New insights into tumor-host interactions in lymphoma metastasis

The metastatic process is characterized by a complex series of sequential steps involving constant interactions (mutual cross-talks) of metastasized tumor cells with their microenvironment (lymphocyte, macrophages, endothelial cells, etc.) in target organs. These interactions determine the outcome of metastasis (either the eradication of metastatic cells or their increased proliferation and invasion). Recently developed methods of tumor and host cell analysis at the molecular level allow better elucidation of molecular mechanisms of metastasis and of immune mechanisms involved in antitumor responses. Direct modulation of these processes will probably increase the success of clinical cancer treatment. Here we review data (a) on the expression of some costimulatory (MHC class II, CD80, sialoadhesin) and adhesion (LFA1, ICAM-1, VLA-4) molecules on both metastasized tumor cells and host cells and (b) on the production of a cytotoxic molecule, nitric oxide, by in situ activated Kupffer and endothelial cells in the process of liver metastasis. This study was performed with well-characterized murine ESbL T lymphoma cells transduced with the bacterial lacZ gene, which allows detection and quantification of metastases at the single cell level throughout lymphoma growth and metastasis. Experimental results are discussed in the context of recent literature.Abbreviations APC Antigen-presenting cells - hCRP Human C-reactive protein - ICAM Intercellular adhesion molecule - IFN Interferon - IL Interleukin - iNOS Inducible NO synthase - LFA Leukocyte function associated antigen - SER Sheep erythrocyte receptor - TA Tumor-associated rejection antigens - TNF Tumor necrosis factor - VCAM Vascular cell adhesion molecule - VLA Very late activated antigen     

Comparative study of the efficacy of Ionic Silver Solution and Super Oxidized Solution in the management of chronic wounds

BackgroundChronic wounds are of many etiologies and difficult to treat. Many commercial products to manage such wounds are available, which claim to have good outcomes. Aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Ionic Silver Solution and Super Oxidized Solution in the management of chronic wounds.MethodsPatients with chronic wounds were randomly placed in two groups-Group A (Ionic Silver Solution) and Group B (Super Oxidized Solution) with 30 patients each. The dressings were continued until the wound healed completely or the wound was ready for a definitive procedure. Wound parameters were recorded as per Bates Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BJWAT) Score.ResultsFIfty patients completed the study. The scores were compared at the initiation and endpoint of treatment. The pretreatment total for BJWAT was 916 and 924 in group A and group B respectively, which was not statistically significant. Post-treatment improvement was noticed in both the groups and the score decreased to 510 and 675 in group A and group B respectively (p = 0.001). Ionic Silver Solution and Super Oxidized Solution both were found to be effective in improving the overall wound condition. However, Ionic Silver Solution was found to be more effective than Super Oxidized Solution in the healing of chronic wounds. Complete healing was noticed in a small number (6%) of patients. These agents can therefore best prepare the wounds for early surgical intervention.ConclusionBoth the agents were found to be safe and useful in the management of chronic wounds. However, Ionic Silver Solution was found to be more effective than the super oxidized solution in this study.     

Coronary endothelium-protective effects of defibrotide in ischaemia and reperfusion

Summary Defibrotide is known to enhance prostacyclin (PGI₂) release from the vascular endothelium. We investigated the vasoactive effects of defibrotide in isolated rat hearts perfused at constant flow subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion. Defibrotide at 10^–7 or 100 g/ml did not exert any direct vasoactive effect on normal rats hearts. However, ischaemia and reperfusion resulted in an impaired vasodilation to acetylcholine, an endothelium-dependent vasodilator. In contrast, the vasodilator response to the endothelium-independent dilator, nitroglycerin, was unaffected. Defibrotide, at 10^–7 or 100 g/ml, markedly restored the vasodilation to acetylcholine 10^–7 nmol/l to 1 mol/l (P < 0.01) without influencing the vasodilator response to nitroglycerin (2 to 200 g/1). Haemoglobin (150 nmol/l) inhibited the dilation to acetylcholine in response to defibrotide. However, no evidence of (PGI₂) release was observed with acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in the presence or absence of defibrotide. Additionally, 10–100 g/ml of defibrotide did not significantly decrease superoxide radicals generated by a xanthine-xanthine oxidase synthetic system under conditions in which superoxide dismutase was effective. Thus, defibrotide appears to exert an endothelium-protective effect preserving endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) without directly scavenging free signals.Supported in part by Research Grant No. HL-25575 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH Send offprint requests to A. M. Lefer at the above address     

