Biomedical subjects

J Stigt

Publications and source records attributed to J Stigt.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Carboplatin and paclitaxol (Taxol) as an induction regimen for patients with biopsy-proven stage IIIA N2 non-small cell lung cancer. an EORTC phase II study (EORTC 08958).

The aim of this study was to document the activity and toxicity of paclitaxel (Taxol)/carboplatin when used as induction chemotherapy in patients with stage IIIA N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) prior to definitive local treatment within a large, ongoing comparative study (EORTC 08941). 52 eligible, consenting, chemotherapy-naïve patients with NSCLC, median age of 60 years, stage IIIA N2 disease and the ability to tolerate a pneumonectomy received paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 as a 3-h infusion followed by carboplatin at an area under the concentration curve (AUC) of 6 every 3 weeks for three courses. Most patients received three courses. No grade 3/4 anaemia or thrombocytopenia was documented. Over all of the cycles, 6% (3 patients) experienced grade 3 leucopenia while 63% (32/51 patients) experienced grade 3-4 neutropenia. There was 1 patient (2%) with febrile neutropenia, no early or toxic deaths and no hypersensitivity reactions. Severe non-haematological toxicity was uncommon, with the exception of grade 3 alopecia in 39%, lethargy in 8% and myalgia in 6%. Of the eligible patients (n=52), there was one complete response (CR) and 32 partial responses (PR), resulting in a response rate of 64% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 49%-76%). Of the 15 eligible patients randomised to surgery after induction chemotherapy, 3 patients did not receive surgery and 2 patients (n=12) had no tumour in the mediastinal nodes (17%). Resections were considered complete in 2 of the 12. Median survival for all eligible patients (n=52) was 20.5 months (95% CI 16.1-31.2), with an estimated 1-year survival rate of 68.5% (95% CI 55.2-81.7). In patients with N2 stage IIIA NSCLC, paclitaxel/carboplatin is an active and very well-tolerated induction regimen.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Pulmonary function in Parkinson's disease.

Pulmonary function was investigated in 31 consecutive patients with relatively severe Parkinson's disease. Clinical disability was assessed by Hoehn and Yahr scale, Northwestern University Disability Scale and Websterscore. All patients were on levodopa substitution therapy and used anticholinergics. Pulmonary function was investigated by spirography, determination of a maximal inspiratory and expiratory flow-volume curve and, when possible, maximal static mouth pressures were determined. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flow, maximal expiratory flow at 50% and maximal static mouth pressures were significantly below normal values. Vital capacity, forced inspiratory volume in 1 s and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and vital capacity were relatively normal. Nine patients had upper airway obstruction (UAO) as judged by abnormal values for peak inspiratory flow, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak expiratory flow and the ratio of maximal expiratory and inspiratory flow at 50%. Flow-volume curves were normal in eight patients; four patients demonstrated flow decelerations and accelerations (type A) and 16 had a rounded off flow-volume curve (type B). Type A can be explained by UAO and type B by a combination of decreased effective muscle strength and possible UAO. Overall results of pulmonary function tests in patients without any clinical signs or symptoms of pulmonary disease point to subclinical upper airway obstruction and decreased effective muscle strength in a significant proportion of patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1989

Maximal expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume curves in Parkinson's disease.

In order to investigate the type and degree of upper airway obstruction (UAO) in a group of patients with Parkinson's disease in different stages of the disease, we obtained maximal expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume (MEFV and MIFV) curves and maximal static mouth pressures. The clinical disability was indicated by a Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) scale, ranging from III to V, and a more continuous Northwestern University Disability Scale (NUDS), ranging from zero to 50. Twelve patients were in H-Y Group III, and eleven and eight were in Groups IV and V, respectively. The pattern of the flow-volume curves was classified as either normal, or with superimposed regular or irregular oscillations (A), or with rounded-off and delayed expiratory peak appearance (B). Mean MEFV curves in Groups III and IV were not appreciably different from reference. In Group V, the mean curve showed a lower peak expiratory flow (PEF) and a more convex tail. Only the effort-dependent variables PEF, peak inspiratory flow (PIF), and maximal mouth pressures at RV and TLC (PmTLC and PmRV) appeared to be significantly correlated with the NUDS index and decreased with increasing clinical disability. The mean values of those variables were also significantly different between the H-Y groups. The number of normal curves decreased from H-Y Group III to Group V. The contribution of A and B curves was relatively equal in the groups, with only a small number of A curves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Airway Obstruction↗