In-vitro characterization of dihydrotestosterone-induced, epidermal growth factor-induced and basic fibroblastic growth factor-induced modifications in the growth dynamics of the human prostate-cancer cell-line lncap, du145 and pc3

The influence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the epithelial growth factor (EGF) and the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was investigated on LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 cell growth, which represents the ratio between cell gain (cell proliferation) and cell loss (cell death). In the present study, cell growth was assessed by means of the computer-assisted microscope analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei combined with the mathematical Delaunay triangulation and Voronoi paving techniques, which enabled the cell colony patterns, i.e. their density and level of organisation, to be determined. The results from a previous study (Janssen et al, Prostate, in press) combined with those of the present one show that DHT was found to activate proliferation of the LNCaP model, as evidenced by increase in size of colonies, increase in number of cells within colonies, increase in cell colony density and, accordingly, decrease in mean segment length value (which is the distance between adjacent cell nuclei). Using the same criteria, DHT was found inhibitory on growth of DU145 cell line, and devoid of significant effect on PC3 cell line. Basic FGF was found to be a powerful stimulator of growth of PC3 cell Line and to induce a weaker stimulation of DU145 cell line. On LNCaP cell line, it increased the size of colonies without increase of the number of cells per colony. This feature can be explained by a decrease in cell colony density. With respect to the same colonies, the proliferation index (percentage of cells in the S+G2 phases of the cell cycle) was found similar to that of the controls. This suggests that the increase in the size of the colonies is due to a difference of spreading of the cells on their supports. EGF had no significant effect on LNCaP and PC3 models, and was decreasing cell density of DU145 colonies.     

Clinical, laboratorial, and therapeutic aspects of 46 children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Forty-six children with Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura were studied.Their clinical manifestations included palpable purpura in 100%, subcutaneous edema in 30%, arthritis/arthralgia in 78%, gastrointestinal involvement in 56% and renal abnormalities in 30%. Serum IgA was elevated in 12%, ASLO titers in 27% and microscopic hematuria and proteinuria were detected in 30% of the children, including two with nephrotic syndrome. Treatment with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs or corticosteroid was indicated in 43% of the children. Recurrence of the disease was observed in 22% and the prognosis seems to be related to severity of renal involvement.     

Evaluation of delta-aminolaevulinic acid excretion in random urine samples of children

Urinary delta-aminolaevulinic acid (-ALA) excretion was evaluated in random urine samples of 191 healthy children, aged 2–14 years, with blood lead levels <0.8 mol/l (mean ± SD: 0.34±0.13), erythrocyte zinc-protoporphyrin <70 mol/mol haem (mean ± SD: 50.4±8.0) and blood haemoglobin >6.8 mmol/l (mean ± SD: 8.2±0.5). It was found that uncorrected -ALA concentration and -ALA/creatinine ratio are age-dependent, whereas the ratio of -ALA/logarithm of creatinine concentration (mean ± SD: 55.3±13.5 mol/log mmol) is independent of age and sex. The authors recommend the use of this parameter for the assessment of -ALA excretion in random urine samples in children     

Hairy cell leukemia: authors' own experience (1977-1998)]

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare, clinically and haematologically well characterised entity. The prognosis of patients with hairy cell leukaemia has significantly improved due to the new therapeutic approaches. Development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, together with the analysis of their own hairy cell leukaemia patients, is reviewed by the authors. Between 1977 and 1998 twenty five patients (16 male, 9 female) were treated. The malignant cells were usually analysed by morphological and cytochemical methods and recently flow cytometric analysis could be performed in eight patients. Splenectomy with lethal outcome in six patients was performed in 21 cases. Approximately one third of patients received interferon, while 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine was given only to three patients. Favourable experiences obtained by splenectomy and efficacy of interferon treatment are emphasised, but according to the literature and their own results administration of purine analogues can be highly recommended in the future.     

Adult onset Still disease: comment on two cases

The adult onset Still disease is a systemic disease of an unknown etiology. As a separate entity, it was described firstly in 1971. The diagnosis is problematic and based upon special criteria. In this study, we present the cases of two patients with adult onset Still's disease, causing several serious differential-diagnostic problems. In the beginning of the disease a high, remittent-intermittent fever was present which reacted well to salycilates. Almost simultaneously, a characteristic, confluent, no itching rash appeared on the trunk and limbs. Pain of little joints of the hands was an early symptom of the disease in both of the cases. Before the final diagnosis, the possibility of any infectious diseases, haematologic malignancies or other autoimmune disease had to be excluded. The aim of this work was to show an overall, up-to-date picture of the disease based on two typical cases.     

The value of Asamura-Naruke type main bronchus stump closure and pleuro-pericardial flap covering by own method to avoid broncho-pleural fistula (BPF).

