One hundred forty-two patients with all stages of gastric carcinoma were prospectively stratified into two divisions according to T.N.M. stage following, but irrespective of the type of surgical procedure. Division I (T1-3, N1-2, M0) was randomized into a control group, and a treatment group who received 2000 rad in 8 fractions over 10 days with intravenous 5 Fluorouracil (5 F.U.) at a dose of 500 mg daily x 4 days preirradiation and then 12.5 mg/kg daily for 5 days every 28 days for six courses. Division II (T4 or M1) was randomized into three groups; a control group, a group who received radiotherapy and 5 F.U. in the same schedule as division one and a group who received Thiotepa 45 mg intravenously daily for three days and then every 28 days for 6 months. Four and one-half years after commencement of the trial 86% of the patients had died. There was no difference in survival rate between the treatment and control groups, (p greater than 0.5) in Division I or II. Survival appeared to correlate with the T.N.M. stage of disease and not therapy. Blind assessment of the quality of life showed no difference between the treatment groups and the controls. In the dose schedules used, this form of oncological therapy had no effect on survival or quality of life in patients with gastric carcinoma.

Aged↗

PubMed1979

Bismuth toxicity in man - I. Bismuth blood and urine levels in patients after administration of a bismuth protein complex (Bicitropeptide).

In the course of a double-blind clinical trial of treatment involving a bismuth protein complex (Bicitropeptide), an antacid and placebo, blood samples (33 patients) and urine samples (43 patients) were collected for bismuth analysis from patients on bismuth therapy at the beginning of the trial (week 0) and at weeks 3 and 6. Base line blood (2 - 11 ng/l) and urine (2 - 29 ng/l) values were not zero and appeared to have reached "saturation" values in many cases after 3 weeks (Blood : 4 - 33 ng/l and Urine 60 - 600 ng/l). After 6 weeks, blood values were 5 - 20 ng/l and urine values 63 - 780 ng/l. It is concluded that these blood and urine levels are not associated with significant toxicity in man.

Antacids↗

PubMed1978

Sweat electrolytes in chronic pancreatitis.

Sweat electrolytes were carried out in 84 adult patients with calcific pancreatitis, 51 with noncalcific pancreatitis, and the results compared to 37 adult controls. Of the patients with calcific pancreatitis, 33.5% had sweat sodium levels greater than 90 mEq/liter and 14.4% a level greater that 120 mEq/liter. Patients with noncalcific pancreatitis also had a high incidence of elevated sweat sodium levels. Sweat potassium levels were less discriminating, and there appeared to be high sweat calcium levels in a few patients so tested. The reasons for the elevated sweat sodium levels in pancreatitis is not readily apparent, and the possible relationship to heterozygous forms of cystic fibrosis is discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

Gastrins in human antrum, duodenum and peripheral circulation.

Previous studies have shown that arginine-stimulated gastrin release disappears after pyloric antrectomy in the human, while conflicting evidence indicates that gastrin is released by the human duodenum. The present study reconciles this conflict by showing that the major form of gastrin in the pyloric antrum is the heptadecpeptide form, while the duodenum contains mainly "big" and almost no heptadecapeptide gastrin. Fasting serum samples contain mostly "big" gastrins, while stimulated serum contains increased proportions of the heptadecapeptide and minigastrin species. It is suggested that local factors operative at the different G-cell sites determine the nature of gastrin released since "big" gastrins occur in most sites containing gastrin.

Chromatography, Gel↗

PubMed1974