cyclophosphamide, oncovin, methyl-CCNU, and bleomycin); and infusional EPOCH (i.e. etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin). While the experience treating PBL with radiation alone has been limited, patients with localized disease have been treated with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy regimens plus radiotherapy. Experimental treatments
Given the unsatisfactory results of standard chemotherapy regimens, new treatments are being explored for use in PBL. Bortezomib, a drug that inhibits proteasomes, has been used alone or in combination with radiation and/or CHOP, EPOCH, or THP-COP (pirarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) chemotherapy regimens to treat some scores of patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed PBL. The results of these exploratory studies have been at least modestly encouraging and provide strong support for further studies using more controlled conditions. A study sponsored by the AIDS Malignancy Consortium in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute is in its recruiting phase to study the dosages, safety, and efficacy of adding daratumumab to the EPOCH regimen in treating patients with PBL. Daratumumab is a prepared monoclonal antibody that binds to CD38 and thereby directly or indirectly kills cells, including the plasmablasts in PBL, that express this marker protein on their surfaces. An ongoing study sponsored by the City of Hope Medical Center is examining the feasibility and safety of gene therapy that uses recombinant RNA to target a key element in the HIV genome in patients who have HIV/AIDs and a non-Hodgkins lymphoma, including patients with plasmablastic lymphoma.
Pentobarbital (previously known as pentobarbitone in Britain and Australia) is a short-acting barbiturate typically used as a sedative, a preanesthetic, and to control convulsions in emergencies. It can also be used for short-term treatment of insomnia but has been largely replaced by the benzodiazepine family of drugs. In high doses, pentobarbital causes death by respiratory arrest. It is used for veterinary euthanasia and is used by some U.S. states and the U.S. federal government for executions of convicted criminals. In some countries and states, it is also used for physician-assisted suicide.Pentobarbital was widely abused and sometimes known as "yellow jackets" due to the yellow capsule of the Nembutal brand. Pentobarbital in oral (pill) form is no longer commercially available. Uses
Medical
Typical applications for pentobarbital are sedative, short term hypnotic, preanesthetic, insomnia treatment, and control of convulsions in emergencies. Abbott Pharmaceutical discontinued manufacture of their Nembutal brand of Pentobarbital capsules in 1999, largely replaced by the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Pentobarbital was also widely abused, known on the street as "yellow jackets". They were available as 30, 50, and 100-milligram capsules of yellow, white-orange, and yellow colors, respectively.It is also used as a veterinary anesthetic agent.Pentobarbital can reduce intracranial pressure in Reyes syndrome, treat traumatic brain injury and induce coma in cerebral ischemia patients. Pentobarbital-induced coma has been advocated in patients with acute liver failure refractory to mannitol. Euthanasia
Pentobarbital can cause death when used in high doses. It is used for euthanasia for humans as well as animals.