Long-term survival after vinblastine, bleomycin, and cisplatin treatment in patients with germ cell tumors of the ovary: An update

Thirteen patients with a malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary have been treated with a combination of vinblastine, bleomycin, and cisplatin (VBP). In 12 patients a complete remission was reached, which was maintained in 10 of these patients. One patient with large tumor residues and a partial remission became CR after surgery. The tumor recurred in 2 patients after 6 and 27 months. Overall, 11 of these patients are in long-term remission, from 14 to 84 months after the start of treatment. VBP is an effective treatment for malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, even in patients with large tumor residuals.     

The influence of lycopene on the proliferation of human breast cell line (MCF-7).

Lycopene, a non-provitaminic carotenoid, present in many fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes and their processed products, has been associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases including cancer. The influence of lycopene on the proliferation of the breast tumour cell line (MCF-7) was tested using MTT and BrdU assays at different time intervals (from 24 to 72h) and dose-response (from 0.125 to 100muM). The induction of Gap Junction Intercellular Communication (GJIC) was evaluated by dye-transfer assay using Lucifer Yellow on monolayer cells treated with different lycopene concentrations (from 0.125 to 5muM) for 6 to 48h. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of lycopene was of 5muM, after a 24h exposure. A prolonged exposure time (72h) induced a similar inhibitory effect. Lycopene stimulated the functionality of GJIC at concentrations of 1muM after 24h and this effect was dose-dependent. The induction of GJIC by lycopene was confirmed by an increased expression of connexin 43. Collectively, the above data confirm the inhibitor effects of lycopene on MCF-7 cell growth and suggest that lycopene is involved in the modulation of the gap junction intercellular communication in this cell line, as observed for other cancer cell lines.     

Predictors of oral health quality of life in older adults

There is limited information regarding oral health status and other predictors of oral health‐related quality of life. An association between oral health status and perceived oral health‐related quality of life (OHQOL) might help clinicians motivate patients to prevent oral diseases and improve the outcome of some dental public health programs. This study evaluated the relationship between older persons' OHQOL and their functional dentition, caries, periodontal status, chronic diseases, and some demographic characteristics. A group of 733 low‐income elders (mean age 72.7 ISD=4.71, 55.6% women, 55.1% members of ethnic minority groups in the U.S. and Canada) enrolled in the TEETH clinical trial were interviewed and examined as part of their fifth annual visit for the trial. OHQOL was measured by the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI); oral health and occlusal status by clinical exams and the Eichner Index; and demographics via interviews. Elders who completed the four‐year assessment had an average of 21.5 teeth (SD=6.9). with 8.5 occluding pairs (SD=4.6), and 32% with occlusal contacts in all four occluding zones. Stepwise multiple regressions were conducted to predict total GOHAI and its subscores (Physical, Social, and Worry). Functional dentition was a less significant predictor than ethnicity and being foreign‐bom. These variables, together with gender, years since immigrating, number of carious roots, and periodontal status, could predict 32% of the variance in total GOHAI, 24% in Physical, 27% in Social, and 21 % in the Worry subscales. These findings suggest that functional dentition and caries influence older adults' OHQOL, but that ethnicity and immigrant status play a larger role.     

The impact of the interaction between increasing gestational age and obstetrical risk on birth outcomes: evidence of a varying optimal time of delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the gestational age ranges that result in optimal birth outcomes for each of four risk-defined groups. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of singleton late third-trimester deliveries at a large urban teaching hospital between July 1995 and September 2003. Low-risk, advanced maternal age, hypertensive and diabetic patients were identified and grouped. Rates, by day of gestation at delivery, of cesarean delivery, major maternal perineal trauma, low 5-min APGAR score and NICU admission were determined for each study group. RESULTS: Each study group had meaningful changes in rates of obstetric outcomes as a function of gestational age at delivery and these patterns differed from group to group. A unique optimal time of delivery (OTD) was estimated for each group. The low-risk group OTD was calculated to be 37 weeks 1 day to 41 weeks 0 day; the advanced maternal age group OTD was 38 weeks 5 days to 39 weeks 6 days; the hypertension group OTD was 39 weeks 2 days to 40 weeks 1 day; and the diabetes mellitus group OTD was 40 weeks 3 days to 41 weeks 1 day. CONCLUSIONS: The OTD varied based on obstetrical risk. Strategies to increase the proportion of deliveries that occur within the OTD for specific risk-defined groups could theoretically improve birth outcomes.     

