Case report: benign liver tumor with central necrosis.

A 38 year old previously well woman had sudden onset of upper abdominal pain and fever. Ultrasound examination revealed a necrotizing lesion in the liver. Arteriography revealed findings consistent with an adenoma or focal nodular hyperplasia. A right lobectomy and wedge resection of a similar lesion in the left lobe were done. Microscopy of both lesions indicated focal nodular hyperplasia. Adenoma is said to be related to the contraceptive oral hormone; focal nodular hyperplasia not. But it is possible that both may have an increased incidence of bleeding in the users of the oral contraceptive hormones.     

Impact assessment of oncology research in the European Union

In this study the distribution of papers published by authors from the European Union (EU) in oncological journals was analysed, as was the impact of oncological research in the EU compared with that produced in other countries. Papers published during 1995 in the oncological journals listed by ISI (Institute for Scientific Information, Philadelphia, U.S.A.) were downloaded. The parameters of impact factor (IF), source country population and gross domestic product (GDP) were considered. An analysis of the key words, both those reported by the authors and those attributed by ISI, was carried out using a special purpose program. 36.5% of papers published in oncological journals come from the EU (the U.K., Italy, Germany and France ranking at the top) and 40.7% from the U.S.A. The mean IF was 2.4 for EU papers, 3.3 for the US and 2.4 for other countries. Our data confirm that smaller countries performed better than larger ones. The key words analysis shows that the leading fields of research were breast cancer for diseases, cisplatin for drugs and p53 for experimental studies. A standardisation of key words on behalf of journal editors is proposed.     

Direct demonstration that autologous bone marrow transplantation for solid tumors can return a multiplicity of tumorigenic cells

Patients with solid tumors are increasingly being treated by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Although response rates appear to be increased, disease recurrence is the commonest cause of treatment failure. Whether relapse is entirely due to residual disease in the patient or arises also from infiltrating malignant cells contained in the autologous marrow transplant has not been resolved. If the latter explanation is correct, then purging would be required as part of the transplantation procedure. We used retrovirally mediated transfer of the neomycin-resistance gene to mark BM harvested from eight patients with neuroblastoma in clinical remission. The marked marrow cells were subsequently reinfused as part of an autologous BMT. At relapse, we sought the marker gene in malignant cell populations. Three patients have relapsed, and in each the marker gene was detected by phenotypic and genetic analyses of resurgent malignant cells at medullary and extramedullary sites. Analysis of neuroblast DNA for discrete marker gene integration sites suggested that at least 200 malignant cells, each capable of tumor formation, were introduced with the autologous marrow transplant and contributed to relapse. Thus, autologous BMTs administered to patients with this solid tumor may contain a multiplicity of malignant cells that subsequently contribute to relapse. The marker-gene technique we describe should permit evaluation of the mechanisms of relapse and the efficacy of purging in patients receiving autologous marrow transplantation for other solid tumors that infiltrate the marrow.     

Colonic preparation before colonoscopy in constipated and non-constipated patients:A randomized study

AIM: To compare the efficacy of different doses of sodium phosphate(NaP) and polyethylenglicol(PEG) alone or with bisacodyl for colonic cleansing in constipated and non-constipated patients.METHODS: Three hundred and forty-nine patients,older than 18 years old,with low risk for renal damage and who were scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy were randomized to receive one of the following preparations(prep): 90 mL of NaP(prep 1);45 mL of NaP + 20 mg of bisacodyl(prep 2);4 L of PEG(prep 3) or 2 L of PEG + 20 mg of bisacodyl(prep 4).Randomization was stratified by constipation.Patients,endoscopists,endoscopists’ assistants and data analysts were blinded.A blinding challenge was performed to endoscopist in order to reassure blinding.The primary outcome was the efficacy of colonic cleansing using a previous reported scale.Secondary outcomes were tolerability,compliance,side effects,endoscopist perception about the necessity to repeat the study due to an inadequate colonic preparation and patient overall perceptions.RESULTS: Information about the primary outcome was obtained from 324 patients(93%).There were no significant differences regarding the preparation quality among different groups in the overall analysis.Compliance was higher in the NaP preparations being even higher in half-dose with bisacodyl: 94%(prep 1),100%(prep 2),81%(prep 3) and 87%(prep 4)(2 vs 1,3 and 4,P < 0.01;1 vs 3,4,P < 0.05).The combination of bisacodyl with NaP was associated with insomnia(P = 0.04).In non-constipated patients the preparation quality was also similar between different groups,but endoscopist appraisal about the need to repeat the study was more frequent in the half-dose PEG plus bisacodyl than in whole dose NaP preparation: 11%(prep 4) vs 2%(prep 1)(P < 0.05).Compliance in this group was also higher with the NaP preparations: 95%(prep 1),100%(prep2) vs 80%(prep 3)(P < 0.05).Bisacodyl was associated with abdominal pain: 13%(prep 1),31%(prep 2),21%(prep 3) and 29%(prep 4),(2,4 vs 1,2,P < 0.05).In constipated pati