ABSTRACT
Twenty five cases of gliomas of the brain were operated upon by debulking the tumour masses. Following this, microwave hyperthermia was given by heating a measured volume of Ringer's solution instilled into the tumour cavity. This was followed by a 'dry treatment' without Ringer's solution. The follow up of these cases revealed that 11 cases have died and 14 cases are alive post-operatively. For those that are alive, the follow up period ranges from 21 to 41 months with the mean survival period of 31.1 months; in this group, 12 cases have a Kanofsky scale of 80-100, i.e. they are fully independent. The other two cases have a score of 50 or under and they need institutional care. In this study, we believe that the first order effect of microwave hyperthermia is predominantly thermal and in the published literature, and in this investigation, there is no clear evidence that microwave radiation produces any other beneficial and quantifiable effect on the tissue.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/therapy , Glioma/therapy , Hyperthermia, Induced , Microwaves/therapeutic use , Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Follow-Up Studies , Glioma/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Neoplasm Staging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Dynorphin-(1-13) and -(1-10) were administered by intrathecal injection into six terminal cancer patients at doses of 7.5, 15, 30 and 60 micrograms. Compared with saline, both analogues of dynorphin were effective in suppressing pain. The duration of relief at doses of 15 micrograms and above was more than 4 hours on the average for both peptides. However, no proportional increase in response was observed when the dose applied was doubled. This lack of response might have been due to the development of tolerance.
Subject(s)
Dynorphins/therapeutic use , Neoplasms/physiopathology , Pain, Intractable/drug therapy , Peptide Fragments/therapeutic use , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Dynorphins/analogs & derivatives , Female , Humans , Injections, Spinal , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Seven cases of chronic pain were treated by intrathecal administration of 30 micrograms of beta-endorphin and dynorphin-(1-13). Compared with saline, both peptides were able to suppress pain for periods up to 4.5 and 7 hours on the average, respectively. No significant side reactions were noticed during the entire investigation.
Subject(s)
Dynorphins/therapeutic use , Endorphins/therapeutic use , Pain, Intractable/drug therapy , Peptide Fragments/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Cerebral Infarction/physiopathology , Dynorphins/administration & dosage , Dynorphins/adverse effects , Endorphins/administration & dosage , Endorphins/adverse effects , Female , Herpes Zoster/physiopathology , Humans , Injections, Spinal , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/physiopathology , Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage , Peptide Fragments/adverse effects , Wounds, Gunshot/physiopathology , beta-EndorphinABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to evaluate if plasma or CSF beta-endorphin level can be induced to rise during the treatment of heroin addiction by electroacupuncture. Based on the examination of 30 addicts, we obtained no evidence indicating an increase of beta-endorphin level in either the plasma or the CSF after 30 min of acupuncture. In spite of this, the majority of the addicts experienced a reduction of withdrawal symptoms during treatment. Since electroacupuncture may only induce a highly localized secretion of beta-endorphin in the brain, our results cannot unequivocally exclude the possibility that this peptide is involved in mediating the action of acupuncture.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Endorphins/metabolism , Heroin Dependence/therapy , Adult , Electric Stimulation Therapy , Endorphins/blood , Endorphins/cerebrospinal fluid , Endorphins/immunology , Female , Heroin Dependence/blood , Heroin Dependence/cerebrospinal fluid , Humans , Immunoassay , Male , beta-Lipotropin/bloodABSTRACT
Plasma ACTH, cortisol, and cyclic-AMP levels of eleven heroin addicts were dertermined before and after treatment with a fast detoxification procedure using acupuncture and electrical stimulation (AES) together with the administration of limited doses of naloxone. At the end of the treatment period, the average plasma ACTH, cortisol, and cyclic-AMP level rose 130,83, and 24 percent, respectively. In view of the appearance of mild withdrawal signs during this method of treatment, the observed increases in ACTH and cortisol levels probably reflect the inability of AES to suppress withdrawal symptoms induced by naloxone completely. The mechanism underlying this new method of treatment is discussed in relation to AES's ability to stimulate the secretion of endorphins.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood , Heroin Dependence/therapy , Hydrocortisone/blood , Naloxone/therapeutic use , Adult , Cyclic AMP/blood , Electric Stimulation Therapy , Endorphins/metabolism , Heroin Dependence/blood , Humans , Male , Methadone/therapeutic use , Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/prevention & controlSubject(s)
Naloxone/therapeutic use , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Schizophrenia/cerebrospinal fluidABSTRACT
Forty-two heroin addicts and 31 normal persons were examined for the effect of acupuncture and electrical stimulation (AES) on plasma ACTH, cortisol and cyclic-AMP levels. Both ACTH and cortisol levels were reduced significantly in the addicts after treatment whereas no such significant reduction was observed in the normals. Plasma cyclic-AMP level was not affected in either group. Taken together, results from the present study suggest that the mechanism of AES in the treatment of addiction may have a neuroendocrinological basis. This hypothesis is particularly attractive in view of the isolation of opiate-like peptides from the brain.
