Bromodeoxyuridine Labeling Index as an Indicator of Early Tumor Response to Preoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Rectal Cancer

Purpose Assessment of tumor proliferation rate using Bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (BrdUrdLI) as a possible predictor of rectal cancer response to preoperative radiotherapy (RT). Methods and material Ninety-two patients were qualified either to short RT (5 Gy/fraction/5 days) and surgery about 1 week after RT (schedule I), or to short RT and 4–5 weeks interval before surgery (schedule II). Tumor samples were taken twice from each patient: before RT and at the time of surgery. The samples were incubated with BrdUrd for 1 h at 37°C, and the BrdUrdLI was calculated as a percentage of BrdUrd-labeled cells. Results Thirty-eight patients were treated according to schedule I and 54 patients according to schedule II. Mean BrdUrdLI before RT was 8.5% and its value did not differ between the patients in the two compared groups. After RT tumors showed statistically significant growth inhibition (reduction of BrdUrdLI). As the pretreatment BrdUrd LI was not predictive for early clinical and pathologic tumor response, prognostic role of the ratio of BrdUrdLI after to BrdUrdLI before RT was considered. The ratios were calculated separately for fast (BrdUrd LI > 8.5%) and slowly (BrdUrd LI ≤ 8.5%) proliferating tumors and correlated with overall treatment time (OTT, i.e., time from the first day of RT to surgery). One month after RT, accelerated proliferation was observed only in slowly proliferating tumors. Conclusions Pretreatment BrdUrdLI was not predictive for early clinical and pathologic tumor response. The ratio after/before RT BrdUrdLI was correlated to inhibition of proliferation in responsive tumors. The paper was presented at ECCO 13, October 30 to November 03, 2005 in Paris, France     

Skeletal Status in Children,Adolescents and Young Adults with End-Stage Renal Failure Treated with Hemo- or Peritoneal Dialysis

The skeletal status in 30 children, adolescents and young adults (18 females, 12 males) with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) aged 9-23 years (mean 15.8 ± 3.6 years) was evaluated using measurements of bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm²) at the spine and total body (TB) (Lunar DPX-L, USA), quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the hand phalanges (DBM Sonic 1200, IGEA, Italy) and laboratory investigations (parathyroid hormone, serum total and ionized calcium, serum phosphate). Eleven subjects were treated with hemodialysis and 19 with peritoneal dialysis. The mean value of the amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS, m/s) measured by QUS was significantly decreased in comparison with the value obtained in a group of 686 age-matched controls (1942 ± 74 m/s vs 2050 ± 77 m/s, p<0.0001). BMD measurements were also decreased in comparison with mean values for the healthy population (Z-scores for spine −1.47, and for TB −1.53). Duration of dialysis correlated significantly with spine-BMD, TB-BMD and Ad-SoS (r=−0.37, r = −0.45, r=−0.55, respectively, p<0.05), while duration of ESRF did not have such an influence. Laboratory investigations did not correlate with skeletal parameters. Ad-SoS correlated significantly with spine-BMD (r= 0.45, p<0.05) and TB-BMD (r= 0.56, p<0.01). Both QUS and BMD values correlated significantly with Tanner stages (r ranged from 0.59 to 0.69, p<0.001) and did not increase with age except for correlation between age and TB-BMD. In conclusion, skeletal status in the population studied is strongly affected by ESRF. Both QUS and BMD measurements show an ability to express skeletal changes in a similar manner, though the QUS parameter seems to be more sensitive at revealing changes due to renal failure. Received: 12 July 2001 / Accepted: 8 November 2001     

New feather mite species (Acari,Astigmata) from the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cacatua galerita</Emphasis> and Yellow-crested Cockatoo <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. sulphurea</Emphasis> (Psittaciformes,Cacatuidae)

Two new genera and three new species of feather mites (Astigmata, Pterolichoidea, Analgoidea) are described from two closely related species of cockatoos, Cacatua galerita (type host) and C. sulphurea (Psittaciformes, Cacatuidae): Astrolabelichus caudatus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), Psittophagus lacunosus sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), and Cacatualges microdiscus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Xolalgidae). The presence of the same set of mite species on these two species of parrots points to a very close affinity of Cacatua sulphurea and C. galerita and gives additional support for the recent hypothesis of the conspecificity of these birds.     

