Immunostimulant Activity of Picroliv, the Iridoid Glycoside Fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa, and its Protective Action against Leishmania donovani Infection in Hamsters1

Picroliv, a standardised fraction from root and rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa, consisting of iridoid glycosides and shown to be responsible for its hepatoprotective activity, was studied for immunostimulant activity. Oral administration of Picroliv (10 mg/kg x 7 days) in mice prior to immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) resulted in a significant increase in haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre, plaque forming cells (PFC), and delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) response to SRBC. Picroliv enhanced the non-specific immune response characterized by an increase in macrophage migration index (MMI), [14C]-glucosamine uptake, phagocytosis of [14C]-leucine labelled Escherichia coli, chemiluminescence of peritoneal macrophages, and higher uptake of [3H]-thymidine in the lymphocytes of treated mice. It also induced a high degree of protection in golden hamsters against challenge infection with Leishmania donovani promastigotes.     

Hamartoma of the Face

Hamartomas are tumour like malformations which are due to a developmental anomaly. They are most commonly seen in the spleen, lungs, liver and kidney, they are rare in the head and neck region. A rare case of Hamartoma of the soft tissues of the face in a 13 year old boy is reported.     

Radical Resection of Periampullary Tumors in the Elderly: Evaluation of Long-term Results

Increasingly, patients of advanced age are coming for evaluation of periampullary tumors. Although several studies have demonstrated the safety of resecting periampullary tumors in older patients, few long-term survival data have been reported. Between 1983 and 1992 various periampullary masses were resected in 70 patients over age 65 (range 65–87 years). Total pancreatectomy was performed in 11 patients, and 59 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. The mean duration of hospitalization was 17 ± 15 days. Major complications occurred in 27 patients (39%), and operative mortality rate was 8.5%. Overall median survival was 24 months; and 5-year survival was 25%. Perioperative outcome was compared in patients aged 65 to 74 years and in patients ≥75 years old. The older age group required longer periods in the surgical intensive care unit postoperatively, but the long-term survival was similar in the two age groups. Radical resection with the intent to cure periampullary tumors is safe in selected patients of advanced age, and long-term survival is in the range of expected survival for younger patients with the same tumors.     

15th International Symposium on Pediatric Surgical Research

Pediatric Surgery International -     

Expression of the tumor suppressor gene ARHI in epithelial ovarian cancer is associated with increased expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 and prolonged progression-free survival.

PURPOSE: ARHI, an imprinted putative tumor suppressor gene, is expressed in normal ovarian epithelial cells, but its expression is down-regulated or lost in most ovarian cancer cell lines. Reexpression of ARHI in cancer cells induces p21(WAF1/CIP1), down-regulates cyclin D1 promoter activity and inhibits growth in cell culture and in heterografts. To determine the relevance of these observations to clinical cancer, we have now measured ARHI expression in normal, benign and malignant ovarian tissues using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Paraffin embedded tissues from 7 normal ovaries, 22 cystadenomas and 42 borderline lesions were analyzed using standard immunoperoxidase and in situ hybridization techniques to assess ARHI expression. In addition, immunohistochemistry against ARHI was performed on a tissue microarray containing 441 consecutive cases of ovarian carcinoma. RESULTS: Strong ARHI expression was found in normal ovarian surface epithelial cells, cysts and follicles using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Reduced ARHI expression was observed in tumors of low malignant potential as well as in invasive cancers. ARHI expression was down-regulated in 63% of invasive ovarian cancer specimens and could not be detected in 47%. When immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were compared, ARHI protein expression could be down-regulated in the presence of ARHI mRNA. ARHI expression was correlated with expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) (P = 0.0074) but not with cyclin D1 and associated with prolonged disease free survival (P = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, ARHI expression, grade and stage were independent prognostic factors. ARHI expression did not correlate with overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Persistence of ARHI expression in epithelial ovarian cancers correlated with prolonged disease free survival and expression of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1).     

Nitric oxide accelerates interleukin-13 cytotoxin-mediated regression in head and neck cancer animal model.

Receptors for interleukin-13 (IL-13R) are overexpressed on several types of solid cancers including gliobastoma, renal cell carcinoma, AIDS Kaposi's sarcoma, and head and neck cancer. Recombinant fusion proteins IL-13 cytotoxin (IL13-PE38QQR or IL13-PE38) have been developed to directly target IL-13R-expressing cancer cells. Although it has been found that IL-13 cytotoxin has a direct potent antitumor activity in vivo in nude mice models of human cancers, the involvement of indirect antitumor effecter molecules such as nitric oxide (NO) is unknown. To address this issue, we assessed the effect of NO inhibiter N(omega)-monomethyl-l-arginine on IL-13 cytotoxin-mediated cytotoxicity and NO2/NO3 production in HN12 head and neck cancer cells. In addition, antitumor effects and NO levels in HN12 and KCCT873 head and neck tumors xenografted s.c. in nude mice when treated with IL-13 cytotoxin were evaluated by tumor measurement, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analyses. Pretreatment of animals with N(omega)-monomethyl-l-arginine significantly decreased the NO levels and IL-13 cytotoxin-mediated antitumor effects. In addition, depletion of macrophages, known to produce NO, also decreased antitumor activity of IL-13 cytotoxin. Based on these studies, we concluded that NO accelerates antitumor effect of IL-13 cytotoxin on head and neck tumor cells. Because IL-13 cytotoxin is currently being tested in the clinic for the treatment of patients with recurrent glioblastoma maltiforme, our current findings suggest maintaining macrophage and NO-producing cellular function for optimal therapeutic effect of this targeted agent.     

Contralateral pleural effusion during chemotherapy for tuberculous pleural effusion

A 25 year old woman developed a right pleural effusion 6 weeks after commencement of short course chemotherapy for left sided tuberculous pleural effusion. Since the patient improved following continuation of the same treatment, it is presumed to be a case of paradoxical response to anti-tuberculosis treatment.