Toxicity of a constant low dose of methotrexate as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Ninety patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] were studied for the long term toxicity of metho trexate [MTX], administered orally at a dosage of 7.5 mg/week. Twenty patients had to be with drawn from the study within the first 12 months due to adverse reactions. After 18 months, toxicity was noted in 50 patients consisting of clinical side effects in 35 patients and biological abnormalities in 34 patients. Thus methotrexate at this constant low dose appears to be temporarily valuable therapy for RA. Careful monotoring is necessary in view of the potentially dangerous side effects

Metabolic response in severely traumatized patients

Acute severe trauma induces alterations in glucose, protein and fat metabolism through neurohormonal mechanisms. This study investigated the temporal relationship between serum cortisol, insulin levels and metabolic changes in glucose, protein and fat following acute severe trauma. Thirty adult patients admitted with polytrauma were investigated after two to three days of admission compared with 30 normal adults. There were highly significant increases in fasting blood glucose, ketones, triglycerides, cortisol and insulin, and highly significant decreases in total proteins and albumin. The study speculate that post traumatic hyperglycemia, decreased total proteins and albumin are major metabolic changes following severe trauma. These changes were mediated through neurohormonal mechanism included mainly the increased blood cortisol level

relationship between corticosteroid level and other immunologic parameters in thermally injured patients

Thermal injury induces alterations in the immune system, but the precise mechanism have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the temporal relationship between serum corticosteroid level and serum immunoglobulin levels in the postburn period. Thirty adult patients [mean age 40 years] admitted with thermal burns greater than 20% body surface area [BSA] [mean, 50%] were evaluated during four post burn periods. Serum cortisol level was increased during four postburn periods. Serum IgG, IgA and IgG concentrations were low during the initial postburn period. Serum IgG and IgA returned to normal and above normal levels in the late postburn period, but serum IgG show unsteady changes during late postburn period. The study speculate that the increased endogenous secretion of stress hormone results in an increase release of B cells from lymphoid organs. This lymphocyte redistribution may result in polyconal cellular interactions with subsequent B-cell activation, and increased IgG production

Effect of naloxone hydrochloride on acute toxicity of sodium cyanide in mice

Cyanide intoxication in mice can be antagonized by the opiate antagonist, naloxone hydrochloride alone or in combination with sodium thiosulfate. Potency ratios, derived from acute lethality values, arterial blood gases analysis and electrocardiogram tracting, were compared in groups of mice treated with sodium thiosulfate [i.p. 1 g/kg] and naloxone HCl [s.c. 3.33 mg/kg], either alone or in combination with sodium cyanide. These results indicated that naloxone HCl provided a significant protection against the lethal effects of sodium cyanide. The protective effect of sodium thiosulfate was enhanced with naloxone HCl. Naloxone HCl also provided a significant protection against the effects of sodium cyanide on arterial blood gases and on electrocardiagram, and the protective effect of sodium thiosulfate was enhanced with naloxone HCl