A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of gemcitabine given by 24-h hepatic arterial infusion.

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the toxicities, the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), the pharmacokinetics and the anti-tumour activity of gemcitabine given by 24-h hepatic arterial infusion (HAI).

Patients And Methods: Patients with liver malignancies received gemcitabine by 24-h HAI, weekly x 3, every 4 weeks. On day 1 or day 8 of the first cycle, patients received one administration by 24-h intravenous infusion for pharmacokinetic comparison and to determine hepatic extraction.

Increased activation of coagulation and formation of late deep venous thrombosis following discontinuation of thromboprophylaxis after hip replacement surgery.

Hip replacement surgery (HRS) is associated with a high frequency of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). At the same time there is a substantial systemic and local activation of coagulation. This study indicates that discontinuation of thromboprophylaxis one week after surgery may allow a second wave of coagulation and fibrinolysis activation to occur.

Refinements of pre-, intra-, and postoperative care to prevent complications of vaginoplasty in male transsexuals.

In the period of 1980 to 1992, primary genital reassignment surgery was performed for 200 male-to-female transsexuals aged 18 to 71 years. For this, the penile and scrotal skin inversion technique was used. Because, apart from minor complications in 32 patients, neovaginal obliteration was encountered only twice and early in this series, we believe it is worthwhile to report in detail our pre-, intra-, and postoperative measures.

Does Lp(a) lipoprotein inhibit the fibrinolytic system?

Lp(a) lipoprotein contains a unique apolipoprotein, apolipoprotein (a), that has a striking homology with plasminogen. This homology has brought forward speculations as to an inhibitory effect of Lp(a) lipoproteins on fibrinolysis. The present investigation was undertaken to study the influence of Lp(a) lipoprotein on the fibrinolytic system.

A novel principle for assessment of stimulated fibrinolysis.

After venous occlusion (VO), D-dimer levels were measured by means of an ELISA technique, in citrated plasma clotted by thrombin and in serum from whole blood. D-dimer levels increased with duration of incubation (30 min to 24 hours). D-dimer values, both in clotted plasma and in serum (n = 12), incubated 4 hours at room temperature, correlated well with euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) (r = -0.