海水淹溺肺水肿兔血浆MDA和SOD的变化

目的 :观察海水淹溺肺水肿 (PE SWD)兔血浆中丙二醛 (MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)变化规律 ,探讨上述两项指标发生变化的原因和机制。方法 :用核黄素光照法和硫代巴比妥酸法 ,对PE SWD兔动脉血浆MDA和SOD进行定量检测和动态观察。结果 :灌海水后 30min ,MDA和SOD较灌海水前均显著升高 ,尔后两者均逐渐下降 ,但仍远远高于灌海水前。结论 :PE SWD发生发展过程中 ,MDA的损害性作用使肺泡表面活性物质表面特性发生改变 ,影响了正常的呼吸功能 ,并掩盖了SOD的保护性作用。     

热化疗对人体结肠癌LoVo细胞中一氧化氮含量的影响

Aim To study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on LoVo cells after hyperthermia combined with MMC and their mechanisms. Methods The levels of NO were determined in cell culture medium of LoVo cells by Cu-Cd reduction method.Results The levels of NO in control (45.9±16.12) μmol/L group were lower than those in chemohyperthermy(92.3±24.30) μmol/L and hyperthermia (67.67±15.48)μmol/L group (P＜0.01,P＜0.05 respectively). Levels of NO in chemohyperthermy and hyperthermia groups were higher than those in chemotherapy(47.03±16.32)μmol/L(P＜0.01,P＜0.05 respcevtively). The levels of NO in chemo-hyperthermy group were higher than those in hyperthermia group(P＜0.05), and those in chemotherapy group higher than in control group but without statistical significance.Conclusion Chemohyperthermy and hyperthermia could remarkably enhance the levels of NO produced by LoVo cells. NO levels could also be enhanced by chemotherapy. It could be concluded that Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) in tumor cells might be activated by hyperthermia, chemohyperthermy and chemotherapy, and increased NO level which induced cytotoxic reaction. This may be one of the mechanisms of treatment with chemohyperthermy.     

Involvement of nitric oxide synthase in the physiology and pathophysiology of facial nerve function and dysfunction

To date few reports have discussed the presence and function of nitric oxide (NO) in structures of the facial nerve. We performed nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH-d)-diaphorase-histochemistry and immunohistochemistry on the intratemporal portion of the facial nerve, including the geniculate ganglion, of guinea pigs using specific antibodies to the three known isoforms of NO synthase and soluble guanylyl-cyclase (sGC). Normal facial nerves were compared to those treated intratympanically with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Both constitutive NOS isoforms and sGC could be detected in the bipolar ganglion cells of normal animals, while the inducible isoform (iNOS or NOS II) was not found. Endothelial NOS (NOS III) and sGC were present in blood vessels and were predominantly found in the perineurial sheath and less in the endoneurium. sGC could be detected in all fibers in a cross section of the facial nerve. LPS and TNF treatment led to the detection of iNOS in the perikaryia of the geniculate ganglion and the perineural sheath. These findings imply that NO may be involved in neurotransmission at least in the visceroafferent system. NO regulates vascular tone of nutrient blood vessels in the perineural sheath and endoneurium. The presence of sGC indicates that NO acts via its second messenger cGMP. NOS II expression may be a contributing factor to facial nerve palsy via two different mechanisms: NOS II-generated NO may lead to an overstimulation of the visceroefferent nerve fibers and motor fibers of the facial nerve. Dysregulation in facial nerve blood vessels could lead to edema and elevated pressure on the nerve within its osseous canal. Received: 13 April 1999 / Accepted: 12 August 1999     

