Rhabdomyoma of the heart with intrapericardial expansion

A rare case of a rhabdomyoma originating from the surface of the right atrium in a 20-year-old female is reported. The tumor showed electrical activity and caused both outflow obstruction and tamponade symptoms. It was successfully removed by a right-sided thoracotomy. The clinical course, diagnostic investigations, and the therapeutical approach of this rare lesion are discussed.     

Free amino acid pattern of cerebrospinal fluid in meningeal pathology

Free amino acid concentrations of CSF were measured in bacterial meningitis, aseptic meningitis, meningoradiculitis Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth, multiple sclerosis, carcinomatous meningitis, and controls. Almost all CSF amino acids were highly elevated in bacterial but not in aseptic meningitis, meningoradiculitis Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth or carcinomatous meningitis thus providing a laboratory tool for their differential diagnosis. In carcinomatous meningitis the amino acid pattern indicates metabolic activity of tumor cells. Minimal alterations were found in multiple sclerosis which have no diagnostic value.     

胸水CYFRA21-1、CEA及NSE联合测定对肺癌的诊断价值

目的　通过胸水CYFRA2 1 1(细胞角蛋白片段 )、CEA(癌胚抗原 )及NSE(神经烯醇化酶 )的检测 ,探讨各指标对肺癌诊断特异性及联合分析对肺癌的诊断价值和临床意义。方法　对 12 3例肺良性疾病组患者和 15 6例肺癌组患者胸水进行上述肿瘤标志物测定。将肺癌患者又根据病理类型分成腺癌组 (81例 )、鳞癌组 (5 0例 )、小细胞癌组 (12例 )和未定性癌组 (13例 )对各指标分别进行对照分析。结果　肺癌组胸水CYFRA2 1 1、CEA及NSE含量 (ng/ml)分别为 5 5 34± 37 44、5 7 11± 5 2 6 5及 16 99± 2 9 2 2 ,而肺良性疾病组的含量则分别为 9 0 8± 7 5 4、9 92± 6 2 8和 7 30±6 2 9,各指标的统计学检验均有极显著差异 (P <0 0 0 1)。CYFRA2 1 1在肺鳞癌组最高 ,与小细胞肺癌组相比有显著差异 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而与腺癌组和未定型癌组相比无显著差异 (P <0 0 5 ) ;CEA主要在腺癌组的含量均比其他肺癌组有极明显增高 (P <0 0 0 1) ;NSE则在小细胞癌组最高 ,其含量与其他肺癌组相比有极明显增加 (P <0 0 0 1)。结论　胸水CYFRA2 1 1,CEA及NSE在不同组织类型肺癌中的含量明显不同 ;三者联合测定对肺癌的诊断有重要的临床参考价值     

Intramedullary pilocytic astrocytomas — a clinical and morphological study after combined surgical and photon or neutron therapy

Ten patients suffering from intramedullary pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO-classification: astrocytoma grade I) were investigated catamnesticly. Combined surgery and radiotherapy was performed. Seven patients received neutron irradiation postoperatively. In four cases the neurological symptoms were improved after follow-up periods ranging from 33 to 89 months. The three other patients died after 6 to 21 months. The autopsy findings of a 14 year old child are presented. Our results are compared with reports in the literature. In addition, long-term problems of the spinal column are discussed. It seems that the combined surgical and neutron therapy improves the prognosis of pencil gliomas.     

Role of prolactin in modulating the effects of tamoxifen on growth of the Dunning R3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma

Tamoxifen (TAM) has previously been shown to inhibit growth of the Dunning R3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma and to elevate serum prolactin levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of prolactin in modulating the effects of tamoxifen on growth of the R3327 prostatic adenocarcinoma. Intact and castrated Copenhagen-Fischer male rats bearing the Dunning R3327 rat prostatic tumor were divided into groups and injected sc five times per week for 16 weeks as follows: vehicle; TAM (0.5 mg/kg); haloperidol (HALO; 0.5 mg/kg); bromocriptine (CB-154; 5 mg/kg); TAM plus HALO; or TAM plus CB-154. In both intact and castrated rats, agents that either raised (HALO) or lowered (CB-154) serum prolactin had little effect on prostatic tumor growth when administered singly. In intact rats, average tumor diameter in vehicle-treated controls increased 421% 16 weeks after the start of the experiment, and treatment with TAM or TAM plus HALO reduced this tumor growth by approximately one-half. Interestingly, CB-154 administered in combination with TAM completely blocked TAM inhibition of tumor growth in intact rats. In contrast to these results in intact rats, average tumor diameter increased 129% in TAM- and 118% in TAM plus HALO-treated castrated rats and was significantly greater than the characteristic retardation of tumor growth (49% increase) that occurred in the vehicle-treated castrate controls. In addition, combined treatment of TAM plus CB-154 in castrate rats resulted in an even greater increase (188%) in average tumor diameter. The inhibitory effect of TAM on R3327 prostatic tumor growth in intact rats appears to be an indirect effect resulting from its ability to reduce serum testosterone levels. In contrast, the stimulatory effect of TAM in castrate rats appears to result directly from an estrogen-like action, which can directly enhance prostatic tumor growth in the presence of low levels of circulating androgens; this stimulatory effect of TAM is more pronounced when prolactin levels are suppressed by CB-154. Clearly, castration alone is more effective than TAM therapy alone or in combination with castration in the retardation of the growth of the androgen-dependent R3327 prostatic tumor in rats.     

