Genetic and environmental sources of fibrinogen variability in Israeli families: the Kibbutzim Family Study.

Genetic and environmental determinants of plasma fibrinogen were investigated in a sample of 82 kindreds residing in kibbutz settlements in Israel. The sample included 223 males and 229 females ages 15-97 years. Fibrinogen levels were first adjusted for variability in sex and age.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Neuroleptic Rechallenge After Electroconvulsive Therapy.

The necessity of neuroleptic rechallenge in patients who have experienced neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) has been discussed in recent articles. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been proposed as an alternative treatment to neuroleptics. In cases where ECT fails, neuroleptic rechallenge remains the only alternative.

On the inheritance of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

We report on 15 families with familial primary spontaneous pneumothorax detected through a retrospective study of a large group of male patients. Genetic analysis of these families together with 14 families from the literature in which enough details were available suggested 2 possible models of inheritance. First, the familial cases are due to an autosomal dominant gene with incomplete penetrance, the penetrance being lower in females (21%) than in males (50%).

Late Relapse in Hodgkin's Disease: Report of Five Cases and a Review of the Literature.

During the past 15 years the treatment of Hodgkin's disease (HD) with chemo/radiotherapy has been shown to appreciably improve the long-term prognosis of patients, even those with more advanced disease. In the past it was accepted that the probability of primary relapse 5 years after achieving complete remission (CR) was small and a 5-year disease-free period was sufficient to be considered as a cure. During the past 15 years, however, more data has been published relating to late relapses in these patients after an initial "cure" has been achieved.

B-Type Lymphocytic Leukaemia Developing Seven Years after Chemoradiotherapy for Hodgkin's Disease: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature.

This report describes the development of B-cell lymphocytic, leukemia, probably a leukaemic phase of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, in a patient with Hodgkin's disease (HD) who was successfully treated and cured with MOPP combination chemotherapy and mantle radiotherapy. The leukaemia occurred seven years after the completion of chemoradiotherapy, and manifested as peripheral blood and bone-marrow involvement alone without any initial evidence of lymphadenopathy, organomegaly or extranodal disease at the time of diagnosis. The occurrence of B-lymphocytic leukaemia in a cured patient with HD is rare, and the association of these two disorders is reviewed and discussed in the light of current knowledge.

Familial Lymphomas A review of the literature with report of cases in Jerusalem.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Although non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a common disorder, there are relatively few reports occurring in family groups. Extensive review of the literature by Ladish et al. in 1978(1) revealed 38 multiple-case families with NHL, most of whom were sibpairs, either sibs alone (6.

12-0-Tetradecanoyl Phorbol-13-Acetate (TPA) and Its Effect on Leukaemic Cells, In-vitro-A Review.

The action of the promoting agent 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an active component of croton oil, on the cell membrane, is described. TPA primarily acts on Protein Kinase C (PKC), which is the prime target for this agent. PKC activation and calcium mobilization are the basic pathways for signal transduction and the regulation of differentiation, explaining how TPA affects cell growth and proliferation in some cell types.

Oral Idarubicin in Elderly Acute Leukemia and Myelodyplastic Syndromes.

During the last five years, a new anthracycline 4:demethoxy daunorubicin or ldarubicin (IDR) has been found to be useful as an antileukemic agent. IDR is less cardiotoxic and has unequivocal biological activity when administered orally. Therefore, the choice of this oral agent to treat elderly acute non-lymphoid leukemias (ANLL) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) on an out-patient basis is attractive for obvious reasons.

Adenocarcinoma in an ileal conduit: a late recurrence of urethral adenocarcinoma.

We report a case of recurrent adenocarcinoma in an ileal loop 13 years after cystectomy for adenocarcinoma of the urethra. The method of diagnosis is discussed.

Urinary function during epidural analgesia with methadone and morphine in post-cesarean section patients.

Urinary function was assessed in 120 women after cesarean section under epidural anesthesia. Postoperative analgesia was obtained by means of epidurally administered methadone (40 patients) or morphine (40 patients). In the remaining 40 women, no narcotic drugs were given and postoperative pain was treated with intramuscular or oral non-opiate analgesics and sedatives.

The effect of epidural morphine on ureteral colic and spasm of the bladder.

Twenty-one patients suffering from severe pain associated with ureteric stones and spasm of the bladder which did not respond to repeated systemic injections of pethidine and papaverine received continuous epidural morphine. The morphine, 3-4 mg per dose, was injected into the lumbar-epidural space, and 15-20 min later all patients were pain free for at least 24 h. Administration of morphine was continued for periods ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks according to need.

Postharvest response of avocado fruits of different maturity to delayed ethylene treatments.

The effect of 10, 100, 1000, 10,000 ppm of ethylene, applied for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours, on the ripening rate of "Hass" avocado (Persea americana Mill.) fruits at three stages of maturity was investigated. Ethylene treatments were started either immediately after picking or 2 days later.