Fanconi's anemia treated by allogeneic marrow transplantation

Eight patients with Fanconi's anemia were given cyclophosphamide alone (seven patients) or combined with procarbazine and antithymocyte globulin (one patient) followed by marrow grafts from HLA-identical siblings. All patients had engraftment. Seven developed acute and three chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Three patients died with GVHD and infectious complications (days 19, 56, and 82) and one with an intracerebral hemorrhage (day 540). Four patients are surviving 647- 3435 days after grafting, two are well, and two have chronic GVHD that is improving. These results show that Fanconi's anemia can be treated successfully by allogeneic marrow transplantation.     

Influence of clinical status on the association between plasma total and unbound bilirubin and death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants

Objectives: To assess the influence of clinical status on the association between total plasma bilirubin and unbound bilirubin on death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–22 months corrected age in extremely low birth weight infants. Method: Total plasma bilirubin and unbound bilirubin were measured in 1101 extremely low birth weight infants at 5 ± 1 days of age. Clinical criteria were used to classify infants as clinically stable or unstable. Survivors were examined at 18–22 months corrected age by certified examiners. Outcome variables were death or neurodevelopmental impairment, death or cerebral palsy, death or hearing loss, and death prior to follow‐up. For all outcomes, the interaction between bilirubin variables and clinical status was assessed in logistic regression analyses adjusted for multiple risk factors. Results: Regardless of clinical status, an increasing level of unbound bilirubin was associated with higher rates of death or neurodevelopmental impairment, death or cerebral palsy, death or hearing loss and death before follow‐up. Total plasma bilirubin values were directly associated with death or neurodevelopmental impairment, death or cerebral palsy, death or hearing loss, and death before follow‐up in unstable infants, but not in stable infants. An inverse association between total plasma bilirubin and death or cerebral palsy was found in stable infants. Conclusions: In extremely low birth weight infants, clinical status at 5 days of age affects the association between total plasma bilirubin and death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–22 months of corrected age. An increasing level of UB is associated a higher risk of death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes regardless of clinical status. Increasing levels of total plasma bilirubin are directly associated with increasing risk of death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in unstable, but not in stable infants.     

Cervical myelography: survey of modes of practice and major complications

A total of 68 major complications of cervical myelography were reported by 220 neuroradiologists in a mail survey. Two-thirds of the complications were attributed to cervical spine hyperextension and one-third to lateral C1-2 puncture. Narrow sagittal diameter of the spinal canal and severe cervical spondylosis were frequent contributing factors to hyperextension injury of the cervical spinal cord. Clinical and radiographic premyelography screening is suggested, with magnetic resonance imaging performed first in patients with spinal canal stenosis, severe spondylosis, and/or myelopathy of any cause. Neck extension should be minimal during myelography. All C1-2 punctures should be monitored with lateral fluoroscopy for accurate needle positioning and prevention of contrast medium injection into the spinal cord.     

Primary retroperitoneal myxoid/round cell liposarcoma is a nonexisting disease: an immunohistochemical and molecular biological analysis

