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Biomedical subjects

R Raschke

Publications and source records attributed to R Raschke.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Interleukin-2/interferon-alpha2a/13-retinoic acid-based chemoimmunotherapy in advanced renal cell carcinoma: results of a prospectively randomised trial of the German Cooperative Renal Carcinoma Chemoimmunotherapy Group (DGCIN).

We performed a prospectively randomised clinical trial to compare the efficacy of four subcutaneous interleukin-2-(sc-IL-2) and sc interferon-alpha2a (sc-IFN-alpha2a)-based outpatient regimens in 379 patients with progressive metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Patients with lung metastases, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate < or =70 mm h(-1) and neutrophil counts < or =6000 microl(-1) (group I) were randomised to arm A: sc-IL-2, sc-IFN-alpha2a, peroral 13-cis-retinoic acid (po-13cRA) (n=78), or arm B: arm A plus inhaled-IL-2 (n=65). All others (group II) were randomised to arm C: arm A plus intravenous 5-fluorouracil (iv-5-FU) (n=116), or arm D: arm A plus po-Capecitabine (n=120). Median overall survival (OS) was 22 months (arm A; 3-year OS: 29.7%) and 18 months (arm B; 3-year OS: 29.2%) in group I, and 18 months (arm C; 3-year OS: 25.7%) and 16 months (arm D; 3-year OS: 32.6%) in group II. There were no statistically significant differences in OS, progression-free survival, and objective response between arms A and B, and between arms C and D, respectively. Given the known therapeutic efficacy of sc-IL-2/sc-INF-alpha2a/po-13cRA-based outpatient chemoimmunotherapies, our results did not establish survival advantages in favour of po-Capecitabine vs iv-5-FU, and in favour of short-term inhaled-IL-2 in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma receiving systemic cytokines.

Adult↗

Effect of high-dose oral ganciclovir on didanosine disposition in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients.

This study was designed to investigate the interaction between high-dose oral ganciclovir (6,000 mg/day) and didanosine at steady state in patients who were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The study was conducted as an open-label, randomized, three-period crossover study. Patients received (in random order) multiple oral doses of didanosine 200 mg every 12 hours alone, ganciclovir 2,000 mg every 8 hours alone, and ganciclovir 2,000 mg every 8 hours in combination with didanosine 200 mg every 12 hours. Blood and urine samples for determinations of drug concentrations were obtained on day 3 of each dose regimen. When ganciclovir was administered either before or 2 hours after didanosine, the mean increases in maximum concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-12), and percent excreted in urine of didanosine were 58.6% and 87.3%, 87.3% and 124%, and 100% and 153%, respectively. There were no statistically significant effects of didanosine on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of ganciclovir in the presence of didanosine, irrespective of sequence of administration. There were no significant changes in renal clearance of didanosine, suggesting that the mechanism for the interaction does not involve competition for active renal tubular secretion. The mechanism responsible for increased didanosine concentrations and percent excreted in urine during concurrent ganciclovir therapy may be a result of increased bioavailability of didanosine. However, the mechanism appears to be saturated at oral ganciclovir doses of 3 g/day.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The effect of hypertonic sodium bicarbonate on QRS duration in rats poisoned with chloroquine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine efficacy of hypertonic sodium bicarbonate in narrowing QRS prolongation produced by chloroquine. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled animal experiment using an accepted rat model of sodium channel blockade. METHODS: Hypotension and widening of QRS complexes (lead II) of the ECG were produced in 16 rats by administration of a total of 87 mg/kg chloroquine intravenously over 20 minutes. Eight rats were treated with 6 mL/kg 1 M sodium bicarbonate intravenously over two minutes beginning ten minutes into the chloroquine infusion. Serial measurements of QRS duration and systolic blood pressure were obtained for 30 minutes. RESULTS: QRS intervals narrowed more rapidly in animals receiving sodium bicarbonate (p = .045), although the difference in mean rate of narrowing between groups was modest at only .23 msec/min. Because of large variances, no statistically significant differences could be demonstrated in systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertonic sodium bicarbonate partially reversed sodium channel blockade and resultant QRS interval prolongation produced by chloroquine in rats. These data should be interpreted with caution, given the need to extrapolate to humans and the modest effect of sodium bicarbonate on QRS narrowing.

Amebicides↗

[Aortitis and development of an aneurysm after PTA of distal aortic stenosis].

