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One hundred and twenty unpremedicated patients undergoing gynaecological surgery were randomly allocated to one of three equal treatment groups to assess the effectiveness of ethyl chloride in producing instant skin anaesthesia to prevent the pain of venepuncture from a 20 G cannula. They received either no anaesthetic, 0.2 ml one per cent lidocaine plain intradermally or a ten-second spray of ethyl chloride at the cannulation site. Ethyl chloride produced skin anaesthesia that significantly reduced the pain of venepuncture. However, it was not as effective as intradermal lidocaine. It had no effect on vein visualisation or ease of cannulation. Ethyl chloride can be recommended as a method of producing instant skin anaesthesia.

The ultrastructure of the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules of the kidneys was analyzed. Rats were treated with water solutions of Ethrel (AmChem 68-240) at 10, 100 and 200 mg per kg of body weight for seven days. An increase of thickness of the basic epithelial membranes and smoothing of the folds of the capsule at its base were observed in this study, as well as an increase of the number of the apical vesicles, lisosomes and microbodies. Lipid droplets appeared in the cytoplasm of the cells. These data proved the occurrence of some disturbances in the action of the cells studied. This was supported by the changes observed in the urine of the experimental animals. There were no toxic injuries to the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules of the kidneys which might be caused by Ethrel.

Structure-activity studies of nitrosourea pharmacology have resulted in the synthesis of a new water-soluble agent,chlorozotocin, which has significant antitumor activity against the L1210 leukemia system and produces only a minor degree of inhibition of mouse and human bone marrow DNA synthesis compared to BCNU. It is important to emphasize that the bone marrow sparing feature of chlorozotocin is relative and that if the drug is administered at lethal dose levels in mice, myelosuppression is observed. The potential importance of these studies is the identification of a new and active nitrosourea antiumor agent with modified bone marrow toxicity. If aminoglucose modification of nitrosourea bone marrow toxicity can be confirmed in man without significant loss of antitumor activity, the use of such a compound could facilitate treatment of patients with neoplastic disease who have pre-existing abnormal bone marrow function. It would also allow the more effective use of a nitrosourea agent in combination with anticancer agents possessing more potent myelosuppressive properties.

Groups of seven B6C3F1 mice per sex were exposed for 23 hr/day to 0, 250, 1250, or 5000 ppm ethyl chloride (EtCl) for 11 consecutive days to evaluate the potential toxicity of EtCl under near-continuous exposure conditions. On the day following the last exposure, a neurobehavioral observation battery was performed, samples were obtained for clinical chemistry and hematology, and necropsies were conducted. Histopathologic examination was subsequently performed. The only observed effects were increased relative liver weights and a slight increase in hepatocellular vacuolation (glycogen or fat) in 5000 ppm-exposed mice. Exposures to EtCl were well tolerated despite the unusually long exposure periods.

Five children with acute and chronic regional myofascial pain syndromes, involving the sternomastoid, the external oblique, the rectus abdominis and the biceps femoris, are described. The trigger points were treated initially by vapocoolant therapy followed by muscle stretching, and subsequently by moist heat applications and continuing muscle stretching. The pain resolved in all cases. Such syndromes received little attention in the medical literature, and consequently, affected patients have been given alternative diagnoses. The article seeks better recognition of such syndromes in order to provide adequate and appropriate management.

Experiments were carried out on white rats. Water solutions of Ethrel (AmChem 68-240) at 10, 100 and 200 mg per kg of body weight were used during seven days. Enlargement of Disse's space, as well as the appearance of many fibrous elements were observed in the liver. The number of the lipid droplets increased in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, and some of the mitochondria were swollen. An increase of the level of aminotranspherases (AlAT and AspAT) was stated in the blood of the animals. The changes described above had a reversible character; a disturbance of the intracellular metabolism and of the action of the liver cells can be stated rather than toxic injuries to the liver.