脑室注射左旋硝基精氨酸对短暂性前脑缺血时迟发性神经元坏死的影响

目的 研究一氧化氮合酶抑制剂在短暂笥前脑缺血再灌注损伤中的作用。方法 钳夹沙土鼠的双侧颈总动脉制造脑缺血模型,应用尼氏染色观察迟发性神经元坏死的分布与。结果 短暂性前脑缺血导致海马ＣＡ１区锥体细胞迟发性神经元坏死,一氧化氮合酶抑制剂左旋硝基精氨酸（Ｌ－ＮＮＡ）明显地减少了迟发性神经元坏死。结论Ｌ－ＮＮＡ可能通过抑制ＮＯＳ对脑缺血起保护作用。     

一氧化氮内皮素-1与早期糖尿病肾病及中医药防治

近年发现一氧化氮(NO)和内皮素-1(ET-1)很可能构成一对具有拮抗作用的血管活性物质,在糖尿病肾病1期肾小球高滤过中起重要的调控作用。而中药对糖尿病早期异常肾血流动力学的改善作用的研究报告很少,且目前有关研究似显肤浅。     

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病血浆及脑脊液一氧化氮水平的变化

目的 :了解新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病 (HIE)时血浆和脑脊液 (CSF)中 NO水平的动态变化。方法 :采用硝酸根还原酶法 ,对 35例 HIE患儿 (轻度 10例、中度 13例、重度 12例 )分别于急性期、恢复期进行了血浆和 CSF NO水平测定。结果 :HIE急性期血浆 NO水平除轻度组外 ,中、重度组明显高于对照组 ,重度组又明显高于轻、中度组 ;恢复期轻、中、重度组血浆 NO水平均降至正常 ,与对照组比较差异无显著性。CSF中 NO水平增加的幅度与血浆成正比。结论 :血浆和 CSF中 NO水平与 HIE的脑损伤程度密切相关     

间歇性气囊挤压大鼠腿部对挤压部位和远端骨骼肌一氧化氮合酶mRNA表达的影响

目的:为了进一步了解间歇性气囊挤压法(Intermittent pneumatic compression, IPC)挤压大鼠腿部与一氧化氮(NO)的关系.方法:检测了大鼠骨骼肌中3种一氧化氮合酶(NOS)同工酶:神经型NOS(nNOS);诱导型NOS(iNOS)和内皮细胞型NOS(eNOS)mRNA在IPC作用后的表达变化.25只SD大鼠被随机分为3个模拟实验组和4个IPC实验组.每只鼠取右侧胫前肌(AT)和提睾肌(CM)作为正常对照.IPC组挤压0.5,1,和5h,及挤压5h加等待4h,模拟实验组除不挤压外,其他操作均与实验组相同,然后分离左侧AT和CM作为处理后样品.所有样品应用RT-PCR进行NOS mRNA测定.以样品中看家基因2,3-二羟基丙醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶(GAPHD)cDNA为内参,与NOS cDNA 共同扩增.PCR产物电泳条带密度用NIH图像分析软件定量,并以与正常对照的对比值作为变化比率.结果:在IPC作用0.5、1和5h后,eNOS mRNA显著上升,在AT中分别达到正常对照的1.2,1.8和2.6倍;在CM中分别达到1.2,1.8和2.7倍,而其他NOS,除5hIPC组的nNOS外,总体表现下调.在IPC作用1h加等待4h组中,eNOS mRNA回复至正常对照水平.结论:该结果证实了IPC产生的机械压力至少部分增加了血管壁的剪切压,使内皮细胞增加了NO产物的释放量,导致了挤压部位及远端肌肉的血管扩张和改善了微循环.