The in vivo effect of thymic factor (thymostimulin) administration on circulating immune complexes and serum lysozyme levels in untreated Hodgkin's disease patients

The in vivo effect of a calf thymus extract, thymostimulin, on the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and serum lysozyme was evaluated in 32 patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease. Using the platelet aggregation test for detecting CICs, 12 patients (37%) had positive titers before thymostimulin treatment; 3 patients (10%) remained positive following therapy. Serum levels of Clq-binding immune complexes were evaluated (greater than 24.5 micrograms/ml) in 8 patients prior to thymostimulin therapy (mean value: 42.3 micrograms/ml); 3 patients continued to have elevated levels after treatment. Serum lysozyme levels for Hodgkin's patients was similar to control values (10.6 vs. 8.3 micrograms/ml); however, the Hodgkin's patients with initially elevated CICs had a lower serum lysozyme level than patients with initially normal CICs (12.9 vs. 7.3, p less than 0.02). Thymostimulin increased serum lysozyme levels in the Hodgkin's patients in whom the CICs were initially elevated (7.3 vs. 10.4 micrograms/ml, p less than 0.05). These data suggest that thymostimulin exerts an effect on the nonspecific immune system of Hodgkin's disease patients.     

Enhanced recovery of gut-associated lymphoid tissue by infusion of buffy coat cells and gut leukocytes in the murine syngeneic bone marrow transplantation model

Ways of accelerating recovery of the mucous membrane immune system in lethally irradiated mice following syngeneic bone marrow transplantation were studied over a 35-day period by quantification of jejunal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and lamina propria plasma cells. Recovery after a low bone marrow dose allowing 100% animal survival (LBM) was compared with a high (five times minimal) dose (HBM), or a minimal dose augmented with equal numbers of buffy coat cells (LBM + BC) or small gut mucosal lymphocytes (LBM + GL). The maximal decline and subsequent peak repopulation of IELs were: LBM, days 7 through 14, peaking suboptimally by day 28; HBM, day 14, peaking suboptimally but higher than LBM by day 35; LBM + BC, days 11 through 14, peaking at control levels by day 35; and LBM + GL, day 7, peaking at control levels by day 28. The IEL decline was most severe with LBM and HBM treatment and least with LBM + GL. All transplant groups experienced maximal plasma cell decline by day 7. LBM had the most severe depletion, and LBM + GL had the least. Recovery to control levels for the LBM, HBM, LBM + BC and LBM + GL groups occurred by days 28, 21, 21, and 14, respectively. In all instances, greater than 95% of the plasma cells were IgA positive.     

葛根素中4′-甲氧基葛根素的反相高效液相色谱法测定(英文)

本文报道应用反相高效液相色谱法测定葛根素中4′-甲氧基葛根素的含量,以对羟基苯甲醛作内标,在填充以LiChrosorb RP-18(10μm)固定相的不锈钢柱上,以EtOH-H₂O(10:90)作流动相,检测波长为250nm。本法与TLC-UV法比较,测定结果一致,但本法简便、快速、重现性好,可以应用於葛根素原料药及其制剂中葛根素和4′-甲氧基葛根素的含量测定。     

Capsaicin failed in suppressing cortical processing of CO2 laser pain in migraine patients

The aim of this study was to compare the properties of the nociceptive system in eight migraine without aura patients in the pain-free phase with 10 healthy controls, by evaluating the topography and the source of the CO2 laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) obtained by the right supraorbital skin, during and after capsaicin topical application. In healthy subjects the acute cutaneous pain induced by capsaicin reduced the amplitude of the vertex LEPs and induced a posterior shifting of the P2 wave dipolar source within the anterior cingulate cortex. These functional changes seemed significantly reduced in migraine patients, for a disturbed pattern of pain modulation at the cortical level, which may subtend the onset and persistence of migraine.     

