Temozolomide responsiveness in aggressive corticotroph tumours: a case report and review of the literature

Pituitary carcinoma occurs in ~0.2% of resected pituitary tumours and carries a poor prognosis (mean survival <4 years), with standard chemotherapy regimens showing limited efficacy. Recent evidence suggests that temozolomide (TMZ), an orally-active alkylating agent used principally in the management of glioblastoma, may also be effective in controlling aggressive/invasive pituitary adenomas/carcinomas. A low level of expression of the DNA-repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) predicts TMZ responsiveness in glioblastomas, and a similar correlation has been observed in the majority of aggressive pituitary adenomas/carcinomas reported to date. Here, we report a case of a silent pituitary corticotroph adenoma, which subsequently re-presented with Cushing's syndrome due to functioning hepatic metastases. The tumour exhibited low immunohistochemical MGMT expression in both primary (pituitary) and secondary (hepatic) lesions. Initial TMZ therapy (200 mg/m2 for 5 days every 28 days-seven cycles) resulted in marked clinical, biochemical [>50% fall in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)] and radiological [partial RECIST (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors) response] improvements. The patient then underwent bilateral adrenalectomy. However, despite reintroduction of TMZ therapy (further eight cycles) ACTH levels plateaued and no further radiological regression was observed. We review the existing literature reporting TMZ efficacy in pituitary corticotroph tumours, and highlight the pointers/lessons for treating aggressive pituitary neoplasia that can be drawn from experience of susceptibility and evolving resistance to TMZ therapy in glioblastoma. Possible strategies for mitigating resistance developing during TMZ treatment of pituitary adenomas/carcinomas are also considered.     

Antidiabetic and antioxidant potentials of spent turmeric oleoresin,a by-product from curcumin production industry

ObjectiveTo investigate the antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of spent turmeric oleoresin (STO).MethodsAntidiabetic activity of STO evaluated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays. The antioxidant capacity studied by DPPH., ABTS., superoxide radical scavenging and metal chelating activity methods.ResultsThe STO showed good antidiabetic activity by inhibiting key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes, viz α-glucosidase and α-amylase with an IC50values of 0.71 and 0.16μg/mL respectively. The IC₅₀values for DPPH. and ABTS. assay were 58.1 and 33 μg/mL respectively. STO effectively scavenged the superoxide free radical with an IC50 value of 61.5μg/mL and showed a moderate iron chelation property.ConclusionsThe above study reveals that the spent turmeric oleoresin being wasted at present can be used as antioxidant and antidiabetic agent in food and neutraceutical products.     

基于PC Matlab平台的扩散张量参数的计算

本文介绍了在普通计算机上根据磁共振成像系统测量所得到的扩散张量数据计算扩散张量参数的方法,并且基于Matlab编程语言实现了目前应用较广的临床参数,如表观扩散系数、扩散张量的最大特征值、特征向量以及各向异型扩散系数FA等的计算.