Comparison of antibody repertoires against Staphylococcus aureus in healthy individuals and in acutely infected patients

The management of staphylococcal diseases is increasingly difficult with present medical approaches. Preventive and therapeutic vaccination is considered to be a promising alternative; however, little is known about immune correlates of protection and disease susceptibility. To better understand the immune recognition of Staphylococcus aureus by the human host, we studied the antistaphylococcal humoral responses in healthy people in comparison to those of patients with invasive diseases. In a series of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses performed using 19 recombinant staphylococcal cell surface and secreted proteins, we measured a wide range of antibody levels, finding a pronounced heterogeneity among individuals in both donor groups. The analysis revealed marked differences in the antibody repertoires of healthy individuals with or without S. aureus carriage, as well as in those of patients in the acute phase of infection. Most importantly, we identified antigenic proteins for which specific antibodies were missing or underrepresented in infected patients. In contrast to the well-described transient nature of disease-induced antistaphylococcal immune response, it was demonstrated that high-titer antistaphylococcal antibodies are stable for years in healthy individuals. In addition, we provide evidence obtained on the basis of opsonophagocytic and neutralizing activity in vitro assays that circulating antistaphylococcal serum antibodies in healthy donors are functional. In light of these data we suggest that proper serological analysis comparing the preexisting antibody repertoires of hospitalized patients with different outcomes for nosocomial staphylococcal infections could be extremely useful for the evaluation of candidate vaccine antigens in addition to protection data generated with animal models.     

Prolongation of heart graft survival and spleen suppressor cell activity after donor specific blood transfusions in rats differing across the MHC

The aim of the study was the prolongation of heart allograft survival in rats after DST (donor specific blood transfusion), the characterization of T and B lymphocyte phenotypes in peripheral blood, spleen and lymph nodes and the evaluation of specific and nonspecific suppressor cell activity of spleen and blood lymphocytes of DST rats. Pretreatment of Wistar recipients with one, two and three doses of DST-s prolonged the heterotopic August graft survival to 11.0, 12.3 and 11.4 days, respectively (rats differed across the MHC). Spleen lymphocytes of transfused rats showed significant nonspecific suppressive activity in culture with syngeneic spleen lymphocytes of nontransfused rats stimulated with PHA, but not in culture with blood lymphocytes. Blood lymphocytes of transfused rats did not show any nonspecific suppressive activity. Spleen and blood lymphocytes of transfused rats did not demonstrate any specific suppressive activity in allogeneic MLC. The ratio of W3/25+/OX8+ (Th+/Tsup/cyt+) cells in peripheral blood was found increased in DST rats due to the decrease in the percentage of OX8+ cells whereas the opposite effect was observed with spleen cells (increase in the percentage of OX8+ cells after one DST). The number of OX6+ (Ia positive) cells and B cells in all transfused rats was found unchanged comparing with untreated animals.     

Ionic liquids in embalming and tissue preservation. Can traditional formalin-fixation be replaced safely?

Ionic liquids (ILs) can be used for embalming and tissue preservation. ILs does not cause tissue damage and the tissue colour remains unaltered after treatment. Microscopical morphology of tissues fixed in ILs is of better quality than that of tissues fixed in formalin. Tissue preservation depends on the type of ILs. Best results were obtained with 1-methyl-3-octyloxymethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, the density of which resembles that of water. The salt is nonvaporous and when used as a formalin substitute, it eliminates health hazards in the pathological laboratory.     

Increased central adiposity is associated with pro-inflammatory immunoglobulin G N-glycans

Background

Increased body fat may be associated with an increased risk of developing an underlying pro-inflammatory state, thus leading to greater risk of developing certain chronic conditions. Immunoglobulin G has the ability to exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, and the N-glycosylation of the fragment crystallisable portion is involved in mediating this process. Body mass index, a rudimentary yet gold standard indication for body fat, has been shown to be associated with agalactosylated immunoglobulin G N-glycans.