A phase II study of sulofenur,a novel sulfonylurea,in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

Summary A total of 16 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with sulofenur (LY 186641), a novel oral sulfonylurea. All subjects had received previous chemotherapy. Anaemia occurred in all 16 patients, 14 of whom required a blood transfusion, and 2/16 patients received methylene blue for breathlessness due to methaemaglobinaemia. Treatment was discontinued in 2/16 cases due to rising liver enzyme values, which reverted to normal on cessation of the drug. There was no nausea or alopecia. Only two minor responses were seen. Plasma drug levels were insufficient to result in antitumour activity as extrapolated from animal data. Further studies that attempt to increase the bioavailability and improve the therapeutic index are warranted.     

Stapled diverticulectomy for solitary caecal diverticulitis

Caecal diverticulitis is an uncommon phenomenon in western countries. The clinical diagnosis is often difficult as it mimics other acute abdominal conditions like appendicitis, colitis or neoplasia. Diagnosis is often made at operation. Operative strategy has been controversial and there is no broad consensus emerging. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman, known to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who presented acutely with right iliac fossa pain. A clinical diagnosis of appendicitis was made. At laparoscopy, a solitary, inflamed, gangrenous caecal diverticulum was found. A laparoscopic stapled diverticulectomy was performed. The patient made a steady post-operative recovery. Histology confirmed diverticulitis. We conclude that stapled diverticulectomy for solitary caecal diverticulitis is a safe and effective surgical strategy when confronted with this scenario.     

Pancreatic resection for locally advanced primary and metastatic nonpancreatic neoplasms

We conducted a retrospective review of our single-institution experience with pancreas resection for locally advanced primary malignancy or metastases from other organs. From January 1989 through April 2001 35 patients underwent pancreatic resection for locally advanced primary (17) and recurrent nonpancreatic (18) tumors. Patient records were examined for recurrence and survival. Seventeen patients with locally advanced primary tumors presented with pancreatic extension either into the head/body (six) or tail (11). Pancreatic resections were completed as en bloc procedures with the primary disease of stomach (five), colon (four), sarcoma (five), adrenal gland (one), or spleen (one). Procedures performed included pancreaticoduodenectomy for proximal lesions and distal pancreatectomy for disease limited to the pancreatic tail. Median overall survival was 56 months. Fourteen of 17 patients remain alive: three with disease and 11 without evidence of recurrence. Eighteen patients presented with recurrent tumor from a previously resected right upper quadrant tumor (nine) or metastases from an intra-abdominal source (nine). The primary source was colon (eight), biliary (three), sarcoma (three), melanoma (two), ovary (one), and unknown primary (one). Patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or resection of residual pancreas. Overall median survival was 46 months. In this group of 18 patients there was no increased survival in those patients with a time to recurrence from their primary tumor resection greater than 2 years. We conclude that pancreatic resection for locally advanced nonpancreatic or recurrent intra-abdominal malignancies is possible in properly selected patients. The ability to obtain disease-free margins through en bloc resection is a key component of therapy.     

Postictal psychosis in a child

Postictal psychosis is a state of psychosis following repeated or prolonged complex partial seizures with or without secondary generalization and is well described in adult epilepsy literature. It is sparsely reported in the pediatric literature. This report describes a 12-year-old male presenting with status epilepticus who developed psychotic symptoms. Diagnosis of postictal psychosis was made after correlating clinical symptoms with video-electroencephalographic monitoring. The clinical course of this illness is profiled, and the literature reviewed.     

Nutrient-related issues affecting successful experimental orthotopic small bowel transplantation

BACKGROUND: This study tested the effectiveness of a nutrient-rich preservation solution in a small animal model of orthotopic whole small bowel transplantation. METHODS: Lewis rats received syngeneic total orthotopic small bowel graft after cold storage for 6 h. Donor small bowel was flushed vascularly with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and flushed luminally with UW solution or an amino acid-rich (AA) solution as follows: Group 1, no luminal flush; Group 2, UW solution; Group 3, AA solution. Biopsies were taken over 14 days posttransplant; energetics, oxidative stress, neutrophil recruitment and histologic injury were assessed. RESULTS: All animals in Groups 1 and 2 failed to survive 12 h posttransplant due to hemorrhagic shock and fluid loss. In contrast, all animals in Group 3 survived the operation; survival after 14 days was 80% (4/5). In Group 3, full recovery of tissue adenylates (ATP and energy charge) to freshly isolated tissue values occurred within 3 days. Oxidative stress as assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was low in Group 3 throughout 14 d; Groups 1 and 2 exhibited high oxidative stress over the initial 35 min reperfusion (P<0.05). Neutrophil recruitment (myeloperoxidase activity) was significantly reduced in Group 3 tissues, as was histologic injury (P<0.05 compared to Groups 1 and 2). By day 14, Group 3 exhibited complete mucosal restoration. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented in this communication supports the use of an intraluminal preservation solution that is tailored to the metabolic requirements of the small bowel.     

内镜短期内重复筛查观察食管和贲门癌癌前自然史301例

目的:了解进展较快的食管和贲门癌前病变的时间,为寻找合适的筛查间隔提供线索.方法:在食管癌高发区河北涉县对40～69岁人群开展重复的内镜筛查.结果:301例重复筛查共观察到40例病情发生进展者,其中7例重度不典型增生中:1例首检为正常,间隔13个月检出重度不典型增生,1例首检为基底细胞增生,间隔7个月检出,4例首检为轻度不典型增生,分别间隔3个月、4个月、4个月、10.5个月检出,1例首检为中度不典型增生,间隔12.5个月检出;6例原位癌及黏膜内癌中:1例首检为轻度不典型增生,间隔48个月检出,2例中度不典型增生分别间隔4个月、13个月检出2例,3例重度不典型增生分别间隔3.5个月、9个月、17.5个月检出;3例浸润性癌中:1例中度不典型增生,间隔50个月检出、2例重度不典型增生间隔14个月和19个月检出.结论:食管和贲门癌前病变的滞留时间变异较大,有必要适当缩短筛查间隔,通过及时复查捕获那些进展较快、多点起源和首检遗漏的癌前病变.     

复苏因子促进休眠结核杆菌复苏作用的研究

目的研究复苏因子蛋白对休眠结核杆菌的复苏作用，探索对休眠结核杆菌的最佳复苏方案。方法应用含不同浓度复苏因子蛋白的7H9液体培养基培养休眠结核杆菌H37Rv，分别在第6天、第11天、第16天、第30天检测培养物的OD值、并取10μL培养液涂于7H11平板培养、抗酸染色。结果低浓度组合有最佳复苏效果，高浓度复苏因子组合抑制体眠结核菌复苏。低浓度复苏因子A和高、低浓度的复苏因子B、C、E均有不同程度的复苏促进作用，复苏因子D和高浓度的复苏因子A均无复苏作用。重复试验结果相同。结论结核杆菌复苏因子蛋白对结核杆菌有复苏促进作用。