Rectal carcinoma after radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma in patients with a family history of colorectal carcinoma: report of two cases

Rectal carcinoma is a rare, but well documented late complication of pelvic irradiation. Little is known about the factors predisposing to the development of radiation-associated rectal carcinoma. We present two patients who developed rectal carcinoma 17 and 26 years after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. In one patient, mutation in exon 4 of the hMLH1 gene was detected. Radiation-associated rectal carcinoma represents a rare late toxicity of radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma that may occur in patients with a family history of colorectal carcinoma, including hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.     

Signaling and induction of enhanced cytoadhesiveness via the hematopoietic progenitor cell surface molecule CD34

The transmembrane glycoprotein CD34 shows a highly restricted expression on a crucial subset of hematopoietic cells. We show here that engagement of particular determinants of CD34 can lead to signal transduction and to enhanced adhesiveness of CD34+ hematopoietic cells. Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against O-sialoglycoprotease- sensitive epitopes of CD34 (QBEND10, ICH3, BI.3C5, MY10) but not MoAbs against O-sialoglycoprotease-resistant epitopes (9F2, 8G12) induce actin polymerization in KG-1a and KG-1 cells and strongly enhanced cytoadhesiveness. The capacity to induce adhesion requires cellular energy, divalent cations, and intact cytoskeleton but not de novo protein synthesis. The observed cytoadhesion seems at least in part to be caused by a concomitant activation of the beta 2 integrin cytoadhesion pathway. It can be significantly inhibited with lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 and intercelluar adhesion molecule-1 antibodies. Protein kinase inhibition analyses suggest that the pathways initiated by engagement of the CD34 molecule with certain CD34 MoAbs involves protein tyrosine kinases but that protein kinase C is not critically involved.     

Prognostic markers in ovarian carcinoma--retrospective study

Ovarian carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in women. The high mortality is due mostly to the fact that the tumour is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages. The aim of our study was to find immunohistochemically detectable significant prognostic markers for invasive ovarian carcinoma. There were two areas of research: the expression of hormonal receptors by tumour cells, and the examination of proliferation activity of the tumour cell by means of antibody Ki-67. Tumour samples from 96 patients with carcinoma of ovary were evaluated (age 27-82 years, mean 55.2 years). Size of residual tumour (p = 0.00002), FIGO stage (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.018), expression of progesterone receptors (p = 0.004), coexpression of steroid receptors (p = 0.039), proliferation activity of the tumour cell (p = 0.04), and chemotherapy (p = 0.018) were significant predictors of survival in univariate analysis. Borderline significance was found in other evaluated parameters: grade (p = 0.063) and histology of carcinoma (p = 0.085). Expression of estrogen receptors and radiotherapy were not correlated to survival in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that only clinical parameters were significant prognostic factors: size of residual tumor (p < 0.0000), chemotherapy (p = 0.0009), radiotherapy (p = 0.0097), and age (p = 0.0048).     

Treatment with a single daily dose of gentamicin in urinary tract infection in relation to the site of infection

Twenty-three patients with various types of recurrent urinary tract infection were treated with a single daily dose of 160 mg gentamicin for eight to nine days. The treatment eliminated bacteriuria in 19 patients. Evaluation of the therapeutical results according to the site of infection showed elimination of bacteriuria in all patients with lower urinary tract infection. Thus a single daily dose of gentamicin can be recommended in recurrent lower urinary tract infection, and also in upper urinary tract infection not associated with a major impairment of renal function.