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The purpose of the present study was to investigate potential prognostic factors in low-grade oligodendrogliomas (LGOs), particularly 1p19q deletion, due to its proven prognostic significance in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. We carried out a retrospective review of patients with a histological diagnosis of LGO between 1990 and 2000 in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. All cases underwent central histopathological review and FISH testing for 1p19q status. Univariate analysis of potential prognostic factors including 1p19q status, age, tumour size, tumour crossing midline, tumour enhancement, extent of surgery and seizures at diagnosis was carried out. Thirty-one patients were eligible and FISH testing was successful in 28 specimens (90%). Twenty-three specimens (82%) had 1p19q deletion; four (14%) had no 1p19q deletion; and one (4%) had 1p deletion alone. At a median follow-up of 87 months (0–147 months), median survival had not been reached and no significant difference in overall survival (OS) based on 1p19q status was detected (1p19q deletion OS 56%; 1p19q intact OS 0%; 1p deletion alone 100% ( P = 0.38)). None of the other prognostic factors investigated reached statistical significance. We confirmed the high incidence (82%) of combined 1p19q deletion in LGOs and the feasibility of successful FISH testing in paraffin embedded specimens up to 10-years-old. Analysis of potential prognostic factors was limited by the lack of events during the follow-lup period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drug therapy prescribed for a group of 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Otago prior to specialist referral was examined. Thirty-two patients were receiving some first-line anti-inflammatory drugs and six were receiving no therapy at the time of their first hospital clinic visit. Salicylates had been prescribed first in only 16 of the 50 patients while this drug had been withdrawn because of side effects in about one-third of the patients who had been treated with it prior to specialist referral. Seven patients had received phenylbutazone and six corticosteroids as the first treatment for their rheumatoid arthritis. About one-third of the patients were receiving more than one anti-inflammatory drug at the time of their initial clinic visit.