The effects of slow breathing on postural muscles during standing perturbations in young adults.

Maintaining standing balance is vital to completing activities in daily living. Recent findings suggest an interaction between cardiovascular and postural control systems. Volitional slow breathing can modulate the cardiovascular response and affect postural control during quiet standing. However, the effects of slow breathing during threats to standing balance have not been studied. The study examined the effect of slow breathing on the latency and amplitude of postural muscle responses to perturbations of the base of support in healthy, young adults. Twenty-seven participants completed two balance perturbation tasks in standing on an instrumented split-belt treadmill while breathing spontaneously and breathing at 6 breaths per minute. Each perturbation task consisted of 25 posteriorly directed translations of the treadmill belts every 8-12 s. Muscle latency and muscle burst amplitude were measured using surface electromyography from the right limb for the quadriceps (QUADS), medial hamstring (MH), gastrocnemii (GASTROC), soleus (SOL), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle groups, while a respiratory belt was used to record respiratory rate. Results indicated that during the slow breathing task both muscle latency (p = 0.022) and muscle burst amplitude (p = 0.011) decreased compared to spontaneous breathing. The EMG pre-perturbation activation was not significantly different in any muscle group between conditions (p > 0.167). The study found that reducing respiratory rate to approximately 6 breaths per minute affects the neuromuscular responses in the lower limb muscles to perturbations.

Short communication: Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling and genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bovine mastitis in Poland.

Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant causative agent of bovine mastitis, a disease that remains a major economic burden for the dairy industry worldwide. In this study, the antimicrobial resistance patterns and the genetic composition of 80 S. aureus mastitis isolates collected from 14 dairy farms in Eastern Poland were determined. Of the 10 antimicrobial agents evaluated, only testing for penicillin G produced drug resistance. As 41% of the S. aureus isolates were penicillin resistant, this drug along with other ß-lactamase-sensitive ß-lactams, should rather not be considered for the treatment of bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus. Upon genotyping, with a triplex PCR method, a total of 11 distinct PCR types were produced. The population structure of S. aureus isolates was highly clonal, with 1 predominant genotype circulating on each farm. The observed similarities in the genotype composition of S. aureus populations from geographically distant farms underscore the significance of interfarm transmission of S. aureus in Poland. This, in turn, argues for the establishment of a nationwide surveillance program for bovine mastitis due to this pathogen.

Prospective randomized trial of docetaxel versus mitomycin plus vinblastine in patients with metastatic breast cancer progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. 304 Study Group.

PURPOSE: This phase III study compared docetaxel with mitomycin plus vinblastine (MV) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n=392) were randomized to receive either docetaxel 100 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) every 3 weeks (n=203) or mitomycin 12 mg/m2 i.v. every 6 weeks plus vinblastine 6 mg/m2 i.v. every 3 weeks (n=189), for a maximum of 10 3-week cycles. RESULTS: In an intention-to-treat analysis, docetaxel produced significantly higher response rates than MV overall (30.0% v 11.6%; P < .0001), as well as in patients with visceral involvement (30% v 11%), liver metastases (33% v 7%), or resistance to previous anthracycline agents (30% v 7%). Median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival were significantly longer with docetaxel than MV (19 v 1 weeks, P=.001, and 1 1.4 v 8.7 months, P=.0097, respectively). Neutropenia grade 3/4 was more frequent with docetaxel (93.1 % v62.5%; P < .05); thrombocytopenia grade 3/4 was more frequent with MV (12.0% v 4.1%; P < .05). Severe acute or chronic nonhematologic adverse events were infrequent in both groups. Withdrawal rates because of adverse events (MV, 10.1%; docetaxel, 13.8%) or toxic death (MV, 1.6%; docetaxel, 2.0%) were similar in both groups. Quality-of-life analysis was limited by a number of factors, but results were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel is significantly superior to MV in terms of response, TTP, and survival. The safety profiles of both therapies are manageable and tolerable. Docetaxel represents a clear treatment option for patients with MBC progressing despite previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Tolerability and efficacy of GM-CSF [Leucomax] in patients with small cell lung cancer treated with intensive chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate tolerability and efficacy of Leucomax (Sandoz/Schering Plough) used for neutropenia in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with etoposide and cisplatin. The potential influence of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on chemotherapy relative dose intensity (RDI) was also evaluated. The chemotherapy used was the following, cisplatin 50 mg m-2 i.v. 1 and 7 day, etoposide 170 mg m-2 i.v. 3-5 days, q 3-4 weeks. Patients received a median of six cycles (range 2-8) over 4-36 weeks (median: 20). Thirty-two consecutive patients were treated, six were excluded. Eleven patients received GM-CSF 5 micrograms kg-1 s.c. due to absolute neutrophil count (ANC), 1000/mm3 until recovery (ANC > 2000 mm3) or during 7 days, and thereafter prophylactically 24 hours post subsequent chemotherapy cycles for 7 days. Four patients received single GM-CSF course during the terminal disease phase. In 11 patients, there was no neutropenia requiring GM-CSF during the whole treatment course. Toxicity of chemotherapy was high, including thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anaemia, mucositis, fever and hypotension. GM-CSF toxicity was the following, first dose reaction-one patient, local erythema-two patients, arthralgia-one patient, hypotension, chills, fever requiring GM-CSF discontinuation one patient RDI of cisplatin/etoposide was 0.77/0.62 in GM-CSF group, and 0.90/ 0.80 in patients who didn't receive Leucomax. Overall objective response rate to chemotherapy and complete response rate were 80% (21/26), 26% (7/26) and median survival of all patients was 10 months. Median disease free survival was 8 months. Four patients are alive, two patients lost during progression, 20 died. Administration of GM-CSF did not appear to improve RDI of chemotherapy, overall response rate (RR) nor survival in this phase I/II clinical study. RDI of chemotherapy was reduced in patients receiving GM-CSF due to thrombocytopenia and/or extrahaematologic toxicity of chemotherapy.

