Early diagnosis of metastases in the epidural space

Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and myelography, were performed in most of 89 consecutive patients with X ray evidence of vertebral metastases to test the value of these examinations in the early detection of neoplastic involvement of the epidural space. Patients were divided into 3 groups. In 7 cases (group I), the vertebral metastases were asymptomatic. Fifty nine (group II) had symptoms or signs of radicular lesions but not of spinal cord compression. Twenty three showed various stages of spinal cord or cauda equina compression (group III). Involvement of the epidural space was demonstrated on myelography in almost 50% of patients from groups I and II by a partial (29%) or complete (19%) arrest of the opaque medium. In addition, 5 patients in group II with normal myelograms had increased levels of CSF protein. Leucocyte counts were within normal limits in all patients. Neoplastic cells were found in 2 cases. It is suggested that in patients with only radiological evidence of neoplastic involvement of the epidural space and complete myelographic blocks, laminectomy, followed by radiation therapy, should be performed. Patients showing partial blocks should receive radiation therapy only.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Peritoneoscopy as a diagnostic supplement to liver function tests and liver scan in patients with carcinoma

SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

High-dose cisplatin with fluid and mannitol-induced diuresis in advanced lung cancer: A phase II clinical trial of the EORTC lung cancer working party (Belgium)

SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Phase I-II clinical trial with mitoclomine (NSC 114575) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Phase I-II trial of mitoclomine in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is described. Twenty seven courses of mitoclomine were given to 20 patients. This phase I-II study shows that mitoclomine is an active agent in reducing both blood lymphocytosis and organ infiltration in CLL. The neutropenic effect seems to be less important than the lymphopenic effect. Nevertheless, severe neutropenia which was observed in half of the patients represents the greatest threat in the administration of mitoclomine. Gastrointestinal side effects are tolerable in most patients and no alopecia is noted. When mitoclomine is given as a continuous treatment the daily dose of 100 mg seems sufficient to obtain a good therapeutic response. It should be worthwhile to test an intermittent dosage schedule, which was proven useful with chlorambucil. We propose to compare mitoclomine with other agents active in CLL in terms of therapeutic effectiveness and cross resistance.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

LES RECEPTEURS HORMONAUX DES TUMEURS MALIGNES DU SEIN

Tissue samples from 166 primary and 136 metastatic breast cancers were analysed for the presence of estrogen receptors. It was found by measuring the affinity of the cytoplasmic fraction of these samples for 3H estradiol 17β that receptors were present in 72% and 54% of primary and metastatic cancers respectively. Receptor concentration varied among sample in an apparently continuous distribution from zero to 2,080 femtomoles per mg tissue protein. This suggests that mammary tumors are different from one another more in a quantitative than in a qualitative way. Detectable amounts of receptors were found in samples from mammary dysplasia, fibroadenomas as well as from one papilloma; none was detected in samples from non tumorous mammary glands, nipple, areola or skin. At mastectomy, no correlation was found between the presence or absence of receptors in the primary tumors, and presence or absence of metastatic axillary nodes. On the other hand both the primary and its axillary metastases almost always displayed the same characteristic as far as presence or absence of receptors was concerned. Analysis of clinical studies reported seems to indicate that women with advanced breast cancer respond in a fair proportion of cases to various endocrine treatments when tumor tissue biopsies contain estrogen receptors whereas the probability of a response is very low in their absence.SCOPUS: NotDefined.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Significance of quantitative assessment of estrogen receptors for endocrine therapy in advanced breast cancer

The predictive significant of quantitative assessment of estrogen receptors in tumor tissue was analyzed in women with advanced breast carcinoma. Receptor concentration was measured by the 3H-estradiol binding capacity of the cytosol fraction of biopsies taken before initiation of the treatment. The E.O.R.T.C. criteria for the assessment of the patients' response were used. In a total of 34 assessments, 25 biopsies contained receptors; the remaining ones were negative. Objective remission to various endocrine therapies was recorded in only eight of the receptor-positive patients. Responses occurred along the whole scale of receptor concentrations with an apparent crowding in the region of the higher values. Linear logistic regression analysis revealed that among 12 variables of known prognostic value, receptor concentration was the most significant in relation to therapeutic response. Other significant variables were bone involvement and age. Computations yielded formulas that are presented in graph form and provide an estimate of the probability of a given patient to respond to endocrine treatments. On the other hand, the results suggest that all patients are possibly hormone dependent, although to variable degrees. The latter concept has very definite therapeutic implications.SCOPUS: ar.jFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

INTEREST RATE PASS-THROUGH IN THE COMMON MONETARY AREA OF THE SACU COUNTRIES

We investigate the interest rate pass-through in the four Common Monetary Area (CMA) countries of the South African Customs Union (SACU). We employ an empirical pass-through model that allows for thresholds, asymmetric adjustment, and structural changes. We show that CMA bank lending markets exhibit quite some degree of homogenization as the pass-through is often fast and complete. Deposit markets are somewhat more heterogeneous by showing differing degrees of interest rate stickiness and asymmetric adjustment. Policy makers should therefore be concerned about imperfect competition which may be at the heart of the remaining cross-country differences in monetary transmission in the CMA. Copyright (c) 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation (c) 2006 Economic Society of South Africa.