Antinociceptive activity of the novel fentanyl analogue iso-carfentanil in rats.

A large number of fentanyl analogues have been synthesized so far, both to establish the structure-activity-relationship (SAR) and to find novel, clinically useful antinociceptive drugs. In this study, the newly synthesized fentanyl analogue 3-carbomethoxy fentanyl (iso-carfentanil) was compared to fentanyl for its antinociceptive activity (tail-immersion test) in rats. It was revealed that the introduction of a 3-carbomethoxy group in the piperidine ring of fentanyl skeleton reduced the potency and shortened the duration of action of the parent compound, i.

Higher environmental temperature potentiates cataleptic effect of fentanyl in rats.

The influence of higher environmental temperature (HET=30/-1 degrees C) on fentanyl-induced behavior was studied in unrestrained rats. Subacute exposure (3 days) of rats to HET significantly (P<0.01) increased the cataleptic effect of fentanyl citrate (0.

Randomized study of zorubicin versus zorubicin-cisplatin in undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (UCNT).

Background: The most active chemotherapy regimens in UCNT were those combining anthracyclines (doxorubicin or epirubicin) and cisplatin. Our previous pilot study on 37 patients treated with the zorubicin-cisplatin combination with a RR of 67% and literature data about other anthracyclines such as epirubicin achieving a response rate of over 50% were the basis of this randomized study comparing efficacy and toxicity of the combination vs. zorubicin as monotherapy.

Randomised study of high-dose epirubicin versus high-dose epirubicin-cisplatin chemotherapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

A randomised study was started in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas who received either epirubicin 60 mg/m2/24 h (total dose for cycle 180 mg/m2) days 1, 2 and 3, (group A) or epirubicin 60 mg/m2/24 h days 1, 2 and 3 and cisplatin 30 mg/m2/24 h days 2, 3, 4 and 5 (group B). The maximal number of cycles foreseen in both groups was eight. Cardiotoxicity of the regimens was monitored by serial LVEF determinations.

Treatment of tumour-induced hypercalcaemia in advanced breast cancer patients with three different doses of disodium pamidronate adapted to the initial level of calcaemia.

A group of 38 female patients with advanced breast cancer experiencing the first occurrence of tumour-induced hypercalcaemia (TIH), mostly with osteolytic progressive bone metastases, were included in a prospective calcaemia-adapted study using three different doses of pamidronate (30 mg, 45 mg and 60 mg). Serum calcium normalisation was achieved in 29/38 (76%) patients. Comparison of the response rate in three therapeutic groups confirmed the need for higher doses of pamidronate in moderate TIH.