Inhibition of the growth of squamous cell carcinoma by tetrathiomolybdate-induced copper suppression in a murine model

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether long-term therapy with tetrathiomolybdate suppresses tumor growth in an animal model. DESIGN: In vivo murine model. SUBJECTS: Thirteen 8-week-old C3H/HeJ mice, randomly assigned to a tetrathiomolybdate treatment group (n = 7) or a control group (n = 6). INTERVENTIONS: To render the treatment group mice copper deficient, tetrathiomolybdate (0.7 mg/d per mouse) was added to their drinking water on days 1 through 20. Control group mice received only fresh drinking water. A flank injection of 1.5 x 10(5) SCCVII/SF cells was administrated to all mice on day 21. The treatment group mice continued to receive daily tetrathiomolybdate throughout the remainder of the experiment (70 days). Tumor volume measurements (square of the width x length x 0.52) were taken every other day beginning on day 40. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean tumor volume differences. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD tumor volumes on day 40 were 146 +/- 263 mm3 (n = 7) and 274 +/- 331 mm3 (n = 6) for the treatment and control groups, respectively. By day 54, the mean tumor volume for the treatment group was 65 +/- 0 mm3, compared with 1716 +/- 960 mm3 for the control group (P<.001). Treatment was withheld on day 54, resulting in a dramatic increase in tumor growth in the treatment group mice such that by day 60, there was no significant difference in mean tumor volume between groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the ability of tetrathiomolybdate to maintain a significant and reversible suppression of long-term tumor growth in this murine model of squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting a potential application for the use of tetrathiomolybdate in human squamous cell carcinoma.     

我是怎么“沦为”博客的

一花一世界,一树一菩提。博客,也是一个全新的世界,一个充满诱惑、繁复多彩的世界。它以其独特的魅力吸引世人纷纷投入其中,而身处潮流之端的大学生,更是"趋之若鹜"。那么,博客究竟有何魅力使大学生们纷纷"折腰"?在这方天空里,他们又有着怎样的故事和感受?让我们一起漫步他们的世界……     

Psoas abscess rarely requires surgical intervention

BACKGROUND: Surgeons are increasingly encountering psoas abscesses. METHODS: We performed a review of 41 adults diagnosed and treated for psoas abscess at a county hospital. Treatment modalities and outcomes were evaluated to develop a contemporary algorithm. RESULTS: Eighteen patients had a primary psoas abscess, and 23 had a secondary psoas abscess. Patient characteristics were similar in both groups. Intravenous drug abuse was the leading cause of primary abscesses. Secondary abscesses developed most commonly after abdominal surgery. Treatment was via open drainage (3%), computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage (63%), or antibiotics alone (34%). Four recurrences occurred in the percutaneous group. Statistical analysis showed that the median size of psoas abscesses in the percutaneous group was significantly larger than in the antibiotics group (6 vs 2 cm; P < .001). The mortality rate was 3%. CONCLUSIONS: Initial management of psoas abscesses should be nonsurgical (90% success). Small abscesses may be treated with antibiotics alone, and surgery can be reserved for occasional complicated recurrences.     

Recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in thyroid and parathyroid surgery: the University of Michigan experience

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Intraoperative monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is finding increasing acceptance during thyroidectomy. Recently, a laryngeal surface electrode was introduced to enable another form of noninvasive monitoring of the RLN. The present report examines the University of Michigan experience with RLN monitoring using the postcricoid surface electrode. STUDY DESIGN: All patients undergoing partial or total thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy from January 1999 to July 2001 were considered candidates for the study. Audiologists trained in intraoperative electrophysiological techniques performed all of the monitoring. METHODS: Data collected on each patient included 1) stimulation threshold for a laryngeal compound muscle action potential on initial RLN identification, 2) stimulation threshold of the laryngeal compound muscle action potential on completion of the procedure, and 3) flexible fiberoptic evaluation of the larynx at the initial postoperative visit and at the 3-month follow-up visit. The average duration of follow-up was 9.8 months with a range of 3 to 60 months. RESULTS: The average minimum current required for stimulation on first identification of all nerves was 0.57 mA (+/-0.48 mA). After completion of the procedure a mean threshold level of 0.42 mA (+/-0.55 mA) was obtained during direct RLN stimulation. Post-dissection stimulation of the RLN on the side of tumor dissection was 0.92 mA (+/-0.65 mA) compared with a stimulation threshold of 0.76 mA (+/-0.57 mA) for the nontumor side. CONCLUSIONS: Electromyographic monitoring of the RLN using a postcricoid surface electrode provides a safe, simple, and effective method for intraoperative monitoring during thyroid or parathyroid surgery. Further, evoked electromyography confirms RLN integrity at the conclusion of surgery.     

Photodynamic treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a widespread arthropod‐borne protozoan zoonosis caused by more than 21 Leishmania species. Vectors are sandflies of different genera. The disease is classified into ?Old World” versus ?New World” leishmaniasis and further subclassified in cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral forms. Most therapeutic approaches are not evidence‐based. We report a patient with facial cuta‐neous Leishmania tropica infection which proved to be resistant to various therapeutic regimes. Excellent results were achieved with photody‐namic therapy.