Nephroblastoma in children aged less than 6 months at diagnosis

We present the results of treatment of kidney tumours in newborns and infants aged less than 6 months, in the years 1993-2000, from the Nephroblastoma Committee of the Polish Paediatric Group of Solid Tumours (PPGGL). We have analysed the diagnostic and treatment results in the group of 31 children aged 0 to 6 months. For 19 children registered between 1993 and 1996, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (AS) were assessed. Among 450 children registered between 1993 and 2000 by PPGGL and treated for kidney tumours, there were 31 (7.1%) newborns and infants aged below 6 months. The accuracy of diagnosis based on imaging studies was 97%. Only in one child the initial diagnosis of kidney tumour was not confirmed; cystic degeneration of kidney was finally established. The tumours removed during surgery were small, with average size 213 cm3, and in half of the cases the size of the tumour did not exceed 165 cm3. Primary complete excision of the tumour was performed in 21 children (67.7%). In 10 cases histopathology confirmed mesoblastic nephroma, in 19 cases nephroblastoma and in 2 cases sarcoma clarocellulare. In 10 infants (32.2%) with nephroblastoma delayed surgery preceded by chemotherapy was performed. Indications for initial preoperative chemotherapy comprised: tumour in a single kidney, tumour in a horseshoe kidney, preoperative diagnostic biopsy of the tumour and large tumour in neonates older than 3 months. In almost 70% of the children the stage of advancement was low (stage I and IIN-). Histopathology of excised tumours confirmed in 42% of cases low risk, and in 51.6% intermediate risk. Intraoperative complications occurred in 5 infants (16%). The tolerance of reduced chemotherapy by the infants was good. AS was 100%. ESF for the 19 children registered for nephroblastoma between 1993 and 1996 for all stages of advancement and types of histology was 94.75%. Conclusions: 1) Mesoblastic nephroma and low risk nephroblastoma are the most common tumours in children within the first three years of life. 2) The results of treatment of nephroblastoma in the youngest children (below 6 months of age) are the most favourable and represent world standards.3) Surgical complications in children operated primarily for nephroblastoma indicate the need of performing such operations in academic centres, specialised in newborn surgery. 4) In infants with extensive kidney tumours older than 3 months, primarily considered as inoperative, individual induction chemotherapy should be taken into account.     

Treatment outcome in women suffering from recurrent miscarriages and antiphospholipid syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of treatment in patients suffering from recurrent spontaneous abortion and antiphospholipid syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 148 observed women suffering from recurrent abortion with presence of lupus anticoagulant antibodies (LA) and/or high moderate concentration of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) have been divided randomly into followed three treated groups: I--56 patients treated by low-dose of acetylsalicylic acid (LDA, 75 mg daily); II--39 patients treated by low molecular weight heparin (applied in dose of 20 g daily); III--53 patients treated by LDA and low molecular weight heparin simultaneously. RESULTS: It has been affirmed that coincidental application of low-dose of acetylsalicylic acid and low molecular weight heparin statistically more often increase the percentage of successful pregnancy in comparison with application of low molecular weight heparin or acetylsalicylic acid alone. In the group where only low-dose of acetylsalicylic acid was applied the success of pregnancy equaled 89.3%, in the group where only low molecular weight heparin was applied the successful pregnancy equaled 81.1% and in the group with acetylsalicylic acid and low molecular weight heparin being applied together the successful pregnancy equaled 92.5%. In has simultaneously been affirmed that the percentage of pregnancy loss is statistically higher in the women suffering from isolated occurrence of lupus anticoagulant antibodies (21.2%) in comparison with the women suffering from occurrence of anticardiolipin antibodies (6.7%) and anticardiolipin antibodies with lupus anticoagulant antibodies simultaneously. CONCLUSION: 1. Simultaneous application of low-doses of acetylsalicylic acid and low molecular weight heparin seems to be the best solution in patients suffering from recurrent spontaneous abortion and antiphospholipid syndrome. 2. The occurrence of anticardiolipin antibodies in the serum of blood in patients suffering from antiphospholipid syndrome is a better foretelling factor for the future pregnancy outcome than the occurrence of lupus anticoagulant antibodies.     

Antioxidant properties of estrogens

The author expounded present state of knowledge concerning antioxidant properties of estrogens. Estradiol, apart from its main hormonal effect, probably displays two mechanisms of antioxidant action. One of them results from hydroxyphenolic structure of their molecule. Estradiol may donate hydrogen atoms from its phenolic hydroxyl group to lipid peroxyradicals what results in the termination of the chain reactions of cell membrane phospholipides, which are the key reactions in cell damage. Estradiol also inhibits oxidative modification of LDL lipoprotein which plays the main role in atherogenesis. The other mechanism of antioxidative action of estradiol is probably associated with its stimulatory effect on natural cellular antioxidant enzymes. Data on this subject are scarce and controversial. The mechanisms of antioxidant action of estrogens require further investigation.     

