Intracranial metastasis from clear cell sarcoma of the kidney--a case report.

Childhood kidney tumors seldom metastasize into the cranial cavity unless it is a special histological variant. We report a 4-year-old boy with multiple intracranial metastases in the left parietotemporal and right cerebellar area from primary clear cell sarcoma of the kidney without evidence of bony metastases. Metastatic tumor revealed nests of uniformly polygonal cells with clear cytoplasm demarcated by delicate fibrovascular arcades. Tumor cells were positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, desmin, and myoglobin. Cellular proliferation rate measured by PCNA, and Ki-67 was not significantly different between primary tumor mass and metastatic brain lesion. Expression of p53 oncoprotein was not evident in both lesions. These findings suggested that the relapse and metastasis of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney was probably due to regrowth of micro-metastases which were present at an early stage of disease.     

Effect of suramin on differentiation of human stomach cancer cell lines.

This study was designed to demonstrate that differentiation of stomach cancer cells can be modified by microenvironmental change and to look for a method inducing or promoting tumor cell differentiation. To evaluate the biomorphological characterization of tumor cell differentiation in suramin-containing in vitro culture of human stomach cancer cell lines, inverted phase-contrast microscopic examination, analysis of growth curves and BrdU-positive S-phase fraction, immunocytochemical study, radioimmunoassay for CEA, transmission electron microscopic examination, DNA flow cytometry, and heterotransplantation in SCID mice were performed. Suramin inhibited tumor cell growth. Development of intracytoplasmic lumina and intercellular lumina was noted in suramin-containing culture with formation of numerous microvilli and frequent desmosomes. The amount of CEA released by a cell was increased in suramin-containing culture. Suramin inhibited heterotransplantation, and a transplant from suramin-containing culture revealed a much higher degree of differentiation than that from suramin-absent culture. Suramin induced no change in DNA ploidy pattern. Elimination of suramin from the culture medium did not reverse the tumor cell differentiation. Each stomach cancer cell line showed a different degree of responsiveness to suramin. In conclusion, this study shows that suramin inhibits growth of SNU-5 and SNU-16 cells and that suramin induces differentiation of SNU-16 cells.     

Transport and storage ofHelicobacter pylori from gastric mucosal biopsies and clinical isolates

Various transport and storage conditions for the recovery ofHelicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies were evaluated. Gastric mucosal biopsies from 16Helicobacter pylori-infected patients were stored in cysteine-Albimi medium containing 20 % glycerol in a refrigerator (4°C) for 1 and 2 weeks and in a –20°C laboratory freezer for 4 and 12 weeks. Two clinical isolates were stored in saline, Stuart's transport media, cysteine-Albimi broth with 20 % glycerol, brucella broth with 20 % glycerol and skim milk with 17 % glycerol at room temperature, 4°C, –20°C and –70°C. Storage at 4°C for 1 and 2 weeks resulted inHelicobacter pylori recovery from 81 % and 19 % of biopsies, respectively. Storage at –20°C yieldedHelicobacter pylori recovery in 100 % and 57 % after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. At room temperature after 6 h, theHelicobacter pylori titer was reduced. The best storage media for frozen isolates were skim milk/glycerol, brucella broth/glycerol and cysteine-Albimi/glycerol (in descending order). Recovery was better at –70°C than –20°C.     

Genetic determinants of statin intolerance

Background  

Statin-related skeletal muscle disorders range from benign myalgias – such as non-specific muscle aches or joint pains without elevated serum creatinine kinase (CK) concentration – to true myositis with >10-fold elevation of serum CK, to rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria. The genetic basis of statin-related muscle disorders is largely unknown. Because mutations in the COQ2 gene are associated with severe inherited myopathy, we hypothesized that common, mild genetic variation in COQ2 would be associated with inter-individual variation in statin intolerance. We studied 133 subjects who developed myopathy on statin monotherapy and 158 matched controls who tolerated statins without incident or complaint.     

The nucleotide: DNA sequencing and its clinical application.

Information determining cellular structure and function is contained in chromosomal DNA. Genes, regions of DNA encoding this information, are composed of specific sequences of nucleotides. DNA sequencing methods have been developed to identify these sequences. Even subtle alteration (or mutation) of these sequences can lead to many human syndromes and diseases. This article reviews 1) the structure of the nucleotide, 2) the methods of DNA sequencing, and 3) its recent clinical application in analysis of the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.     

Ergebnisse der strukturierten Konsensuskonferenz „Bild gebende Verfahren in der Unfallchirurgie“ und Methodik zur Messung der Akzeptanz unter Tagungsteilnehmern

Existing knowledge and present experience relating to the indications for imaging techniques in trauma surgery were summarised, screened and considered in different ways by representatives of various professional scientific bodies, with the aim of finding what procedures should be implemented as the primary examination techniques after a careful clinical examination when particular posttraumatic situations affecting the knee, foot, ankle, or hand were found. In the course of an interdisciplinary consensus conference the evidence-based recommendations prepared by a panel were discussed and modified, giving rise to statements on the suitability of the given imaging techniques in 28 different clinical situations immediately after a clinical examination, based on scientific evidence and medical consensus. The degree of consensus was measured and carefully documented. These statements were transformed into decision algorithms and presented to doctors working in accident and emergency medicine during a conference on trauma surgery, with the aim of.measuring the acceptance of the statements among those attending the trauma surgery meeting. The remarks made by the participants during the discussion and the results of the acceptance measurements clearly show the need for further discussion among experts.