[Value of adjuvant treatment applying the "CYVDIC" program after surgical treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. Preliminary communication]. / Wartosc leczenia uzupelniajacego programem--"cyvadic" po operacji miesaków tkanek miekkich doniesienie wstepne.

The EORTC Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Cooperative Group carries out since 1978, prospective study of the "CYVADIC" (Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin , Vincristine and Dacarbazine) programme applied in the postoperative course in patients with soft tissue sarcomas. The group of 24 patients treated in the Oncology Center-Institute in Warsaw entering this international programme is presented. Results so far obtained by the EORTC Cooperative Group concerning 358 patients introduced from over 15 oncologic centers from various European countries are discussed. Neither the improved survival nor extension of the free of metastases period in patients treated with chemotherapy have been observed in comparison with the control groups. The authors conclude that at present time there is not any evidence indicating the favourable results of treatment applying the "Cyvadic" programme as adjuvant therapy in the postoperative course of treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

[Personal experience with VP-16 in the treatment of malignant lymphomas at the Chemotherapy Clinic of the Oncology Center--M. Sklodowskiej-Curie Institute in Warsaw]. / Wlasne doswiadczenia w zastosowaniu VP-16 w leczeniu rozrostów nowotworowych ukladu chlonnego w materiale Kliniki Chemioterapii Centrum Onkologii--Instytutu im. M. Sklodowskiej-Curie w Warszawie.

Eighteen patients with advanced malignant lymphomas who had progressed with previous chemotherapy were treated with LEPP (chlorambucil, VP-16, procarbazine, prednisone). One complete response and 5 partial remissions were observed, yielding an overall response rate of 33%, with median response duration of about 2 months. Twenty three patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease all who had progressed with previous chemotherapy (MOPP and ABVD) and 19 of them also after radiation therapy were treated with third line salvage chemotherapy consisting of OPEC (VP- 16, chlorambucil, vincristine and prednisone). Two complete response and 3 partial remissions were obtained for overall response rate of 21% with median duration of about 9 months.

Early results on modification of combined modality treatment (chemotherapy and surgery) for testicular cancer.

Early results of modified combined modality of treatment (chemotherapy and surgery) of 58 patients with nonseminoma of the testis treated in the Institute of Oncology in Warsaw from January 1983 to December 1985 indicated a significant improvement in comparison to the preceding period of time (70 vs. 80% probability of 5-year survival). The treatment was well tolerated and no patient refused therapy. The authors suggest that this improvement can depend on using a more effective program of chemotherapy in half the patients (VAB-6) and the majority of less advanced treated cases than in the last period. This problem will be the subject of further investigation.

A phase II study of intravenous navelbine and doxorubicin combination in previously untreated advanced breast carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The combination of vinorelbine and doxorubicin, two very active drugs in metastatic breast cancer, has demonstrated impressive results in terms of efficacy, at the price of cardiac toxicity (10% grades 2-4) due to the cumulative dose of doxorubicin delivered. This study was designed to divide the dose of doxorubicin into two administrations (day 1 and 8) in order to reduce the toxicity profile, while keeping the same level of efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight chemotherapy-naïve metastatic breast cancer patients entered into the study and were treated with vinorelbine, 25 mg/m(2), and doxorubicin, 25 mg/m(2), both on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks. Thirty-seven patients were evaluable for efficacy and 38 for tolerance; 71% of the patients presented with visceral metastases. RESULTS: Patients received a median of seven cycles and 94.9% of the intended dose intensity of both drugs. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was reported in 10% of cycles. Alopecia was reported in 89.5% of the patients, and grade 2 nausea/vomiting in 9.3% of the cycles. Grade 1-2 cardiac toxicity was noted in 23.7% of the patients. The objective response rate of the patients was 78.4% (nearly 81% for patients with visceral metastases); the median duration of response was 11.6 months, the median survival 21.6 months, and the 1-year survival 75.2%. CONCLUSION: This schedule of vinorelbine/doxorubicin represents an active and well-tolerated combination.