Variable expression of vasculitis in siblings with familial Mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent and self-limited attacks of serosal inflammation with abdominal pain, chest pain, and arthritis usually accompanied by fever. Different vasculitides such as polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and Henoch-Schönlein syndrome (HSS) may be associated with FMF. We report two sisters of a Turkish family with FMF who developed distinct vasculitides.

Comparison of a 48-hour infusion of 5-fluorouracil without folinic acid with 24-hour folinic acid/5-fluorouracil in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to bolus folinic acid/5-fluorouracil. A prospective cohort study.

Background: Out of various high-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) regimens given with or without folinic acid (FA), the optimal 5-FU schedule has still to be defined as treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Consequently, we compared toxicity, response and survival following two FA/5-FU regimens in 55 CRC patients refractory to bolus FA/5-FU.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients (group A) received 5-FU (60 mg/kg body weight) for 48 h, and 27 (group B) received 2-hour infusions of FA (500 mg/m(2)) and 24-hour infusions of 5-FU (2600 mg/m(2)) until disease progression.

Pharmacokinetic imaging of 11C ethanol with PET in eight patients with hepatocellular carcinomas who were scheduled for treatment with percutaneous ethanol injection.

Purpose: To evaluate the carbon 11 ethanol kinetics with positron emission tomography after intratumoral injection of the tracer and assess its redistribution and dilution in patients who have hepatocellular carcinomas and who were scheduled for treatment with percutaneous ethanol injection.

Materials And Methods: The study included eight patients with hepatocellular carcinomas. 11C ethanol was administered via a puncture needle positioned with ultrasonographic guidance.

18F-labeled fluorouracil positron emission tomography and the prognoses of colorectal carcinoma patients with metastases to the liver treated with 5-fluorouracil.

Background: Although many factors have been investigated in connection with the prognoses of colorectal carcinoma patients with metastases to the liver, a means for evaluating response and prognosis prior to the administration of standard chemotherapy has not been available. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a noninvasive means of measuring the distribution of radiolabeled cytostatic agents in tumor regions.

Methods: Prior to the administration of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy, the authors examined 14 colorectal carcinoma patients with unresectable liver metastases using a single PET scan and 18F-labeled fluorouracil (18F-FU).

Primary hepatic high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic hepatitis C infection.

Little is known about the coincidence of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, although there is an increased incidence of chronic HCV infection with cryoglobulinemia type II and, interestingly, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a few patients. We therefore report on a 74-year-old white male with known chronic hepatitis C virus infection who was admitted to the clinic due to weight loss and pain in the right upper quadrant. Ultrasound examination was performed for suspected hepatocellular carcinoma since a lesion in the left lobe of the liver was seen.

[PET studies with C-11 ethanol in intratumoral therapy of hepatocellular carcinomas].

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a noninvasive functional method for the study of solid tumor perfusion, metabolism and interaction with different therapeutic agents. The aim of the study was the investigation of the metabolism of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and the kinetics during a treatment with intratumoral ethanol by PET. The ongoing study includes seven patients with child.

Tissue concentrations of ofloxacin in necrotic foot lesions of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Six diabetic patients with infected foot lesions (mean age 64 years) and six male patients (mean age 71 years) with ischemic acral ulceration due to advanced peripheral arterial occlusive disease were treated with 200 mg ofloxacin b.i.d.

[Guillain-Barré polyneuropathy in Wegener's granulomatosis with pulmonary-renal syndrome].

A 49-year-old female patient suffering from severe necrotising respiratory granulomatosis (Wegener's granulomatosis) had acute renal failure, nearly uncontrollable haemoptyses and severe deterioration of pulmonary function. Haemodialysis had to be performed; immuno-suppressive therapy was effected by administration of high doses of methylprednisolone (100-500 mg/d) and cyclophosphamide (initially with single doses of 500-1000 mg) and plasmaphereses. Artificial ventilation by positive-negative pressure breathing became necessary because pulmonary function became consistently poorer.

Ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin for selective decontamination in patients with severe granulocytopenia.

In a randomized multicenter study, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, each in two different dose regimens and in combination with non-absorbable antimycotics, were administered to 51 patients with acute leukaemia undergoing aggressive remission induction chemotherapy for infection prevention. Both drugs showed an effective elimination of gram-negative potential pathogens and Staphylococcus aureus not affecting the anaerobic flora of the gastrointestinal tract. A low incidence of side effects and a satisfactory patient compliance could be observed.

Clinical and practitioners' reports on adverse effects of co-trimoxazole.

This study concerns the incidence of side effects occurring in connection with the prescription of co-trimoxazole which, according to the observations of medical practitioners, were suspected of being drug related. It is based on reports from 260 doctors in the Nordbaden/Rheinlandpfalz area between 1981 and 1984, as well as on those from hospital doctors concerning 33,300 in-patients at the Department of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital of Heidelberg from 1980 to 1983. General practitioners' reports: Of 3,739 side effects reported over a three and a half year period, 180 were related to drugs containing co-trimoxazole.

Tissue concentrations of ofloxacin in necrotic lesions in patients with peripheral vascular disease and in diabetics.

In a pilot study six patients (three diabetics with gangrenous lesions of the lower limbs, mean age 74 years, three patients with peripheral vascular disease stage IV according to Fontaine, mean age 70 years) were treated with 200 mg ofloxacin orally b.i.d.

In vitro activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical safety and therapeutic efficacy of enoxacin in the treatment of patients with complicated urinary tract infections.

Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of enoxacin, nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin against isolates from 400 urological in-patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) were determined by means of an agar dilution technique (10(4) cfu, multipointer). 28 patients (21 male, seven female) aged 36 to 84 years with complicated UTI due to sensitive bacteria were treated orally with 200 mg enoxacin b.i.

In vitro activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical safety and therapeutic efficacy of enoxacin in the treatment of patients with complicated urinary tract infections.

Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of enoxacin, nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin against isolates from 400 urological in-patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) were determined by means of an agar dilution technique (10(4) cfu, multipointer). 28 patients (21 male, seven female) aged 36 to 84 years with complicated UTI due to sensitive bacteria were treated orally with 200 mg enoxacin b.i.