Antineoplastic activity of planar rhodium(I) complexes in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma and P388 leukemia

The antitumor effects of three rhodium(I) complexes were evaluated using two transplantable tumors of the mouse: Lewis lung carcinoma and P388 lymphocytic leukemia. The examination of the differential effects on primary tumor growth and on the formation of spontaneous pulmonary metastases, in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma, indicated that the complex having qualitatively the higher solubility in aqueous solutions and the higher resistance to inactivation via oxidation, displayed the more pronounced antineoplastic activity. The antileukemic effects, in mice bearing P388 lymphocytic leukemia, also seemed to depend on the chemical characteristics of the complex used, and the previously reported trend was particularly evident using an acute treatment performed 24 hr after tumor transplantation.     

Protective effects of tea melanin against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced toxicity: antioxidant activity and aryl hydrocarbon receptor suppressive effect

We examined the protective ability of tea melanin against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced toxicity in C57BL6J mice. Reduced tea melanin (RTM) and non-reduced tea melanin (NRTM) were incorporated to distinguish anti-oxidant activity from alternative pathways. The mice were given a single oral dose of TCDD (100 microg/kg body weight) and then they were administered daily with NRTM or RTM (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for next 14 d. RTM protected the animals against TCDD-induced lipid peroxidation, inhibition of glutathione peroxidase, alteration in reduced and oxidized glutathione concentrations, loss of body weight, and increased relative liver weight. NRTM was less effective as compared to RTM because of its inferior antioxidant activity, but it still displayed a strong protective effect against TCDD toxicity owing to its similar suppression of the activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Both NRTM and RTM suppressed the expression of CYP1A1 gene and prevented the activation of cytochrome P450 isozyme in the livers of animals exposed to TCDD. These results suggest that tea melanin might be a potential agent offering dual protection against the development of TCDD-induced oxidative stress.     

Operative trauma of the common bile duct. Report of eight cases (author's transl)]

The authors report eight cases of operative trauma to the common bile duct; seven patients were sent up for reoperation often during the late stages following an attempt at immediate or secondary repair. Emphasis was placed on the interest of extensive resection of the stenosis and wide and high opening of the common bile duct for construction of the bilio-jejunal anastomosis, and furthermore the late risk of onset of portal hypertension requiring portacaval anastomosis, finally the possible degradation of the good initial results requiring difficult reoperations.     

Gemcitabine (GEM) and vindesine (VDS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a phase II study in elderly or poor performance status patients

The aim of the study was to assess the activity and tolerability of the combination of gemcitabine (GEM) and vindesine (VDS) in elderly or poor performance patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Forty four patients (36 males and 8 females with a median age of 70 years and a median Karnofsky performance score of 60) were recruited between January 1998 and June 2001; 9 (20.5%) were stage IIIB patients and 35 (79.5%) were stage IV patients; 20 (45.5%) had squamous carcinoma and 24 (54.5%) non-squamous carcinoma. The patients received GEM 1000 mg/m(2) and VDS 3mg/m(2) (max 5mg) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks, and were all evaluable for response and toxicity: 17 (38.6%) were partial responders, 17 (38.6%) experienced stable disease, and 10 (22.3%) progressive disease. Grade 3-4 anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in, respectively, 6.8, 9.1 and 2.3% of the patients, and grade 2-3 fatigue, paresthesias and skin toxicity in, respectively, 11.4, 20.4 and 2.3%. After a median follow-up of 54 months, 43/44 patients died; median survival was 12 months, and a clinical benefit was observed in 54.5% of cases. GEM plus VDS is an active and well-tolerated schedule.     

Cross-leg free anterolateral thigh perforator flap: a case report

The purpose of this report is to introduce the cross-leg anterolateral thigh perforator flap for closure of a defect on the dorsum of the foot, and to show that the anterolateral thigh perforator flap is a safe option for a cross-bridge microvascular anastomosis in defects of the extremity. The free anterolateral thigh perforator flap was used for a patient with an unhealed wound on the dorsum of the foot. The flap was revascularized by end-to-side anastomosis between the flap's artery and the posterior tibial artery of the other leg, since there was no available recipient artery on the same leg. After a 4-week neovascularization period, the pedicle was cut. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of a free anterolateral thigh perforator flap for a cross-bridge microvascular anastomosis.     

New perspectives of penile enhancement surgery: tissue engineering with biodegradable scaffolds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in a multicenter, prospective study preliminary aesthetic and functional results of autologous ex-vivo tissue engineering for penile girth enhancement. METHODS: From July 1999 to January 2004, 204 men of mean age 26.77 (range 19-54 years) underwent this procedure. Indications for penile girth enhancement were penile dysmorphic disorder and previous failed surgery for penile girth enhancement. Fibroblast cells harvested from 1 cc of biopsied scrotal dermal tissue were expanded in culture until the total cell number of at least 2x10(7) was reached. Suspended cells in culture medium were then seeded on pretreated tube-shaped PLGA scaffolds and incubated for 24 hours. After penile degloving, scaffolds were shape adjusted and transplanted between dartos and Buck's fascia when the skin was compliant or under the neurovascular bundle when the skin was not compliant. RESULTS: A total of 84 randomly selected patients were followed 1 to 5 years postoperatively (median 24 months). The gain in girth ranged from 1.9 to 4.1cm (mean 3.15 cm). Postoperative complications occurred as infection in three, penile skin pressure necrosis in two and seroma formation in five patients and were all treated conservatively. Surgical intervention was appraised by patients on a scale from 1 to 5 as follows: the best mark (5) was given by 44.05%, very good (4) by 36.90%, good (3) by 19.05% and only one patient gave the mark 2 judging general penile appearance as dissatisfactory; mean score was 4.25. CONCLUSION: Autologous tissue engineering by using biodegradable scaffolds as a carrier is a new and safe therapeutic approach for penile girth enhancement. The outcome of this study points out the necessity for its expanded clinical applicability in the future.