A highly restricted antigen for renal cell carcinoma defined by a monoclonal antibody

Monoclonal antibodies against renal cell carcinoma (RCC) antigens were generated by immunizing Balb/c mice with the human RCC cell line 7860. After cloning many RCC reactive monoclonal antibodies, one antibody (D5D), was of special interest. Specificity testing against 33 human tumor cell lines revealed D5D to have no specific reactivity with 17 specimens of normal adult or fetal kidney. Reactivity with 67 specimens of nonrenal tissue demonstrated no reactivity. The reactivity of D5D with 15 different RCC tissues has been variable, being present in 60% of cases. Preliminary data, however, suggest that the antigen may be reexpressed for some of the remaining 40% during in vitro propagation.     

Retrospective analysis of the results of the treatment of children with histiocytosis]

The results of the treatment of 26 patients with histiocytosis hospitalized in the years 1970-1990 were evaluated. The age of the children at the time of diagnosis was from 4 months to 14 years, mean 32 months. In 4 cases the changes were restricted to the skeletal system, in the remaining 22 patients generalized histiocytosis was present with involvement of the skeleton and/or internal organs, and/or bone marrow. In the group with generalized histiocytosis 3 children had respiratory failure, 5 had hepatic failure, and 6 bone marrow failure. Full remission was obtained in 19 cases. Another 4 ones had persistent focal changes in the bones. Three children died of disease progression. Thus the probability of 10-year survival was for the whole group 0.86 +/- 0.13.     

Supplementation of an adapted formula with bovine lactoferrin: 1. Effect on the infant faecal flora

The development of the infant faecal flora was studied over the first three months of life in infants receiving breast milk, a modern adapted formula and adaptations of this formula. Breast-fed infants developed a flora rich in Bifidobacterium sp. Facultative anaerobes were ubiquitous, but in relatively small numbers within the diet group. Other obligate anaerobes, such as Clostridium sp. and Bacteriodes sp. were rarely isolated. Standard formula produced a flora rich in bifidobacteria, but the growth of facultative organisms was not suppressed by this diet. Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides sp. were more common in this feeding group. After the addition of lactoferrin at 10 mg/100 ml to the formula diet, a flora similar to that of the standard formula-fed babies was achieved. Lactoferrin at 100 mg/100 ml was able to establish a "bifidus flora" in half of the babies given this formula, but only at age three months. Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides sp. were common faecal isolates from babies receiving both the lactoferrin diets.     

Occupational exposure to cisplatin/oxaliplatin during Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC)?

Introduction

Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a new promising treatment for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. It is supposed to provide a higher local drug concentration and deeper penetrate into the tumor tissue compared to systemic chemotherapy or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy perfusion (HIPEC). Due to the application of cytotoxic drug aerosols within the operating room (OR), concern has been raised regarding the occupational exposure risk of the involved OR staff.

Perineal rectosigmoidectomy: An effective approach for the repair of complete rectal prolapse

The results of five consecutive perineal rectosigmoidectomies were reviewed to evaluate the role of this approach for complete rectal prolapse. There were two male and three female patients, with a median age of 75 years (range 45–82 years). On average, 23.6 cm (range 15–35 cm) of sigmoid colon and rectum was resected. There was no operation‐related mortality. One patient developed postoperative chest infection and another acute retention of urine. No recurrence of the prolapse was detected during a median follow‐up period of 25 months (range 6–42 months). Perineal rectosigmoidectomy is an effective and the least invasive procedure for complete rectal prolapse. It is the preferred approach for patients who have had multiple previous abdominal operations and for the frail elderly patient in whom, particularly, constipation is a major associated feature.