Presenting and publishing case reports.

The educational value of case reports and the four main categories of information they include are described. Checklists and directions for effective spoken presentations are detailed, so the presenter knows not only the information the audience is likely to expect, but the techniques that will help convey the information. A typical case as it might be presented during rounds is shown with questions for discussion. Guidelines for writing case reports for publication also are included, such as journal selection, descriptions of the standard and nonstandard case formats, the content of the three main sections of the typical case report, and the directions that journal editors typically ask reviewers to follow.

Biological significance of beta hCG, HLA and other membrane antigen expression on bladder tumours and their relationship to tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL).

Expression of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) by bladder tumours has been shown to be associated with increased metastases and resistance to treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Preliminary results from typing frozen tumours using monoclonal antibodies against HLA determinants show reduced or lost expression of one or more antigens in two thirds of patients studied with a trend for more malignant behaviour and inability to generate tumour infiltrating lymphocyte expression using Interleukin-2 in those patients whose tumours demonstrate loss. In this series beta hCG expression was only seen in a subgroup of those demonstrating loss of HLA antigen expression. Studies of beta hCG secreting bladder cancer cell lines showed that it was possible to induce class II HLA antigen expression with gamma Interferon, and that this treatment but not alpha Interferon reduced beta hCG production by the cell line.

Effect of food and antacid on binding of sucralfate to normal and ulcerated gastric and duodenal mucosa in rats.

Sucralfate, a basic aluminum salt of sucrose sulfate, has been shown to accelerate the healing of peptic ulcers. We studied its binding to normal and ulcerated rat mucosa after gastric and duodenal ulcers had been induced by acetic acid. Sucralfate adhered to ulcerated mucosa for over 6 hours, in the presence and absence of antacid. Food, eaten 1 hour after sucralfate administration, did not appear to alter its selective binding to ulcer sites, but did reduce the amount of sucralfate bound to healthy tissue. The results suggest that sucralfate has a greater affinity for ulcerated mucosa than normal mucosa.

Relative incidence of phlebitis caused by continuous intravenous infusion of cephapirin and cephalothin.

In a single-blinded study, two groups of 10 healthy subjects were given cephapirin or cephalothin by continuous intravenous infusion for 5 days, 0.5 g every 6 hr for the first day and then 1.0 g every 6 hr for 4 days. Eight of the cephalothin subjects and two of the cephapirin subjects developed phlebitis. Phlebitis was more severe in the cephalothin group and developed more rapidly, necessitating vein changes six times more often than in the cephapirin group. The less irritating properties of cephapirin demonstrated in this study indicate it may be the more useful cephalosporin analogue for intravenous therapy.