1. Authors present an "old-new" main bronchus closure procedure, which combines the Sweet's and Overholt's methods, recommended by Asamura-Naruke. 2. The A-N procedure decreased the prevalence of BPF from 2.8% to 0.09% in case of thoracotomy and from 9.5% to 2.4% in case of pneumonectomy compared 2 different stump-closing types. 3. There was not BPF in the "covered subgroup" (0%/92 PN) recommended by us, independent of the closing types. 4. All bronchial stumps closed like A-N and covered by our method (0% BPF/62 PN) healed.     

Laparoscopic wedge resection of the gastric wall for gastric benign tumour. The collaboration of the laparoscopic surgeon and the endoscopist

INTRODUCTION: By the introduction of the laparoscopy for the management of gastric pathology many techniques are applied by now. In these techniques the collaboration of the endoscopist and the laparoscopic surgeon is mandatory. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To emphasise the necessity of the collaboration of the endoscopist and the laparoscopic surgeon for the management of the gastric pathology using the double lifting and wedge resection technique. METHOD: A case of a female with 2 x 2.5 cm submucosal tumour is presented. The tumour was located in the antrum. After the onset of the general anaesthesia the gastroscope was introduced to locate the position of the tumour, the free edges of the tumour were elevated by a double lifting method and the tumour was resected by a laparoscopic linear stapler. The process of the proper resection was all through observed and directed by the view of the gastroscope. CONCLUSION: Correct wedge resection of the gastric wall can be safely performed, if the correct gastroscopic control is present. The collaboration of the endoscopist and the laparoscopic surgeon seems to be mandatory, thus avoiding the hazards arising from the use of tattooing.     

Synthesis and reactivity of debenzorutaecarpine derivatives]

A series of 7,12-dihydropyrimido[1',2';1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indol-4(6H)-ones was prepared by Fischer indolization of 9-arylhydrazono-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one s. Quantumchemical calculations (ab initio and AM1) indicate that position 3 of 7,12-dihydro-pyrimido[1',2';1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indol-4(6H)-one can be involved in electrophilic substitutions, while position 2 is sensitive towards nucleophilic attack. Bromination of 6-methyl-7,12-dihydropyrimido[1',2';1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indol-4(6H)-o ne (16) with bromine afforded 3-bromo derivative (25), which was reacted with cyclic amines to give 2-amino-7,12-dihydro-pyrimido[1',2';1,2]pyrido[3,4-b]indol-4(6H)-ones (26-30) in an addition-elimination reaction. Vielsmeier-Haack formylation of compound (16) give 12-formyl (31) and 3,12-diformyl (32) derivatives (an N-formyl-1-aza derivative of nauclefidine alkaloid (34) at 60 degrees C and 100 degrees C, respectively. 3,12-dformyl compound (32) was oxidized to 3-carboxyl derivative (33). The quaternary salt (35), obtained from compound (16) with dimethyl sulphate, suffered a ring opening on the action of aqueous sodium hydroxide. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses uv, 1H nmr and in some cases by 13C ruler, CD spectra and X-ray investigations.     

The characterization of biological features in dedifferentiated liposarcomas by means of principal components and discriminant analyses of 25 computer-generated variables from Feulgen-stained nuclei and histological slides

Several groups of lipomatous tumors are not yet clearly characterized on the biological level. In order to attempt to classify the dedifferentiated liposarcomas with respect to other types of malignant liposarcomas, 80 adipose tumors were submitted to the combination of two computer-assisted methodologies. These two methodologies consisted of i) the determination of 25 variables, and ii) the analysis of the diagnostic information contributed by these 25 variables by means of two complementary techniques, i.e. principal components and discriminant analyses. The 25 variables were computed by means of image cytometry on Feulgen-stained nuclei and histological slides, quantitatively describing distinct biological characteristics relating to morphonuclear (chromatin pattern) features (14 variables), nuclear DNA content distribution (9 variables), and tissue architecture pattern (2 variables). The 80 adipose tumors included 21 typical lipomas, 7 atypical lipomas (defined as extremity adipose tumors with a histopathological pattern of well-differentiated liposarcomas), 16 retroperitoneal and 5 non-retroperitoneal abdominal well-differentiated liposarcomas, 9 dedifferentiated liposarcomas, 8 myxoid (intermediate-grade tumor) and 14 pleomorphic (high-grade tumor) liposarcomas. The data strongly suggest that the dedifferentiated liposarcomas exhibit biological characteristics which are distinct from those of low- and high-grade liposarcomas, but similar to those of intermediate ones. The results also show that typical and atypical lipomas are two distinct biological entities. In contrast, the atypical lipomas and the well-differentiated retroperitoneal and non-retroperitoneal liposarcomas exhibited a high number of similar biological characteristics. Computer-assisted methods contribute valuable information to characterize lipomatous tumor biology.