Recombinant human interleukin‐2 (rIL‐2) was administered to 34 patients with advanced malignancy. Three schedules of rIL‐2 administration employed were as follows: (A) 2‐hr iv infusion of 6.7 × 10 *5 U/m *2 /day (A 1 , 6 cases) or 2.2 × 10 *6 U/m *2 /day (A 2 , 8 cases) for five consecutive days; (B) 24‐hr continuous iv infusion of 3.3 × 10 *5 U/m *2 /day (B 1 , 3 cases), 6.7 × 10 *5 U/m *2 /day (B 2 , 7 cases) or 1.1 × 10 *6 U/m *2 /day (B 3 , 5 cases) for 28 consecutive days; and (C) 24‐hr continuous iv infusion of 6.7 × 10 *5 U/m *2 /day (C, 5 cases) for 5 consecutive days per week for four weeks. The common side effects were fever (79%), eosinophilia (61%), malaise (56%), erythema or rash (50%), chills (38%) and nausea or vomiting (35%), with the dose‐limiting toxicities being hypotension in group A, and renal dysfunction with fluid retention in groups B and C. In the case of 2‐hr iv infusion, rIL‐2 was rapidly cleared from the plasma, with a half life of about 30 min, while in the case of 24‐hr continuous infusion, more than 1 U/ml serum IL‐2 activity was maintained for 14 days in group B 3 . Natural killer (NK) and lymphokine‐activated killer (LAK) activities were augmented by rIL‐2 administration in patients of groups A, B 3 and C. In eight patients of group B, NK and LAK activities transiently decreased after rIL‐2 administration, and recovered by day 3. The percentage of IL‐2 receptor and Leu HLA‐DR positive cells reached the peak level on day 7 in group B. In patients of group C, the percentage of Leu HLA‐DR positive cells as well as NK and LAK activities increased upon rIL‐2 administration and decreased during an intermission of two days. However, the percentage of rIL‐2 receptor positive cells increased during the intermission of rIL‐2. The most effective schedule of rIL‐2 administration was considered to be the schedule of group C on the basis of this study.
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the Omron HBP-9031C automated oscillometric upper-arm blood pressure (BP) measurement device for blood pressure monitoring, according to the ANSI/AAMI/ISO 81060-2:2013 protocol (ANSI/AAMI/ISO).
Ultrasound has become the most common tool used in diagnostic imaging during the postoperative follow up of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. These devices are designed to be user friendly and allow for easy handling. One such device is the V-Scan®.
Postoperative empyema and aspergillosis were diagnosed in a 66-year-old man. Since non-operative therapy was not effective, we performed surgery. On the 8th postoperative day, a covered Ultraflex expandable stent (Boston Scientific, Galway, Ireland) was implanted to make a one-way airway for blocking a major air leak from a bronchopleural fistula causing respiratory distress. His general condition improved gradually, and he was discharged 30 days after stenting. In conclusion, we used a covered Ultraflex expandable stent to make an airway to block an air leak. This may be a new application for this stent.
