of prochlorperazine.     

Computed tomography of the thorax

Computed tomography (CT) provides a valuable new perspective in assessing abnormalities of the thorax. In the patient with a mediastinal mass or widening detected by plain chest radiography, a definitive diagnosis is sometimes possible which would not be obtainable by conventional noninvasive radiological techniques. In certain clinical situations, CT is a highly sensitive modality for examining the lungs. The proved and potential clinical uses of CT in solving diagnostic problems of the thorax are discussed.     

Computer analysis of processor status

The authors describe the use of a desk-top computer to analyze processor status. Quality control data (sensitometry, densitometry, thermometry, etc.) are collected conventionally. Analysis of the data is subsequently performed using specially designed software. This computer analysis results in a small savings in time and in greatly improved management and presentation of quality control data.     

Post renal transplant thrombotic microangiopathy: A single centre experience

SUMMARY: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare complication of renal transplantation. This study is a review of our experience of seven cases of TMA occurring between 1986 and 1995, an incidence of 0.8%. One patient had a recurrence of TMA in her graft having an episode of haemolytic uraemic syndrome as the cause of her original kidney failure. the other six patients had a rejection episode either at the time of diagnosis of TMA or a mean of 12 days prior to the diagnosis of TMA. All patients were treated with plasma exchange and those on cyclosporin had their dose reduced. Two patients had graft loss while the remainder had successful outcomes with stable graft function 3–11 years post diagnosis of TMA. We conclude that, in our experience rejection played a prominent role in the disease pathogenesis and that cyclosporin could be continued successfully albeit at a reduced dosage.     

HPLC柱切换法测定血浆和尿样中头孢克肟浓度

用双泵HPLC柱切换系统直接进样测定血浆和尿样中头孢克肟(cefixime,CFIX)的浓度。血浆和尿样的回收率分别为99.1%和98.6%;最低检测浓度分别为0.05和0.2μg/ml;日内和日间的RSD小于5%;血浆和尿样浓度分别在0.1～3.2和1.0～32μg/ml范围内呈线性相关。此方法集样品净化、富集成分和色谱分析一次连续进行,操作简便、快速,可以进较大的样品量,灵敏度相对明显提高。     

Anti-immobility activity of different antidepressant drugs using the tail suspension test in normal or reserpinized mice

Summary— The tail suspension test is a screening procedure recently used in mice to detect antidepressant activity of drugs. The ability of amine re-uptake inhibitors to decrease immobility in non-reserpinized and in reserpinized mice was studied. Reserpine (4 mg/kg ip) was injected 4 h previously. Anti-depressants were administered ip, 60 min before tail suspension. Animal activity was recorded for 6 min. Preferential serotonin re-uptake blockers (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, clomipramine) were poorly active in non-reserpinized mice and inactive in reserpine-treated mice. Noradrenergic drugs (desipramine, demexiptiline, viloxazine) were more efficient in reserpinized than in non-reserpinized mice. The mixed serotonin- noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor (imipramine) shows an activity which should be considered between serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors. DA re-uptake inhibitors (amineptine, GBR 12909) exhibited the highest anti-immobility effect in non reserpinized animals but were of low efficacy after reserpine treatment. Amphetamine differed from dopamine re-uptake inhibitors by its better activity in reserpinized animals. Moreover, it was the only drug showing an equal anti-immobility effect in non reserpinized and reserpinized mice because the dose of 8 mg/kg of amphetamine reduced immobility in reserpinised mice with the same intensity as the dose of 4 mg/kg in non reserpinised mice whereas no other drugs tested in this study achieved the same effect. Comparison of anti-immobility activities of putative antidepressants in non-pre-treated and in reserpine-pre-treated mice, using the tail suspension test, may be useful to discriminate amphetamines from antidepressant drugs and to differentiate between categories of amine re-uptake blockers.