Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0344232 (blurred vision)
 2,072 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Four patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia and one malignant teratoma refractory to conventional chemotherapy were treated with high doses of cytosine arabinoside (HD ARA-C). They received up to 12 cycles of 1.8 to 3 g/m2 every 12 hours applied by 2-hour infusions. A total of 55 HD ARA-C infusions was performed. All leukemic patients responded. A complete clearance of blasts from the bone marrow was observed in two patients following 8-12 cycles of 3 g/m2. However, relapses occurred after three and seven weeks, in one case with resistance to HD ARA-C. The patient with malignant teratoma did not respond. No severe toxicity emerged even after repeated applications. Adverse reactions included moderate nausea and vomiting (4 patients), diarrhea (2 patients), hepatic dysfunction (1 patient), bone pain (1 patient), blurred vision (1 patient), conjunctivitis (1 patient), and exanthema with partial epidermiolysis (1 patient). Granulocytopenia occurring between 3-8 days after having started the therapy, subsided within 4-25 days. Plasma levels of ARA-C and the metabolite uracil arabinoside (ARA-U) were monitored. At steady state plasma concentrations of ARA-C were 32-97 microM (8-24 micrograms/ml). ARA-C disappeared from the plasma mono- or biphasic with a terminal half-life (t50%) of 7.8-12.6 minutes. The total clearance (Cl) of ARA-C varied between 1.7 and 2.9 liters/kg . h, and the distribution volume (Vss) between 0.44 and 0.86 liters/kg. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of ARA-C reached 10-15% of steady state concentrations in plasma.
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PMID:Clinical results and pharmacokinetics of high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD ARA-C). 710 69

A phase I trial of the uridine analog 3-deazauridine was undertaken in 44 adults with solid tumors. The drug was given as a 5-day continuous infusion repeated every 3-4 weeks. The dose-limiting toxic effect was granulocytopenia. Patients with prior nitrosourea therapy or extensive irradiation also had significant thrombocytopenia, and the lowest dose tested, 800 mg/m2/day, was excessive for this group. Mucositis was occasionally severe and was particularly marked in previously irradiated areas. Nausea was mild to moderate. There were isolated episodes of rash, headache, chest pain, and blurred vision. For patients without extensive prior therapy, the recommended dose is 1000 mg/m2/day. No complete or partial remissions were noted.
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PMID:Phase I study of 3-deazauridine in the treatment of adults with solid tumors. 747 Nov 19

Topotecan (NSC 609099) is a camptothecin analogue that demonstrated activity against a variety of human tumors in preclinical studies. A phase II trial was performed with topotecan given to patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Topotecan was administered IV Bolus over 30 minutes on a daily X 5 schedule, every three weeks, with a starting dose of 1.5 mg/m2. Twenty patients were entered onto the study, all of whom were eligible. All patients were evaluable for toxicities. Half of these patients experienced at least one Grade 4 hematologic toxicity, comprised of either granulocytopenia or leukopenia (4 patients with both, 3 patients with grade 4 granulocytopenia, and 2 patients with only grade 4 leukopenia). Other non-life threatening (Grade 3) toxicities included nausea (2 patients), weakness (2 patients), weight loss (1 patient), blurred vision (1 patient), diarrhea (1 patient) and malaise/fatigue/lethargy (1 patient). Two patients achieved a partial response, for an overall response rate of 10% (95% confidence interval of 1.2 to 31.7%). The median survival for the 20 patients was five months.
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PMID:Phase II trial of topotecan in advanced gastric cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study. 938 50

Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is an important opportunistic retinal infection in immunodeficiency and elderly patients. The diagnosis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is based primarily on characteristic ocular findings, with supportive serological evidence. It may present as diffuse necrotizing retinitis instead of a focal lesion. We report the original case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with blurred vision in her left eye lasting 3 months. In her medical history, the patient described a tuberculous infection evolving for some months, as well as agranulocytosis treated with Rifadine. Fundus examination revealed diffuse necrotizing retinitis, mainly at the nasal quadrant, with marked vitreitis in the left eye. Clinical recognition of atypical presentations is critical for timely antiparasitic drug therapy. This case initially was misdiagnosed as acute retinal necrosis syndrome. The correct diagnosis was confirmed by response to polymerase chain reaction studies of an intraocular specimen and histopathological analysis. The extensive necrotizing retinitis was nonhemorrhagic but associated with retinal detachment. Significant visual loss accompanied the infection. Toxoplasmosis should be considered as a cause of diffuse necrotizing retinitis in elderly and immunosuppressive patients. Older patients may be more susceptible to severe ocular Toxoplasma infections because of age-related decline in cell-mediated immunity and chronic underlying diseases.
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PMID:[Toxoplasma gondii and necrotizing retinitis: a case report]. 1458 27

A 66-year-old woman with refractory angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma underwent cord blood transplantation. Prior to transplantation, a serological test for Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG antibodies was positive. On day 96, she exhibited fever and dry cough. Chest CT showed diffuse centrilobular ground glass opacities in both lungs. The reactivation of T. gondii was identified by the presence of parasite DNA in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Moreover, brain MRI revealed a space occupying lesion in the right occipital lobe. Therefore, disseminated toxoplasmosis was diagnosed. She received pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine from day 99. The lung and brain lesions both showed improvement but the PCR assay for T. gondii DNA in peripheral blood was positive on day 133. On day 146, she developed blurred vision and reduced visual acuity, and a tentative diagnosis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis was made based on ophthalmic examination results. As agranulocytosis developed on day 158, we decided to discontinue pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine and the treatment was thus switched to atovaquone. Moreover, we added spiramycin to atovaquone therapy from day 174, and her ocular condition gradually improved. In general, the prognosis of disseminated toxoplasmosis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is extremely poor. However, early diagnosis and treatment may contribute to improvement of the fundamentally dismal prognosis of disseminated toxoplasmosis after HSCT.
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PMID:Early diagnosis and successful treatment of disseminated toxoplasmosis after cord blood transplantation. 2738 53

Psychiatric medications may have serious and untoward adverse effects such as blurred vision, restlessness, agranulocytosis, muscle rigidity, and tremors. When compared to medications, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is becoming a more acceptable treatment due to its efficacy, tolerability, and minimal adverse effect profile. Oral trauma can be an ECT-related adverse effect. We reviewed the published literature on oral health and dental protection in patients undergoing ECT, and found that there are deficits in all guidelines on dental protection during ECT. Dental assessment and treatment before and after ECT is warranted. Given the increased risk of poor oral health in psychiatric patients, and the continued evolution of ECT as a mainstay treatment, it is important that studies be conducted to determine the optimal method of oral protection. If adequate care can be ensured, the risks of ECT-induced oral trauma will be minimized.
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PMID:Oral Health in Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Neglected Topic. 2761