Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

2,3-Butanedione monoxime protects mice against the convulsant effect of picrotoxin by facilitating GABA-activated currents

While adult mice receiving picrotoxin (PTX) alone responded with clonic and tonic-clonic seizures, this response was greatly suppressed for mice simultaneously injected with 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM). For example, 60% and 10% of the mice convulsed when injected (i.p.) with 3.0 mg/kg PTX alone or PTX plus 205 mg/kg of BDM, respectively. In contrast, a non-oxime analogue of BDM, 2,3-butanedione (BTD), did not have this anticonvulsant effect. In order to explore the basis for the anticonvulsant effect of BDM, we recorded GABA-activated currents (I_GABA) of frontal cortical as well as ventromedial hypothalamic neurons before, during and after exposure to this oxime. BDM had a biphasic effect on concentrations (100 μM-40 mM) decreased and lower concentrations (0.01 μM–0.001 μM) potentiatedI_GABA; these effects of BDM reversed upon washout of the oxime. In contrast, BTD had no effect onI_GABA. Finally, when 0.001 μM BDM, 10–30 μM PTX and GABA were co-applied the inhibitory effect of the toxin onI_GABA was markedly suppressed. These data suggest that the anticonvulsant effect of oximes involves facilitation of the inhibitory action of GABA.     

Effects of antimicrobial agents on spontaneous and endotoxin-induced cytokine release of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

 Because the immunomodulatory effects of antibiotics could possibly influence the degree of the systemic and local response to infection, knowledge of their intrinsic influence on the host's inflammatory response appears to be essential. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of frequently used antimicrobial agents (β-lactams, quinolones gentamicin, vancomycin and metronidazole) on the in-vitro tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 production of isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), cultured with or without endotoxin, in comparison with those effects obtained in a whole-blood assay system. In the presence of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gentamicin, vancomycin, and metronidazole, a significant inhibition of the endotoxin-stimulated TNF-α production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) was found at therapeutic levels. Only ofloxacin showed a significant inhibitory influence on the endotoxin-induced IL-6 production of PBMNC. In the whole-blood assay, significant effects were not detectable. None of the antibiotics showed cytotoxicity. It is concluded that, at present, the direct immunological effects of antibiotics should be interpreted carefully with regard to the experimental conditions, and regardless of the therapeutic implications. To assess the potential direct immunomodulatory effect of antimicrobial agents, different cell culture procedures should be used. Received: October 19, 2001 / Accepted: February 15, 2002     

矽肺动物模型全肺灌洗治疗的病理观察

通过对动物模型实验治疗的病理观察，评价全肺大容量灌洗治疗矽肺的效果，并优选灌洗液。对４０只家兔和１０只幼猪经ＳｉＯ２染尘处理后，各随机分为药物组、盐水组和对照组。４～５周后施行全肺大容量灌洗。治疗后３～５个月处死各组动物，进行病理双盲检查。经统计学秩和检验，兔与猪各组肺矽结节纤维化级别分布的差异有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．００５）。经卡方检验，各灌洗组的纤维化程度与对照组相比，差异亦有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．０１）。灌洗液中药与盐水比，Ｐ＜０．０５；盐水与西药比，Ｐ＜０．０５。兔和猪矽肺各灌洗组的效果明显优于对照组。灌洗液中药优于盐水，盐水又优于西药     

全胚胎体外培养方法筛查致畸原的应用

全胚胎体外培养技术是将孕第９．５天的大鼠胚胎从子宫移至体外培养，培养期间在培养基中加入不同的化合物，由于排除了母体和胎盘因素，可以观察到这些化合物对胚胎生长发育的直接影响。应用该技术研究了青霉素、敌枯双、放线菌素Ｄ和高浓度葡萄糖四种化合物对胚胎生长发育的直接影响，结果发现在体外培养时也可导致胚胎死亡、畸形和胚胎生长发育迟缓，所导致的畸形与在整体动物实验结果相同。同时发现化合物在导致胚胎死亡、畸形和生长发育迟缓方面具有明显的剂量－效应关系。通过比较这种化合物导致胚胎死亡、畸形和发育迟缓的剂量－效应曲线的关系，推测其导致胚胎畸形的可能性以及畸形胚胎存活的可能性，从而推测化合物在实际中真正致畸的可能性。     

全身热疗法治疗晚期肝脏恶性肿瘤39例报告

目的 探讨全身热疗法（whole body hyperthermia，WBH）治疗肝脏恶性肿瘤的疗效及其对肝功能的影响。方法 采用WBH治疗肝脏恶性肿瘤患者39例，并对治疗前、后患者肝功能指标进行动态观察，分析该疗法对肝脏功能的影响，并通过分析治疗效果，初步评估该疗法的疗效。结果 ①WBH治疗不能手术切除的晚期肝脏恶性肿瘤患者的有效率为61．5％（24／39），60．0％（9／15）的患者AFP有不同程度下降，肿瘤疼痛缓解率达100％；存活期〉2年者占12．8％（5／39），〉1年者占59．0％（23／39），〉6个月者占76．9％（30／39）。②谷丙转氨酶于治疗后1～3d出现明显升高（P〈0．05），7d后下降并接近治疗前水平；谷草转氨酶于治疗后1d明显升高（P〈0．05），3～7d则下降并接近治疗前水平；白蛋白于治疗后1d出现下降（P〈0．05），但3d即已恢复；肝功能正常组总胆红素于治疗后第1～3d出现升高（P〈0．05），而肝功能异常组未观察到同样变化；转肽酶则无明显变化。结论 WBH能改善晚期肝脏恶性肿瘤患者的预后，提高生存质量，延长生存时间，但同时可造成患者肝功能一定程度的可逆性损害。     

Symptoms of contruction workers exposed to whole body vibration and local vibration

Summary To study the effects of construction machinery operation on subjective symptoms, a questionnaire survey was caried out among construction machinery operators by a self-reporting method. Subjects were 184 power shovel operators, 127 bulldozer operators, 44 forklift operators as operator groups, and 44 office workers as a control. Their ages were in a range of 30–49 years. The questionnaire contained 20 symptoms referring to fatigue, digestive problems, and upper or lower limbs or back problems. The prevalence rate and symptom characteristics were examined. The dominant symptoms of the operator groups were stiff shoulder, low back pain, and stomack symptoms. The prevalence rate of low back pain was significantly different between forklift operators and controls. No significant differences were found in the symptoms of upper limbs and fingers between operator groups and controls. The prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon was 0.5%–2.3% in the operator groups and 2.3% in the control group.     

低剂量γ射线全身照射对猴免疫功能的影响

目的　探索大动物低剂量全身照射的适宜剂量 ,以便评价低剂量全身照射应用于临床的可能性。方法　食蟹猴 32只随机分为 4组 ,用γ射线 (吸收剂量率为 0 175mGy min)分别照射0、30、5 0和 75mGy。分别在环磷酰胺处理前、后 ,亦即照射前和照射后 1、2、8、33和 5 0周检测淋巴细胞亚群、免疫球蛋白及自然肿瘤红细胞花环试验 (NTERT)。结果　结果显示白细胞释放细胞因子尤其是CD1 6 参与免疫调控 ,出现时间 剂量的反应 ;体液免疫中以IgA升高为特征 ,照射后第 8周 5 0和75mGy 2个剂量组与对照组相比差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ;NTERT结果显示 ,在照射后第 2周 ,第 1、2、3组分别与第 4组相比差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但第 1组分别与第 2、3组相比差异无显著性。结论　γ射线单次低剂量全身照射对免疫功能低下模型的食蟹猴红、白细胞免疫功能有增强其免疫功能的作用。