Anticancer effects of HESA-A: An herbal marine compound

<正>HESA-A,a natural biological compound,is a mixture of herbal-marine substances that includes Penaeus latisculatus(king prawn),Carum carvi and Apium graveolens with anticancer properties. Although the exact mechanism of action of HESA-A on tumor cells is not fully understood,it appears to have multiple pharmacological effects.     

Late choroidal metastasis secondary to papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To report a case of late choroidal metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Interventional case report. A 43-year-old woman who had been treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma 30 years earlier presented for evaluation of vision loss in the left eye. Eight weeks before this presentation, an ophthalmologist had diagnosed a metastatic uveal mass in the left eye of the patient. The clinical record was retrospectively reviewed. Ocular sonography was performed to confirm the diagnosis of choroidal metastasis. RESULTS: The choroidal mass had the typical characteristics of a metastatic lesion. The patient was treated with a combination of brachytherapy and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Papillary thyroid carcinoma can metastasize to the choroid many years after the initial diagnosis.     

Neck mass as the first presentation of testicular choriocarcinoma

Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant tumor of the testis and usually occurs as a component of mixed germ cell tumor. The testicular enlargement may be subtle, and the patient may present with metastasis, the neck being one of its least reported locations. A case of testicular choriocarcinoma in a 24-year-old man who presented for the first time with metastatic neck mass is reported here. This presentation, although very rare, can be a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical masses occurring in young males.     

Are athletes able to self-select their optimal warm up?

This study aimed to examine whether athletes are able to self-select their optimal warm up and to propose a methodological approach in investigating the effects of warm up on performance. Nine male subjects underwent a free field warm up (FWU) at a self-selected intensity and duration during which heart rate (HR) and rectal temperature (Tre) were monitored. The intensity of this warm up was subsequently estimated from the HR obtained during an incremental test to determine maximal power (Pmax). Performance (cycle time to exhaustion at Pmax), HR and Tre, were then examined following either: NWU (no warm up); RWU (reference warm up based on FWU); RWU-10 (warm up intensity diminished by 10% compared to RWU); and RWU+10 (warm up intensity increased by 10% compared to RWU). Results showed no significant difference in HR (P = 0.37) and Tre increase (P= 0.77) between FWU and RWU. Performance improvement after warm up conditions gave RWU (56%; ie, 5/9 subjects) >RWU-10 (33%; ie, 3/9) >RWU+10 (11%; ie, 1/9) >NWU with significant differences between RWU and NWU (P < 0.01); RWU and RWU+10 (P < 0.01); RWU-10 and NWU (P < 0.01). A warm up intensity ranging from 54-72% Pmax, and inducing an increase in heart rate to 80 +/- 6% HRmax, was found to be optimal. While most athletes were able to self-determine the intensity of their optimal warm up, for others there is still a need for control.     

Triglyceride and high‐density lipoprotein levels as the markers of disease activity and their association with TNF‐α and TNF receptor system in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: There are some clues that measurement of triglyceride (TG) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) and their correlation with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), soluble TNF‐α receptor type 1 and type 2 (sTNFR1, sTNFR2) in serum could be valuable in the assessment of disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, fasting blood samples were obtained from 86 SLE patients referred to the Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University in Shariati Hospital, Iran. Disease activity was determined by using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). TG and HDL obtained after overnight fasting were analysed by routine chemistry. Levels of circulating TNF‐α, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Triglyceride levels were associated with SLEDAI (r = 0.59, P < 0.001), TNF‐α (r = 0.27, P < 0.01), and with sTNFR1 (r = 0.54, P < 0.001); on the contrary, HDL levels were negatively associated with SLEDAI (r = –0.29, P < 0.007), TNF‐α (r = –0.27, P < 0.01), and sTNFR1 (r = –0.35, P < 0.001). The correlation of TG and HDL with sTNFR2 were (r = 0.13, P > 0.23) and (r = –0.17, P > 0.1), respectively. In multiple logistic regression models, the levels of TNF‐α and HDL were omitted. Conclusion: Dyslipoproteinemia with high TG/low HDL levels correlates with disease activity in SLE, and enhanced activity in the TNF‐α/sTNFR system. With results of this study and the same studies, serum levels of TG, HDL, TNF‐α, sTNFR1, sTNFR2 are valuable markers for estimation of disease activity in SLE.     

