A phase II trial with RFS2000 (rubitecan) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Rubitecan (RFS2000, 9 nitrocamptothecin,) is a new oral topoisomerase I inhibitor. We report a phase II, single-arm, open-label study of RFS2000 as first line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Seventeen treatment-naïve patients with stage IIIB (9/17) and IV (8/17) NSCLC (11 male and 6 female) were treated, the median age was 62 years (range 52-86), and the majority of patients (14/17) were of performance status 1.

Does lowering of cholesterol levels influence functional properties of large arteries?

Hypercholesterolaemia is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and induces endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction may increase vascular tone and arterial stiffness and as a consequence may decrease arterial distensibility (DC) and arterial compliance (CC). It is hypothesized that lipid-lowering therapy may enhance DC and CC.

[Reconstruction of the tibial plateau fracture with arthroscopic monitoring without arthrotomy].

In the period from October 1986 to November 1988 in the Medisch Spectrum Twente of Enschede, 25 patients were treated for a tibial plateau fracture by means of arthroscopic surgery. The mean hospital stay was 18 days. Active movement of the leg was prescribed from the fifth day.

Pathological-anatomical study concerning the geometry and atherosclerosis of the carotid bifurcation.

Besides metabolic factors haemodynamic elements are important in the development of obliterating athero-sclerosis. Since the geometry of a bifurcation influences the local bloodflow, we hypothesise that non-optimal geometry of a bifurcation leads to flow-disturbances, which can be a factor in atherogenesis. To verify our hypothesis that there is a correlation between non-optimal geometry of a bifurcation and the presence of atherosclerotic lesions, we studied as a parameter for the geometry of a bifurcation the area ratio defined as: the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the distal arteries divided by the cross-sectional area of the proximal artery.