A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device

Introduction  

This paper presents the results of a study on the psychometric properties of an authorized Spanish version of the McMaster Family Assessment Device, a self-report measure of family functioning.     

The genetic and epigenetic basis of ependymoma

Introduction  

Although ependymoma is the third most common pediatric brain tumor, we know little about the genetic/epigenetic basis of its initiation, maintenance, or progression. This is due in part to the heterogeneity of the disease, as well as the small sample size of the cohorts analyzed in most studies.     

Abnormal fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in benign esophageal leiomyoma

A benign esophageal leiomyoma with abnormally increased fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) was resected thoracoscopically. The tumor, of which the maximum standardized uptake value of the lesion was 4.7, was well defined and 38 mm in diameter. Neither mitotic activity nor degeneration was found histologically; and immunoreactivity for CD34, CD117, MIB-1, and glucose transporter-1 was negative immunohistochemically. A diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor was ruled out by an oncogenic kinase gene mutation study. This case cautions against PET-dependent evaluation for malignant potential of esophageal submucosal tumors.     

Preoperative Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastases: Impact on Hepatic Histology and Postoperative Outcome

Some investigators have suggested that preoperative chemotherapy for hepatic colorectal metastases may cause hepatic injury and increase perioperative morbidity and mortality. The objective of the current study was to examine whether treatment with preoperative chemotherapy was associated with hepatic injury of the nontumorous liver and whether such injury, if present, was associated with increased morbidity or mortality after hepatic resection. Two-hundred and twelve eligible patients who underwent hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases between January 1999 and December 2005 were identified. Data on demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, and preoperative chemotherapy details were collected and analyzed. The majority of patients received preoperative chemotherapy (n = 153; 72.2%). Chemotherapy consisted of fluoropyrimidine-based regimens: 5-FU monotherapy, 31.6%; irinotecan, 25.9%; and oxaliplatin, 14.6%. Among those patients who received chemotherapy, the type of chemotherapy regimen predicted distinct patterns of liver injury. Oxaliplatin was associated with increased likelihood of grade 3 sinusoidal dilatation (p = 0.017). Steatosis >30% was associated with irinotecan (27.3%) compared with no chemotherapy, 5-FU monotherapy, and oxaliplatin (all p < 0.05). Irinotecan also was associated with steatohepatitis, as two of the three patients with steatohepatitis had received irinotecan preoperatively. Overall, the perioperative complication rate was similar between the no-chemotherapy group (30.5%) and the chemotherapy group (35.3%) (p = 0.79). Preoperative chemotherapy was also not associated with 60-day mortality. In patients with hepatic colorectal metastases, preoperative chemotherapy is associated with hepatic injury in about 20 to 30% of patients. Furthermore, the type of hepatic injury after preoperative chemotherapy was regimen-specific. Presented at the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association 2006 Annual Meeting, March 11, Miami, Florida.     

他莫昔芬与γ-干扰素联合抗人乳腺癌细胞株的作用及其机制研究

目的: 探讨他莫昔芬(TAM)与 γ-干扰素(γ-IFN)联合抗乳腺癌细胞株的作用及其机制。方法:在体外培养条件下，分别或联合应用γ-IFN,TAM或雌二醇（E2）作用于ER阳性的MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞株，用MTT比色法分析细胞生长抑制作用;用流式细胞仪（FCM）检测细胞周期分布、凋亡率及用药前后Bcl-2,Bax,Fas,FasL及Caspase-8蛋白的变化;荧光分光光度仪检测Caspase-3活性。结果:TAM能抑制ER阳性乳腺癌细胞的生长，阻滞细胞周期于G0/G1期，并可诱导细胞凋亡;同时，TAM能拮抗外源性雌激素对MCF-7细胞的促生长作用。γ-IFN预处理细胞24h后，TAM抗乳腺癌细胞的作用增强。联用γ-IFN与TAM后，细胞Bcl-2蛋白表达下调，Caspase-8表达上调;但药物处理前后，细胞Bax，Fas，FasL蛋白表达水平及Caspase-3活性未见明显变化。结论:体外条件下，TAM通过影响细胞周期、诱导细胞凋亡而发挥抗ER阳性乳腺癌细胞作用;γ-IFN能加强TAM的抗乳腺癌作用。两者作用机制可能系通过下调Bcl-2表达和上调Caspase-8的表达。