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Biomedical subjects

E Wist

Publications and source records attributed to E Wist.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Intestinal lymphoma presented as multiple intestinal polyposis].

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma is a rare condition. It constitutes approximately 5% of all lymphoid malignancies. Primary lymphomas of the intestinal tract rarely present as multiple polyposis. We describe such a patient who was treated with chemotherapy. The treatment of choice is surgery when possible. Chemotherapy is used in addition when high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma is revealed. Chemotherapy should be used for patients who are unable to undergo curative resections. Prognosis is poor for patients with a non-resectable disease.

Aged

[Accidents with radioactive pollution. Can we do something?].

Nuclear accidents are a cause of widespread fear. Treatment of patients exposed to high doses of total body irradiation has very often been ineffective. The use of hematopoietic growth factors may be a new way of treating these patients. This article describes results from studies of total body irradiated animals and clinical experience from treating humans who have been involved in nuclear accidents. G-CSF or GM-CSF administered within three hours after a nuclear accident seems to be of value. Surprisingly, so far bone marrow transplantation seems to be of limited value. Intravenous transfusions of thrombocytes and red blood cells, and the treatment of burns and gastrointestinal symptoms, are important parts of the medical therapy.

Accidents

Interethnic difference in thiopurine methyltransferase activity.

A number of metabolic pathways are subject to both genetic polymorphism and interethnic differences. A catabolic pathway of 6-mercaptopurine, red blood cell (RBC) thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity showed genetic polymorphism in Caucasians, but variation according to ethnicity has not been studied. We investigated if red blood cell thiopurine methyltransferase was subject to interethnic variation in a Saami (Lappish; n = 36) and a Caucasian population (n = 50). The Saami population sample had 29% higher thiopurine methyltransferase activity, 17.0 +/- 3.3 U/ml red blood cell compared with the Caucasian population sample, 13.1 +/- 2.9 U/ml red blood cell (p much less than 0.001). Probit plots and frequency distribution histograms supported bimodality consistent with genetic polymorphism in both study populations. Differences in chronic diseases, drug consumption, age, or gender could not explain the interethnic difference in red blood cell thiopurine methyltransferase activity. The higher red blood cell thiopurine methyltransferase activity in the Saami population group indicates that these subjects may require higher dosages of thiopurine drugs than Caucasians.

Adolescent

Droloxifene--a new anti-estrogen. A phase II study in advanced breast cancer.

Twenty-six patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with a new anti-estrogen, Droloxifene (3-hydroxy-tamoxifen). They had all used tamoxifen either in the adjuvant or the advanced situation. The dose schedule was 100 mg orally daily. Partial remissions were observed in 4 (15%) of the patients, and in another 5 patients stable disease (greater than 24 weeks of duration) was observed. Three of the responders were resistant to tamoxifen. Fourteen of the 26 patients had no side-effect. In 2 patients therapy had to be stopped due to fatigue. Droloxifene seems to be an interesting new anti-estrogen which should be further exploited.

Adult

[Treatment of advanced anal cancer].

Anal carcinoma affects between 30 and 40 Norwegians every year. The disease is twice as frequent in women as in men. It is usually located in the anal canal only, and is cured by a combination treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Metastatic anal carcinoma has a poor prognosis. We present two such cases. 5-fluorouracil in combination with cisplatin or mitomycin C can give responses even in advanced cases. Radiotherapy may also be of value. In view of the difference between norwegian clinics in the treatment of anal carcinoma, there would appear to be a need of a Scandinavian or international study based on standardized treatment.

Aged

The effect of vindesine on methotrexate hydroxylation in the rat.

The effect of vindesine (VDS) on methotrexate (MTX) disposition was studied in bile-drained rats administered VDS prior to [3H]MTX, and in isolated rat hepatocytes and rat liver homogenate concomitantly incubated with MTX and VDS at 37 degrees. In vivo, 7-hydroxylation was reduced by 0.65 mg/kg VDS. In VDS-treated animals, biliary recovery of the MTX dose (50 mg/kg) as 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OH-MTX) (1.75 +/- 0.2%, mean +/- SEM) was significantly reduced compared to controls (2.83 +/- 0.57%). In vitro, hydroxylation of MTX (10-200 microM) in hepatocytes was reduced by 14.3 and 66.4% (means) at 12.5 and 100 microM VDS, respectively. With increasing VDS concentrations up to 100 microM, a reduction in intracellular MTX accumulation could account for the decreased MTX hydroxylation. Experiments in a cell free system gave no evidence of inhibition of 7-OH-MTX formation by VDS. In vitro MTX transport studies demonstrated that VDS inhibited the hepatocellular influx of MTX, as (1) the accumulation of MTX corresponded inversely to increasing VDS concentrations and (2) the MTX efflux was not increased by VDS. The apparent Ki for VDS inhibition of MTX influx was 57 microM. We suggest that VDS, by reducing the 7-OH-MTX formation in liver cells, may have implications for combination chemotherapy regimens which include MTX.

Animals

[Infusor--an aid in cytostatic therapy].

Infusor is a pump controlled by an elastomeric balloon. It has been used for continuous infusion of morphine, heparin, antiemetics and different kinds of cytostatics. The article presents our experience of Infusor when used for intravenous infusion of fluorouracil to patients with head and neck cancer. Infusor had many practical advantages. It provides a new possibility for continuous administration of cytostatics at home. A disadvantage was a slightly unstable infusion velocity.

Antineoplastic Agents

[Merkel cell carcinoma].

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare disease. During the last five years we have treated two patients at the Cancer Department, University Hospital Tromsø. These two cases are reported. Immunohistochemical analysis and electron microscopy are important for a precise diagnosis. The primary treatment is surgery. There is usually a need for supportive radiotherapy. The disease is also sensitive to chemotherapy.

