Mechanisms of drug-induced lupus. II. T cells overexpressing lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 become autoreactive and cause a lupuslike disease in syngeneic mice

Current theories propose that systemic lupus erythematosus develops when genetically predisposed individuals are exposed to certain environmental agents, although how these agents trigger lupus is uncertain. Some of these agents, such as procainamide, hydralazine, and UV-light inhibit T cell DNA methylation, increase lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) (CD11a/CD18) expression, and induce autoreactivity in vitro, and adoptive transfer of T cells that are made autoreactive by this mechanism causes a lupuslike disease. The mechanism by which these cells cause autoimmunity is unknown. In this report, we present evidence that LFA-1 overexpression is sufficient to induce autoimmunity. LFA-1 overexpression was induced on cloned murine Th2 cells by transfection, resulting in autoreactivity. Adoptive transfer of the transfected, autoreactive cells into syngeneic recipients caused a lupuslike disease with anti-DNA antibodies, an immune complex glomerulonephritis and pulmonary alveolitis, similar to that caused by cells treated with procainamide. These results indicate that agents or events which modify T cell DNA methylation may induce autoimmunity by causing T cell LFA-1 overexpression. Since T cells from patients with active lupus have hypomethylated DNA and overexpressed LFA-1, this mechanism could be important in the development of human autoimmunity.

Incidence of nausea and vomiting in outpatients undergoing general anesthesia in relation to selection of intraoperative opioid

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To measure the incidence of nausea and vomiting in outpatients in relation to selection of, or withholding of, intraoperative opioid.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blind control trial.

SETTING

University general hospital.

PATIENTS

200 unpremedicated ASA status 1 and 11 patients, 8 to 80 years old, undergoing general anesthesia for ambulatory surgery.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomized to four groups, three of which received equipotent doses of different opioids intravenously (i.v.) during induction of anesthesia. Group 1 received nalbuphine 0.25 mg/kg, Group 2, alfentanil 20 ug/kg; Group 3, fentanyl 2 ug/kg; and Group 4, normal saline.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We evaluated (1) incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and over the next 24 hours; (2) time to PACU discharge; (3) need for antiemetic therapy; and (4) need for analgesic rescue in the PACU. The incidences of nausea and vomiting were similar in all groups, as were time to discharge, antiemetic, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug requirements. The highest incidences of nausea and vomiting occurred at 6 hours in all groups (23% and 9.5%, respectively). Group 1 required lower rescue doses of morphine in the PACU but this result may have been an artifact due to employing the mixed agonist-antagonist opioid, nalbuphine, in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

Opioid administration at the doses employed during induction of anesthesia does not promote postoperative nausea or vomiting, nor increase length of stay in the PACU.

Hippocampal afferents to the rat prefrontal cortex: synaptic targets and relation to dopamine terminals

Afferents to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) from the hippocampal formation and from midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons have been implicated in the cognitive and adaptive functions of this cortical region. In the present study, we investigated the ultrastructure and synaptic targets of hippocampal terminals, as well as their relation to DA terminals within the PFC of adult rats. Hippocampal afferents were labeled either by anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) from the ventral hippocampal formation or by anterograde degeneration following fimbria lesion. Hippocampal terminals in the PFC, identified by either method, formed primarily asymmetric axospinous synapses, with a small percentage forming asymmetric axodendritic synapses. Dopamine terminals in the PFC were identified by peroxidase immunocytochemistry for either tyrosine hydroxylase or DA and formed primarily symmetric synapses onto dendritic spines and small caliber dendritic shafts. Spines that received symmetric synaptic contact from DA terminals invariably also received an asymmetric synapse from an unlabeled terminal, forming a triadic complex. Hippocampal and DA terminals in the PFC were not often observed in the same area of the neuropil, and no examples of convergence of hippocampal and DA terminals onto common postsynaptic targets were observed. Further analysis revealed that spines receiving synaptic contact from hippocampal terminals did not receive additional synaptic contact from any other source. However, when localized to the same area of the neuropil, hippocampal and DA terminals were often in direct apposition to one another, without forming axo-axonic synapses. These results suggest that 1) hippocampal terminals primarily form excitatory synapses onto spiny pyramidal neurons, 2) hippocampal afferents are unlikely to be synaptically modulated by DA or non-DA terminals at the level of the dendritic spine, and 3) appositions between hippocampal and DA terminals may facilitate presynaptic interactions between these afferents to the PFC.

