Lumbar spinal stenosis operative treatment--early results]

Early results (12 weeks after surgery) of the lumbar spinal stenosis operative treatment were assessed in the group of 36 patients (aged 40-65 years). In 72% of patients posterior fusion was applied. In the results evaluation lumbar pain, low extremities pain, neurogenic claudicat ion, sensory disturbances and functional status were taken in account. A significant decrease in low extremities and lumbar pain was observed. Some sensory disturbances after operative treatment did not affect general high patients assessment of the performed surgical procedures (positive 80.5% cases).     

Disturbances in cell recognition molecules (N-CAM and L1 antigen) in the CSF of patients with schizophrenia

Although the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is unknown, there are data which indicate that the disease may be due to neurodevelopmental disturbances. Cell recognition molecules such as N-CAM and L1 antigen are involved in cell-cell interactions during development and in plasticity of the nervous system and could therefore be altered in relation to ongoing or established pathological processes. Using the Western blot technique, we found significant increases in N-CAM immunoreactive proteins and decreases in L1 antigen in the CSF of schizophrenic patients as compared to normal controls. The decrease in L1 antigen was observed in the 140-kDa band, and N-CAM was increased only in the 120-kDa band. The 120-kDa band of N-CAM and the 140-kDa band of L1 antigen were prominent components of CSF, but in serum these bands were minor or not detectable. Neuroleptic treatment did not significantly change either N-CAM or L1 antigen concentrations in CSF. It is possible that these CSF proteins are derived from CNS cells as secreted soluble N-CAM isoforms and L1 peptides. Our results suggest the possibility of a specific pattern of abnormal cellular function in the CNS in schizophrenia.     

Ewing's sarcoma of bone: Oncologic and functional results

This paper describes 29 patients with Ewing's sarcoma of bone treated between 1975 and 1990 at the University of Nijmegen Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Osteomyelitis was the primary diagnosis in 24%. Treatment consisted of chemotherapy in combination with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Nine patients received radiotherapy only; five of them died of disease. Five patients underwent an intralesional excision; four of them died of disease. Twelve patients underwent a wide excision; there is no evidence of disease in any of them. Three patients underwent a radical disarticulation; all died of disease. The disease-free survival at 1.5 years was 66%. This figure at 5 years was 55%. After wide excision and reconstruction in tumors of expendable, femoral or radial bones good functional results were obtained in all cases. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Coordination polymerization of lactides, 1. Structure determination of obtained polymers

Racemic lactide was polymerized with various initiators containing Zn and Al, and the structures of the obtained polymers were determined by means of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The extent of transesterification reactions was calculated on the basis of the analysis of the methine carbon signal in the polymer ¹³C NMR spectra. Three groups of initiators can be distinguished in view of their influence on transesterification: ZnCl₂ exhibits the strongest transesterification activity, ZnEt₂ and ZnEt₂/Al(OiPr)₃ are among those of medium activity, and Al(acac)₃ does not show transesterification activity at all.     

The soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I is an early predictor of local infective complications after colorectal surgery

The clinical implications of increased cytokine levels after major surgery remain unclear. In this study, systemic concentration of a spectrum of cytokines, including interleukins IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-I (sTNF-RI) was examined in patients with and without postoperative septic complications following colorectal surgery. Although there were no significant changes in IL-1, TNF-, and IL-8 serum levels during the observation period, there was a significant rise in IL-6, IL-1ra, and sTNF-RI concentrations in the entire group of patients between postoperative day 1 and 14. There were no differences between the group without and with local complications when IL-6, IL-1ra, and IL-10 were examined. The serum levels of sTNF-RI, IL-1ra, and IL-6 were found to be sensitive indicators of the pro- and anti-inflammatory response to the surgical trauma, but only sTNF-RI turned out to be a sensitive early marker of local septic postoperative complications in patients with colorectal carcinoma.     

