Biomedical subjects

F Mayer

Publications and source records attributed to F Mayer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Second-line chemotherapy with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and carboplatin is highly effective in patients with advanced ovarian cancer in late relapse: a GINECO phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Platinum-based chemotherapy is standard second-line treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) in late relapse. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has significant single-agent activity in this setting. Therefore, we evaluated the use of PLD plus carboplatin in this patient population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PLD 30 mg/m(2) followed by carboplatin at area under the curve (AUC) 5 mg.min/ml, repeated every 28 days for a maximum of nine cycles, was administered to 104 women with AOC relapsing >or=6 months after completion of first- or second-line therapy with platinum-taxane-based regimens. RESULTS: Overall response was 63%, with a 38% complete response, median progression-free survival of 9.4 months, and median overall survival (OS) of 32 months. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 51% of patients, but febrile neutropenia in only 3%. Nonhematologic toxic effects were primarily grades 1 and 2, with low rates of alopecia and neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: PLD plus carboplatin is highly effective, prolongs OS, and is well tolerated in women with AOC in late relapse previously treated with both platinum and taxanes. Evaluation of this regimen in phase III trials is warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Reactivity, stability, and strength performance capacity in motor sports.

BACKGROUND: Racing drivers require multifaceted cognitive and physical abilities in a multitasking situation. A knowledge of their physical capacities may help to improve fitness and performance. OBJECTIVE: To compare reaction time, stability performance capacity, and strength performance capacity of élite racing drivers with those of age-matched, physically active controls. METHODS: Eight élite racing drivers and 10 physically active controls matched for age and weight were tested in a reaction and determination test requiring upper and lower extremity responses to visual and audio cues. Further tests comprised evaluation of one-leg postural stability on a two-dimensional moveable platform, measures of maximum strength performance capacity of the extensors of the leg on a leg press, and a test of force capacity of the arms in a sitting position at a steering wheel. An additional arm endurance test consisted of isometric work at the steering wheel at +30 degrees and -30 degrees where an eccentric threshold load of 30 N.m was applied. Subjects had to hold the end positions above this threshold until exhaustion. Univariate one way analysis of variance (alpha = 0.05) including a Bonferroni adjustment was used to detect group differences between the drivers and controls. RESULTS: The reaction time of the racing drivers was significantly faster than the controls (p = 0.004). The following motor reaction time and reaction times in the multiple determination test did not differ between the groups. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found for postural stability, leg extensor strength, or arm strength and endurance. CONCLUSIONS: Racing drivers have faster reaction times than age-matched physically active controls. Further development of motor sport-specific test protocols is suggested. According to the requirements of motor racing, strength and sensorimotor performance capacity can potentially be improved.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Fatal multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis in a patient with travel history and recent onset of systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report.

Severe infections are a common cause of death in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We here report on a fatal multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis in a patient with newly diagnosed SLE, who had to be treated with immunosuppressants due to lupus nephritis. Detailed analysis of the patient's history revealed that colonisation probably had occurred during a recent hospitalisation of the patient in the Mediterranean region. E-test analysis indicated that resistance to carbapenems was mediated by a plasmid-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase. We conclude that travel history including previously visited health care facilities always should be carefully considered for decisions on anti-infective therapy, as travel activities increasingly facilitate spread of antimicrobial resistances.

Acinetobacter Infections↗

PubMed2006

Material odor-odoractive compounds identified in different materials--the surprising similarities with certain foods, possible sources and hypotheses on their formation.

