Indium-111-labelled donor-lymphocyte infusion by way of hepatic artery and radio-frequency ablation against liver metastases of renal and colon carcinoma after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: In patients with metastatic solid cancer, antitumor effects occur after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT). However, this treatment is not as effective in the liver as against pulmonary and lymph-node metastases. To intensify the effect of donor-lymphocyte infusions (DLI) against liver metastases, intra-arterial (IA) cell injection by way of the hepatic artery (HA) can be used. METHODS: To trace infused cells, three patients with colorectal, three with renal, and one with breast carcinoma were treated with Indium-111 (111-In)-oxinate-labeled lymphocytes. Four patients received the DLI IA, all after radio-frequency ablation (RFA) of liver metastases. Three patients with other metastases received 111-In DLI intravenously (IV). One of them had RFA before SCT. RESULTS: Localization of the IA 111-In DLI activity on scintigrams homed to the liver. After IA injection, the liver to sternum ratio of radioactivity was higher compared with IV injection. Cells (CD3+, 19+, and 56+) of donor origin in biopsies of liver metastasis in two patients treated with IA injection increased to 80% to 100%. Two of four patients treated using the IA DLI showed stable size and number of liver metastases for 5 and 21 months, respectively. Both are alive 18 and 34 months after SCT. Two of three patients receiving DLI IV are doing well, with a stable metastatic disease or still without metastases 21 and 20 months after cell infusions (26 and 34 months after SCT), respectively. Three patients died because of progressive disease. CONCLUSION: When infused by way of the HA, 111-In-labeled lymphocytes home to the liver and its metastases. The liver metastasis infiltrating cells of donor origin increased. DLI by way of the HA combined with RFA may be used to treat liver metastases after SCT.     

The role of microvascular injury on steroid and OKT3 response in renal allograft rejection

BACKGROUND: The authors' aim is to understand the influence of human leukocyte antigen-DR positive microvascular (MV)-DR destruction on steroid and OKT3 response in acute rejection (AR). METHODS: Twenty of 40 patients had steroid-resistant AR (group 1) and received OKT3 treatment, and the other 20 patients had AR that responded to steroid treatment (group 2). A renal biopsy specimen was obtained from each subject during the AR episode. The degree of MV-DR destruction and the peritubular capillary (PTC) leukocyte infiltration were recorded in each case, using three-tiered scales. The follow-up biopsy specimens of all cases were evaluated for the development of interstitial fibrosis (IF). RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of the cases with severe MV destruction and 45% of those with moderate MV destruction did not show response to steroid therapy, whereas 74% of the cases with mild MV destruction responded to steroid therapy. Group 1 patients showed higher frequencies of vascular rejection (80%) and high-grade PTC leukocyte infiltration (85%) than the group 2 cases (P<0.01 for both). Seventy percent of the patients in group 1 responded to OKT3 therapy. The biopsy specimens from the six individuals who were resistant to OKT3 had shown severe MV destruction, vascular rejection, and high-grade PTC leukocyte infiltration. Severity of MV destruction in the initial AR diagnostic biopsy was positively correlated with development of diffuse IF and chronic allograft nephropathy in the follow-up biopsy specimens (P<0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of MV destruction may be helpful for diagnosing rejection and predicting graft prognosis. This type of assessment may be useful for determining the immune response and thus identifying the most appropriate treatment.     

Brucellar spine infection--four case reports

Brucellosis can be difficult to diagnose because of the nonspecific and variable clinical picture. This systemic disease is still an important public health problem in the Mediterranean Basin. These four cases of brucellar spine infection originated from rural areas around Aydin, Turkey. The systemic complaints of fever, profuse sweating, malaise, polyarthromyalgia, and weight loss indicated the final diagnosis of brucellosis and presumptive diagnoses were made based on agglutination testing for brucellosis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging indicated signs of bone infection and soft tissue involvement. Good outcomes were obtained with prolonged treatment with antibrucellar drugs including streptomycin, rifampicin, and tetracycline. Early diagnosis is important and prompt antibrucellar chemotherapy is effective in most cases, but prolonged follow up is necessary in all patients with spinal brucellosis.     

Combined approach for far-lateral lumbar disc herniation

This study evaluated the combination of the classical interlaminar approach and the intertransverse route through a midline approach for the treatment of 18 patients with far-lateral lumbar disc herniations, as identified by magnetic resonance imaging. The patients presented with acute severe sciatica, antalgic posture, positive Lasègue sign and femoral stretch test, motor and sensory deficits, and reflex loss findings. Discectomy of all 18 patients was performed by the combined approach. Neurological outcome of all patients was excellent in the follow-up period, ranging from 5 to 8 years. This combined midline approach permits complete evacuation of the involved disc level and treatment of additional bone resection procedures. Therefore, we advocate this approach in far-lateral lumbar disc herniation cases.     

