Antiproliferative effects of natural interferon beta alone and in combination with natural interferon gamma on human breast carcinomas in nude mice

Summary Nude mice bearing bilateral xenografts of human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7 and BT20) were treated with 2 or 4 5-day cycles of intralesional (i.l.) injections of human natural interferon beta (nIFN-) alone or in combination with human natural interferon gamma (nIFN-). The injections were administered to only 1 of the 2 tumors in each animal, thus making it possible to assess at the same time local therapeutic effects in the injected tumors and systemic effects in the contralateral ones. When n-IFN- was used as a single agent only mild local antitumor effects and virtually no systemic effects were observed. In contrast, the combined administration of nIFN-/nIFN- produced marked antiproliferative effects, presumably as a result of the synergistic action of type I and type II IFNs. These effects ranged from complete regression documented histologically in 2 MCF-7 tumors to varying degrees of growth inhibition with persistence of residual microscopic or grossly detectable tumor. Local effects were more pronounced than systemic effects. The therapeutic efficacy of nIFN- proved to be greater than that of recombinant interferon beta (rIFN-). In MCF-7 tumors nIFN- appeared to be less effective than nIFN-, whereas the opposite was true for BT 20 tumors.     

Contraception within six-month postpartum in rural Vietnam: Implications on family planning and maternity services

Objectives?This longitudinal study documents contraception practice and factors influencing contraception decision within the first six months postpartum, amongst women residing in the rural Northern Central region of Vietnam.

Methods?A sample of 463 rural women who gave birth during August-October 2002 were recruited and interviewed at one, 16 and 24 weeks postpartum.

Results?The proportion of contraceptive users at weeks 16 and 24 were 17% and 43% respectively. At week 24, of contraceptive users, 57% used IUD, 25% used condom, and 14% used traditional methods. Logistic regression analysis found age, sufficient knowledge on contraceptives and husband/partner opinion can significantly affect the contraception decision.

Conclusions?In order to improve the situation, health authorities should be encouraged to provide counselling on postpartum contraceptive methods during ante- and postnatal care visits. Health education on family planning and breastfeeding should also involve the husband/partner group taking into account local socio-cultural features.     

Defining meaningful outcomes after decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury: existing challenges and future targets

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of increased intra-cranial pressure following severe traumatic brain injury comprises a combination of sequential medical and surgical interventions. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a cautiously recommended surgical option that has been shown to reduce intracranial pressure. Considerable variability in the timing and frequency of using DC across neurosurgical centres reflects, in part, the lack of clarity regarding long-term outcomes. The majority of previous work reporting outcomes among individuals who have received DC following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has focused predominantly on gross physical outcomes, to the relative exclusion of more subtle functional, social and psychological factors. AIM: This paper reviews the methodological aspects of previous studies that have reported outcomes following DC and provides recommendations to guide the future assessment of recovery to enable meaningful conclusions to be drawn from the literature describing outcomes after DC following severe TBI.     

Clinical involvement in daughters of men with fragile X‐associated tremor ataxia syndrome

Chonchaiya W, Nguyen DV, Au J, Campos L, Berry‐Kravis EM, Lohse K, Mu Y, Utari A, Hervey C, Wang L, Sorensen P, Cook K, Gane L, Tassone F, Hagerman RJ. Clinical involvement in daughters of men with fragile X‐associated tremor ataxia syndrome. Women with the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) premutation often have concerns about neurological and medical problems, as they become older and if their fathers experience fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). We therefore determined the prevalence of these problems in 110 daughters of men with FXTAS [mean age of 44.8 years (SD 8.2)]. We compared them with 43 female controls with normal FMR1 alleles [mean age of 43.8 years (SD 8.1)] and 36 premutation carrier daughters of parents with the premutation, but without FXTAS [mean age of 43.5 years (SD 7.7)]. Overall, daughters of men with FXTAS have a higher prevalence of neurological symptoms including tremor, balance problems, memory problems, and dizziness, menopausal symptoms, and psychiatric involvement including sleep problems and anxiety when compared with non‐carrier female controls. Reported balance problems and menopausal symptoms were significantly higher in daughters of men with FXTAS than in carrier daughters of parents without FXTAS, suggesting the potential influence of background gene effects. Therefore, neurological, psychological and gynecological surveillance should be warranted to better provide appropriate counseling, management and care for daughters of men with FXTAS. Biological markers of additional gene effects that predispose individuals with the premutation to FXTAS need to be developed.     

Endovascular repair of an aortoenteric fistula in a high-risk patient.

PURPOSE: To describe the endovascular repair of an aortoenteric fistula in a high-risk patient. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Vanguard tube stent-graft was deployed at the upper anastomotic suture line of a secondary aortoenteric fistula, successfully sealing the communication between the aorta and the third part of the duodenum without occlusion of the renal arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular stent-graft repair of aortoenteric fistulae is possible, but further evaluation of this technique will determine its role in the management of this complication.