UNLABELLED: Increased efforts have been undertaken by manufacturers to reveal the secrets of material odors, the structure of the odorants responsible, with regard to finding out the source(s) of odor and possible starting points for odor reduction, and therewith product improvement, increased consumer satisfaction and improved indoor air quality. The identification of odor-active compounds in materials by means of gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O, also called GC-sniffing), performed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) during the previous years, showed surprising similarities between certain odorants found in materials and those previously identified in certain kinds of food. Examples of important odorants found in different material samples and similarities with food odorants were analyzed. Odorant sources are indicated as regards materials, and possible conditions and mechanisms of formation suggested to show starting points for odor reduction and odor improvement in material development. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: If technical materials are planned to be used indoors and if they spread a distinct odor, the analysis of the compounds contained and emitted by this material using gas chromatography-olfactometry is a means to help reveal the compounds being responsible for that odor. The exact knowledge of the structure of the odorants is the prerequisite for drawing conclusions on possible sources and formation mechanisms and to reveal starting points for odor reduction and product improvement, e.g. by changing ingredients or production conditions. This contributes to an improvement of indoor air quality. Furthermore, quite often the concentrations of certain single odorants found in materials can be very low and the same odorants can be part of other well-known food flavors. This information might be useful to reduce consumers' fears of a possible impairment of their health in the future.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2005

Mechanical comparison of barefoot and shod running.

In order to further compare shod versus barefoot running, 35 subjects ran two bouts of 4 minutes at 3.33 m x s(-1) on a treadmill dynamometer. Parameters were measured on about 60 consecutive steps. Barefoot showed mainly lower contact and flight time (p < 0.05), lower passive peak (1.48 versus 1.70 body weight, p < 0.05), higher braking and pushing impulses (p < 0.05), and higher pre-activation of triceps surae muscles (p < 0.05) than shod. It was concluded that when performed on a sufficient number of steps, barefoot running leads to a reduction of impact peak in order to reduce the high mechanical stress occurring during repetitive steps. This neural-mechanical adaptation could also enhance the storage and restitution of elastic energy at ankle extensors level.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Phase II multicentre randomised study of docetaxel plus epirubicin vs 5-fluorouracil plus epirubicin and cyclophosphamide in metastatic breast cancer.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus epirubicin (ET) and of 5-fluorouracil plus epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. A total of 142 patients (intent-to-treat (ITT)) with at least one measurable lesion were randomised to receive docetaxel 75 mg m(-2) plus epirubicin 75 mg m(-2) or 5-fluorouracil 500 mg m(-2) plus epirubicin 75 mg m(-2) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg m(-2) intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to eight cycles. Prophylactic granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor was only permitted after the first cycle, if required. Per-protocol analysis (n=132) gave an overall response rate for ET of 63.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 50-78%) and for FEC 34.3% (95% CI, 23-47%) after a median seven and six cycles, respectively. Intent-to-treat population (n=142) gave an overall response rate for ET of 59% (95% CI, 47-70%) and for FEC 32% (95% CI, 21-43%) after a median seven and six cycles, respectively. The median response duration for ET was 8.6 months (95% CI, 7.2-9.6 months) and for FEC 7.8 months (95% CI, 6.5-10.4 months). The median time to progression (ITT) for ET was 7.8 months (95% CI, 5.8-9.6 months) and for FEC 5.9 months (95% CI, 4.6-7.8 months). After a median follow-up of 23.8 months, median survival (ITT) for ET and FEC were 34 and 28 months, respectively. Nonhaematologic grade 3-4 toxicities were infrequent in both arms. Haematologic toxicity was more common with ET and febrile neutropenia was reported in 13 patients (18.6%) in the ET group. Two deaths in the ET group were possibly related to study treatment. In conclusion, both ET and FEC were associated with acceptable toxicity. ET is a highly active first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Current views on the prevention of ailments of the musculoskeletal system through muscle strengthening programs].

Because of an increasingly older population structure and the enhanced relevance of body composition, the prevention of problems arising from the musculoskeletal system has become of central importance. Strengthening and muscle-building training have been proven to be useful even for older people. The training is focused on the types of movement and exertion that frequently occur in the "activities of daily living." In addition, a purely hypertrophic training for building muscle mass must be differentiated from a more sensorimotor oriented training with situational employment of the muscles for optimizing motor control and coordination. There are no contraindications for strength training when the program is adapted to the individual. The rate of injury is small, even for people at low performance levels.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2003

Efficacy of cytotoxic agents used in the treatment of testicular germ cell tumours under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro.