Inverse relationship between total testosterone and anti-oxidized low density lipoprotein antibody levels in ageing males

Accumulating evidence indicates the involvement of sex hormones in atherogenesis. Endogenous testosterone is inversely related to the majority of risk factors for atherosclerosis and is known to be a potent immunomodulator. Recently, autoantibodies to oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL Ab) were shown to predict carotid and coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these antibodies and testosterone level in ageing males. The study group comprised 65 males over 50 years old (42 with coronary artery disease). Serum anti-oxLDL Ab titer was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay and total serum testosterone by radioimmunoassay. A significant inverse correlation was found between serum anti-oxLDL Ab titer and testosterone concentration (r=-0.346, P=0.0047). Alteration in serum anti-oxLDL Ab titres showed no correlation to classical cardiovascular risk factors, e.g. body mass index, waist/hip ratio, smoking, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol. In multiple regression analysis only testosterone level was independently associated with anti-oxLDL Ab. These data suggest a that fall of testosterone concentration in ageing men can influence either oxidative modification of LDL or the immune response to these lipoproteins which may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.     

Anxiolytic-like effects of preferential dopamine D3 receptor agonists in an animal model

The aim of the present study was to examine a potential anxiolytic-like action of (+)-7-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (7-OH-DPAT), a preferential dopamine D(3) receptor agonist, and (N-[4-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butyl]-2-naphthylcarboxamide (BP 897), partial dopamine D(3) receptor agonist. Diazepam was used as a reference compound. The anxiolytic-like effect of those drugs was tested in the conflict drinking test (Vogel test) in male Wistar rats. The obtained results showed that 7-OH-DPAT and BP 897 (like diazepam) induced anxiolytic-like effects in the conflict drinking test. 7-OH-DPAT (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg), BP 897 (0.5 mg/kg) and diazepam (5 and 10 mg/kg), tested at the effective doses in an animal model, did not affect motor coordination but produced significant reduction in exploratory activity in the open field test. These data suggest that preferential dopamine D(3) agonists may play a role in the therapy of anxiety, however, further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of these actions.     

Release of volatile organic compounds from textile floor coverings in higher temperatures

The effect of temperatures 23 degrees C, 29 degrees C, and 50 degrees C on emission of 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PC), styrene, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde from textile floor coverings with textile backing and styrene/butadiene latex precoat was examined. Tested coverings didn't show emission of styrene and formaldehyde. At 23 degrees C and 29 degrees C two tested coverings showed emission of 4-PC on low level. The higher emission was observed from all coverings at 50 degrees C. VOCs emission from coverings increased with increasing of temperature, especially at 50 degrees C. In conclusion some of new textile floor coverings can cause contamination of indoor air after application of sub-floor heating. Contamination, however, will decrease with time.     

Stereotactic methods in interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of posterior fossa tumours

For over 2 years, we have had access to latest generation apparatus and software for planning and stereotactic treatment as well as for x-rays treatment. Until now, we have carried out over 100 procedures. These included 52 stereotactic biopsies of neoplasms, some of them located within the structures of the posterior fossa. In this report, we have discussed the possibilities and effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of tumours located in different structures, including posterior cave. In the study, we used stereotactic methods. We have described biopsies of the following tumours: cerebellar hemisphere tumour (diagnosed as "metastatic atypic planoepitheliale carcinoma" in a patient with coexisting orbit lymphoma), a bifocal lesion (located in cerebellar hemisphere and cerebellar peduncle, diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma of WHO malignancy grade II/III), and lesion (located in the pons, diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma WHO grade II).     

Pentoxifylline inhibits leukocyte infiltration and splenocyte cytotoxicity against murine colon adenocarcinoma

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative, is commonly used in patients suffering from peripheral vascular diseases. Besides its well-known hemorheological properties PTX has been found to decrease the secretion of some inflammatory cytokines such as TNF, IL-12 and IFN-gamma. PTX also suppresses lymphocyte cytotoxicity, affecting mainly the perforin-dependent pathway. We investigated the influence of PTX on the splenocyte cytotoxicity and leukocyte infiltration in a murine colon adenocarcinoma model. We observed that PTX decreased the cytotoxic activity of isolated splenocytes against C-26 cells and reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration in the peritumoral tissue. Thus, our results strongly suggest the necessity of further studies concerning the safety of PTX use, especially in elderly patients or patients with already diagnosed cancer.