Donation of stem cells from blood or bone marrow: results of a randomised study of safety and complaints.

Biological consequences and physical complaints were compared for donors randomly assigned either to blood stem cell (BSC) or bone marrow (BM) donation. In the period 1994-1999, 61 consecutive donors were included. The BSC donors were given G-CSF 10 microg/kg s.c., daily during 5 days before the first leukapheresis. Nineteen donors had one leukapheresis, 10 required two and one donor needed three leukaphereses in order to reach the target cell number of 2 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg bw of the recipient. A median platelet nadir of 102 x 10(9)/l was reached shortly after the last leukapheresis. Three weeks post harvest, 17 of 30 BSC donors had a mild leukopenia. Six had a leukopenia lasting more than a year before returning to normal values. Both groups were monitored prospectively through a standardised questionnaire completed by the donors. BSC donation was significantly less burdensome than BM donation and was preferred by the donors. The short-term risks of BSC mobilisation and harvest seem negligible. The potential long-term effects of G-CSF are unresolved and the donors must be followed closely.

[Nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis as a possible adverse effect of non-selective beta blockers]. / Nesepolypper og kronisk sinusitt som mulig bivirkning av uselektive betablokkere.

Five patients presented with unusually severe and therapy-resistant rhinitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyps. Long courses of antibiotics did not cure the sinusitis, and recurrences appeared soon after surgical intervention. The patients used non-selective beta blockers for hypertension or as secondary prophylaxis after cardiac infarction, either timolol (n = 4) or propranolol (n = 1), and the nasal problems developed with a latency ranging from a few days up to four years of beta blocker use. Two of the patients discontinued the beta blocker for reasons relating to cardiovascular status and experienced complete remission of the nasal problems without further treatment. In the three remaining patients the therapy was withdrawn. The symptoms cleared within weeks, and did not recur. The patients who needed beta blockade experienced no recurrence when put on beta-1-selective blocker (metoprolol or atenolol).

[Tablet strength and dosage of thiazides in hypertension must be reduced]. / Tablettstyrke og dosering av tiazider ved hypertensjon må ned.

A number of studies indicate that hydrochlorothiazide doses above 50 mg daily provide little additional hypotensive effect but progressively greater hypokalemic effect. From these and similar studies on other thiazides a daily dose range for thiazides of 12.5-50 mg for hydrochlorothiazide, 1.25-5 mg for bendroflumethiazide, 1-2 mg for trichloromethiazide, 0.5-1 mg for polythiazide, and 6.25-25 mg for chlorthalidone appears to be sufficient. Because amiloride enhances the natriuretic effect of thiazides, this agent has not only a Mg2+/K(+)-sparkling effect, but also a potential thiazide-sparing effect. For this reason, the recommended doses of fixed combinations of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride should be lowered to the range 6.25 mg/0.625 mg--25 mg/2.5 mg.

[Dependence on carisoprodol (Somadril)? A prospective withdrawal study among prisoners]. / Avhengighet av karisoprodol (Somadril)? En prospektiv seponeringsundersøkelse blant fengselsinnsatte.

Carisoprodol (Somadril) was gradually withdrawn for a fortnight in nine male prisoners who had been taking daily doses of from 700 to 2,100 mg for at least nine months. The patients were assessed clinically during the withdrawal period, with special attention to the occurrence of abstinence symptoms. Most of the patients reported mental distress, such as anxiety, insomnia and irritability. Cranial and muscular pain and vegetative symptoms were also frequently reported. Most of these symptoms were transient, and no seizures or psychotic reactions occurred. Our information from drug addicts indicates that carisoprodol can be misused as a narcotic. The occurrence of abstinence symptoms during withdrawal supports this supposition. We propose a more gradual reduction of the doses when terminating medication with carisoprodol in general practice.

Ultrasonography versus intravenous urography in the evaluation of patients with microscopic haematuria.

Urography and transabdominal ultrasonography of the urinary tract were compared in 193 patients with microhaematuria. Of 16 expansile lesions described at urography, 1 renal carcinoma was detected by both methods. Although the number of patients studied is too small for firm conclusions to be drawn, ultrasonography seems to offer advantages when compared with urography.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of serum lipoproteins in rabbits with implanted VX-2 carcinoma.

Serum from two groups of rabbits, all offspring from the same parents, was subjected to NMR spectroscopy in order to monitor the progress of malignant disease. One group had VX-2 carcinoma implanted in the kidney while the control group were sham-operated with injection of physiological saline. Later, the control group was subjected to dietary restrictions to produce a weight loss equivalent to that of the rabbits with tumor. Progressive cancerous growth with cachexia produced characteristic changes in the lipoprotein spectra distinctly different from those induced by weight loss induced by food intake restrictions. A shoulder on the high-field side of the methylene resonance observed in the control spectra disappeared during the progress of cancerous growth. These spectral changes, however, are not adequately described by line width measurements at half-height as suggested for the original Fossel test.

Continuing reject-repeat film analysis program.

A continuing image quality assurance and control program has been employed in the Department for over 9 years. One of the tools used in assessing quality has been reject-repeat analyses performed 9 times. The reject rate dropped from 15% in 1980-1981 to 8.4% in 1982. After moving to a new department with new film processing systems and, in part, new diagnostic equipment, the rejection rate increased to 13.2%. New and renewed procedures such as increased control and adjustment of technical equipment (in particular the automatic daylight film processing systems), information and education, decreased the rejection rates to 9.2 and 6.6% on 2 analysis occasions in 1987, and to 6.4% in 1988. Image quality assurance and control have to be continuous activities if they are to yield favourable and economically justifiable results.

Effects of toluene on protein synthesis and the interaction with ethanol in hepatocytes isolated from fed and fasted rats.

The effects of three different concentrations (about 10, 100 and 1000 microM) of toluene on protein synthesis were studied in hepatocytes isolated from fed and fasted rats after 60 and 120 min. of incubation. The interaction between ethanol (60 mM) and the low and high toluene concentrations were also tested. To measure protein synthesis, 14C-valine was used as the precursor amino acid. Total valine concentration was 2 mM to ensure near-constant specific radioactivity of precursor. Toluene concentrations were measured by head-space gas chromatography. Protein synthesis was unchanged in the presence of low toluene concentrations. Intermediate toluene concentration decreased protein synthesis by about 20% and high toluene concentration decreased protein synthesis by about 60%. Protein synthesis was similar in cells from fed and fasted rats. Ethanol alone inhibited protein synthesis by 20-30%, more in fasted than in fed rats. Toluene and ethanol in combination inhibited protein synthesis additively. The high toluene concentration with or without ethanol appeared to inhibit synthesis/secretion of export proteins in hepatocytes from fasted rats. In conclusion, our study indicates that toluene in relatively high concentrations inhibits general protein synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. Toluene and ethanol seems to inhibit protein synthesis additively.

Percutaneous antegrade dilatation of distal ureteral strictures and obstructions.

Since the first ureteral dilatations in experimental dogs were performed, the technique in human has been accepted and improved over the years. Balloon dilatation has been successful, but it has been very difficult or impossible to force the guide wires through long total strictures, especially those localized distally. In order to recanalize very narrow strictures or total occlusions located in the distal ureter, a modified angiographic technique was developed and tested in 12 ureters in 10 patients.