Automated sleep EEG analysis applied to the evaluation of drugs: illustration by study of clorazepate dipotassium

An automated sleep EEG analysis system was used to evaluate the effects of clorazepate dipotassium in normal subjects. Ten young-adult men slept 18 consecutive nights in the laboratory. On days 8-15 clorazepate (7.5 mg) was administered three times daily; on days 5-7 and 16-18 a placebo was administered in a similar fashion. The drug reduced amounts of alpha and delta activity and increased the amount of beta activity and the number of spindles. These effects generally persisted through the 3 day placebo recovery period. Our results suggest that sleep EEG waveform descriptors are sensitive indicators of drug activity and that beta activity in particular may be useful in the detailed description of various drug effects.

Prognostic significance of lymph node histology in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, pharynx, or oral cavity

In a double-blind retrospective analysis, sections of lymph nodes regional to head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were microscopically examined to assess morphologically the immunologic pattern of response. Patients whose nodes showed evidence of immunologic stimulation had five-year survival rates significantly higher than those whose nodes showed no evidence of immunologic stimulation. None of the patients whose nodes showed the lymphocyte depletion pattern survived five years. The stage or histologic grade of the tumors did not influence these correlations. Metastases occurred much more frequently in patients whose nodes showed immunologic activity than in those whose did not. The data support the concept that immunologic capacities are important host defense mechanisms against malignancy. Histologic assessment of immunologic activity in regional nodes seems to be an important parameter for predicting survival.

Immunologic assessment of regional lymph node histology in relation to survival in head and neck carcinoma

Histologic material from 84 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck regions was studied by double blind retrospective analysis. Sections of lymph nodes draining the tumors were examined microscopically to assess the morphologic pattern of response. Patients whose lymph nodes demonstrated active immunologic responses in the form of expanded inner cortices or increased numbers of germinal centers had 5-year survival rates significantly greater than those patients whose regional lymph nodes showed an unstimulated pattern. None of the patients whose lymph nodes showed the depleted pattern survived 5 years. These correlations were independent of the stage or grade of the tumor. Metastases occurred much more frequently in patients having regional nodes showing an unstimulated or depleted pattern than in those whose regional nodes showed evidence of immunologic activity. The data support the concept of a relationship between immunologic activity, progression of neoplasia, and survival. Morphologic assessment of immunologic activity in lymph nodes draining malignant tumors appear to be of significant value in the predicting survival.