Clinicopathological study of gastric carcinoma in high- and low-mortality countries: Comparison between Japan and the United States

Background. Gastric carcinoma is a tumor that shows marked differences in geographic distributions. The incidence of the gastric carcinoma has been falling dramatically in Western countries. In sharp contrast, the incidence in Japan is still quite high. Methods. A comparative clinicopathological study was performed, examining gastric carcinomas in 978 Japanese patients (Tokyo) and 157 United States patients (San Diego), that had been surgically resected over the 11-year period 1980–1991. Results. The median age of US the patients (64.1 years) was higher than that of the Japanese patients (59.0 years). There was no difference in the sex ratios. Forty-five of the Japanese patients had early gastric cancer, while this occurred in 10% of the US patients. In terms of tumor location, 47% were in the upper portion of the stomach in the US patients, while, in contrast, this proportion in Japanese patients was 23%. In association with the marked difference in tumor location, 36.5% of the US patients underwent operations with the thoraco-abdominal approach, while this approach was used in 7.5% of the Japanese patients. The distribution of histological types was similar in the two countries' samples. There was also no significant difference in the distribution of the histological types in the same age groups in the two countries' samples. The rate of the well differentiated type increased with age while the rate of poorly differentiated type decreased. In US patients, 35.8% had marked neural invasion, while this occurred in 8.5% of Japanese patients. Conclusion. This study revealed marked differences in the features of gastric cancer between the US and Japan in terms of tumor location and surgical procedures. Received for publication on February 18, 1998; accepted on May 25, 1998     

Safety of cisplatin after severe hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Carboplatin is a milestone drug against ovarian carcinoma; it is used both in front-line and second-line chemotherapy. Hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin may occur during the treatment as salvage therapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility of the replacing of carboplatin with cisplatin in patients presenting with severe hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian carcinoma, presenting with moderate/severe hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin were treated with cisplatin 60 mg/m2 from January 2000 to December 2002. Hypersensitivity reactions consisted of respiratory distress (chest tightness, wheezing, dyspnea), urticaria/erythema with tachycardia, facial swelling and hypotension. RESULTS: The total number of cisplatin cycles given was 44 (range 2-5). The treatment with cisplatin was generally well tolerated. No serious allergic reactions occurred. A mild allergic reaction was recorded (urticaria) in only one case, after one cycle of cisplatin, and the patient was not rechallenged because of progressive disease. No reductions of chemotherapy doses were needed. CONCLUSION: To date, platinum-based regimens remain the most effective treatment in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer with a high rate of objective responses. Although our experience is limited, we suggest that, under anesthesiologic surveillance and providing immunologic blockade, the replacement of carboplatin salvage therapy with cisplatin can be considered a safe therapeutic strategy in patients who cannot continue carboplatin due to allergic reactions.     

Transforming growth factor alpha,amphiregulin and cripto-1 are frequently expressed in advanced human ovarian carcinomas

The expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), amphiregulin (AR) and cripto-1 (CR-1) was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 83 specimens (59 primary ovarian tumors and 24 extra-ovarian carcinomas) that were obtained from 68 ovarian carcinoma patients. Within the 59 primary tumors, 54 (92%) expressed immunoreactive TGFalpha, 45 (76%) expressed AR, and 28 (47%) expressed CR-1. The expression of AR and CR-1 mRNAs in the ovarian carcinomas was also demonstrated by RT-PCR analysis. Seventeen extra-ovarian specimens (71%) were found to express CR-1, whereas AR and TGFalpha were expressed respectively in 21 (87%) and 22 (92%) extra-ovarian tissues. In 15 cases for whom both ovarian and extra-ovarian tissues were available, a statistically significant higher expression of CR-1 was found in extra-ovarian specimens. A statistically significant correlation was found between AR expression in the ovarian carcinomas and both low grade and low proliferative activity. Finally, expression of TGFalpha was predictive of longer progression-free survival. These data strongly suggest that the EGF-related peptides might be involved in the pathogenesis and outcome of human ovarian cancer.