Almost all primary retroperitoneal liposarcomas can be classified as well-/dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Rarely, however, primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma is classified as myxoid/round cell liposarcoma, based on the presence of myxoid areas and vascular crow's feet pattern, which has resulted in a debate on the classification of liposarcoma in the retroperitoneum. Genetically, myxoid/round cell liposarcoma and well-/dedifferentiated liposarcoma are different diseases. Myxoid/round cell liposarcoma is characterized by a translocation causing FUS-CHOP or EWSR1-CHOP fusion, whereas well-/dedifferentiated liposarcoma is characterized by an amplification of the 12q13-15 region, including MDM2 and CDK4 genes. As myxoid/round cell liposarcoma is highly radio- and chemosensitive, differentiation between subtypes is important to optimize treatment. We studied whether primary retroperitoneal liposarcomas diagnosed as myxoid/round cell liposarcoma represent molecularly true myxoid/round cell liposarcoma or are histopathological mimics and represent well-/dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Primary retroperitoneal myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (n=16) were compared to primary extremity myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (n=20). Histopathological and immunohistochemical features were studied. Amplification status of the 12q13-15 region was studied using a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis, and FUS-CHOP or EWS-CHOP translocations were studied using RT-PCR. In primary retroperitoneal myxoid/round cell liposarcoma, MDM2 and CDK4 staining was both positive in 12 of 15 cases. In primary extremity myxoid/round cell liposarcoma, MDM2 was negative in 18/20 and CDK4 was negative in all cases. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification showed the amplification of 12q13-15 region in 16/16 primary retroperitoneal myxoid/round cell liposarcomas and in 1/20 primary extremity myxoid/round cell liposarcomas. Translocation was present in all (18/18) primary extremity myxoid/round cell liposarcomas, but absent in all primary retroperitoneal myxoid/round cell liposarcomas. On the basis of immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics, apparent primary retroperitoneal myxoid/round cell liposarcoma can be recognized as well-/dedifferentiated liposarcoma with morphological features mimicking myxoid/round cell liposarcoma. In these cases, treatment should probably be specifically designed as for well-/dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Moreover, finding of myxoid/round cell liposarcoma translocations in a retroperitoneal localization is highly suggestive of metastasis and should prompt search for a primary localization outside the retroperitoneum.     

醋酸锌对谷氨酸诱导的小鼠脑片即早基因过度表达的抑制作用

目的：探讨谷氨酸对脑组织即早基因表达的影响以及醋酸锌对谷氨酸诱导c-fos和c-jun过度表达的拮抗作用。方法：体外小鼠海马脑片培养；在培养基中加入200μmol/L的谷氨酸（或同时加入谷氨酸和醋酸锌），作用0.5,1,2,3h，然后进行RT-PCR实验，检测c-fos和c-jun的表达变化。结果：200μmol/L谷氨酸处理的脑片中，1-2h期间c-fos的表达升高，当谷氨酸与100μmol/L醋酸锌共同处理脑片时，1-3h期间c-fos表达基本恢复正常；200μmol/L谷氨酸作用下，脑片c-jun表达水平从0.5h起即明显升高，谷氨酸与醋酸锌共同作用时，可见c-jun基因在各检测时段表达基本接近正常。结论：谷氨酸可引起c-fos及c-jun的过度表达，锌离子可拮抗谷氨酸诱导的c-fos和c-jun过度表达作用，使二基因表达恢复正常。     

Ultraviolet irradiation of blood prevents transfusion-induced sensitization and marrow graft rejection in dogs

In a canine model using DLA-identical littermate pairs, we have shown that a regimen of three transfusions of donor blood given 24, 17, and 10 days before transplant uniformly leads to marrow graft rejection, presumably due to sensitization to minor (non-DLA) histocompatibility antigens. Untransfused dogs uniformly achieve sustained engraftment. In the present study, we investigated whether the exposure of blood to ultraviolet (UV) light (220-300 nm) prior to transfusion prevented sensitization of the recipient and allowed for successful marrow engraftment. Ten dogs were each given three pretransplant transfusions from the marrow donor. Each transfusion consisted of 50 mL of whole blood exposed in vitro to UV light for a total of 1.35 J/cm2. All ten dogs achieved engraftment. In contrast, all four dogs that had received sham-exposed transfusions rejected their grafts. In vitro studies revealed that although cell viability was not affected, leukocytes contained in UV-exposed blood were unable to function as stimulator cells in mixed leukocyte cultures or as accessory cells in mitogen- stimulated cultures. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that accessory cells are involved in transfusion-induced sensitization. We conclude that in vitro exposure of blood to UV light before transfusion prevents sensitization and allows for subsequent marrow engraftment.     

