Randomized comparison of interferon alpha and hydroxyurea with hydroxyurea monotherapy in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-study II): prolongation of survival by the combination of interferon alpha and hydroxyurea.

The optimum treatment conditions of interferon (IFN) alpha therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are still controversial. To evaluate the role of hydroxyurea (HU) for the outcome of IFN therapy, we conducted a randomized trial to compare the combination of IFN and HU vs HU monotherapy (CML-study II). From February 1991 to December 1994, 376 patients with newly diagnosed CML in chronic phase were randomized.

Reduced systemic absorption of intrabronchial lidocaine by high-frequency nebulization.

Serum lidocaine concentrations were measured in a series of patients during and after topical administration of lidocaine used to anesthetize the nasal mucosa, pharynx, and larynx for diagnostic fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In one group of patients (N = 9) the trachea and bronchi were sprayed with a 2% lidocaine solution administered in 2 mL volumes. Another group (N = 14) received a 2% lidocaine solution which was administered by inhalation of lidocaine dispensed by a high-frequency nebulizer.

Pharmacodynamic comparison of L-bunolol with propranolol, metoprolol, and placebo.

Twelve healthy volunteers received single oral doses of propranolol (80 mg), metoprolol (100 mg), L-bunolol (2 mg), and placebo in a four-way crossover study. Blood pressure, ventricular rate, and echocardiographically determined ejection fraction, ejection time, and mean rate of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcf) were measured before dosing and at multiple time points during 10 hours after each dose, with subjects maintained in the supine position. Reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure following administration of each of the beta blockers were greater than those observed with placebo, but differences among the four treatments were not significant.

Influence of beta-blocker coadministration on the kinetics of isosorbide mononitrate and dinitrate.

The influence of beta-blocker coadministration on the kinetics of oral isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) was studied in healthy volunteers. In the first study, 12 subjects ingested 20 mg ISMN on three occasions: in the control state, during coadministration of metipranolol (20 mg 3 times daily), or during metoprolol (100 mg twice daily). There were no significant differences among the three phases in peak serum ISMN concentration (470 ng/ml), the time of peak (0.

Alprazolam kinetics in patients with renal insufficiency.

Alprazolam kinetics following a single 1.0-mg oral dose of alprazolam were compared between seven dialysis-dependent patients with chronic renal failure and seven healthy controls matched for age, sex, and weight. There were no significant differences between patients and controls in alprazolam half-life (11.