Interleukin-11 stimulates multilineage progenitors, but not stem cells, in murine and human long-term marrow cultures

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a bone marrow microenvironment-derived growth factor with pleiotropic effects on a variety of hematopoietic cells. To more accurately assess the effects of IL-11 on stem and progenitor compartments within the hematopoietic microenvironment (HM), we added recombinant human (rh) IL-11 to human and murine long-term bone marrow cultures (LTMC) and analyzed primitive (high proliferative potential- colony forming cells [HPP-CFC], long-term culture-initiating cells [LTC- IC], and long-term reconstituting stem cells) and progenitor (day 12 colony forming unit-spleen [CFU-S12], colony forming unit-megakaryocyte [CFU-Mk] and colony forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage [CFU-GM]) compartments throughout the duration of the cultures. rhIL-11 (100 ng/mL) added twice weekly resulted in significantly increased nonadherent (NA) cellularity, CFU-GM, and CFU-Mk production in human LTMC. Addition of rhIL-11 to murine LTMC was associated with a 5- to 40- fold increase in CFU-GM and a four- to 20-fold increase in day 12 CFU-S in NA cells. However, IL-11 had no significant effect on total HPP-CFC concentration and decreased the size of the more primitive stem/progenitor compartment as evidenced by both decreased LTC-IC frequency in human LTMC and decreased frequency of long-term reconstituting stem cells in murine LTMC. These data suggest that IL-11 may increase commitment of stem cells into a multipotential progenitor compartment.     

Angiographic changes in saphenous vein grafts are predictors of clinical outcomes

Background Previous studies have suggested that angiographic evidence of disease progression in coronary arteries increases the risk of subsequent coronary clinical events. This study ascertained whether patients enrolled in the Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Clinical Trial (POST CABG) who had substantial progression of atherosclerosis in ≥1 saphenous vein grafts (on the basis of assessment of baseline and follow-up angiograms obtained 4-5 years after study entry), but who had not reported clinical symptoms before follow-up angiography, were at a higher risk of subsequent events than patients who did not have substantial progression of atherosclerosis (decrease ≥0.6 mm in lumen diameter at site of greatest change from baseline). Methods All 1351 patients enrolled in the trial underwent baseline angiography; only the 961 patients who had follow-up angiography and no coronary events before the follow-up study were included in this analysis. The clinical center staff contacted patients to ascertain the events that had occurred after follow-up angiography (approximately 3.4 years later). Results Sixty-nine patients had died; 870 patients or relatives were interviewed, and 22 patients could not be contacted. Univariable estimates of relative risk associated with substantial progression ranged from 2.2 (P < .001) for cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction to 3.3 (P < .001) for revascularization. Multivariable and univariable estimates of risk were similar. Conclusions The findings provide evidence that patients who had substantial progression of atherosclerosis in vein grafts are at an increased risk for subsequent coronary events and suggest that angiographic changes in vein grafts are appropriate surrogate measures for clinical outcomes. (Am Heart J 2003;145:262-9.)     

改良颈腮腺入路切除咽旁间隙高位良性肿瘤

目的 探讨改良颈腮腺入路在高位咽旁间隙良性肿瘤手术中的应用疗效。 方法 7例咽旁间隙良性肿瘤患者,术前影像学检查提示为高位、肿瘤巨大、哑铃型且边界欠清,采用改良颈腮腺入路术式,解剖辨认面神经总干及颞面干后,于外耳道软骨前方、腮腺的后缘以及颞面干的上方间隙向深部分离至肿瘤上极,剥离子分离并下压肿瘤与下方常规颈部自下而上肿瘤游离会师后,从颌下区取出肿瘤。腮腺浅叶不切除,面神经分支不做过多解剖。 结果 所有患者均一次性完整切除肿瘤;术后病理示多形性腺瘤6例,神经鞘瘤1例;术中出血均少于300 mL;1例患者出现术后同侧眼睑轻度闭合障碍,两周后完全正常;所有患者面容美学保存理想。 结论 对于高位咽旁间隙良性肿瘤采用改良颈腮腺入路术式,不仅可以安全完整地切除肿瘤,同时由于减少了面神经及腮腺浅叶的处置,术后相关神经并发症及腮腺区凹陷性改变的发生率下降。     

Low rate of active treatment of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Introduction

The results of surgical resection and palliative chemotherapy use in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) have been well publicised but the proportion of patients able to undergo these treatments and the comparative outcomes in a population of patients with HC are less well known.

Methods

Patients with HC were identified by review of all patients undergoing percutaneous cholangiography over a nine-year period (2002–2010) in a tertiary facility. The treatment undertaken and outcomes were recorded.

Results

Overall, 68 patients were identified (37 female) with a median age of 70 years. Forty-five (66%) were treated solely by insertion of a metal stent (median survival 4.73 months) and nine (13%) also received palliative chemotherapy (median survival 13.7 months). Persisting jaundice after stent insertion was noted in 18 of 35 patients (51%) tested within one month of death. Fourteen patients (21%) underwent surgical resection (median survival 20.2 months).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing surgical resection had significantly longer survival than those receiving only a palliative stent but not compared with those also receiving palliative chemotherapy, with short-term follow-up. Only a third of patients, however, receive active treatment (surgery or chemotherapy) and improvements in long-term biliary palliation are needed.     

DNA repair gene expression in biological tissues exposed to low-intensity infrared laser

Special properties of laser light have led to its usefulness in many applications in therapy. Excitation of endogenous chromophores in biotissues and generation of free radicals could be involved in its biological effects. DNA lesions induced by free radicals are repaired by base excision repair pathway. In this work, we evaluated the expression of APE1 and OGG1 genes related to repair of DNA lesions induced by free radicals. Skin and muscle tissues of Wistar rats were exposed to low-intensity infrared laser at different fluences and frequencies. After laser exposition of 1 and 24 h, tissue samples were withdrawn for total RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and evaluation of APE1 and OGG1 gene expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Data obtained show that laser radiation alters the expression of APE1 and OGG1 mRNA differently in skin and muscle tissues of Wistar rats depending of the fluence, frequency, and time after exposure. Our study suggests that low-intensity infrared laser affects expression of genes involved in repair of DNA lesions by base excision repair pathway.