7-(4,7-二取代香豆素-3-乙酰氨基)头孢菌素的合成

本文根据构效关系,设计并合成了17个7-(4,7-二取代香豆素-3-乙酰氨基)头孢菌素衍生物。其缩合方法采用酰氯法、Vilsmeier试剂法及混合酐法。初步体外抑菌试验表明,化合物对革兰氏阳性菌和少数革兰氏阴性菌有较强的抗菌作用。进一步药理试验尚在进行。     

A phase I-II trial of carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in advanced carcinoma of the head and neck

Twenty-nine patients with recurrent or advanced, incurable head and neck cancer were entered into a phase I-II trial of carboplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 1,000 mg/m2/d continuous intravenous (IV) infusion for five days every 28 days. The initial dose of carboplatin was 300 mg/m2 for patients with Karnofsky performance scores greater than or equal to 70%, and 240 mg/m2 for patients with scores of 50% to 60%. Subsequent doses were modified to achieve grade 2 myelo-suppression: WBC, 2,000 to 2,999 cells/microL; granulocytes, 1,000 to 1,499 cells/microL; and platelets, 50,000 to 75,000 cells/microL. Dose levels were 180, 240, 300, 360, and 420 mg/m2. Twenty-eight patients had squamous-cell cancers and one had an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid. There were 26 patients with recurrent disease; 22 had received prior RT; only two had received other chemotherapy immediately before study entry. Three patients had newly diagnosed incurable stage IV disease. The median performance status was 80% (range, 60% to 90%). All patients had objectively measurable disease, and 28 were evaluable for response. There were three complete responses (CRs) and ten partial responses (PRs) (48% CR and PR); the median duration of response was 4.7 months (range, 1.5 to 15+ months). Dose-limiting toxicities were granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and stomatitis. Prolonged myelosuppression delayed retreatment in eight patients and delayed 19 of 107 (18%) courses. Stomatitis occurred in 61% and diarrhea in 29%. 5-FU dosage was decreased in ten patients (36%) for grade 2 or greater stomatitis or diarrhea. Mild to moderate nausea and vomiting occurred in 66% of patient trials in which no pretreatment antiemetics were administered. Other toxicities included phlebitis from 5-FU in 71%, skin toxicity in 11%, mild alopecia in 25%, and fatigue in 54% of patients. Nephrotoxicity (creatinine greater than 2.0 mg/dL) occurred in one patient. The dose of carboplatin resulting in grade 2 toxicity was 180 mg/m2 in one patient, 240 mg/m2 in one, 300 mg/m2 in seven, 360 mg/m2 in ten, and 420 mg/m2 in one. Based on these results, we recommend a starting dose of carboplatin, 300 mg/m2, in combination with five days of continuous infusion 5-FU. In this dose and schedule, this combination was well tolerated and demonstrated antitumor activity in head and neck cancer. To confirm these promising results, a Southwest Oncology Group prospective randomized trial is in progress comparing carboplatin and 5-FU, cisplatin and 5-FU, and standard-dose weekly methotrexate in recurrent-disease patients.     

Theoretical and methodological considerations in the measurement of spasticity

Purpose: To discuss the measurement of spasticity in the clinical and research environments, make recommendations based on the SPASM reviews of biomechanical, neurophysiological and clinical methods of measuring spasticity and indicate future developments of measurement tools. Method: Using the results of the systematic reviews of the biomechanical, neurophysiological and clinical approaches, methods were evaluated across three dimensions: (1) validity, reliability and sensitivity to change; (2) practical quality such as ease of use and (3) qualities specific to the measurement of spasticity, for example ability to be applied to different muscle groups. Methods were considered in terms of applicability to research and clinical applications. Results: A hierarchy of measurement approaches was identified from highly controlled and more objective (but unrelated to function) to ecologically valid, but less objective and subject to contamination from other variables. The lack of a precise definition of spasticity may account for the problem of developing a valid, reliable and sensitive method of measurement. The reviews have identified that some tests measure spasticity per se, some phenomena associated with spasticity or consequential to it and others the effect of spasticity on activity and participation and independence. Conclusions: Methods appropriate for use in research, particularly into the mechanism of spasticity did not satisfy the needs of the clinician and the need for an objective but clinically applicable tool was identified. A clinical assessment may need to generate more than one 'value' and should include evaluation of other components of the upper motor neurone syndrome. There is therefore a need for standardized protocols for 'best practice' in application of spasticity measurement tools and scales.