Prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled trial comparing adjuvant interferon alfa and isotretinoin with interferon alfa alone in stage IIA and IIB melanoma: European Cooperative Adjuvant Melanoma Treatment Study Group.

Purpose: The combination of interferon alfa (IFNalpha) and isotretinoin has shown a direct antiproliferative effect on human melanoma cell lines, but it remained unclear whether this combination is more effective than IFNalpha alone in patients with metastatic melanoma. We evaluated safety and efficacy of IFNalpha and isotretinoin compared with IFNalpha alone as adjuvant treatment in patients with primary malignant melanoma stage IIA and IIB.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 407 melanoma patients in stage IIA (301 patients) and IIB (106 patients) were randomly assigned to either IFNalpha and isotretinoin (isotretinoin group; 206 patients) or IFNalpha and placebo (placebo group; 201 patients) after excision of the primary tumor.

Long-term disorders of the blood-aqueous barrier after small-incision cataract surgery.

Purpose: To determine the long-term function of the blood-aqueous barrier after small-incision cataract surgery with implantation of a foldable intraocular lens.

Methods: The blood-aqueous barrier function in 74 eyes of 62 patients who underwent cataract surgery was examined using a laser flare-cell meter. The measurements were performed pre-operatively and post-operatively between 12 and 35 months after surgery.

A prospective controlled trial comparing weekly self-testing and self-dosing with the standard management of patients on stable oral anticoagulation.

Oral anticoagulant therapy requires frequent laboratory controls of its intensity to assure therapeutic efficacy and to prevent potentially life threatening adverse events. It is generally assumed, that increasing the frequency of testing would lead to a better control of anticoagulation. We tested this hypothesis in a prospective controlled trial comparing weekly self-testing and self-dosing (self management) with the standard-management of these patients in an anticoagulation clinic.

Twenty years of the ethics committee at the medical faculty of the University of Vienna. An interim report.

The organisation and assessment procedures of the ethics committee of the University of Vienna medical faculty are described. Data concerning the work of the committee from 1993 through to 1997 are given in detail. Finally, the results of a survey among physicians on the acceptance of the committee's work are presented.

Immunoglobulin administration to fetuses with anemia due to alloimmunization to D.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine fetal tolerance of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), given directly at the time of intravascular transfusion, and its effects on fetal hemolysis and pregnancy outcome in the setting of alloimmunization to D.

Study Design And Methods: Thirteen consecutive D+ fetuses requiring transfusion for maternal alloimmunization received high-dose IVIG (1.0 g/kg) and red cell transfusions.