Minerva medica
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Comparative Study
[Spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with osteosarcoma treated by combined chemotherapy].
A report is presented on 5 cases of pneumothorax which occurred during chemotherapy in patients suffering from osteogenic sarcoma of the extremities. None of them presented radiographically detectable substitutive pulmonary lesions. It was hypothesised that the origin of pneumothorax was the necrosis produced by agents of a pulmonary micrometastasis.
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Diacereine was given to 40 patients whose age ranged from 45 to 87 years; they were suffering from radiologically controlled osteoarthrosis. The oral dosage was 50 mg twice a day and it was given for 4 weeks. ⋯ Diarrhoea was the only collateral effect in 15% of the cases. In conclusion, Diacereine gives positive effects on osteoarthrosis treatment.
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Comparative Study
[Laser Doppler flowmetry. Principles and clinical applications in vascular acro-syndromes].
Twenty-seven subjects with vasospastic diseases: 13 primary and 5 secondary Raynaud phenomenon (RP), 3 primary RP treated with raubasin 60 mg/day, 6 acrocyanosis and 9 normal subjects were studied in a standardized experimental set (thermostatic chamber), recording cutaneous digital micro-vascular reactions to cold and heat exposure by laser Doppler flowmetry, a relatively new method for the objective and reliable assessment of blood flow in the cutaneous microvasculature. The data suggest that patients with vasospastic disease have a defect in local microvascular flow regulation, that is revealed by low temperature exposure. The major difference between primary and secondary RF was recovery time (stop reaction) after cold test, that is easily recorded by this instrumental set. The morphology of the recording and the flow recovery time of acrocyanosis were found to be similar to those of secondary RF.
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Flecainide is a benzenacetamide synthesised about a decade ago and only recently introduced into the treatment of arrhythmias. Its electrophysiological properties place it in Class IC of the anti-arrhythmia drugs. ⋯ Flecainide is therefore destined to be widely used in the treatment of arrhythmias and is indicated for both supraventricular and ventricular forms, particularly those resistant to other treatment. In addition the biological availability and long half life of Flecainide make it suitable for even very prolonged treatment.