Cytotoxic properties of a new synthetic demethylpodophyllotoxin derivative,BN 58705, against human tumor cell lines

The in vitro cytotoxic properties of a newly synthesized demethylpodophyllotoxin derivative, 4-o-butanoyl-4-demethylpodophyllotoxin (BN 58705), were determined by using several human tumor cell lines of different histological origin and of different sensitivity to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs (Adriamycin andcis-diammine-dichloride platinum). BN 58705 is shown to be cytotoxic against various human tumor cell lines as assessed by the MTT assay. Furthermore, BN 58705 is shown to be cytotoxic against several drug-resistant tumor cell lines. BN 58705 is cytotoxic at concentrations 100- to 1000-fold lower than those of Adriamycin orcis-diammine-dichloride platinum required to achieve similar cytotoxicity. BN 58705 did not mediate DNA fragmentation of target cells, whereas the epipodophyllotoxin-like etoposide induced DNA cleavage by stabilizing the DNA-enzyme intermediate. Like vinca alkaloids, BN 58705 induced a block in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. By comparison, BN 58705 exerted a stronger cytotoxic activity in vitro than did either etoposide, an epipodophyllotoxin, or vincristine, a vinca alkaloid. When BN 58705 was applied in vivo in mice, it resulted in low toxicity (50% lethal dose, 150 mg/kg). These results demonstrate than BN 58705 is cytotoxic to drug-resistant human tumor cell lines and is manyfold more potent than conventional drugs. The cytotoxic potency and low toxicity of BN 58705 are important criteria to establish its potential chemotherapeutic efficacy in vivo.Abbreviations cpm counts per minute - BN 58705 4-o-butanoyl-4-demethylpodophyllotoxin - MTT 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazoyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide - OD optical density - TRIS TRIS (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - FITC fluoresceinisothiocyanate - PI propidium iodide This work was supported by a grant from Institut Henri Beaufour, France     

Oligogenic determination of morphine analgesic magnitude: A genetic analysis of selectively bred mouse lines

Two ongoing selective breeding projects have produced mice that display divergent analgesic responses to morphine. These two projects have selected for similar phenotypes: high and low levorphanol analgesia (HAR/LAR lines; Portland, OR) and high and low swim stress-induced analgesia (HA/LA lines; Jastrzebiec, Poland). Evidence suggests genetic commonalities between mice of the two projects. Using a Mendelian breeding protocol, we have recently found that one or two genetic loci predominantly determine the high morphine analgesia exhibited by HA mice. In the present study we demonstrate that the differential morphine analgesia (5 mg/kg. i.p.) displayed by HAR and LAR mice is similarly oligogenic, predominantly determined by two unlinked loci. A complementation analysis, in which the analgesic responses to morphine of the recessive homozygotes of each project (HAR and HA) were compared to those of their hybrid offspring (HAR x HA), revealed that different genetic loci have been fixed in each project. An intriguing bimodal distribution was observed in the HAR x HA population: Some HAR x HA hybrids displayed greater morphine analgesia than either HAR or HA mice, whereas others displayed minimal analgesia. LAR x LA hybrids displayed less analgesia than either LAR or LA mice. The analgesic responses of HAR x LA and LAR x HA mice were comparable to those of their low-line parents. These findings indicate not only that different loci were responsible for producing high morphine responders in each selection project but that these distinct loci can interact synergistically to produce superhigh and superlow responders.     

Improved survival in young women with breast cancer

Background: Young age has been hypothesized to be an adverse prognostic factor for women with breast cancer. This association, based on historical data, may not reflect recent advances in breast cancer management. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all women age 30 or younger who underwent definitive operation at our institution for primary operable breast carcinoma during one of two consecutive 20-year periods (1950–1969 or 1970–1989). All cancers were restaged according to current staging criteria. Actuarial survival and recurrence-free survival rates from the two patient eras were compared with each other and with published statistics for older breast cancer patients. Results: Eligibility criteria were met by 81 women from the 1950–1969 era and 146 women from the 1970–1989 era. Histologic diagnoses, tumor sizes, incidence of axillary nodal metastases, number of positive nodes, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage at presentation were similarly distributed in the two eras. Despite these similarities, improved survival (p=0.009) was observed in the later era. Local recurrences were also more common (p<0.05) in the later era in association with less extensive resections. These local recurrences had an adverse impact on recurrence-free survival in the later era, but no concomitant decrease in overall survival was observed. Node-positive patients who received chemotherapy demonstrated a trend toward improved survival (p=0.06) compared with node-positive patients who did not. Survival for patients in the later era was similar to that for older women as reported in other published series. Conclusions: The stage of presentation of breast cancer in women 30 years or younger appears unchanged from prior decades, but survival has improved in association with the use of less extensive surgical resections and the introduction of cytotoxic chemotherapy. With current treatment, primary operable breast cancer in young women appears to have a similar prognosis to breast cancer in older women.Results of this study were presented at the 47th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Houston, Texas, March 17–20, 1994, and was judged Best Clinical Paper in the Resident/Fellow Essay Contest.     

