Thoracotomy for postchemotherapy resection of pulmonary residual tumor mass in patients with nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors: aggressive surgical resection is justified.

In patients with disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT), a retroperitoneal residual tumor mass (RRTM) and/or a pulmonary residual tumor mass (PRTM) are often present after successful treatment with cisplatin-based polychemotherapy. Results and complications of postchemotherapy resection of PRTM were studied and survival was calculated. In the period 1979 to 1996, 31 patients with a median age of 28 years (range, 17 to 44 years) underwent 32 thoracotomies for the resection of a PRTM.

Importance of a new tumor marker TRA-1-60 in the follow-up of patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors.

Background: TRA-1-60 is a new tumor marker for embryonal carcinoma-positive nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT). Upper normal reference value (RV) and serum half-life (t1/2) were determined. The value was determined in the follow-up of 154 patients with stage I NSTGCT.

Arteriolar constriction in mild-to-moderate essential hypertension: an old concept requiring reconsideration?

Objective: To investigate differences between in-vivo properties of a vascular bed in hypertensive patients and normotensive controls.

Design: Despite the controversy about the origin of essential hypertension and its accompanying vascular changes, it is generally assumed that the characteristic increase in peripheral resistance when hypertension progresses is caused by arteriolar constriction. Yet, there is little experimental evidence that this assumption generally holds in vivo.

Complications of the post-chemotherapy resection of retroperitoneal residual tumour mass in patients with non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumours.

Objective: To evaluate the resection of the retroperitoneal residual tumour mass (RRTM) for histological examination after chemotherapy in patients with disseminated non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumours (NSTGCTs), with particular attention to surgical morbidity.

Patients And Methods: From 1979 to 1995, 112 patients (mean age 28 years, range 16-53) with NSTGCT had residual disease after chemotherapy for which surgical evaluation was indicated; the histology of the residual tumour and the surgical complications were assessed. Possible associations between the occurrence of surgical complications and the age of the patient, size of the residual tumour, operative duration, previous laparotomy and pathological findings were evaluated.

Complications of venous access ports in 132 patients with disseminated testicular cancer treated with polychemotherapy.

Purpose: Venous access ports (VAPs) can be used to administer polychemotherapy to patients with malignancies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative and late complications related to VAP implantations and to analyze factors that may predict the development of complications.

Patients And Methods: During the period 1983 to 1994, 135 VAPs were implanted in 132 patients with disseminated testicular tumors.

Investigation of the arterial and venous upper arm vascular bed.

Studies concerning vascular changes in hypertension and exercise have shown an increasing need to investigate the properties of a complete vascular bed in vivo. In this study, the repeatability of a non-invasive method for quantifying properties of the vascular bed of an upper arm segment, was investigated in two groups of volunteers (age 22-55 years). One group of subjects (n = 9) were measured twice at a 15 min interval.

Detection of recurrence in patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors and consequences for further follow-up: a single-center 10-year experience.

Purpose: A wait-and-see policy for patients with stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT) was evaluated in a prospective study. The frequency and time of recurrence, detection of recurrence, and presence of unfavorable prognostic factors were investigated.

Patients And Methods: During the period 1982 to 1992, 154 patients with stage I NSTGCT (median age, 29 years) underwent orchidectomy and were monitored at follow-up evaluation with physical examinations, alfafetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human choriogonadotropin (hCG) levels, chest x-rays (CXR), and computed tomographic (CT) scans of the abdomen and chest.

Comparative effects of felbamate and other compounds on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced convulsions and lethality in mice.

Felbamate and selected compounds were evaluated for their ability to protect against N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced convulsions and lethality in mice. Convulsions produced by intracerebroventricular administration of NMDA (0.8 micrograms per mouse) were antagonized by felbamate, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, valproate, diazepam, 2-amino-5-phosphonovalergic acid (APV), dextromethorphan and ketamine.

Effects of felbamate and other anticonvulsant drugs in two models of status epilepticus in the rat.

Felbamate was compared with several antiepileptic drugs for protective effects in two rat models of status epilepticus. Felbamate was ten times more potent against pilocarpine-induced seizures in lithium-treated rats than in lithium-free animals. Diazepam, valproate and phenobarbital were effective in both the high dose pilocarpine and lithium-pilocarpine models.

Interaction of felbamate with several other antiepileptic drugs against seizures induced by maximal electroshock in mice.

The anticonvulsant effects of felbamate (FBM) alone or in combination with phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), valproate (VPA), or phenobarbital (PB) were investigated against maximal electroshock (MES) seizures in mice. Nonprotective doses of the prototype antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) enhanced the protective effects of FBM against electrically induced seizures, as shown by significant reduction of FBM ED50 values. Toxicity as determined by rotorod test was not significantly potentiated, however, and the protective index (PI = TD50/ED50) of FBM was increased by > 100% for each AED interaction.

Interaction of felbamate and diazepam against maximal electroshock seizures and chemoconvulsants in mice.

The anticonvulsant effects of felbamate alone or in combination with diazepam were investigated against maximal electroshock-, pentylenetetrazol-, isoniazid- and bicuculline-induced seizures in mice. A single subprotective dose of felbamate, a dose which offers no protection to animals when combined with diazepam, enhanced the protective effects of diazepam against seizures induced by electroshock, pentylenetetrazol and isoniazid, as measured by significant reduction of ED50 values. However, felbamate failed to significantly affect the protective action of diazepam against bicuculline.