Metastatic potential of human CX-1 colon adenocarcinoma cells is dependent on the expression of sialosyl Le a antigen

Several lines of evidence indicate that sialosyl Le a , tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen present on human colon carcinoma cells, is involved in formation of metastases. To study the role of this carbohydrate structure in development of metastases, we have used the clone of human colon carcinoma CX-1 cells transfected with antisense expression vector containing fragment of cDNA for a1,3/4-fucosyltransferase (FT III), which is involved in synthesis of sialosyl Le a tetrasaccharide. It has been reported previously that, in contrast to the parental cells, the antisense-transfected CX-1.1AS5 cells do not express sialosyl Le a and do not adhere to E-selectin-expressing CHO cells. In the present work we have studied the formation of liver metastases by CX-1.1AS5 cells after their orthotopic or intrasplenic implantation into athymic nu/nu mice. After orthotopic implantation of sialosyl Le a -negative colon carcinoma CX-1.1AS5 cells, the number of mice with liver metas-tases was markedly lower (21% of mice) in comparison with their number after implantation of the parental CX-1.1 cells (86% of mice). However, no differences in ability to form colonies in liver were observed between parental CX-1.1 cells and antisense-transfected CX-1.1AS5 cells after intrasplenic inoculation. The liver metastases were formed in 89% and 84% of mice, respectively. Our data support the thesis on the importance of sialosyl Le a antigen expression in the development of liver metastases by colon cancer cells, and indicate the role of transplantation route and primary tumor localization in formation of metastases.© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1998     

Spatial distribution of DNA-synthesizing cells in colonic crypts of the guinea pig

The ascending colon of a guinea pig injected with tritiated thymidine was cut serially, autoradiographed and stained with periodic-acid-Schiff-hematoxylin. Maps of transversely sectioned crypts were prepared with the use of a microscope eye-piece projector. The number and angular positions of pulselabelled (DNA-synthesizing) cells around the circumference of transverse sections of the crypt were recorded. A method of “statistics of the circumference” was applied in order to find the variances of angular distances between labelled cells and thereby to find the type of arrangement of DNA-synthesizinbg cells in the crypt. The spatial distribution of DNA-synthesizing cells, both around the crypt circumference and along the crypt, was found to be non-random. While the pattern of nonrandomness around the crypt circumference is such that the DNA-synthesizing cells tend to occupy positions in the crypt circumference at maximal distances from each other, DNA-synthesizing cells along the crypt tend to occupy positions at minimal distances from each other. DNA-synthesizing cells are arranged in the crypt in rows, each consisting of several cells and each parallel to the long axis of the crypt. Apparently the dividing cell of the crypt produces either two proliferating or two differentiating cells. No evidence of differential mitosis could be found.     

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 indirectly potentiates antitumor effects of photodynamic therapy in mice.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to potentiate the antitumor effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT). A cDNA microarray analysis was used to evaluate the gene expression pattern after Photofrin-mediated PDT to find more effective combination treatment with PDT and inhibitor(s) of the identified gene product(s) overexpressed in tumor cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Atlas Mouse Stress Array was used to compare the expression profile of control and PDT-treated C-26 cells. The microarray results have been confirmed using Western blotting. Cytostatic/cytotoxic in vitro assay as well as in vivo tumor models were used to investigate the antitumor effectiveness of PDT in combination with cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 inhibitors. RESULTS: PDT induced the expression of 5 of 140 stress-related genes. One of these genes encodes for COX-2, an enzyme important in the tumor progression. Inhibition of COX-2 in vitro with NS-398, rofecoxib, or nimesulide, or before PDT with nimesulide did not influence the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment. Administration of a selective COX-2 inhibitor after PDT produced potentiated antitumor effects leading to complete responses in the majority of treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 inhibitors do not sensitize tumor cells to PDT-mediated killing. However, these drugs can be used to potentiate the antitumor effectiveness of this treatment regimen when administered after tumor illumination.     

Dietary factors and cancers of breast, endometrium, and ovary: Strategies for modifying fat intake in African American women

Modification of dietary fat and fiber could help prevent cancers of the breast, endometrium, and ovary that are prevalent in African-American women. Dietary intervention programs aimed at reducing fat intake have had mixed results in this population. The transtheoretic model is proposed for achieving dietary change. Strategies for changing health behaviors in African-American women include heightening sensitivity to cultural values among health educators and the use of multiple strategies to reinforce messages. To stimulate healthier eating, it is important to incorporate the distinct habitual eating patterns into innovative intervention methods, using effective behavioral change methods. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:S255-64.)