Association of disseminated nocardiosis and Kaposi's sarcoma after kidney transplantation

We report a 40-year-old kidney recipient who developed disseminated nocardiosis associated with cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma. The withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy and prolonged antibiotic therapy, including imipenem and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, resulted in a favourable outcome of both disorders. Three years later, graft function remains stable with a complete regression of skin and pulmonary abnormalities. This case report illustrates the predisposing role of immunosuppressive treatment in the occurrence of infectious and neoplastic complications observed after solid-organ transplantation.     

The role of COX-2 in rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is one of the principal modalities of rectal cancer treatment, and the ability to predict radio resistance could potentially improve survival through a targeted treatment approach. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may protect against damage by irradiation that would justify the use of COX-2 inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of COX-2 in tumor response and outcome of patients with rectal cancer treated preoperatively with radiotherapy. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined COX-2 expression in 88 surgical specimens of rectal cancer treated preoperatively and in 26 pretherapeutic biopsies. We tested whether COX-2 expression was correlated with clinico-pathologic parameters and with survival and local recurrence. COX-2 was expressed in 50% of the pretherapeutic tumor biopsies and in 88.6% of post-irradiated surgical samples. COX-2 expression was correlated only with enhanced tumor inflammation (p = 0.03) and with tumor volume exceeding 30 cc (p = 0.05). COX-2 was not significantly correlated with patient survival, but none of the patients with COX-2 negative tumors did recur locally, whereas 80% of patients with local recurrences have COX-2 positive tumors. We conclude that COX-2 expression is overexpressed in the majority of rectal cancers treated with radiotherapy and likely plays a role in local relapse.     

Quality-Adjusted Survival With nab-Paclitaxel Versus Standard Paclitaxel in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Q-TWiST Analysis

Background

In this analysis we compared quality-adjusted survival outcomes between nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) and standard paclitaxel (Pac) using data from the nab-P phase III registration trial in metastatic breast cancer.

Synthesis of hairy acrylic core‐shell particles as toughening agents for epoxy networks

Hairy poly(butyl acrylate) (PBuA) core‐shell particles with a crosslinked shell were prepared by soap‐free emulsion polymerization. The incorporation of the hairy structure was obtained either by surface polymerization of a methacrylate (MMA) terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), or by physical adsorption of poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)‐poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers. The particle shell was crosslinked during the synthesis so as to keep the integrity and morphology of the particle upon curing the epoxy network. Particle sizes and size distributions were determined both by quasi‐elastic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Particle morphology was investigated by electron and atomic force microscopies. The presence of the poly(ethylene oxide) layer was evidenced by direct analysis of the latexes by means of ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Mixing of the core shell rubber particles with the reactive epoxy and processing of the toughened‐epoxy networks are described. The influence of the hairy layer (with regards to density and PEO chain length) on particle dispersion within the epoxy network, the resulting rheological behaviour of the core‐shell (CS)/prepolymer epoxy blends, and mechanical properties of the modified epoxy were examined and discussed.     

Cardiovascular effects of Arbutus unedo L. in spontaneously hypertensive rats

In order to examine the effect of Arbutus unedo extract on the development of genetic hypertension, three groups of six male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) from 4 to 10 weeks of age, received orally an aqueous extract of the root of this Ericaceae plant at doses of 5, 50 and 250 mg/kg/24 h. The fourth group (n = 6) received tap water only and served as a control. A significant (p < 0.01) reduction of indirect systolic blood pressure (BP) was observed after 4 weeks of treatment with the two highest doses but this effect attenuated 2 weeks later. The continuous measurement of direct BP in conscious 10-week-old rats indicated that chronic treatment with Arbutus did not significantly alter the BP level, the heart rate (HR), the cardiac baroreflex sensitivity and the sympathetic nervous and renin– angiotensin system activities. In contrast, Arbutus (50 mg/kg/24 h) attenuated the pressor responses to phenylephrine and angiotensin I. Finally, a diuretic effect was evidenced in the group receiving the highest dose. It is concluded that chronic oral administration of Arbutus unedo slowly delayed the development of hypertension but did not alter the final level of BP and HR in the SHR. The vascular and renal effects of this plant, which may account for its use in folk medicine, require a more detailed analysis. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.