First-line bevacizumab combined with reduced dose interferon-alpha2a is active in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In patients with untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), progression-free survival (PFS) was longer with bevacizumab + interferon (IFN)-alpha than IFN + placebo (AVOREN trial). In this hypothesis-generating study, subgroup analysis was carried out to determine the effect of IFN dose reduction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 649 patients received IFN 9 MIU s.c. three times weekly plus bevacizumab 10 mg/kg or placebo every 2 weeks until disease progression. The IFN dose was reduced to 6 or 3 MIU with the development of IFN-attributed toxicity. Differences between treatment arms in PFS, response rate and tolerability were analysed in the reduced-dose group. RESULTS: IFN dose was reduced in 131 patients in the bevacizumab + IFN arm and 97 patients in the IFN + placebo arm during the trial. PFS rates in the bevacizumab + reduced-dose IFN group were comparable with the total population (Kaplan-Meier estimates of event-free rate at 1 year: 0.524 versus 0.427). Bevacizumab + reduced-dose IFN was well tolerated, with substantial decreases in the rate of adverse events following dose reduction. CONCLUSION: This retrospective subgroup analysis suggests that the dose of IFN can be reduced to manage side-effects while maintaining efficacy in patients with mRCC receiving bevacizumab + IFN.

Effects of oral cromolyn on the nasal response due to foods.

Thirty-eight patients with a perennial allergic rhinitis, who developed a nasal response to ingestion challenge with certain foods, were randomly selected for protection tests with oral cromolyn sodium (Nalcrom). The food challenges were performed in combination with rhinomanometry. The patients were pretreated with cromolyn or placebo by double-blind crossover schedule, in a daily oral dose of 200 mg (four times), starting 3 days before and continuing up to 3 days after the food ingestion challenge. The 38 patients previously developed 25 immediate, 24 late, and 6 delayed nasal responses to food ingestion challenge. Cromolyn fully prevented 15, significantly decreased 9, and was ineffective in 1 case of immediate nasal response. Of the 24 cases of late response, cromolyn fully prevented 10, significantly decreased 12, and was ineffective in 2. Of the 6 cases of delayed response, 2 cases were decreased significantly by cromolyn, while the other 4 cases were not. The protection effects of oral cromolyn were highly significant for the immediate and late nasal responses and nonsignificant for delayed responses. It can be concluded that cromolyn in a daily oral dose of 200 mg four times prevented the immediate and late nasal responses to ingested food.

Identification and quantitation of source from hemoglobin of blood and blood mixtures by high performance liquid chromatography.

The described technique offers a sensitive and reproducible method for inferring the source of over 50 different animal species from bloodstains and blood mixtures. Hemoglobins from each of the species were examined using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in chromatographic times of less than 25 mins. The HPLC method complements and furthers current methodology for identification of species of origin. HPLC analysis is particularly well suited for the quantitative analysis of blood and blood mixtures and is applicable to species for which antisera are unavailable. The sensitivity of the method (hemoglobin amounts down to 1.2 micrograms) lends itself to the analysis of blood mixtures in which only a small percentage of the mixture represents blood from a given species. Such resolution and quantitation is applicable to wildlife forensic casework.

Prazosin concentration monitoring in the treatment of prostatic adenoma.

In a prospective study of 32 patients with BPH treated with Minipress (prazosin), determinations of drug plasma levels were carried out. The comparison of clinical results and serum plasma levels enabled optimalization of the dosage in long-term therapy.

[Evaluation of the relative biological availability of amiodarone Polfa preparation after extravascular administration of a single dose]. / Ocena wzglednej dostepnosci biologicznej amiodaronu z preparatu amiodarone Polfa po jednorazowym podaniu pozanaczyniowym u ludzi.

Relative bioavailability of amiodarone was studied in 10 healthy volunteers after its 600 mg single dose administration. Mean values of individual maximal concentrations and time for reaching them did not significantly differ and were respectively 0.828 +/- 0.401 microgram/ml and 4.4 +/- 1.5 h for Amiodarone preparation Polfa and 0.541 +/- 0.207 microgram/ml and 5.2 +/- 1.6 h for Cordarone preparation. Bioavailability extent (EBA) of examined preparation was 120 per cent in comparison with the standard one. Amiodarone absorption from both preparations was slow and individually diversified. Absorption rate constant Ka did not statistically significant differ and was respectively 0.35 +/- 0.10 1/h and 0.49 +/- 0.35 1/h. Obtained data indicated that both preparations were biologically equivalent.

[Comparative evaluation of biological availability and anti-arrhythmia effectiveness of Mexicard (mexiletine Polfa)]. / Ocena porównawcza biodostepnosci i skutecznosci antyarytmicznej Mexicordu (meksyletyny Polfa).

In 16 healthy males bioavailability of Mexicord (Polfa) was studied, in comparison with mexiletine of foreign made. Bioavailability extent (EBA) of Mexicord was over 99% in comparison with a standard drug. Comparative study of antiarrhythmic activity and side effects was performed in 32 patients with frequent ventricular premalure beats and nearly in a half of them resistant to antiarrhythmic agents. Mexicord was effective in 47% of treated patients, and side effects (most often nausea) were observed in 28% of patients, but only in 1 case therapy withdrawal was necessary. Statistical study proved a lack of significant differences in antiarrhythmic effectiveness and side effects between Mexicord (Polfa) and a drug of foreign made.

[Enuresis and encopresis as a reaction to food]. / Enuresis en encopresis als reactie op voedingsmiddelen.

A meanwhile 10-year old girl, suffering from diurnal and nocturnal enuresis and encopresis since she was a baby, had been repeatedly examined and treated by various medical specialists and a homeopathic doctor without any significant improvement. The incontinence persisted. Finally her problem was solved after an allergological examination. The skin tests and specific IgE antibodies were positive for various foods, some of them confirmed later by food ingestion challenge. She was put on a complete elimination diet, combined with oral disodium cromoglycate, and has been free of all complaints since 1 1/2 years.

The bioavailability of injectable, amorphous form of aztreonam.

Amorphos injectable form of aztreonam (BIOKTAM) was prepared. It was shown that after intramuscular or intravenous administration there are not any considerable differences in the bioavailability of aztreonam from BIOKTAM and of the drug from AZACTAM.