Radiation therapy of benign diseases. What's new eight years after?]

The authors present an update version of the indications for radiotherapy in the management of benign diseases. This is based on available randomized trials and recent international meetings. Validated indications remain the prevention of resected heterotopic bone ossifications, kelo?ds scars and pterygium and also treatment of arteriovenous malformations; the place of radiotherapy for malignant exophtalmia is more and more restricted. Randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy of endobrachytherapy in the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty but the use of embedded stent has replaced this indication. Macular degeneration is no more an indication of radiotherapy. Quality requirements for radiotherapy are identical for benign or malignant indications.     

Small bowel transplantation in the rat: impact of various immunosuppressive regimens on graft-versus-host reaction.

The effect of ciclosporin (CS) and methotrexate (MTX) on the development of graft-versus-host (GvH) disease was examined after small bowel allotransplantation in the rat. The drugs were tested either alone or in combination. Lewis small bowel allografts were transplantated into Brown Norway recipients in a heterotopic position. The native small bowel, spleen, liver, skin, mesenteric lymph nodes and the kidney of the recipients were examined histologically 5, 10 and 20 days after allotransplantation. Intraepithelial lymphocyte numbers were determined quantitatively in the native small bowel. The relative spleen weight of the host was determined after sacrifice for estimation of the severity of GvH disease. Grade I GvH reaction of the native small bowel occurred in the animals without immunosuppression, but graft rejection predominated in this group. Treatment with CS was effective in the early postoperative periods; after 10 and 20 days GvH lesions in the native small bowel were comparable to those observed in the allogeneic combinations. MTX had a detrimental effect on the allografts and the GvH reaction was augmented. When CS and MTX were combined, GvH lesions were comparable to those in the animals treated solely with CS. Animals, however, suffered from heavy side effects. The spleen, liver, lymph nodes and kidney exhibited only unspecific histologic changes, which could not unequivocally be recognized as a GvH reaction. This was true for all groups. As a conclusion it can be said that GvH reaction occurs in the early postoperative period in a fully allogeneic model and cannot be prevented by CS in the dosae used. MTX was not seen to be of any value in this regard.     

Long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists: a new perspective in the treatment of asthma.

New long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists, formoterol and salmeterol, may soon appear in several European countries for treatment of asthma. This review examines currently available information and compares the basic pharmacology and describes the clinical effects of these new drugs. The long duration of bronchodilation seen in clinical studies seems to be similar, whereas in isolated tissues there might be a difference in the binding characteristics to the beta 2-adrenoceptor. Long-acting beta 2-agonists could have an inhibitory effect on inflammatory events related to asthma, but the clinical relevance of these effects is not clear at present. Long-term studies up to one year with both new drugs have not shown any unexpected side-effects, and no tachyphylaxis to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation has been reported. Patients appear to strongly prefer the new drugs compared to the short-acting beta 2-agonists. The potential place for these drugs in the treatment of asthma is discussed and some pitfalls pointed out. It is likely that the long-acting beta 2-agonists will be beneficial to many asthmatic patients.     

Analysis of an experimental cortical network: II). Connections of visual areas 17 and 18 after neonatal injections of ibotenic acid.

Lesions of cortical areas 17 and 18 were produced in newborn kittens by local injections of the excitotoxin ibotenic acid. In the adult this results in a microcortex which consists of superficial layers I, II and III, in the absence of granular and infragranular layers. Horseradish peroxidase, alone or wheat germ agglutinin conjugated, was injected in the microcortex or in the contralateral, intact areas 17 and 18. The microcortex maintains several connections characteristic of normal areas 17 and 18 of the cat. It receives afferents from the dLGN, and several visual areas of the ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere. However, it has lost its projections to dLGN, superior colliculus, and, at least in part, those to contralateral visual areas. Thus some parts of the microcortex receive from, but do not project into, the corpus callosum. In addition, the microcortex maintains afferents from ipsilateral and contralateral auditory areas AI and AII which are normally eliminated in development.