This paper is the third chronological supplement to the Carcinogenic Potency Database that first appeared in this journal in 1984. We report here results of carcinogenesis bioassays published in the general literature between January 1985 and December 1986, and in Technical Reports of the National Toxicology Program between June 1986 and June 1987. This supplement includes results of 337 long-term, chronic experiments of 121 compounds, and reports the same information about each experiment in the same plot format as the earlier papers, e.g., the species and strain of animal, the route and duration of compound administration, dose level, and other aspects of experimental protocol, histopathology, and tumor incidence, TD50 (carcinogenic potency) and its statistical significance, dose response, opinion of the author about carcinogenicity, and literature citation. The reader needs to refer to the 1984 publication for a guide to the plot of the database, a complete description of the numerical index of carcinogenic potency, and a discussion of the sources of data, the rationale for the inclusion of particular experiments and particular target sites, and the conventions adopted in summarizing the literature. The four plots of the database are to be used together as results published earlier are not repeated. In all, the four plots include results for approximately 4000 experiments on 1050 chemicals. Appendix 14 of this paper is an alphabetical index to all chemicals in the database and indicates which plot(s) each chemical appears in. A combined plot of all results from the four separate papers, that is ordered alphabetically by chemical, is available from the first author, in printed form or on computer tape or diskette.

Antineoplastic chemotherapy describes a group of hazardous drugs commonly used in the treatment of cancer. Since the discovery of their presence in nurses and pharmacists more than 2 decades ago, numerous studies have reported on the short- and long-term consequences of exposure. Guidelines describing proper equipment and procedures have been established in an effort to eliminate or minimize environmental and biologic exposure. Nursing compliance, however, has been variable. This article describes the dangers of exposure, how it occurs, and steps to keep nurses safe while working with these hazardous drugs.

Oranges offer a simple, noninvasive intervention for relieving symptoms associated with DMSO preservative during autologous HPC infusion.

Nurses caring for patients receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant must comprehend the proposed etiologies for HSOS and be familiar with the manifestations of the syndrome. Symptom management requires a thorough understanding of affected organ systems.

Discharge medications for a patient with cancer typically are numerous and complex. During the transition between inpatient stays and ambulatory follow-up visits, patients commonly misunderstand medication instructions, placing them at risk for under- or overdosing. This column discusses the results of an evidence-based practice change project at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to improve adult patient knowledge and use of discharge medications. Ensuring patient receipt of written discharge medication instructions and checking in with patients after discharge may be an approach to maximize the safety of self-administered medication.