Protein binding of mianserin and imipramine in vitro was determined in sera from 10 patients with cancer and from 28 drug-free normal subjects. alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) concentrations ranged from 0.91 +/- 0.04 g/l in control subjects to 2.17 +/- 0.18 g/l in cancer patients. Albumin concentrations ranged from 55.80 +/- 1.68 g/l in control subjects to 39.71 +/- 4.40 g/l, respectively. Serum samples containing concentrations of 100 ng/ml for mianserin and 500 ng/ml for imipramine were ultrafiltered and the free concentration were measured with scintillation spectrophotometer. The mean free percentage of mianserin was significantly less in patients with cancer (8.70 +/- 0.29% in patients vs 14.30 +/- 0.50% in control subjects P < 0.001). A multiple regression analysis revealed a significant contribution of plasma AAG (r2 = 0.56, P < 0.01), but not of albumin to the overall variability in mianserin binding. No correlation was observed between protein binding of imipramine and AAG concentrations in serum of cancer patients. No significant changes were observed for protein binding of imipramine in cancer patients as compared with control subjects. Our results suggest that for antidepressant (AD) drugs, of which the binding depends on AAG, variability in protein binding could be expected in cancer patients. Thus, in cancer therapy, changes in analgesic doses could be necessary with this kind of antidepressant drug.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing physical activity among minority women: focus group results.

Focus group findings indicate a need to develop physical activity surveys that are more relevant for women, that include well-defined, inoffensive terminology, and that improve recall of unstructured and intermittent physical activities.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Congenital anomalies of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

A wide spectrum of congenital anomalies may affect the upper gastrointestinal tract, including anomalies of the esophagus (e.g., atresia, fistulas, webs, duplications, vascular rings), stomach (e.g., congenital gastric outlet obstruction, duplications), and duodenum (e.g., atresia, annular pancreas, duplications, malrotation). The evaluation of affected patients can require multiple imaging modalities for diagnosis and surgical planning. Radiography is often diagnostic and specific and can usually provide important clues to help determine the optimal diagnostic procedure. Neonates with complete gastric or upper intestinal obstruction do not usually require further radiologic evaluation after radiography: Barium studies are usually contraindicated, and complementary procedures (e.g., ultrasound [US], computed tomography [CT]) are not usually helpful and may even delay surgery, resulting in death. Nevertheless, US has become important in the evaluation of the pediatric gastrointestinal tract and is being used in an increasing number of applications. CT and magnetic resonance imaging are unsuitable for general screening but provide superb anatomic detail and added diagnostic specificity. They are especially useful in demonstrating esophageal duplications and vascular rings as well as associated abnormalities. However, the decision to perform a given imaging examination should be considered carefully to avoid inconvenience or unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient or delays in surgical correction. Quality control programs should be in place to ensure safe, effective radiologic practice through use of up-to-date equipment and good imaging technique.

Diagnostic Imaging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Congenital anomalies of the small intestine, colon, and rectum.

Congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract are a significant cause of morbidity in children and, less frequently, in adults. These abnormalities include developmental obstructive defects of the small intestine, anomalies of the colon, anomalies of rotation and fixation, anorectal anomalies, and intestinal duplications. Neonates with complete high intestinal obstruction do not usually require further radiologic evaluation following radiography, whereas those with complete low obstruction should undergo a contrast material enema examination. An upper gastrointestinal series must be performed in all patients with incomplete intestinal obstruction because management is different in each case. In low intestinal obstruction, ultrasonography (US) may help differentiate between small bowel obstruction and colonic obstruction. In addition, US can help correctly identify meconium ileus and meconium peritonitis and is useful in the diagnosis of enteric duplication cysts. In malrotation and anorectal anomalies, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can provide superb anatomic detail and added diagnostic specificity. Intestinal duplications manifest as an abdominal mass at radiography, contrast enema examination, or US. At CT, most duplications manifest as smoothly rounded, fluid-filled cysts or tubular structures with thin, slightly enhancing walls. At MR imaging, the intracystic fluid has heterogeneous signal intensity on T1-weighted images and homogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Familiarity with these gastrointestinal abnormalities is essential for correct diagnosis and appropriate management.

Colon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of diabetes mellitus in mothers having given birth to macrosomic infants].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Birth Weight↗