Ocular pharmacokinetics of subconjunctivally administered cyclosporine in the rabbit.

The authors assessed the ocular toxicity and pharmacokinetics of subconjunctivally and intravenously administered cyclosporine in New Zealand white rabbits. Fifteen rabbits received a subconjunctival injection of 5 (five animals), 10 (five animals) or 25 (five animals) mg of cyclosporine in 0.1 mL (intravenous solution of Sandimmune [50 mg/mL]); 5 mg was found to be the maximum tolerable dose.

Effect of subconjunctivally administered antineoplastics on experimentally induced intraocular malignant tumour.

Twice-weekly subconjunctival injections of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), cytarabine (ARA-C) and methotrexate (12.5 mg, 20 mg, 75 mg and 12.5 mg per dose respectively) were used to treat Greene melanoma implanted in the anterior chamber of the eyes of three groups of New Zealand rabbits: group 1 (14 animals), the control group, received saline, group 2 (16 animals) received treatment beginning immediately after tumour implantation and group 3 (15 animals) received treatment starting 1 week after implantation.

Cyclic alternating chemotherapy for small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Eighty-two previously untreated patients with small cell cancer of the lung were treated with six cycles of two alternating drug regimens: a new combination of mitomycin, methotrexate, and etoposide; and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine. No maintenance chemotherapy was used. Consolidative thoracic irradiation and prophylactic cranial irradiation were employed.

Ocular absorption and toxicity of methotrexate in the dog.

The ocular absorption, elimination and toxicity of 12.5 mg of methotrexate in 0.5 cc administered subconjunctivally was studied in the dog.

5-FU infusion in advanced colorectal cancer: a comparison of three dose schedules.

Ninety-four patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma were treated by continuous iv 5-FU infusion on three different dose schedules. Thirty-three patients received a 72-hour infusion of 5-FU (30 mg/kg/24 hours) every 3 weeks (Group A); 31 received a 72-hour infusion of 5-FU (30 mg/kg/24 hours) every 2 weeks (Group B); and 30 received a 48-hour infusion of 5-FU (30 mg/kg/24 hours) every week (Group C). Although this was a sequential nonrandomized study of the dose schedules, the groups were comparable with respect to various prognostic factors.

Effects of subconjunctivally injected antineoplastic agents on three models of corneal inflammation.

Three models of corneal inflammation--acute toxic keratitis, phlyctenular keratitis and corneal graft rejection--were induced in rabbits and treated with subconjunctival injections of antineoplastic agents (methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, 5-fluorouracil and 6-mercaptopurine) and Solu-Medrol (methylprednisolone sodium succinate). The inflammations responded to the drugs to various degrees when compared with the response in control animals treated with saline. Cytosine arabinoside effected a slight decrease in the clinical features of acute toxic keratitis, methotrexate was superior in decreasing inflammation and neovascularization in phlyctenular keratitis, and Solu-Medrol appeared to be the most useful in the treatment of graft rejection.

Ocular pharmacokinetics of subconjunctivally versus intravenously administered 6-mercaptopurine.

The levels of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) were measured in the anterior chamber aqueous, the vitreous and the serum of rabbits 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours following subconjunctival or intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg in 0.5 mL of saline, the maximum tolerated dose as determined experimentally.

Treatment of ocular leukemia with local chemotherapy.

Two cases of human ocular leukemic recurrence were treated by combined local chemotherapy. Both cases were histologically proven with aspiration needle biopsy and successfully treated with subconjunctival injections of methotrexate, cytarabine, and corticosteroids.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 5-fluorouracil following subconjunctival versus intravenous administration.

Two groups of six rabbits each were given 6.25 mg/kg of 6-carbon-14-labelled 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) either subconjunctivally or intravenously. The levels of the drug in the serum, the urine and the ocular humours 0.

Subconjunctival versus intravenous cytosine arabinoside: effect of route of administration and ocular toxicity.

The ocular penetration, elimination, and toxicity of equidose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) (37.5 mg/kg) following subconjunctival versus intravenous injection were compared in rabbits. Drug levels were measured at 0.

Combined local chemotherapy for a spontaneously occurring intraocular tumour in a cat.

A spontaneously occurring tumour in the anterior chamber of the eye of a cat was diagnosed by aspiration needle biopsy as a malignant lymphosarcoma. Combined local chemotherapy, consisting of subconjunctival injection of methylprednisolone acetate and methotrexate along with topical administration of dexamethasone, led to rapid resolution of the lesion. Over 18 weeks of follow-up there was no recurrence.

Steroid receptors in adjuvant hormonal therapy for breast cancer.

Using a computerized mathematical model the authors found that either a small [5%] or large [50%] hormone-dependent reduction in tumour cell population at the beginning of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer greatly increases the probability fo achieving a cure. The fact that even a minor response to hormonal therapy early in the treatment of the tumor is effective underlines the importance of using estrogen receptors to to select potential responders in whom a cure is at least a strong theoretical possibility.

Concentrations of tritiated methotrexate in ocular compartments, serum and urine after subconjunctival and intravenous injection.

Forty-eight rabbits were given 6.25 mg/kg of tritiated methotrexate subconjunctivally or intravenously. Concentrations of the drug in ocular compartments, the serum and the urine were measured 0.

Intraocular penetration of subconjunctivally administered 14C-fluorouracil in rabbits.

Fluorouracil is given for a variety of neoplasms by various administrative routes. Toxicity of susceptible normal tissue limits systemic dosage, but at this level intraocular tissue may not receive tumor-inhibiting concentrations. Subconjunctival administration of 6.

The utilization of a clinical pharmacist--a way of decreasing medications in a community hospital.

This article summarizes the results of a study designed to evaluate clinical pharmacy services as a means of reducing drug usage in a 170-bed community hospital. A total of 591 medication orders for 93 hospitalized patients were evaluated. A pharmacy resident made recommendations regarding the appropriateness of the medication order to the attending physicians.