Prostate cancer: current and evolving strategies

The staging, screening and diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer are discussed. Prostate cancer kills about 40,000 men in the United States each year. Signs and symptoms range from dysuria to features of advanced metastatic disease. The American Urological System of staging prostate cancer designates four stages, A through D. The tumor is graded histologically with the Gleason scale. Methods used in the screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer include digital rectal examination, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay, biopsy, transrectal ultrasonography, and determination of PSA density, velocity, and age specificity. The value of screening and treatment remains controversial because tumors are generally slow-growing and conclusive data showing an effect on survival time are lacking. Treatment methods consist of prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and hormonal drug therapy or bilateral orchiectomy. The choice is influenced primarily by the stage of the disease but also by the patient's age, physical condition, and response to prior therapy. Patients with stage A or B disease are considered for prostatectomy or radiation therapy. The primary treatment for stage C disease is radiation therapy. For stage D, the main approaches are watchful waiting and bilateral orchiectomy or hormonal drug therapy to reduce androgenic stimulation of prostate tissue. Long-term survival rates are high for stages A and B and considerably lower for stages C and D. Prostate cancer responds to estrogens, but adverse effects are frequent and potentially severe. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (leuprolide and goserelin) are as effective as estrogens but have less toxicity; a disadvantage of these agents is an initial flaring of the disease. Other hormonal agents used include antiandrogens-progestins, flutamide, and bicalutamide. Secondary hormonal treatments (aminoglutethimide and ketoconazole) are less effective than initial hormonal therapy. Antineoplastic agents have little or no effectiveness in prostate cancer. Although the value of screening for and treating prostate cancer continues to be debated, many experts recommend annual screening for all men over 50. Research to identify more effective drugs for treating advanced disease continues.

Emergent radiofrequency ablation of the AV node in a neonate with unstable, refractory supraventricular tachycardia

Supraventricular tachycardia due to accessory atrioventricular connections in infants is usually well-tolerated. Rarely an infant can have supraventricular tachycardia that is incessant and refractory to medical therapy. We describe a patient with supraventricular tachycardia detected prenatally that caused severe cardiac dysfunction and hemodynamic instability after birth.

Dose effects of morphine and butorphanol alone and in combination after burn injury in the rat

To test the effectiveness of analgesics after thermal trauma, butorphanol, a predominately opioid kappa-receptor agonist, and morphine, a mu-agonist, were administered alone and in combination 2 days after rats were subjected to scald burn or sham burn. After graded doses of morphine were administered, analgesia, assessed by tail flick latency and tail pinch latency, was similar in the sham-burn and scald-burn rats. With butorphanol alone analgesic effects were greater in the scald-burn than the sham-burn rats. When graded doses of butorphanol were given with a fixed dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg), the tail pinch latency response was less in scald-burn rats and markedly less in sham-burn rats. The tail flick latency responses, however, moved in opposite directions in sham-burn and scald-burn rats receiving the drug combination: in sham-burn rats, tail flick latency effects were the same as with butorphanol alone; whereas in scald-burn rats, tail flick latency increases were suppressed except at the lowest dose.

Comparative analgesic efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia with ketorolac versus morphine after elective intraabdominal operations

We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial to compare analgesia and side effects produced by ketorolac and morphine during postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Fifty-one patients (ASA classes I and II) undergoing elective intraabdominal procedures were assigned to one of two groups. When postoperative pain first increased to 4/10 (by visual analog scale [VAS]), patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 25) received up to two intravenous (IV) boluses of 5 mg of morphine followed by IV morphine PCA, whereas those in Group 2 (n = 26) received up to two IV boluses of 30 mg ketorolac, then IV ketorolac PCA. Up to two rescue doses of morphine (5 mg per dose, subcutaneously) were given in either group when pain during deep inhalation exceeded 5/10 on VAS. Ten patients from Group 1 required rescue doses of morphine compared to 22 patients from Group 2 (P < 0.0011). Two and 16 patients from Groups 1 and 2, respectively, were withdrawn because of inadequate analgesia (P < 0.01). Mean pain scores were less in Group 1 than in Group 2 at each time, but only significantly so at 15 min (P < 0.0021), 30 min (P < 0.0336), and 24 h (P < 0.0358) after starting PCA. Time to acceptance of oral liquids was equivalent in Groups 1 and 2 (22 h and 21 h, respectively). IV ketorolac PCA, although well tolerated, has limited effectiveness as the sole postoperative analgesic after intraabdominal operations.

