Phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and cisplatin (FAP) followed by radiation and 5-fluorouracil in locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

A total of 19 patients (7 men, 12 women) with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were treated with six cycles of FAP (5-fluorouracil, 300 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1-5; Adriamycin, 50 mg/m2 i.

Is additional epidural sympathetic block in microvascular surgery contraindicated? A preliminary report.

The use of additional epidural sympathetic block during and after microvascular surgery in the lower extremities to prevent vasospasm is generally agreed on. However, a significant fall in the perfusion rate of the transplants was seen after application of bupivacaine (Marcain) via the epidural catheter. This effect has, to our knowledge, not been described before and is probably caused by the sympathectomy effect of this type of analgesia.

Four methods compared for measuring des-carboxy-prothrombin (PIVKA-II).

PIVKA-II (Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence) is abnormal des-carboxylated prothrombin, which is present in vitamin K deficiency or in patients using warfarin. With a sensitive method for PIVKA-II, biochemical vitamin K deficiency can be established before clinical symptoms occur. We give an overview of methods used to detect PIVKA-II, and four selected methods are inter-compared: (a) measuring total factor II including PIVKA-II by using Echis carinatus snake venom as an activator of prothrombin; (b) measuring PIVKA-II by using snake venom as an activator of factor II after adsorption of functional factor II onto barium sulfate; (c) electrophoresis-immunofixation method; and (d) enzyme immunoassay.