Health physics consequences of out-patient treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with 131I-radiolabeled anti-B1 antibody.

The Medical University of South Carolina is currently participating in clinical trials of 131I radiolabeled Anti-B1 antibody for treatment of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Under current South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control regulatory guidelines,; these patients are required to be admitted to the hospital and to remain as inpatients until the whole body burden is <30 mCi or the exposure rate measured 1 m from the patient is <5 mR h(-1). We demonstrate that these patients can be released in accordance with the new recommended guidelines of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the release of patients containing radioactive materials in compliance with all radioactive material and public dose standards. This benefits these patients by reducing their risk of infection and other hospital insults and by reducing the length of hospitalizations. Further, unnecessary hospital admissions are decreased, and the overall cost of healthcare delivery for these patients is significantly reduced.

Cardiovascular and sensory responses to forearm ischemia and dynamic hand exercise.

The relationship between cardiovascular responses and pain produced by the submaximal-effort tourniquet procedure was evaluated in healthy humans. Graded increases in ischemic pain were associated with graded elevations in arterial blood pressure, forearm vascular resistance, and venous tone. Many of the vascular responses to muscle ischemia were typical of the cardiovascular components of the defense reaction and correlated with both the sensory and affective aspects of ischemic pain. The cardiovascular responses to arm ischemia were distinguishable from those produced by rhythmic hand exercise used to produce ischemia. Dynamic hand exercise produced a transient increase in arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and measures of hand discomfort. These responses were enhanced when dynamic hand exercise was conducted under ischemic conditions. The tightly coupled and coordinated cardiovascular responses elicited by ischemic pain represent integrated adaptive responses to painful stimulation.