Neurolytic celiac plexus block for treatment of cancer pain: a meta-analysis

We performed a meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) for cancer pain. A literature search yielded 59 papers, but data on NCPB in two or more patients was available in only 24 papers. Twenty-one studies were retrospective, one was prospective, and two were randomized and controlled. Cancer type was stated in 1117 of 1145 patients reported (63% pancreatic, 37% nonpancreatic). A bilateral posterior approach with 15-50 mL [corrected] of 50%-100% alcohol was the most common technique. Nonradiologically guided NCPB was performed in 246 patients (32%); guidance was by computed tomography (CT) in 214 (28%), radiograph in 271 (34%), fluoroscopy in 36 (5%), or ultrasound in 7 (< 1%). Good to excellent pain relief was reported in 878/989 patients (89%) during the first 2 wk after NCPB. Long-term followup beyond 3 mo revealed persistent benefit. Partial to complete pain relief continued in approximately 90% of patients alive at 3 mo post-NCPB and in 70%-90% until death even if beyond 3 mo post-NCPB. Patients with pancreatic cancer responded similarly to those with other intraabdominal malignancies. Common adverse effects were transient, including local pain (96%), diarrhea (44%), and hypotension (38%); complications occurred in 2%. This analysis suggests that: 1) NCPB has long-lasting benefit for 70%-90% of patients with pancreatic and other intraabdominal cancers, regardless of the technique used; 2) adverse effects are common but transient and mild; and 3) severe adverse effects are uncommon.

Neurolytic celiac plexus block for treatment of cancer pain: a meta-analysis

We performed a meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) for cancer pain. A literature search yielded 59 papers, but data on NCPB in two or more patients was available in only 24 papers. Twenty-one studies were retrospective, one was prospective, and two were randomized and controlled. Cancer type was stated in 1117 of 1145 patients reported (63% pancreatic, 37% nonpancreatic). A bilateral posterior approach with 15-50 mL [corrected] of 50%-100% alcohol was the most common technique. Nonradiologically guided NCPB was performed in 246 patients (32%); guidance was by computed tomography (CT) in 214 (28%), radiograph in 271 (34%), fluoroscopy in 36 (5%), or ultrasound in 7 (< 1%). Good to excellent pain relief was reported in 878/989 patients (89%) during the first 2 wk after NCPB. Long-term followup beyond 3 mo revealed persistent benefit. Partial to complete pain relief continued in approximately 90% of patients alive at 3 mo post-NCPB and in 70%-90% until death even if beyond 3 mo post-NCPB. Patients with pancreatic cancer responded similarly to those with other intraabdominal malignancies. Common adverse effects were transient, including local pain (96%), diarrhea (44%), and hypotension (38%); complications occurred in 2%. This analysis suggests that: 1) NCPB has long-lasting benefit for 70%-90% of patients with pancreatic and other intraabdominal cancers, regardless of the technique used; 2) adverse effects are common but transient and mild; and 3) severe adverse effects are uncommon.

Efficacy and safety of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs for cancer pain: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy and safety of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of cancer pain by meta-analyses of the published randomized control trials (RCTs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-five studies met inclusion criteria for analysis. Of these, 13 tested a single-dose effect, nine multiple-dose effects, and three both single- and multiple-dose effects of 16 different NSAIDs in a total of 1,545 patients. Baseline pain intensity (when provided) of moderate or higher was indicated in 81% of patients.

RESULTS

Single-dose NSAID studies found greater analgesic efficacy than placebo, with rough equivalence to 5 to 10 mg of intramuscular morphine. Pain scores differed insignificantly for aspirin versus three other NSAIDs. Analgesic responses to low- and high-dose NSAIDs suggested a dose-response relationship, but this was not statistically significant. Recommended and supramaximal single doses of three NSAIDs produced comparable changes in pain scores, which indicates a ceiling analgesic effect. Common side effects included upper gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, and drowsiness. The incidence of side effects showed a trend to increase with dose, without a ceiling effect, and to increase with multiple doses. Single or multiple doses of weak opioids (WO) alone or in combination (WO/C) with nonopioid analgesics did not produce greater analgesia than NSAIDs alone. Single doses of WO/C analgesics produced more side effects than NSAIDs alone, although both side effect incidence and patient dropout rates were equal when multiple doses were administered.

CONCLUSION

These findings question whether the traditional World Health Organization (WHO) second analgesic step (addition of a weak opioid when pain is inadequately treated by a nonopioid analgesic alone) is warranted. A lack of comparable studies precluded testing the hypothesis that NSAIDs are particularly effective for malignant bone pain.