益肾化浊注射液对慢性肾功能衰竭大鼠残余肾中细胞因子含量的影响

通过观察益肾化浊注射液对5／6肾切除大鼠残余肾中细胞因子含量的影响，益肾化浊注射液延缓慢性肾功能衰竭（CRF）模型大鼠肾功能减退的作用机理。结果显示：益肾化浊注射液可以降低5／6肾切在鼠血清肌,尿素氮（P＜0．01），下调肾组织中白细胞介素－1（IL－1）（P＜0．05），白细胞介素－8（IL－8）（P＜0．05）及肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）（P＜0．05）的总体水平，说明益肾化浊注射液可以通过下调5／6肾切除大鼠残余肾中相关细胞因子含量，抑制促炎细胞因子对肾脏的损害，从而延缓CRF的进展。     

Benign giant cell tumor of bone with osteosarcomatous transformation (”dedifferentiated” primary malignant GCT): report of two cases

 It is not uncommon for sarcomatous transformation of giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone to occur after radiation, but rarely does malignant transformation occur spontaneously, with less than 15 cases reported up to 1995. Only four of these cases have been documented in detail. We report two additional cases of GCT of bone spontaneously transforming or ”dedifferentiating” into osteosarcoma without radiation therapy. The first case is absolutely unique and most interesting in that the dedifferentiation process occurred in one of multiple GCT lung metastases 6 years after successful eradication of a primary tibial tumor. The right lung was resected due to development of a large tumor, and at pathologic examination, demonstrated several small nodules of conventional GCT and a much larger, 14-cm mass composed of a mixture of GCT and high-grade osteosarcoma. The second case involved a physician, who had a large tumor in the sacrum with vague symptoms for 8 years. Open biopsy revealed conventional, benign GCT of bone with a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst. Complete curettage 2 weeks later revealed, in addition to areas of conventional, benign GCT a second component of very high grade osteosarcoma. Both patients died less than 1.5 years from diagnosis. This report of osteosarcomatous transformation of a conventional GCT of bone strengthens the theory that there is a mesenchymal cell line in GCT that may spontaneously tansform to sarcoma.     

Electrochemotherapy significantly inhibits the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice

Electrochemotherapy is a novel antitumor treatment involving the systemic administration of bleomycin followed by the delivery of electrical pulses to the tumor. The present study investigates the effects of electrochemotherapy on the growth of colon 26 cells inoculated subcutaneously into the backs of BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into the following four experimental groups: 20 that received no further treatment after the inoculation of colon 26 cells (control group); 20 that received 500 μg of bleomycin intraperitoneally 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (BLM group); 20 that received electric pulses to the tumor 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (EP group); and 30 that received electrochemotherapy 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (ECT group). During 28 days of observation, no deaths due to tumor progression occurred in the ECT group, but there were 18 in the control group, 11 in the BLM group, and 18 in the EP group. While weight loss was observed in all groups, it was most remarkable in the control group. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the ECT group, compared to the other experimental groups (P<0.01). The results of this study demonstrated that electrochemotherapy significantly inhibited the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice, without causing any remarkable adverse effects.     

骨感染病人TNF-α、IL-6和C反应蛋白的检测及临床意义

①目的　探讨骨感染病人肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF α)、白细胞介素 6 (IL 6 )和C反应蛋白 (CRP)水平的变化及意义。②方法　采用双抗体夹心ELISA法测定 30例骨感染病人及 2 5例正常人的血清TNF α、IL 6水平 ,采用散射比浊法测定CRP水平。③结果　骨感染病人血清中TNF α、IL 6及CRP含量均处于高水平状态 ,与健康人比较 ,差异有显著性 (t=2 .2 6～ 10 .6 7,P <0 .0 5、0 .0 1)。④结论　TNF α、IL 6及CRP是预测骨感染病人病情危重的重要指标之一 ,对临床有一定指导意义     

Surgical Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma With Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus

Background. The optimal management of patients with renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus remains unresolved. Traditional approaches have included resection with or without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Chemotherapy has played a minor role except for biotherapeutic agents used for metastatic disease.

Methods. From January 1989 to January 1996, 37 patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus underwent surgical resection. The 27 men and 10 women had a median age of 57 years (range, 29 to 78 years). Thirty-six patients presented with symptoms; 21 had hematuria. Distant metastases were present in 12 patients. Tumor thrombi extended to the infrahepatic inferior vena cava (n = 16), the intrahepatic inferior vena cava (n = 16), the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (n = 3), and into the right atrium (n = 2). All tumors were resected by inferior vena cava isolation and, when necessary, extended hepatic mobilization and Pringle maneuver, with primary or patch closure of the vena cavotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass was necessary in only 2 patients with intraatrial thrombus.

Results. Complications occurred in 11 patients, and 1 patient died 2 days postoperatively of a myocardial infarction (mortality, 2.7%). Twenty patients are alive; overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 61.7% and 33.6%, respectively. For patients without lymph node or distant metastases (stage IIIa), 2- and 5-year survival rates were 74% and 45%, respectively. The presence of distant metastatic disease (stage IV) at the time of operation did not have a significant adverse effect on survival, as reflected by 2- and 5-year survival rates of 62.5% and 31.3%, respectively. Lymph node metastases (stage IIIc) adversely affected survival as there were no long-term survivors.

Conclusions. Resection of an intracaval tumor thrombus arising from renal cell carcinoma can be performed safely and can result in prolonged survival even in the presence of metastatic disease. In our experience, extracorporeal circulatory support was required only when the tumor thrombus extended into the heart.