Potential impact of [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine versus [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluoro-2-deoxy-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucose in positron emission tomography for colorectal cancer

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

New triterpene isolated from Eschweilera longipes (Lecythidaceae)

The phytochemical studies of Eschweilera longipes Miers (Lecythidaceae) have led to the identification of a new triterpene 3beta, 24-dihydroxyfriedelane, the known 1beta, 2beta, 3beta, 19beta-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (1beta-hydroxyeucaphic acid) besides the saponin sitosterol 3betaO-betaD-glucopyranoside. The structures were established from the IR, NMR and mass spectra data including 2D NMR experiments of natural substances and of the acetyl derivative of the new triterpene.     

Localized renal cell carcinoma of an unusually large size: case report

Renal cell carcinoma has a variable clinical course. Size is a prognostic factor correlated with venous invasion, lymph node or distant metastases. These are more often encountered when the size exceeds 10 cm. For 20 years, incidental renal tumours have represented the majority of diagnosed cases, as a result of more common use of imaging techniques. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma of an unusually large size, without metastatic or locally advanced disease. Histology revealed a pT2 clear cell renal cell carcinoma of 31 x 31 x 10 cm, which was totally resected. It is the first case reported of localized conventional renal cell carcinoma reaching such a size.     

Tension-free prosthetic videolaparoscopic repair of adult Morgagni-Larrey hernia

A symptomatic case of diaphragmatic hernia through the foramen of Morgagni-Larrey in an adult patient is presented. Etiology, diagnosis and particularly, indications of differences between open and laparoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernia are discussed. In the case presented laparoscopic technique was carried out by means of tension-free closure of the defect using extraperitoneal prolene-mesh. The recovery was quick and uneventful. Four years after surgery no compliants were noticed.     

Eudesmanolides from Dimerostemma vestitum

A leaf rinse extract with dichloromethane from Dimerostemma vestitum afforded five new eudesmanolides (1-5) along with the known flavone eupafolin. Compounds 1-5 were isolated by chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated by spectral analyses. Eudesmanolides 1-4 show a functional group substitution pattern so far unreported in the subtribe Verbesininae (tribe Heliantheae) of the family Asteraceae.     

Toxicological analysis and effectiveness of oral Kalanchoe pinnata on a human case of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is an extremely difficult disease to treat. Previously, it was shown that oral Kalanchoe pinnata (Kp) leaf extract is strongly effective against murine leishmaniasis. Here, it is shown that the serum levels of alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), urea and alkaline phosphatase were unchanged in mice orally treated with supraoptimal Kp doses for 30 days, indicating the absence of chronic toxicity to the liver, heart or kidney. Additionally, evidence is presented that human leishmaniasis may also be controlled with oral Kp. A 36-year-old man with an active cutaneous leishmaniasis was orally treated with 30 g wet weight of Kp leaves/day for 14 days. During the Kp treatment, the lesion stopped growing and slightly decreased. No adverse reactions or toxicity was observed. This study reports for the first time that Kalanchoe pinnata contains substances potentially active and safe for the oral treatment of human cutaneous leishmaniasis.     

Endobronchial brachytherapy in combination with external beam irradiation in obstructing malignant bronchial tumors

Endobronchial brachytherapy is commonly used in the palliative management of malignant airway obstructions. In the present study, we describe the results of brachytherapy (mean dose of 18 Gy), used in combination with external beam irradiation (mean dose of 50 Gy) in 30 patients who had primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung. The extent of airway obstruction was determined according to symptoms and by bronchoscopy. We found symptoms improved in nearly 37% of patients and 21 of 30 patients (70%), evaluated with bronchoscopy, showed a response when evaluated 3 to 6 months after brachytherapy. This endobronchial technique appeared to be a well-tolerated procedure with a low rate of acute toxicity. The immediate complication rate was 13%, during the follow-up 3 deaths were related to treatment, of which 2 were fatal haemoptysis (12 and 18 months after irradiation). We conclude that the combination of endobronchial brachytherapy with external beam irradiation may be useful and needs further comparisons with other irradiation procedures.     

Diamond-Blackfan anemia

Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a rare, congenital hypoplastic anemia often diagnosed early in infancy. A moderate to severe aregenerative anemia is found in association with erythroblastopenia in an otherwise normocellular bone marrow. In 40% of these infants with DBA, diverse developmental abnormalities are also noted. A majority of patients with DBA respond to steroid therapy. Recent molecular studies have identified mutations in the gene encoding the ribosomal protein RPS19 on chromosome 19 in 25% of patients with DBA. In another subset of patients, linkage analysis has identified another locus on chromosome 8p in association with DBA. There are, however, other cases of DBA that are linked neither to the RPS19 gene nor to the locus on 8p, implying the involvement of yet-to-be-defined genetic defects in the cause of DBA. The pathogenesis of DBA is still to be fully defined and it is anticipated that further molecular studies will lead to a better understanding of this complex disease.