Surgical approach to vascular complications of intravenous drug abuse.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the complications related to intravenous drug abuse. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) with vascular complications were assessed. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients presented with swelling and tenderness in the groin, and 3 patients with similar lesions in the cubital fossa. Infected pseudoaneurysms and deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) were diagnosed in 41 and 31 patients respectively (27 patients had both lesions). In patients with infected pseudoaneurysms, 9 patients underwent excision with early revascularization and 32 patients underwent ligation without revascularization. For all patients with femoral vein thrombosis ligation and excision was performed. 4 patients with pure DVTs were managed conservatively. Disabling claudication occurred in 6 patients. Four of them underwent late revascularization with an acceptable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Ligation without revascularization is the appropriate treatment of infected pseudoaneurysms in IVDAs. Late revascularization is of great importance in patients with disabling claudication after treatment of addiction. Pure septic DVTs can be managed conservatively.     

Impact of different therapeutic alternatives in treatment of severe limb ischemia: experiences on 190 consecutive patients at a department of medical angiology

BACKGROUND: Different therapies in consecutive patients (1987-1992) with chronic critical limb ischemia at a department of medical angiology, their short- and long-term outcome were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 190 patients (112 males, 78 females; age: 67 +/- 12 years); 78 in grade II, 112 in grade III according to Rutherford's classification. Therapeutic regimen: 1. vascular recanalisation by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA], local or systemic lysis; 2. surgical vascular reconstruction in case of impossibility or failure of catheter procedures; 3. prostanoids and/or antibiotics; 4. local wound treatment including amputations. RESULTS: Vascular recanalisation was attempted in 156/190 (82.1%): PTA in 116/190, surgical vascular reconstruction in 50/190, local in 24/190 and systemic lysis in 8/190 patients. Prostanoids were applied in 89/190 and antibiotics in 73/190 patients. At the time of dismissal 164/190 (86.3%) patients were clinically improved; 11/190 (5.8%) unchanged, 13/190 (6.8%) had undergone major amputations and 2/190 (1.1%) had died. After 2.6 +/- 2.2 years 77 of the 141 patients, who were still alive, were reexamined. Among these 77 patients 84.4% were in grade 0 or 1, 15.6% in chronic critical limb ischemia. Furthermore 13.0% had been amputated since dismissal. Forty-nine of 190 (25.8%) patients had died 3.2 +/- 1.9 years after dismissal from hospital. CONCLUSION: Catheter techniques, mostly PTA, is possible in the majority of patients with chronic critical limb ischemia. Cooperation with vascular surgeons in case of technical impossibility or failure of catheter recanalisation is mandatory. Such a regimen yields satisfactory short- and long-term results and a low rate of complications.     

Treating Renal Artery Stenosis

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) leading to hypertension or ischemic nephropathy can be treated by endovascular revascularization using balloon angioplasty or stent implantation. Although high technical success rates > 95%, relatively low frequencies of complications and good long-term patency can be achieved, the indications for interventional treatment are a matter of ongoing debate. Curing hypertension by means of angioplasty rarely occurs, although the number of antihypertensive medication usually can be reduced after successful treatment. Targeting ischemic nephropathy, revascularization can stabilize or at least slow the decline of renal function. Nevertheless, angioplasty also bears the risk of inducing renal deterioration. Careful patient selection remains the most crucial point in renal interventions, however, current data are insufficient to give final recommendations on this issue. The present review focuses on the potential beneficial effects of renal artery PTA and stenting in patients with RAS.