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the main treatment element to achieve cure for patients with metastatic germ cell tumours. Drug resistance in testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) is rare and the reasons are not fully understood. While recent investigations have indicated decreased efficacy of chemotherapy in several tumour types under hypoxic conditions, this aspect has not been investigated in TGCTs so far. Furthermore, for cisplatin - the most active drug in this disease - controversial effects of hypoxia on cytotoxic efficacy have been reported. The relative efficacy of cytotoxic agents for the treatment of TGCT patients was studied in three different cell lines derived from human embryonal carcinomas (EC) in an in vitro hypoxia model. NT2, 2102 EP, and NCCIT were tested for their sensitivity towards cisplatin, etoposide, bleomycin, 4-OOH-ifosfamide, carboplatin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and mitomycin C under normoxic and hypoxic conditions using the MTT assay. Inhibitory concentrations IC(50) of the tested agents under both conditions were compared. Selected results were confirmed by flow-cytometric assessment of the apoptotic index. In all cells, doubling times were prolonged in hypoxia (NT2<NCCIT<2102 EP). All drugs were less effective under hypoxic conditions, including mitomycin C (eg, 1.6-fold increase of IC(50) in hypoxia compared to normoxia for NT2) and cisplatin (eg, NT2: two-fold increase). The relative effect of hypoxia on the IC(50) depended mainly on the cell line, and to a lesser extent on the drug. The results indicate that the reduced cell proliferation in hypoxia might be an important factor, but not the only determinant of a reduced cytotoxicity. In view of the broad spectrum of drugs with different modes of action tested, the relative resistance cannot be mediated by substance-specific resistance mechanisms like hypoxia-induced upregulation of P-glycoprotein or increased DNA-repair capacity, since many unrelated drugs were affected to a comparable extent in their efficacy by hypoxia. This study also provides the rationale to test the hypothesis whether improving tumour oxygenation by raising haemoglobin concentrations, for example, with erythropoietin in patients with TGCTs receiving chemotherapy may improve the outcome.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2003

Liposomes for microcompartmentation of enzymes and their influence on catalytic activity.

Modular systems for protein coupling have been applied for anchoring enzyme molecules on liposome surfaces. Two cytoplasmic model enzymes, alpha-amylase from Escherichia coli (EC. 3.2.1.1) and guanylate kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EC. 2.7.4.8), were directly coupled by a histidine-tag or indirectly via strep-tag and streptavidin or streptactin linker to a liposome membrane. Though the catalytic properties of the enzymes are generally maintained, stability and specific activity of the enzymes are modified after coupling and are especially influenced by the lipid used for the liposome assembly.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Cytoskeletons in prokaryotes.

Not only eukaryotes, but also prokaryotes possess a cytoskeleton. Tubulin-related bacterial protein FtsZ, and actin-related bacterial proteins MreB/Mbl have recently been described as constituents of bacterial cytoskeletons. Genes coding for MreB/Mbl could only be found in elongated bacteria, not in coccoid forms. It was speculated that constituents of today's eukaryotic cytoskeleton (tubulin, actin) may have evolved from prokaryotic precursor proteins closely related to today's bacterial proteins FtsZ and MreB/Mbl. Prior to the description of proteins MreB/Mbl, evidence had been obtained for the existence of a shape-preserving cytoskeleton ubiquitously present in all bacteria. In the meantime, structural studies allow to speculate on a possible role of bacterial elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) as a structural element in such a "cytoskeletal web". EF-Tu was long known to form fibrillar structures in vitro; now experimental data accumulate, pointing towards formation of intracellular protofilaments containing EF-Tu, and networks thereof as well. In addition, results of these structural studies suggest a so far unknown mode of complex formation of EF-Tu with active ribosomes: ribosomes/polysomes were seen to be attached to intracellular protofilaments. Implications for the understanding of EF-Tu-ribosome interaction, and a role of such a kind of putative protofilaments as a general site of attachment for cellular functional macromolecules are discussed. The notion is discussed that an EF-Tu-containing cytoskeletal web might have been the "primary" or "basic" kind of prokaryotic cytoskeleton, already in existence prior to the "invention" of precursors of today's MreB.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2003

Towards an understanding of the biological basis of response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in germ-cell tumors.