Morphometry of the anterior third ventricle region as a guide for the transcallosal-interforniceal approach

The transcallosal-interforniceal approach is the most appropriate approach to localize and totally remove space-occupying lesions around the anterior third ventricle region such as craniopharyngiomas and gliomas. This study examined the microsurgical anatomy of the normal anterior third ventricle region in 81 adult cadaver hemispheres. The central sulcus was identified and surface landmarks determined as the points 5 cm (P5) and 7 cm anterior to the central sulcus (P7). The distances between P5 and P7 and the upper margin of the interventricular foramen, which delineate the surgical corridor chosen to avoid disturbance of important neural structures, were 46.26-60.96 (54.09 +/- 3.35) mm and 48.00-62.00 (54.94 +/- 3.09) mm, respectively. The distances between the upper margin of the hemisphere and the cingulate sulcus, especially important for avoiding damage to the cingulate gyrus and other mesiolimbic structures, were 13.54-30.00 (21.28 +/- 3.89) mm and 12.22-29.52 (21.12 +/- 3.90) mm at the level of P5 and P7. The distances between the upper margin of the hemisphere and the callosal cistern containing the pericallosal artery were 28.34-40.50 (33.94 +/- 2.84) mm and 28.16-40.26 (33.50 +/- 2.61) mm, respectively. Normative morphometric data of the structures involved in the surgical procedure are necessary for planning and performance of the transcallosal-interforniceal approaches. This study of a large series of specimens shows that these measurements have large individual variations.     

Alternative energy sources for surgical atrial ablation

As less complex modifications of the Maze procedure have been developed, a number of energy sources have been introduced to facilitate the creation of electrically isolating lesions within the atria. These include cryoablation, radiofrequency, microwave, laser, and focused ultrasound. Although each of these sources works slightly differently, the goal of all thermal sources is to heat tissue to a temperature (50 degrees C) above which irreversible electrical isolation occurs. These sources have been utilized both endocardially in arrested heart procedures as well as epicardially in the beating heart setting. There are several obstacles to the use of these sources epicardially, mostly related to the heat sink effect of endocardial blood. Several recent modifications have been introduced that will hopefully increase the efficacy of these sources in beating heart applications.     

Post-transplant C-reactive protein monitoring can predict chronic allograft nephropathy

Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) is a major problem after renal transplantation and chronic inflammation can be one of its promoters. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important marker of inflammation and atherosclerosis. We retrospectively analyzed the predictive role of serum CRP levels on the development of CAN and graft failure. One hundred and twenty-five renal transplant patients were randomly included into the study. Serum CRP levels were measured at pre-transplant period, first month after transplantation and at yearly intervals throughout follow-up. CAN was diagnosed in 40.8% of patients and 82.4% of them had graft failure in 60.9 +/- 36.7 months. There was no difference at pre-transplant CRP levels of patients with and without CAN, but the first month CRP levels were higher in those who experienced CAN. The initial 3-yr mean CRP levels were higher, but not statistically different between the patients with and without CAN. The simultaneously detected CRP levels when CAN were diagnosed was significantly higher in those with CAN. High post-transplant CRP levels at the first month and at the diagnosis of CAN significantly influenced the allograft failure according to the regression analysis. CRP monitoring gives important information about the risk for CAN and graft failure. Therefore, CRP levels should be included in the follow-up data after renal transplantation.     

Renal transplantation in amyloidosis: effects of HLA matching and donor type on recurrence of primary disease

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of HLA-matching and donor type on recurrence of amyloidosis after renal transplantation. The study includes 30 patients with systemic amyloidosis who received kidney transplants between 1985 and 2001. Donor source and HLA tissue typing of the donor and recipient were evaluated in each case. Of the 30 patients, 20 developed a recurrence of amyloidosis in their allografts, as confirmed by biopsy. The time from transplantation to diagnosis of amyloidosis in the graft ranged from 18 months to 10 years. Of the 20 patients with recurrence, 18 had received their grafts from living related donors (LRDs), and 2 had received their grafts from cadaveric donors (P<0.01). There was a strong correlation between amyloidosis recurrence and degree of HLA-DR matching (P<0.05). Furthermore, in the recipients of LRD grafts, the risk of amyloidosis recurrence was much higher if the donor-recipient pair were HLA-identical than if they were not perfectly matched (P<0.01). The incidence of amyloidosis recurrence in our patients was significantly higher than the rates reported for other series. Most of the cases in previous reports involved cadaveric grafts. The higher rate of amyloidosis recurrence in our patients may be explained by the high proportion of LRD grafts and by genetic susceptibility.