Infectious complications associated with temporary epidural catheters

To identify cases of deep-tissue or local infection associated with temporary epidural catheters, we reviewed medical records from 1980 through 1992 and prospectively followed up patients with temporary epidural catheters from January 1993 through June 1993 who were hospitalized at a large, tertiary referral hospital. We identified seven cases of temporary epidural catheter-associated infection, including three cases of deep-tissue infection (paraspinal muscle abscess, epidural abscess, and meningitis) and four cases of local infection. The infections were diagnosed 2 days to 22 days following insertion of the epidural catheter. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in four (57%) of the cases. All seven patients were treated with removal of the catheter and antimicrobial therapy; three patients also required surgical drainage for management of deep-tissue infection. Our findings emphasize the importance of daily inspection and prompt removal of temporary epidural catheters if infection is suspected.

Diagnostic pitfall; interpretation of CA 19-9 concentrations in the presence of hepatic dysfunction

A 50 year old man is described with hepatic dysfunction and chronic pancreatitis in whom greatly increased concentrations of the pancreatic tumour marker CA 19-9 combined with an abnormal appearance at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography lead to the false suspicion of pancreatic carcinoma. CA 19-9 concentrations should be interpreted with caution in patients with intrinsic liver disease or biliary obstruction.

Hypercapneic ventilatory response in patients with panic disorder before and after alprazolam treatment and in pre- and postmenstrual women

We tested the ventilatory and anxiety response to hypercapneic (CO2) challenge in women with panic disorder as well as in normal women in the premenstrual phase and mid-points of their menstrual cycles. Panic disorder patients were challenged on two occasions, each time while in the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle, receiving an open trial of alprazolam through the intervening 8 weeks between tests. This study confirms previous reports indicating increased sensitivity to CO2 in patients with panic disorder and that this sensitivity can be attenuated by treatment. We found a significant decrease in the ventilatory response of panic disorder patients comparing pre- and post-therapy. We also observed that normal females, while in the premenstrual phase of their menstrual cycle, have a heightened anxiety response to CO2 challenge.

HUBNET: Wide Area Network utilization of Local Area Network medical reference and communication resources

The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and its associated teaching sites have developed and partially implemented a regional Wide Area Network (WAN) in Buffalo and Western New York. The school wishes to use this WAN to deliver reference and communication resources to students, residents and faculty. The richest pool of easy to use reference and communication resources are PC software programs that are intended for individual workstations or at best, client-server, Local Area Network (LAN) implementation. HUBNET (Hospitals and University at Buffalo Library Resource Network), a project of the School of Medicine and the Library Consortium of Health Institutions in Buffalo offers integrated presentation of many such LAN resources over this regional WAN. The system crosses many institutional boundaries and reaches physically remote sites in a complex mix of information systems environments with few issues related to performance. The system design provides a level of ease of use that has brought many new users into active computer use while addressing integration into diverse information systems settings and networking environments.

Spinal co-administration of peptide substance P antagonist increases antinociceptive effect of the opioid peptide biphalin

Intrathecal injection of 0.25 micrograms of undecapeptide substance P antagonist (SPA) produced transient antinociception with a peak effect at 5 min. Increasing the SPA dose resulted in neurotoxicity. Intrathecal injection of the opioid peptide biphalin (BIP) produced antinociception for over 3 hrs without neurotoxicity. Co-administration of SPA (at subtoxic doses) increased BIP's antinociceptive effect. Naltrexone reversed analgesia due to BIP alone as well as after BIP+SPA.

Non-deterministic individual responses to receptor-selective opioid agonists

To assess within a single rat strain individual variability of analgesic responses to sub-ED50 doses of receptor-selective opioids, we measured: 1) tail flick latency (TFL) responses after intrathecal (ith) injection of delta, mu, and kappa agonists administered serially; 2) TFL and tail pinch latencies (TPch) after intravenous (iv) mu and kappa agonists; and 3) TFL and TPch after iv agonists of mu or combined mu + delta selectivity. Mean values in each study confirmed an analgesic response, but individual TFL and TPch responses were chaotic and, within each study, rank order correlations between TFL and TPch values within or between drugs were insignificant. Our results suggest a hypothesis that such responses are intrinsically nondeterministic because--resembling other complex dynamic systems--they are generated by stochastic receptor-transmitter interactions that in turn evoke a series of nonlinearly coupled cellular and neural events.