Purpose: To examine whether preincisional dextromethorphan (DM) improved analgesia after modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Methods: Sixty patients (ASA I-II) scheduled for MRM were included and randomly allocated into two groups. Patients in the treatment group (DM) received 40 mg DM and 20 mg chlorpheniramine maieate (CPM) ira, and those in the control group received 20 mg CPM im alone 30 min before skin incision. Meperidine, I mg-kg-' ira, was given for postoperative pain relief as required. The time to first meperidine injection, total meperidine consumption, worst pain score, bed-rest time, and side effects were recorded every 24 hr for 48 hr after surgery by a resident anesthesiologist on a double-blind basis. No difference was noted in worst VAS pain score. Meperidine-related side effects (nausea, vomiting, pruritus, dizziness, headache) were more frequent in the control (10/30) than in the DM group (3/30, P < 0.05). The number of patients who required meperidine injection for pain relief was lower in the DM (7/30) than in the control group (25/30, P < 0.005). No DM-or CPM-associated side effects were observed. Conclusion: Preincisional IM. DM treatment decreased postoperative pain and opioid requirement after MRM surgery.Objectif: D~terminer si I'administration pr~incision de dextrom&horphane (DM) am~liore I'analg&ie ~ la suite d'une mastectomie radicale modifi~e (MRM). M~.thodr : Soixante patientes (ASA I-II) qui devaient subir une HRM ont particip~ ~ I'&ude et ont ~t~ r~parties au hasard en deux groupes. Les patientes du groupe de traitement (DM) ont regu 40 mg de DM et 20 mg de mal~ate de chlorph~niramine (MCP) ira, et celles du groupe t~moin ont re~u 20 mg de MCP im seulement, 30 min avant l'incision cutan~e. De la m~p&idine, I mg.kg-' ira, a ~t~ administr~e sur demande apr~s l'op&ation pour soulager la douleur. Ont ~t~ enregistr& par un anesth&iologiste en service selon un mode ~ double insu : le temps &oul~ avant la premi&e injection de m~p&idine, la consommation totale de m~p&idine, la douleur la plus intense, le temps de repos au lit et les effets secondaires. R~.sultats : Un d~lai plus long avant la premi&e injection de m~p&idine (19,2 ---1,6 vs 1,5 +--0,23 h, P < 0,001) et une plus faible consornmation de rn~p&idine (0[I 0] vs 75[50] rag, m~diane [&endue interquartile], P < 0,00 I) ont &~ observ& dans le groupe DM compar~ au groupe t~moin. Le temps de repos au lit a ~t~ plus court dans le groupe DlVl que dans le groupe t~moin (I 8,0[4] vs 23,0[I 9] h, P < 0,001 ). Aucune diff&ence n'a toutefois ~t~ notre quant ~. la douleur la plus intense selon rEVA. Les effets secondaires reli~s ~ la m~p&idine (naus~es, vomissements, prurit, &ourdissements, c~phal&s) ont ~t~ plus frequents dans le groupe t~moin (10130) que dans le groupe DM (3/30, P < 0,05). Moins de patientes du groupe DM (7/30) que du groupe t~moin (25130) ont demand~ une injection de m~p&idine pour soulager la douleur, P < 0,005). On n'a pas observ~ d'effets secondaires associ~s au DH ou au MCP. Conclusion : l'administration pr~incision e...

Dietary consumption data obtained by food weighing for 539 households in Taiwan in 1980-1981 were used to search for foods predictive of nutrient intake. The average per capita nutrient intake in each household was calculated for total calories, protein, fat and fatty acids (saturated fatty acids, oleic acid and unsaturated fatty acids). Stepwise multiple regression analysis was carried out to reveal the relative importance of each of 405 food items in the dietary survey data for predicting nutrient intake. We found that as few as seven to 20 food items could account for a large proportion of the variability of macronutrient intake in this population. These lists of foods were the minimum needed to categorize an individual's nutrient intake for epidemiological studies in Taiwan. The types and amounts of cooking oils (important predictors of fat and calories) added to the dishes were found to vary from family to family, and should be considered in designing dietary questionnaires for Chinese in other societies.

Dietary consumption data obtained by food weighing for 539 households in Taiwan in 1980-1981 were used to search for predictor foods of individual intake of several vitamins and calcium. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was carried out on food items that were univariately and significantly associated with nutrient intakes, to screen for the important predictors. Less than ten foods were enough to explain more than 90% of the interperson variation for vitamin A, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2. For vitamin C and calcium, 20 food items could explain only 87% of the variation. Salt, brown sugar, and soy bean sauce were selected among calcium predictors. The information on foods predictive of nutrient intake is useful in designing food frequency questionnaires and materials for nutrition education. Although this paper provides such information for Chinese living in Taiwan, some issues described (such as the need to assess spices) may have been overlooked and could be generalized to populations using stir-frying as a major cooking method.

Retinoids are differentiating agents that have been used successfully for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. When combined with interferons, they are active in preventing second malignancies in patients with head and neck cancer. Our previous studies have demonstrated cytostatic effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) on SC-M1 gastric cancer cells in vitro. The activity of tRA and 13-cis-retinoic acid (cRA) on SC-M1 cells was compared both in vitro and in vivo in this study. Measurement of total cellular DNA was used to determine cell growth in vitro. The effect of retinoic acid on tumor growth was evaluated by implanting sustained release tRA or cRA pellets into athymic nude mice. The results showed that tRA was more potent than cRA in suppressing the growth of SC-M1 gastric cancer cells in vitro. Both tRA and cRA were effective in suppressing the growth of SC-M 1 tumors in athymic nude mice. No change in the differentiation status and cell cycle phase distribution in excised tumors was observed. Side effects such as bone fractures and weight loss were observed in mice of both treatment groups. The results suggest that retinoic acid may provide therapeutic advantages for the treatment of gastric cancer.