Chemotherapy is far more successful in young male patients with germ-cell tumors than in adults suffering from almost any other solid tumor. Various attempts have been made to understand the sensitivity of these tumors towards cisplatin-based chemotherapy; however, to date no explanation has been generally accepted. Recent data underline the need to seek further explanations, other than the previously postulated high intrinsic level of wild-type P53 protein, for the exquisite curability of germ-cell tumors. In this regard, the DNA repair pathways, in particular the DNA mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair pathways, have received attention. This review summarizes the data currently available on the cellular basis for chemotherapy response in these tumors by systematically following cisplatin-presumably the most active drug in the treatment of this disease-on its course from entering the cell to the execution of apoptosis. The emerging picture points towards a multifactorial explanation for the unique chemosensitivity of germ-cell tumors, including a lack of export pumps, an inability to detoxify cisplatin and repair the respective DNA damage, and an intact apoptotic cascade not disturbed by anti-apoptotic stimuli. Even though no uniform pattern of relevant resistance factors has been identified in patients suffering from refractory disease, a significant number of these cases may be caused by defects in the DNA mismatch repair pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Irinotecan in patients with relapsed or cisplatin-refractory germ cell cancer: a phase II study of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group.

Despite generally high cure rates in patients with metastatic germ cell cancer, patients with progressive disease on first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy or with relapsed disease following high-dose salvage therapy exhibit a very poor prognosis. Irinotecan has shown antitumour activity in human testicular tumour xenografts in nude mice. We have performed a phase II study examining the single agent activity of irinotecan in patients with metastatic relapsed or cisplatin-refractory germ cell cancer. Refractory disease was defined as progression or relapse within 4 weeks after cisplatin-based chemotherapy or relapse after salvage high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support. Irinotecan was administered at a dose of 300 (-350) mg m(-2) every 3 weeks. Response was evaluated every 4 weeks. Fifteen patients have been enrolled. Median age was 35 (19-53) years. Primary tumour localisation was gonadal/mediastinal in 12/3 patients. Patients had been pretreated with a median of six (4-12) cisplatin-containing cycles and 13 out of 15 patients had previously failed high-dose chemotherapy with blood stem cell support. Median number of irinotecan applications was two (1-3). Fourteen patients are assessable for response and all for toxicity. In one patient, no adequate response evaluation was performed. Toxicity was generally acceptable and consisted mainly of haematological side effects with common toxicity criteria 3 degrees anaemia (two patients), common toxicity criteria 3 degrees leukocytopenia (one patient) and common toxicity criteria 3 degrees thrombocytopenia (three patients). Common toxicity criteria 3/4 degrees non-haematological toxicity occurred in five patients (33%): 1 x diarrhoea, 2 x alopecia, 1 x fever and in one patient worsening of pre-existing peripheral polyneuropathy from 1 degrees to 4 degrees. No response was observed to irinotecan therapy. Currently, 13 patients have died of the disease and two patients are alive with the disease. The patients included in our study exhibit similar prognostic characteristics as patients treated in previous trials evaluating new drugs in this setting. Irinotecan at a dose of 300-350 mg m(-2) every 3 weeks appears to have no antitumour activity in patients with cisplatin-refractory germ cell cancer and, thus, further investigation in this disease is not justified.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Absence of c-KIT and members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family in refractory germ cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: Germ cell tumors (GCTs) in adolescent and young males are very sensitive to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, 10-20% of the patients cannot be cured by currently available therapeutic options. Once a tumor does not respond to cisplatin, current therapeutic modalities offer only a chance for short palliation. Recently, new treatment options that interfere with various receptor tyrosine kinases, including c-KIT and members of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, have been used successfully in chemotherapy-resistant tumors overexpressing c-KIT, ERB-B2, or EGFR. METHODS: We studied the presence of c-KIT and the four members of the EGFR family by immunohistochemistry, as well as by ERB-B2 gene amplification using fluorescent in situ hybridization, in a series of 22 patients with cisplatin-resistant GCTs in search of new treatment targets. The results in these refractory tumors were compared with those of 12 patients with chemosensitive GCTs diagnosed in an advanced metastatic stage. RESULTS: The data obtained in both groups did not differ in any of the investigated biologic markers. c-KIT was detected in the one case of pure seminoma studied and in the seminomatous components of combined tumors. The presence of EGFR was restricted to trophoblastic giant cells and the syncytiotrophoblastic elements of four nonseminomas including one pure choriocarcinoma and to a secondary non-germ cell malignancy, which had developed most likely from a mature teratoma. ERB-B2 was moderately positive in the secondary non-germ cell malignancy, in one mature teratoma component of a mixed nonseminoma, and together with EGFR in the syncytiotrophoblastic cells of a pure choriocarcinoma. Of all samples investigated, this latter case was the only one showing an amplification of the ERB-B2 gene in the syncytiotrophoblasts. ERB-B3 and ERB-B4 were detected rarely. CONCLUSION: The majority of refractory GCTs do not qualify for treatment with new biologic agents targeting the receptor tyrosine kinases EGFR, ERB-B2, or c-KIT. The lack of differences between the tumors of refractory and the responsive patients indicates that overexpression of any of these receptor tyrosine kinases does not contribute to a resistant phenotype in GCTs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Conflicting molecular phylogenies of European long-eared bats (Plecotus) can be explained by cryptic diversity.

