Effect of Bendazac Lysine on lens and retina in diabetics

The possible beneficial effects on the lens and retina which Bendazac Lysine may have in the treatment of adult diabetic patients were investigated. Twenty patients, ranging in age from 54.80 ± 5.86 years old, were studied. The average duration of the diabetes was 11.32 ± 4.10 years. Thirteen patients had background retinopathy. The metabolic controls carried out during the study were satisfactory (HbA1<11%). Bendazac Lysine (500 mg three times a day) was administered for 6 months. Blood-retinal barrier permeability (VPR and VPRt) and lens transmittance (t) were evaluated prior to and 6 months after treatment by fluorophotometry. No statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment values of the retina permeability were observed, however, there was a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) (initial value: t= 0.813 ± 0.040 and final value: t=0.823 ± 0.037) in the lens transmittance. The authors conclude that Bendazac Lysine has a beneficial effect on the lens in the diabetic adult although no improvement in the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier has been observed.     

Effects of radiation on ovarian function in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the Childrens Cancer Study Group

The Childrens Cancer Study Group has assessed serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and pubertal development in 97 long-term female survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). All patients received identical induction and maintenance therapy with either 18 or 24 Gy of radiation therapy (RT) to one of the following fields: cranial, craniospinal, or craniospinal plus 12 Gy abdominal RT including the ovaries. Thirty-six percent (35 patients) were found to have above normal levels of FSH and/or LH. The percentages of elevated values for RT fields were 93% for craniospinal plus abdominal RT, 49% for craniospinal RT, and 9% for cranial RT (P less than .001). A dose-response relationship was observed between 18 Gy and 24 Gy in females receiving only craniospinal RT (P = .01). Craniospinal plus abdominal RT and abnormal FSH/LH levels were significantly associated with lack of pubertal development and delayed onset of menses. Duration of maintenance chemotherapy was not associated with abnormal gonadotropin levels or the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Additional follow-up of this cohort is needed to establish the ultimate pubertal development and fertility of these patients.     

Cost–Utility Analysis of Paclitaxel in Combination with Cisplatin for Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer

The standard treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) has been cyclophosphamide and cisplatin (CP). Recently, the results of a large randomized comparative trial demonstrated that the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) provided a progression-free survival benefit of 5 months. In this study, a cost–utility analysis was performed from a Canadian health care system perspective to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness of the TP combination. Twelve AOC patients who received treatment with TP were matched for age and disease stage on a 1-to-2 basis with a CP control. Total hospital resource consumption was then collected for all patients. Treatment preferences were estimated from a cohort of 20 patients and 40 healthy female volunteers using the time trade-off technique. The outcomes were then generated through a decision-analytic model. First-line treatment costs with TP were approximately fourfold greater on a per-cycle basis than the CP alternative (Can$1911 vs Can$459). When progression-free survival benefit and patient treatment preferences were incorporated into the analysis, the results of the decision model revealed an incremental cost between Can$12,000 and Can$24,000 per quality-adjusted progression-free year with the TP protocol. Even though the TP combination has a considerably higher drug acquisition cost, the results of the current analysis suggest that this new chemotherapy regimen does provide patients with substantial quality-adjusted progression-free survival benefit at a reasonable cost to the Canadian health care system.     

High-dose infliximab prophylaxis in endotoxin-induced uveitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study to analyze the preventive effect of high-dose infliximab in endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rabbits. METHODS: An experimental study was conducted on 64 rabbits. Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide endotoxin was intravitreally injected. Infliximab was intravenously (i.v.) injected 24 h before the intravitreal injection (20 mg/kg). The animals were randomly assigned to five groups: group A, saline intravitreal injection; group B, Infliximab i.v. group C, infliximab + saline; group D, intravitreal endotoxin and group E, infliximab i.v. + intravitreal endotoxin. With two masked observers, a microscopic examination of aqueous humor (cells, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] alpha) and aqueous protein level were performed 24 h after an endotoxin injection and 48 h after an infliximab infusion. RESULTS: Infliximab treatment, at a dose of 20 mg/kg, significantly improved all the parameters. Inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly reduced in the iris, ciliary body, and anterior chamber (U Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.01). Associated with a lower level of TNF-alpha and protein exudate in aqueous humor (U Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab, at a dose of 20 mg/kg, is effective in the prophylaxis of the EIU.     

Damage in B2m genes and DNA methylation of H-2 genes are involved in loss of expression of class I MHC products on the membrane of LR.4, a cell line derivative of the T-cell lymphoma L5178Y.

We have isolated an H-2 deficient cell line (LR.4) from the T-cell lymphoma L5178Y which grew without restrictions in the peritoneal cavity of different inbred strains of mice. The use of polyclonal anti-H-2 antiserum and complement indicated that LR.4 cells did not express class I determinants on the cell membrane. Southern blots of genomic DNA of LR.4 cells showed that B2m genes were severely damaged and that class I H-2 genes were extensively methylated. Consequently, LR.4 cells failed to transcribe mRNAs for both B2m and class I H-2 genes. On the other hand, specific immunity to LR.4 was demonstrated in C57BL/6J mice since, in subsequent challenges with either LR.4 or EL4.4, LR.4 did not grow, whereas EL4.4 grew and killed the mice. In C57BL/6J mice, rejection of LR.4 was accompanied by the production of cytotoxic antibodies. The immune response induced in C57BL/6J mice was determined by non-H-2 antigenic determinants in LR.4 cells.     

Intracapsular tonsillar reduction (partial tonsillectomy): reviving a historical procedure for obstructive sleep disordered breathing in children.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to reintroduce a historical procedure-intracapsular tonsillar reduction (partial tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy)-for tonsillar hypertrophy causing obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSDB) in children, as well as to determine whether partial tonsillectomy, compared with conventional (total) tonsillectomy when performed by more than one surgeon, is equally effective for the relief of OSDB while resulting in less pain and more rapid recovery. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective case series at a tertiary children's hospital. The charts of children who underwent partial tonsillectomy and total tonsillectomy (1998 through 2002) for postoperative complications were reviewed. The caregivers were surveyed to assess postoperative pain, rapidity of recovery, and effectiveness of surgery for relieving symptoms of OSDB. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-three children underwent partial tonsillectomy and 107 children underwent total tonsillectomy. There were no significant differences in immediate and delayed complications between the groups. Both operations were equally effective in relieving OSDB. Children who had partial tonsillectomy had significantly less postoperative pain and significantly more rapid recovery. CONCLUSION: Intracapsular tonsillar reduction with an endoscopic microdebrider relieves OSDB as effectively as conventional tonsillectomy, but results in less postoperative pain and a more rapid recovery.