ABSTRACT
A sustained-release theophylline preparation in capsule form was compared with standard slow-release theophylline tablets for variation in plasma theophylline concentration, effectiveness and tolerability in 30 adults with chronic broncho-obstructive pathology. They were administered every 12 h and blood samples were collected after 8 days of treatment during the steady-state period. In this double-dummy crossover study, the sequence of the two regimens (sustained-release capsules versus tablets) was selected at random. The results of this study demonstrate that plasma theophylline levels remain within the therapeutic range for both preparations. Effectiveness and tolerability of the two drugs were satisfactory.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases, Obstructive/drug therapy , Theophylline/administration & dosage , Adult , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Asthma/drug therapy , Capsules , Clinical Trials as Topic , Delayed-Action Preparations , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Random Allocation , Respiratory Function Tests , Tablets , Theophylline/blood , Theophylline/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Antitussive Agents/therapeutic use , Benzhydryl Compounds/therapeutic use , Cough/drug therapy , Piperidines/therapeutic use , Propanolamines/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Antitussive Agents/administration & dosage , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Drug Evaluation , Ethers/therapeutic use , Humans , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A correct diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is essential both for prognostic and therapeutic reasons. We used discriminant analysis as a method to optimize the discriminant power of serum tumour marker levels for differentiation between SCLC and NSCLC. A panel of serum markers, including neurone specific enolase (NSE), cytokeratin fragment antigen 21.1 (CYFRA-21.1), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was obtained in 50 consecutive NSCLC and 17 SCLC. Data were analysed by the BMDP statistical program after logarithmic transformation of marker levels. The variables selected were NSE and CYFRA-21.1. Considered together, they were able to give a 97% rate of correct classification. The formula generated (canonic variable, CV) was validated on a group of seven SCLC and 22 NSCLC patients. Only two errors occurred. We therefore conclude that the canonic variable tested, based on NSE and CYFRA-21.1, provides a good discrimination between the two types of lung cancer. The method is rapid, relatively inexpensive, and based on simple serum tests.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Small Cell/diagnosis , Keratins/blood , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/blood , Aged , Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Carcinoembryonic Antigen/blood , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/blood , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/epidemiology , Carcinoma, Small Cell/blood , Carcinoma, Small Cell/epidemiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Discriminant Analysis , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/blood , Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Peptides/blood , Tissue Polypeptide AntigenABSTRACT
This investigation was carried out to evaluate the plasma CEA and TPA levels in normal subjects and in 140 patients with lung cancer: 116 patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 24 patients with small cell carcinoma (SCLC). The CEA and TPA levels were determined simultaneously by radioimmunoassay. The cutoff limit of CEA was found to be 17 U/SORIN, and the cutoff of TPA was 99 U/L. TPA has shown a sensitivity almost twice that of CEA. The relationship between the mean values of CEA and TPA and the stages of NSCLC was statistically significant (P less than 0.01), whereas only the mean values of TPA significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated with extensive and limited disease in SCLC. The determinations of combined CEA and TPA levels (CEA X TPA) (P less than 0.001) correlated significantly with the stage of disease in patients with NSCLC; conversely, the use of CEA X TPA did not correlate with the stage of SCLC.