Blur adaptation: clinical and refractive considerations

The human visual system is amenable to a number of adaptive processes; one such process, or collection of processes, is the adaptation to blur. Blur adaptation can be observed as an improvement in vision under degraded conditions, and these changes occur relatively rapidly following exposure to blur. The potential important future directions of this research area and the clinical implications of blur adaptation are discussed.     

Xanthogranulomatous orchitis: Review of the published work and report of one case

Xanthogranulomatous orchitis is an extremely rare inflammatory non-neoplastic destructive lesion of the testis. We report a 44-year-old man who presented with right scrotal swelling and two discharging sinuses. Testicular tumor markers were normal. Scrotal ultrasound showed heterogeneous testicular areas and irregular margin of the tunica. Surgical exploration revealed infected, unhealthy testicular tissue with necrosis and tumor-like lesion. Orchidectomy was done and histopathology showed xanthogranulomatous orchitis.     

Human melanoma-mediated inhibition of autologous CD4+ helper tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte growth in vitro.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were isolated from a human melanoma metastatic to the abdomen. The TIL were 99% CD3+ and 99% CD4+ and CD8-. They were dependent on interleukin-2 (IL-2) for growth, as measured in a thymidine uptake assay, and were not cytotoxic to autologous or allogeneic melanoma or K562. When co-cultured with irradiated autologous tumor cells, or tumor cell supernatants, the TIL not only did not respond, but the IL-2-dependent growth was inhibited significantly. Inhibition occurred during the first 24 hours of co-culture and persisted as long as the tumor was present. After being washed free of inhibitory tumor cells, the TIL again were able to grow in the presence of IL-2, indicating that the inhibition was not caused by irreversible toxicity mediated by the tumor. Addition of excess IL-2 did not reverse the inhibitory effect, but addition of indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin synthesis, partially blocked the inhibition. These data show melanoma-mediated inhibition of induction and expansion of human T-cells in vitro, which may reflect one of the mechanisms of inhibition of cellular responses in vivo. These results stress the need to examine the techniques for optimal in vitro expansion of tumor-specific TIL or cytotoxic T-cells for adoptive immunotherapy.     

Schwannoma of submandibular region

Tumours of the nerve sheath origin in the head and neck are not common. Schwannomas are rare. Only a few cases have been reported so far. We report a rare case of Schwannoma of Submandibular region arising from the lingual nerve.     

Lipophilic platinum complexes entrapped in liposomes: improved stability and preserved antitumor activity with complexes containing linear alkyl carboxylato leaving groups

Lipophilic diaminocyclohexane (DACH) platinum complexes have shown significant promise in preclinical studies. One of these compounds,cis-bis-neodecanoato-trans-R,R-1,2-diaminocyclohexaneplatinum(II) (NDDP), which contains two branched leaving groups of 10 carbons, showed a favorable toxicity profile in a liposomal formulation in early clinical trials. However, like many other DACH platinum compounds with branched leaving groups, it is unstable within the liposomes, thus preventing its widespread clinical evaluation. We studied the effect of the configuration of leaving groups on intraliposomal complex stability by studying a series of DACH platinum complexes containing linear alkyl carboxylato leaving groups of 5–18 carbons. The entrapment efficiency was greater than 90% for all liposomal preparations of the complexes and was independent of lipid composition and length of the leaving group. The drug leakage from the liposomes was minimal, but was directly related to the length of the leaving group. Intraliposomal stability was inversely related to the length of the leaving group and the content of DMPG (dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol) in the liposomes. The effect of length of leaving group on intraliposomal stability was minimal in compounds with leaving groups smaller than 10 carbons, but very pronounced in compounds with longer leaving groups. Stable liposomal formulations of selected compounds with leaving groups of 6 and 10 carbons had significant in vivo antitumor activity against both L1210/S and L1210/PDD leukemias. The results indicate (1) that compounds with linear leaving groups are much more stable within DMPG-containing liposomes than compounds with branched leaving groups and (2) that DMPG is required for in vivo antitumor activity. Stable and active liposomal formulations of selected compounds with linear leaving groups have been identified. These formulations are candidates for clinical development.Abbreviations DMPC dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine - DMPG dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol - L-NDDP liposomalcis-bis-neodecanoato-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexaneplatinum(II) The work reported in this paper was supported in part by NIH grants CA 41581, 45423, 50270, and 58342