Conflicting phylogenetic signals of two data sets that analyse different portions of the same molecule are unexpected and require an explanation. In the present paper we test whether (i) differential evolution of two mitochondrial genes or (ii) cryptic diversity can better explain conflicting results of two recently published molecular phylogenies on the same set of species of long-eared bats (genus Plecotus). We sequenced 1714bp of three mitochondrial regions (16S, ND1, and D-loop) of 35 Plecotus populations from 10 European countries. A likelihood ratio test revealed congruent phylogenetic signals of the three data partitions. Our phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the existence of a previously undetected Plecotus lineage caused the incongruities of previous studies. This lineage is differentiated on the species level and lives in sympatry with its sister lineage, Plecotus auritus, in Switzerland and Northern Italy. A molecular clock indicates that all European Plecotus species are of mid or late Pliocene origin. Plecotus indet. was previously described as an intergrade between P. auritus and Plecotus austriacus since it shares morphological characters with both. It is currently known from elevations above 800 m a.s.l. in the Alps, the Dinarian Alps and the Pindos mountains in Greece. Since we could demonstrate that incongruities of two molecular analyses simply arose from the mis-identification of one lineage, we conclude that molecular phylogenetic analyses do not free systematists from a thorough inclusion of morphological and ecological data.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Extreme sex-biased dispersal in the communally breeding, nonmigratory Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii).

Maternity colonies of the communally breeding, nonmigratory Bechstein's bat consist of closely related females that live together with unrelated females, and average colony relatedness is low despite the absence of immigration. We compared the genetic structure of both nuclear and mitochondrial microsatellites in order to quantify sex-specific dispersal rates. More specifically, we aimed at testing whether male dispersal is able to balance the genetic effect of strong (absolute) female philopatry. Absolute female philopatry, indicated by an extreme mitochondrial DNA population differentiation of 96%, was indeed opposed by strong (possibly complete) male dispersal. Based on our knowledge of the biology of Myotis bechsteinii, we conclude that inbreeding avoidance is likely to be the crucial factor driving male dispersal in this species.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