A 43-year-old woman was admitted with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD), pelvis-type. The angiography showed a high-grade stenosis of the aortal bifurcation. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in "kissing-balloon-technique" was performed. After 7 days the patient developed a sepsis with distinct back-pain. The ultrasound-B-scan and CT-scan of the abdomen showed the development of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm during a period of 29 days. Bacterial infection of the aorta was considered to be the reason of development of the aneurysm occurred. Immediate antibiotic therapy got the patient afebrile after 14 days. We implanted an aortobiiliacal Dacron graft 2 weeks later. The follow-up time was without complications except for two thrombotic occlusions of the graft after 4 and 19 months. Thrombectomy was carried out in both cases without complications.

Adult↗

Intravenous heparin dosing: patterns and variations in internists' practices.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize internists' dosing practices when administering and adjusting intravenous heparin regimens. DESIGN: A survey administered by physician-investigators. SETTING: Two community teaching hospitals and one Veterans Affairs Medical Center. SUBJECTS: Sixty-one attending physicians in internal medicine. MEASUREMENTS: Physicians' choices of therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) range, initial heparin bolus, initial infusion dose, and dose/infusion adjustments when APTT levels are < 1.2 x control (< 35 seconds), 1.2-1.5 x control (35-45 seconds), 1.5-2.3 x control (46-70 seconds), 2.3-3.0 x control (71-90 seconds), and > 3.0 x control (> 90 seconds). RESULTS: Physicians' dosing decisions and therapeutic ranges during heparin treatment varied widely. Responses to nontherapeutic APTT levels had especially high coefficients of variation (0.67-0.81). Two groups of physicians, together comprising a majority of all respondents, use mutually exclusive therapeutic ranges (mean 44-56 seconds and 60-83 seconds). These two groups differ significantly in several types of dosing decisions. CONCLUSION: In the absence of generalizable standard guidelines for intravenous heparin therapy, internists' dosing practices vary widely. Because such practices may impede timely, effective anticoagulation, experimental studies comparing standardized dosing protocols are needed.

Adult↗

Refractory hypoglycemia secondary to topical salicylate intoxication.

We describe a case of severe refractory hypoglycemia secondary to topical salicylate intoxication. A 72-year-old man with psoriasis and end-stage renal disease was treated with a topical cream containing 10% salicylic acid. The patient presented with encephalopathy and subsequently developed hypoglycemia refractory to infusions of large amounts of glucose. A serum salicylate concentration was elevated at 3.2 mmol/L. Emergent hemodialysis was accompanied by rapid lowering of serum salicylate concentration and resolution of refractory hypoglycemia. Salicylate is well absorbed across normal and diseased skin. Salicylate markedly impairs gluconeogenesis and increases glucose utilization, resulting in hypoglycemia. To our knowledge, this is the first article on hypoglycemia due to the application of topical salicylate.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

An ovine model of maternal iron poisoning in pregnancy.

An ovine model of maternal iron poisoning in pregnancy was used to examine the placental transport of deferoxamine and ferrioxamine and to follow maternal and fetal serum iron concentrations when maternal serum iron levels exceeded total iron-binding capacity. Ewes in the third stage of gestation underwent hysterotomy and delivery of the fetal head through an abdominal incision while under ketamine and halothane anesthesia. The fetal external jugular vein was catheterized for sampling of venous blood while the fetus remained in utero. Administration of deferoxamine mesylate or ferrioxamine mesylate IV to ewes was not accompanied by measurable deferoxamine or ferrioxamine in fetal blood. In a final experiment, four gravid ewes in a control group received 2 mg/kg maternal body wt iron IV over 60 minutes. An experimental group comprising another four ewes received similar doses of iron but then received 50 mg/kg deferoxamine mesylate IV over 15 minutes. Control and deferoxamine ewes reached similar peak maternal serum iron concentrations (2,479 +/- 266 and 2,121 +/- 343 micrograms/dL, respectively). The markedly elevated maternal serum iron concentrations were not accompanied by meaningful elevations in fetal serum iron levels over baseline values. Maternal deferoxamine infusion resulted in a more rapid fall in maternal serum iron concentrations but had no effect on fetal serum iron levels. The ovine fetus appears to be protected from elevated maternal serum iron concentrations in the last trimester of pregnancy. It could not be demonstrated that meaningful quantities of deferoxamine or ferrioxamine cross the placenta in the last trimester.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Whole blood intra-operative salvage and reinfusion in patients undergoing venous thrombectomy.

Concern regarding the risk of disease transmission via blood transfusion together with periodic shortages of homologous blood has stimulated an interest in and the usage of autologous blood. Forty-nine patients had shed blood salvaged during venous thrombectomy. Between 200-3800 ml of blood were salvaged and reinfused using Solcotrans. No patient in this study required an homologous blood transfusion. The haematological parameters studied showed figures within the normal, acceptable range post-reinfusion. No patient experienced a clinical coagulopathy or showed evidence of renal dysfunction. The device is simple to use, safe and effective.

Adolescent↗