Role of autocrine stimulation in a glioma cell line

It has recently been shown that autocrine stimulation can play a pivotal role in the development and progression of a variety of neoplasms, including malignant gliomas. In this paper is reported how a glioma cell is able to be stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and, at the same time, to produce a growth factor which shares with bFGF many biological and biochemical properties.     

Immunotherapy of malignant gliomas

Some recent immunological approaches to therapy of cancer are briefly considered. The possibility of the application of immunotherapy to malignant gliomas was investigated in vitro, evaluating the cytotoxic activity of Interleukin-2-activated lymphocytes against cultured human glioma cells. The possibility of generating valid cytotoxic effectors from glioma patients peripheral blood was also investigated in consideration of the immunological alterations reported in such patients.     

Vagal nerve stimulation improves cerebellar tremor and dysphagia in multiple sclerosis

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), an adjunctive approach for the treatment of epilepsy, was performed in three multiple sclerosis (MS) patients displaying postural cerebellar tremor (PCT) and dysphagia. Following VNS, improvement of PCT and dysphagia was manifested over a period of two and three months, respectively. In view of the involvement of the main brainstem visceral component of the vagus, the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), in modulating central pattern generators (CPGs) linked to both olive complex pathway and swallowing, improvement is likely to be VNS related. The results obtained suggest an additional therapeutic application for VNS and may represent a novel form of treatment in patients with severe MS.     

Weekly paclitaxel and epirubicin in the treatment of symptomatic hormone-refractory advanced prostate carcinoma: report of a phase II trial

The efficacy of weekly paclitaxel in androgen-independent prostate cancer and its addictive cytotoxicity with anthracycline derivatives led us to determine the safety and efficacy of a weekly schedule of paclitaxel and epirubicin. Between October 2000 and November 2002, 32 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients characteristics included a median age of 72 years (range 68-77), adequate hepatic, cardiac, renal and bone marrow functions, ECOG performance status of 1-2, and no prior chemotherapy. All patients had received hormonal manipulation and seven patients (22%) had received prior palliative radiation therapy. The regimen consisted of paclitaxel 70 mg/m2 i.v. infusion for 2 h and epirubicin 30 mg/m2 in bolus every week. Treatment was continued for 3 months or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity were observed. During the study, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was monitored and response was defined as a 50% reduction in PSA levels, to be confirmed 4 weeks later. Thirty-one patients were evaluable for toxicity and 21 for objective response. Seventeen patients (57%) had a decline above 50% in PSA level that lasted more than 4 weeks with a median time to PSA progression and a median duration of PSA response of approximately 5.5 months. Ten of the 21 patients with measurable disease (47%) had a confirmed objective response (one complete response and 20 partial responses). Thirteen of 25 symptomatic patients (56 %) had improvement in pain. The median time to disease progression was 7.6 months and the median survival was 12.9. The most prominent grade 3 toxicities were reversible myelosuppression and fatigue. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and peripheral edema were minimal. No evidence of cardiac toxicity was recorded. Alopecia was frequent, but reversible, in all patients. We conclude that despite the small sample size, this study demonstrates that the combination of weekly paclitaxel and epirubicin is a well-tolerated regimen for androgen-independent prostate cancer. The results imply that a combination of these agents in a weekly schedule may have clinical potential in prostate cancer treatment.     

Cranial bone flap fixation with microplates and screws: a new application technique. Technical note

A new technique of microplates/screws application for bone flap refixation is described. The microplates are fitted into a shaped bone groove in such a way that the hardware is flush with the edges of the groove thus avoiding definite palpable scalp prominence of the skin under hairless portions of the scalp.     

Occipital condyle fractures: a hidden nosologic an entity. An experience with 10 cases

Summary Introduction. To report the incidence, treatment and outcome of occipital condyle fractures (OCFs) based on the experience of a single neurosurgical department over a period of two years.Material and methods. From April 1999 to April 2001, ten cases of OCFs were identified in 110 cervical traumas observed over a period of two years. Patients were studied by cervical x-rays, high-resolution CT scan with a 1–2mm slice of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) and MRI in selected cases to evaluate the integrity of supporting ligaments. According to the Anderson and Montesano classification, 5 cases of type III, 3 cases of type II and 2 cases of type I fractures were found. Dysfunction of lower cranial nerves was observed in 8 cases. Treatment was conservative in all cases.Results. At follow-up, ranging from 18 months to 2 years, fusion was obtained in all cases; 8 patients were neurologically intact, one patient presented a mild persistent dysphonia and another mild trapezius weakness.Conclusion. OCFs are actually not rare, rather they are often overlooked. In cases of high-energy trauma of the cervical spine, the diagnostic suspicion should be kept in mind.High-resolution CT scan with slice at 1–2mm of the CCJ is the key radiological examination in the diagnosis of this lesion. Conservative treatment using a hard collar is sufficient to obtain sound fusion.     

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in adults. Anatomo-clinical illustration in 1 case

A 23 years old man suffering from SSPE died 18 months after the onset of the disease. The clinical picture, EEG and immunological tests were typical for SSPE, and so was the anatomo-pathological investigation; the only difference was that the Cowdry type A inclusion bodies were absent. The peculiarity of this case consists in the fact that the disease appeared in an adult. In the literature we found very few cases of SSPE with such a late onset.     

Histopathological and ultrastructural study of a case of infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy

The histopathological and ultrastructural findings on a nerve biopsy specimen and on a CNS necropsy specimen in a case of IML with a typical clinical course are reported. Nerve biopsy once again proved to be a sure diagnostic guide even at an early stage of the disease. Some differences in the fine structure of the cytosomes between the nerve biopsy and CNS necropsy material studied four years later may be due to the different rates of catabolism of the constituent lipids as well as to post mortem artefacts.This work was supported by CNR Research Grant 81 00336 04