Optimal Duration and Temperature of Prewarming

Background: Core hypothermia developing immediately after induction of anesthesia results largely from an internal core-to-peripheral redistribution of body heat. Although difficult to treat, redistribution can be prevented by prewarming. The benefits of prewarming may be limited by sweating, thermal discomfort, and efficacy of the warming device. Accordingly, the optimal heater temperature and minimum warming duration likely to substantially reduce redistribution hypothermia were evaluated.

Methods: Sweating, thermal comfort, and extremity heat content were evaluated in seven volunteers. They participated on two study days, each consisting of a 2-h control period followed by 2 h of forced-air warming with the heater set on "medium" ([nearly equal] 40 degrees Celsius) or "high" ([nearly equal] 43 degrees Celsius). Arm and leg tissue heat contents were determined from 19 intramuscular needle thermocouples, ten skin temperatures, and "deep" foot temperature.

Results: Half the volunteers started sweating during the second hour of warming. None of the volunteers felt uncomfortably warm during the first hour of heating, but many subsequently did. With the heater set on "high," arm and leg heat content increased 69 kcal during the first 30 min of warming and 136 kcal during the first hour of warming, representing 38% and 75%, respectively, of the values observed after 2 h of warming. The increase was only slightly less when the heater was set to "medium."     

GAD65 and insulin B chain peptide (9-23) are not primary autoantigens in the type 1 diabetes syndrome of the BB rat

To investigate whether GAD65 whole molecule, GAD65 p35 or insulin B chain peptide (amino acids 9-23) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes in the BioBreeding (BB) rat, we gave serial injections of GAD65, p35 or insulin B chain (9-23) to six groups of BB/Worcester rats. The individual antigens were administered either intrathymically on day 2 and intraperitoneally in MF 59-0 adjuvant 5 times during the first 5 weeks, or by intranasal instillation once neonatally and 5 days/week for the following 6 weeks. Control groups were injected with vehicle only. Age of onset of diabetes and degree of insulitis were not different between controls and antigen-treated rats. Rats that received GAD65 intrathymically and intraperitoneally developed high GAD65-antibody titers without altering diabetes development. In GAD65-treated animals, serum antibodies recognized epitopes at 3 sites on GAD65 in diabetic animals but only at 1 site in non-diabetic animals. GAD65-injected animals also showed a significant reduction of IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the thymus. This study provides evidence against the hypothesis that GAD65 and insulin B chain peptide (9-23) are primary diabetogenic autoantigens in BB rats because immunizations with these antigens and GAD65-induced immune deviation did not alter the development of diabetes.     

Obstructive suprastomal granulation tissue following percutaneous tracheostomy

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is frequently performed as an alternative to traditional surgical open tracheostomy with many reported benefits. Despite its relative safety and widespread acceptance, complications can be associated with the procedure itself or long-term. We present four cases where there was difficulty with decannulation because of exuberant obstructive granulation tissue. In each case, the percutaneous tracheostomy involved the cricoid cartilage.     

Lorazepam for chronic catatonia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study

Acute catatonic syndromes occurring in the context of various medical and neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, have been shown to respond well to benzodiazepines (BZD). However, there have been no studies specifically designed to address the BZD treatment response of persistent catatonic states. Eighteen patients with clinically stable chronic schizophrenia, who also displayed enduring catatonic features, underwent a 12-week long, random assignment, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial with lorazepam (6 mg/day). A comprehensive assessment, including the subjects’ clinical and motor (catatonic as well as drug-induced movement disorders) condition, was performed at baseline and four weekly intervals thereafter. Pre-existing medication was kept constant throughout the study. Lorazepam had no effect on the subjects’catatonic signs and symptoms, suggesting that acute and chronic catatonic syndromes associated with schizophrenic illness might have a different neurobiological basis. Received: 25 May 1998/Final version: 22 September 1998     

Converging visual and somatic sensory cortical input to the intraparietal sulcus of the rhesus monkey

A cyto- and myeloarchitectonic study reveals the presence of a distinct cortical zone ("area POa") in the lower bank of the intraparietal sulcus of the rhesus monkey. Using both autoradiographic and silver impregnation techniques, an analysis of cortical connections shows two overlapping projections to this sulcal zone. These come from (1) the middle portion of the preoccipital gyrus (area OA) and (2) the rostral inferior parietal lobule (area PF).