Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Dec 1999
[Does the present medical care system satisfy patients with home oxygen therapy (HOT) and home therapy with assisted ventilation (HTAV) in Japan?: an answer from a questionnaire analysis].
The aim of this study was to determine whether the present Japanese medical care system for home oxygen therapy (HOT) and home therapy with assisted ventilation (HTAV) satisfies patients (HOT & HTAV Pts) who receive these therapies. To clarify this issue, we sent questionnaires to 807 patients with HOT and HTAV, 816 practitioners (DRs), and 110 nursing stations (NSs) in metropolitan Tokyo. Responses were eventually received from 79.9% of HOT & HTAV Pts, 32.7% of Drs and 60.9% of NSs. ⋯ These meetings are attended by respiratory specialists, DRs, NSs, medical equipment dealers, HOT & HTAV Pts's family members and so forth, because both DRs and NSs feel a certain anxiety about seeing HOT & HTAV Pts (68.3% DRs and 7.5% NSs do not want to see HOT & HTAV Pts). In summary, 1) a majority of HOT & HTAV Pts remain unsatisfied with the present medical care system, 2) a vague anxiety about seeing HOT & HTAV Pts makes DRs tend to avoid HOT & HTAV Pts consultations, 3) NSs frequently feel unsure how to recognize and respond properly to problems concerning HOT & HTAV Pts (62.3%). We therefore conclude that if we could succeed in organizing a better medical care system for HOT & HTAV Pts than the present one, we could turn substantially improve the quality of life of HOT & HTAV Pts in Japan.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Sep 1999
Review[Initial treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia--interferon or bone marrow transplantation].
The two major methods of treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) are bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and interferon (IFN) administration. BMT is recommended when patients are young (usually younger than 45 or 50 years old) and have an HLA identical sibling. ⋯ IFN administration results in the eradication or reduction of the Philadelphia chromosome. Such cytogenetic effects have brought about an improvement in the survival of CML patients.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Aug 1999
Review[Present and future in brachytherapy--from the discovery of radium to the 21st century].
Brachytherapy can deliver high doses of radiation to a tumor with only low doses to the normal tissue. Brachytherapy can be classified as intracavitary, intraluminar and interstitial radiotherapy. It can be also divided into three groups according to dose rate: low (LDR), medium (MDR) and high (HDR) dose rates. ⋯ Brachytherapy has a long history of nearly 100 years. In recent years, the development of an HDR remotely controlled afterloading system and treatment planning system allows us to make a precise treatment plan and a uniform dose distribution. In the next century, HDR-brachytherapy will continue to play an important role in the field of radiotherapy.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Aug 1999
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial[Clinical evaluation of granisetron (BRL43694) in nausea and vomiting induced by anticancer drugs--pediatrics].
Granisetron has been used widely for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with anticancer drugs in adult patients with cancer. This multi-center open study was conducted to study the efficacy, safety and usefulness of granisetron in children with cancer. ⋯ No serious adverse effects were observed. As granisetron 40 micrograms/kg had an excellent antiemetic effect and a high degree of safety against nausea and vomiting associated with anticancer drugs, it was shown to be useful for children with cancer.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Aug 1999
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial[Clinical experiences of implantable vascular access device, "Vital Port" for arterial infusion chemotherapy].
We had the opportunity to use "Vital Port", a subcutaneous implantable vascular access port which was developed in the U. S. and has been used clinically in a multicenter study for clinical evaluation. To prevent the result from varying by facility, standardized criteria were made. ⋯ No complications were observed in any of the cases. Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy was carried out without any problem. This port is lightweight and has good biocompatibility, and the clinical results were evaluated highly.