A phase I study of oral uracil-ftorafur plus folinic acid in combination with weekly paclitaxel in patients with solid tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Ftorafur is an orally available prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Its combination with uracil in a molar ratio of 1:4 (UFT) increases the 5-FU concentration in tumor cells compared with ftorafur alone. Paclitaxel has a broad spectrum of activity against solid tumors and synergic effects with UFT have been demonstrated in vitro. A phase I study was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the combination of UFT and paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors. STUDY DESIGN: UFT and folinic acid were applied at 300 mg/m2/day and 90 mg/day, respectively, on days 1-28, repeated on day 36. Paclitaxel was applied on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle. The starting dose of paclitaxel was 50 mg/m2 and escalation in 10 mg/m2 steps was performed up to 100 mg/m2 weekly. RESULTS: Forty-seven consecutive patients with various solid tumors have been included in six different dose levels. One hundred and thirty cycles have been applied. The treatment was well tolerated overall. Most frequently encountered adverse effects were gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity (diarrhea CTC 3/4 in 6% of patients, anemia in 11%, leukocytopenia in 9%, polyneuropathy in 9%, fatigue in 11%, other in 6%). Partial remissions were observed in 28% of patients. CONCLUSION: Owing to the lack of overlapping toxicities, UFT/folinic acid plus paclitaxel can be combined at doses of proven single agent activity. Side effects are mainly attributable to the gastrointestinal toxicity of UFT and to the neuro- and hematotoxicity of paclitaxel. The recommended doses for phase II studies are 300 mg/m2 of UFT plus 90 mg of folinic acid on days 1-28, and 90 mg/m2 of paclitaxel weekly.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

Capecitabine in patients with breast cancer relapsing after high-dose chemotherapy plus autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation--a phase II study.

Capecitabine, a tumor-selective, oral fluoropyrimidine, has demonstrated significant antitumor activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In this open-label monocenter phase II study the efficacy and safety of capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer who relapsed after high-dose chemotherapy was examined. Female patients 18-65 years of age, with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, who relapsed after high-dose chemotherapy (adjuvant and/or metastatic) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) and who had been treated in their course of the disease with an anthracycline and/or an anthracycline/taxane containing regimen were included into this clinical study. Capecitabine was applied as the first salvage chemotherapy at relapse after high-dose chemotherapy (1250 mg/m(2) b.i.d. p.o. for 14 days followed by 7 days rest period). Responding patients or those with stable disease after two treatment cycles were offered to continue treatment until tumor progression. Response rate, time to disease progression, survival, toxicity and quality of life were assessed. Fourteen patients between 35 and 60 years (median 45.5 years) entered this study and received a median number of 5 cycles (range 1-19) of capecitabine. All patients were evaluable for response. All patients had been pretreated with 1-2 cycles of high-dose chemotherapy plus PBSCT. Furthermore, 13 patients had additionally received local radiotherapy. On average, the patients showed metastatic disease in two organ sites (range 1-4 sites). One patient obtained a complete response and five patients a partial response, accounting for a response rate of 42.9% [95% confidence interval (17.7%; 71.1%)]. All responses were already achieved at the first observation time point 6 weeks after treatment initiation. Two further patients obtained stable disease for at least 12 weeks. At the time of final analysis all patients have progressed. Median time to progression was 2.8 months (range 0.4-13.3 months). No median survival time was reached (range 3.9-36.5 months, at the time of reporting eight patients were alive and six patients had died). Two patients developed grade III granulocytopenia. Five patients developed grade III hand-foot syndrome. One patient had the combination of nausea, fever and diarrhea grade III. All adverse events were considered manageable. We conclude that capecitabine as single-agent oral chemotherapy is active and well tolerated in heavily pretreated patients with breast cancer. It can be safely used in patients who have been intensively pretreated by myelotoxic chemotherapy or who have even relapsed after high-dose chemotherapy with PBSCT.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Exercise-induced, persistent and generalized muscle cramps. A case report.

We are reporting on a 46-year-old man who has suffered of muscle cramps for 4 years, occurring immediately after jogging and playing tennis and lasting for 7-8 hours. Repeated neurological, orthopedic, internal medical and endocrinological examinations showed no pathological findings. Physiotherapy, supplementation of fluids and electrolytes had no effect, nor did medication therapy with muscle relaxants. During spiroergometry without medication, there was an overproportional increase of heart rate and respiratory rate with delayed pCO2 increase after exercise with otherwise normal blood gas levels. This reaction was considerably reduced during spiroergometry under beta-blockade (metoprolol 100 mg); at the same time, the muscle cramps could no longer be induced. Both excessive respiratory regulation and direct hyperadrenergic stimulation should be discussed as the primary cause of the muscle cramps. According to recent findings, b-blockers with intrinsic sympathocomimetic activity should be avoided in therapy.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