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Biomedical subjects

R L Stephens

Publications and source records attributed to R L Stephens.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Pancreatic cancer treated with carmustine, fluorouracil, and spironolactone: a randomized study.

A prospective randomized trial between two drug regimens in 38 patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma was performed. The two-drug regimen consisted of carmustine and fluorouracil. The survival rate and response to these two drugs was compared to a three-drug regimen consisting of these same two drugs plus spironolactone. Objective partial responses were rare in both groups, being 3/18 in the two-drug group and 2/20 in the three-drug group. Life table analysis in previously untreated patients from time of treatment shows longer survival for the three-drug group, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Phase III comparison of the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer with bolus weekly 5-FU vs. methyl-CCNU plus bolus weekly 5-FU. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

In a randomized and stratified study, 294 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer were treated either with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m2 weekly intravenously (i.v.) or 5-FU 400 mg/m2 i.v. weekly plus methyl-CCNU 175 mg/m2 orally (p.o.) every 6 weeks. The response rate in colorectal cancer with 5-FU was 9.5% while the two-drug treatment produced a response of 31.8% (p=.009). The response in all gastrointestinal cancers to 5-FU was 10.6% as compared with29.3% for the combination (p=.012). All responses were partial. The two-drug regimen is more effective and more toxic than weekly 5-FU therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Portable/wearable artificial kidney (WAK) - initial evaluation.

This report discusses the modus operandi and results achieved using this new mode of haemodialysis. An insulated 20 L dialysate bath acts as a carrying case for the system. When empty the case is large enough to hold the wearable module and complete supplies for one week's operation. The total weight is 17 kg. The wearable unit consists of a combined blood and dialysate pump (1.2 kg), rechargeable batteries, tubing, Dow dialyser and charcoal regeneration module with a total weight of 3.5kg. Ideally the patient dialyses using a single needle some 3 hours/day, 6 days/week. It is necessary for the wearable module to be connected to the 20 L dialysate bath for an average of 90 minutes to achieve adequate urea and 5+ removal. One patient was dialysed on 35 consecutive days and 4 others were dialysed intermittently. Routine laboratory tests and mass balance studies were performed on all patients. Ultrafiltration rates reached 700 ml/hour, routine serum chemistries remained stable and mass balance studies demonstrated a daily removal of urea 14-20 G, creatinine 1500-2000 mg, uric acid 500-900 mg and K+ 30-55 mEq. It is concluded that dialy dialysis with WAK is biochemically adequate and also permits the patient a much less restricted esistence.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1976

Phase I evaluation of dianhydrogalactitol (NSC-132313).

A toxicologic evaluation of dianhydrogalactitol in man was completed for a 5- and a 10-day schedule. The maximum tolerated dose was 30 mg/m2/day for the 5-day schedule and 21 mg/m2/day for the 10-day schedule. Dose-limiting myelosuppression occurred with both schedules, with leukopenia and thrombocytopenia being observed at median Days 15 and 19 respectively for the 5-day course and median Days 22 and 26 of the 10-day course. Nausea was infrequent and mild. Responses were obtained in one patient with laryngeal carcinoma and in one patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intracisternal injection of CRF antagonist blocks surgical stress-induced inhibition of gastric secretion in the rat.

The effects of intracisternal injection of CRF antagonist, alpha-CRF 9-41, on the inhibition of gastric acid secretion elicited by intracisternal injection of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and stress were investigated in conscious pylorus-ligated rats. Intracisternal injection of the alpha-helical CRF 9-41 (50 micrograms) did not influence basal gastric secretion, but injected concomitantly with intracisternal CRF (5 micrograms), completely blocked CRF (5 micrograms)-induced inhibition of gastric secretory volume, acid concentration and output. Intracisternal injection of alpha-helical CRF 9-41 (3, 10, 50 micrograms) produced a dose-related reversal (0, 52 and 100%) of brain surgery-induced inhibition of gastric acid output. By contrast intravenous injection of CRF antagonist (50 micrograms) did not inhibit gastric hyposecretory response to brain surgery. These data suggest that endogenous CRF in the brain may mediate stress-induced gastric hyposecretion in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

N-acetyl-GRP(20-26)-O-CH3 reverses intracisternal bombesin-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion in rats.

Intracisternal injection of 19 pmoles of bombesin in light-ether-anesthetized rats, five minutes after intracisternal vehicle, produced a 75% and 63% inhibition in gastric acid output and concentration, respectively, in 2-hour pylorus-ligated rats. Pretreatment of rats with the characterized peripheral bombesin antagonist N-acetyl-GRP(20-26)-O-CH3 (1 nmole) reversed the inhibitory effect of bombesin on gastric acid output and concentration. In contrast, the related bombesin antagonist N-acetyl-GRP-O-CH2-CH3 (1 nmole) was ineffective in this system. In urethane-anesthetized, acute gastric fistula rats infused with pentagastrin, intracisternal N-acetyl-GRP(20-26)-O-CH3 protected against the inhibition in gastric acid output produced by intracisternal bombesin (19 pmoles). Thus the recently characterized peripheral bombesin antagonist N-acetyl-GRP(20-26)-O-CH3 also appears to be effective in antagonizing central bombesin-induced inhibition in gastric acid secretion in two models. This represents a first report of a synthetic bombesin antagonist effective in reversing central bombesin-induced effects on gastric function.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Growth promotion of human leukemic colonies in vitro with human malignant effusions.

Twenty-four malignant ascites, pleural, or pericardial effusions were obtained from 23 patients with a variety of malignant neoplasms. Sera derived from these malignant effusions (ME) were tested against fetal calf serum (FCS) for its activity to promote in vitro growth of human acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) cells, termed operationally colony promoting activity (CPA). Five ME had CPA levels as high as or higher than FCS, 11 ME had somewhat lower CPA than FCS (p less than 0.05), 8 ME had considerably lower CPA than FCS (p less than 0.01), and one ME had no CPA. Low CPA was not due to inhibitory activity against colony growth. There is suggestion that high level of CPA in ME is associated with poor prognosis of the patient from whom the ME is obtained. Studies of CPA in ME might help elucidate growth regulation of malignant cells. Moreover, ME with high CPA is of practical value for the growth of leukemic colonies, thus enabling in vitro studies such as the chemotherapy sensitivity test.

Ascitic Fluid↗