Optimizing Suicide Gene Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

An effective “suicide gene” therapy strategy in experimental studies has been the use of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene(HSV-tk) to sensitize tumors to the cytotoxic effects of ganciclovir administration. Previous studies using this model have focused on utilizing maximal viral titers and high levels of ganciclovir that are not compatible with human dosing. Because of the high ganciclovir doses and the maximal viral titers, this strategy has limited application to actual clinical scenarios. In the following studies the authors investigate tumor regression in an oral squamous cell carcinoma animal model as a function of variable adenoviral titers and more physiologic ganciclovir dosing. Using adenoviral titers ranging from 1 × 10⁸ to 2 × 10⁹ plaque forming units(pfu) to treat oral tumors, they found no statistical difference in tumor regression among the different viral doses, despite differences in mitotic activity. Each treatment group, however, demonstrated a significant effect on tumor regression when compared with controls. Furthermore, the authors were able to reduce the level of ganciclovir administration to 10 mg/kg twice daily from established levels of 100 to 150 mg/kg twice daily while maintaining significant tumor responses to the HSV-tk therapy. Mean survival of animals treated with this lower ganciclovir dose was significantly higher than in controls and was equal to established means based on previous studies using higher ganciclovir doses. The optimization of this suicide gene therapy strategy is imperative in order to minimize theoretical and known viral and ganciclovir toxicities while establishing a foundation upon which to design appropriate and effective clinical trials.     

Gangliosides in neurological pharmacotherapy.]

Gangliosides take part in synaptic transmission, neuronal metabolism and development of nervous tissue. They cooperate with nerve growth factor (NGF) and have positive influence on regeneration of the nervous system impairments. There exist many behavioural and biochemical evidences of gangliosides participation in the regeneration of experimentally injured animal nervous system. The therapeutic effectivity of gangliosides in clinical practice is encouraging. Commercial preparates of gangliosides (Cronassial, Sygen) have been successfully used in the therapy of chronic neuropathies, strokes and subarachnoidal haemorrhages. Among the adverse reactions to these drugs are: local irritation, anxiety and possible detrimental effect in immunological system. Ganglioside preparations need further clinical examinations.     

失血性休克复苏及监测指标研究进展

创伤、失血性休克是一古老的临床研究课题。不仅在平时常见，更重要的是与战伤救治密切相关。尽管近10年来取得了一些进展，但复苏时机、复苏目标、液体种类的选择、复苏后继续生命支持以及监测技术等仍是临床以及研究人员面临的重大挑战。本文将就近年来有关上述问题的最新研究进展进行分析和讨论，以期提高对该复杂综合征的认识，为今后的研究提供帮助。     

Auranofin modulates gelatinase release from rat neutrophils

We have examined the effects of auranofin and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on the release of gelatinase from rat neutrophils. Two preparations of neutrophils were used, one derived from normal blood and the other from the inflamed pleural fluids of carrageenin-elicited pleurisy. Both neutrophil preparations released gelatinase in response to stimulation by serum-treated zymosan (STZ) or concanavalin A (Con A). Control, blood-derived neutrophils exposed to STZ produced more than a four-fold increase in the release of gelatinase, a response significantly inhibited by the presence of auranofin at 10(-5) and 10(-4) M. Inflamed, pleural neutrophils exposed to STZ produced a doubling in gelatinase release and this was also inhibited by auranofin at 10(-5) and 10(-4) M. The release of gelatinase by control neutrophils (no stimulation) or by neutrophils exposed to Con A was enhanced by 10(-6) M auranofin. In contrast, the NSAIDs aspirin, piroxicam, sulindac, indomethacin and naproxen had no inhibitory action on neutrophil gelatinase release. We conclude that auranofin is an effective inhibitor of gelatinase release from neutrophils and this property may represent a contributory factor assigned to the beneficial therapeutic action of gold salts.     

甲状腺手术205例分析

对205例甲状腺手术进行分析,其发病情况与资料报道基本相符。各种并发症的发生率未超过1%,无手术死亡,术后无甲状腺危象发生,与60年代以前相比已大为降低。     

Pregnancy: Oral misoprostol versus placebo for cervical dilatation before vacuum aspiration in first trimester pregnancy

Intravaginal misoprostol has been shown to be effective forcervical priming before a surgically induced abortion. The objectivewas to investigate the effectiveness of oral misoprostol incervical dilatation prior to vacuum aspiration between the 6thand 12th weeks of pregnancy. The results showed that in nulliparouspatients, the median cervical dilatation in the treatment group(7.8 mm) was significantly greater than that in the placebogroup (3.7 mm). In multiparous patients, the difference wasalso statistically significant (9.8 versus 6.0 mm). The easeof dilatation, assessed subjectively by the operating surgeons,was significantly improved in the treatment group. There wasalso a significant reduction in the duration of the operationand in the mean blood loss in the treatment group. The side-effectsencountered in the treatment group were mild and well acceptedby the women. Oral misoprostol is an effective and safe methodfor cervical dilatation prior to vacuum aspiration in firsttrimester pregnancy.