Aged

Inhibition of 7-hydroxymethotrexate formation by amsacrine.

The inhibition of methotrexate (MTX) biotransformation to 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OH-MTX) by 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide (mAMSA) was studied in bile-drained rats in vivo and in incubates of isolated rat hepatocytes and rat-liver homogenate in vitro. In vivo, i.v. administration of 10 mg/kg mAMSA prior to [3H]-MTX infusion (50 mg/kg) led to a significant alteration in 7-OH-MTX kinetics. 7-OH-MTX peak concentrations and AUC in bile and serum were reduced by 75% and the recovery of MTX as 7-OH-MTX in bile and urine decreased by 70%, whereas MTX pharmacokinetics remained unaltered. In suspensions of isolated hepatocytes, 10 microM mAMSA led to a 54% decrease in 7-OH-MTX formation. However, the hepatocellular influx and efflux of MTX was not perturbed by mAMSA. Preincubation of rat-liver homogenates with 1.25-10 microM mAMSA reduced the formation of 7-OH-MTX by up to 73%. mAMSA appeared to inhibit MTX hydroxylation competitively, exhibiting a Ki of 3 microM. Due to its inhibition of the MTX-oxidizing system, mAMSA may be beneficial in combination chemotherapy with MTX by reducing 7-OH-MTX-associated toxicity and, possibly, enhancing the cytotoxic effects of MTX.

Amsacrine

Phase I/II study of carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma.

59 patients with histological verified squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 39 with primary disease and 20 with relapse were given carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in escalated carboplatin doses. The starting dose with carboplatin was 200 mg/m2 and the dose was escalated to 300 mg/m2, 350 mg/m2, 400 mg/m2 and thereafter by 20 mg/m2 per step. All patients received a dose of 1000 mg/m2 5-FU as a continuous infusion for 5 days. The myelotoxicity was moderate. No patients had grade 4 haemoglobin toxicity, while 7 patients had grade 3 toxicity. 2 patients had grade 4 leucocyte toxicity and 1 patient had grade 3. 4 patients were observed with a grade 4 platelet toxicity. 2 early deaths occurred at a dose level of 420 mg/m2. 18 out of 39 patients in primary treatment responded while 2 out of 20 patients treated for relapse responded. On the basis of the present study the maximum tolerable dose for carboplatin in combination with 5-FU 1000 mg/m2 is between 350 and 400 mg/m2.

Adult

Trofosfamide in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A phase II study.

Twenty-three patients (12 females, 11 males) with malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with oral trofosfamide 50 mg t.i.d. Median age was 72 years. Fifteen patients had low-grade and 8 had high-grade lymphomas. Twenty-one patients had stage III and IV disease. Seven patients had WHO performance status of 3-4. The overall response rate was 61% (CR 22%, PR 39%) and the median duration of response 4 months (range 1.5-15+). The main side-effect was bone marrow depression and 7 patients experienced grade II or III hematological toxicity. No gastrointestinal or renal toxicity, no hair loss and no neurotoxicity were observed. The subjective tolerance was good.

Adolescent

[Cerebral metastasis in Hodgkin's disease].

The article describes the case history of a 31 year old woman with a solitary intracranial metastasis from Hodgkin's lymphoma, and reviews the relevant literature. Metastasis to the central nervous system from Hodgkin's disease is uncommon. This affection is usually a result of metastasis to the meninges or bone, or of direct extension from paracranial or paraspinal lymph node involvement. Hematogenous metastasis of Hodgkin's disease confined to the brain is rare. Affection of the central nervous system is most common in lymphocyte depletion Hodgkin's disease. A higher frequency is seen in advanced clinical stages. The prognosis is poor.

Adult

[Chylothorax].

A 51 year old man developed chylothorax from a non-Hodgkin lymphoma located in the abdomen. The main causes of chylothorax are trauma and malignant disease. The condition is quite often idiopathic. The treatment is usually a combination of surgical treatment, conservative treatment, high voltage radiation and/or pleurodesis with a sclerosing agent.

Chylothorax

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of methotrexate and 7-hydroxymethotrexate in the rat in vivo.

The pharmacokinetics of methotrexate (MTX) and 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OH-MTX) in bile, urine, and serum was studied in rats in vivo after short-time infusions of 10, 50, 250, and 1000 mg/kg MTX. All animals were anesthetized and drained of bile during experiments. The biliary secretion rate of MTX approached saturation when serum MTX levels surpassed 700-800 microM, causing a significant reduction in biliary recovery as the parent compound (49 to 32%) at MTX doses exceeding 50 mg/kg. The hepatic metabolism of MTX to the 7-hydroxy metabolite was not saturated at the doses used. Serum MTX pharmacokinetics demonstrated dose dependency, inasmuch as doses exceeding 10 mg/kg were accompanied by a reduced total body clearance (Clr) and biliary clearance (ClB). A significant finding in relation to acute hepatotoxicity reported after high-dose MTX in humans was the occurrence of cholestasis 30-90 min after drug infusion and the observation of macroscopic precipitations in the bile duct in five of six animals treated with 1000 mg/kg MTX. In these five animals, cessation of bile secretion occurred at similar bile 7-OH-MTX levels [9800 +/- 1100 (SD) microM], while the single rat that secreted bile throughout the experiment had a 5-fold lower peak 7-OH-MTX concentration in bile. Analysis of biliary precipitates formed in vivo and in vitro found 7-OH-MTX to constitute 97% and MTX 3% of the drug content of the precipitated material.

Animals