Uptake of Adriamycin in tumour and surrounding brain tissue in patients with malignant gliomas

Summary Eight patients with malignant gliomas verified on CT scan, received an intravenous injection of 50 mg of Adriamycin R, 24 hours prior to surgical removal of the tumour. Peroperatively, both tumour and surrounding tissue specimens were obtained for determination of the tissue concentrations of Adriamycin and its reduced metabolite Adriamycinol. It was found that Adriamycin could be detected in tumour tissue from all patients. The concentration varied between 0,9 and 4,6 nmol/g tissue. In contrast, Adriamycin could only be detected in surrounding brain tissue from one patient.In anin vitro study a human malignant glioma cell line (U-251 MG) was exposed to various concentrations of Adriamycin for 24 hours. It was found that an intracellular drug concentration above 30 nmol/g cells caused a concentration dependent inhibition of cell growth. Thus, it is likely that the poor effect of Adriamycin on patients with malignant gliomas is due to an ineffective drug accumulation in the tumour tissue.     

Mobile intraventricular cyst of the third ventricle treated with stereotactic puncture. Report of a case

A case of a pedunculated arachnoid cyst within the third ventricle is presented. The cyst was small so as not to appear as a significant expanding lesion on CT. The clinical history, however, suggested intermittent increase of the intracranial pressure. On CT there was some widening of the lateral and third ventricles, while the fourth ventricle had normal width. This finding in combination with the clinical history prompted further neuroradiologic examinations, including pneumoencephalography and ventriculography. The presence of a pedunculated mobile cystic lesion within the third ventricle was shown and its nature further elucidated by stereotactic puncture combined with contrast injection into the cyst. After emptying of the cyst, the patient has been free of symptoms during an observation time of 2 years. The diagnostic and differential diagnostic aspects are discussed and the value of traditional neuroradiologic methods emphasized.     

Predicting outbreaks: a spatial risk assessment of West Nile virus in British Columbia

Background  

West Nile virus (WNv) has recently emerged as a health threat to the North American population. After the initial disease outbreak in New York City in 1999, WNv has spread widely and quickly across North America to every contiguous American state and Canadian province, with the exceptions of British Columbia (BC), Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. In this study we develop models of mosquito population dynamics for Culex tarsalis and C. pipiens, and create a spatial risk assessment of WNv prior to its arrival in BC by creating a raster-based mosquito abundance model using basic geographic and temperature data. Among the parameters included in the model are spatial factors determined from the locations of BC Centre for Disease Control mosquito traps (e.g., distance of the trap from the closest wetland or lake), while other parameters were obtained from the literature. Factors not considered in the current assessment but which could influence the results are also discussed.     

无创性缺血预处理延迟相心肌保护作用及其机制的研究

目的　通过建立大鼠在体缺血再灌注模型 ,探索无创性缺血预处理 (NIPC)延迟心肌保护作用 ,以及核因子κB (NF κB)在此过程中所起的作用。方法　将SD雄性大鼠随机分成 4组 ,Ⅰ组 (I/R组 ) ;Ⅱ组 (NIPC组 ) ;Ⅲ组 (PDTC NIPC组 ) ;Ⅳ组 (PDTC组 )。PDTC为NF κB特异性抑制剂。建立体内大鼠缺血再灌注模型 ,分别结扎前降支 4 5min ,复灌 30min ,观察大鼠心肌超微结构、心律失常发生率 ,并测量超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、热休克蛋白 70 (HSP70 )、NF κB的值 ;复灌 2h测定心肌梗死面积。其中NIPC为I/R前 2 4h采用止血带阻断双下肢血流 5min ,复灌 5min ,反复 3个循环。结果　Ⅱ组心功能恢复优于其它 3组、心梗面积小于其它 3组(P <0 0 5 ,P <0 0 1) ;心律失常发生率较其他 3组低 (均P <0 0 5 )。Ⅲ组的各项结果与另外 3组比较均有统计学意义 ,Ⅰ和Ⅳ组的结果差别没有统计学意义。结论　无创性缺血预处理可以起到延迟相心肌保护作用 ;NF κB在预处理过程中可以诱导产生心肌保护蛋白 ,但在心肌持续缺血过程中作为一种重要炎症因子可加重心肌损伤。     

Extracorporeal Photopheresis for the Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery -     

Effects of magnetic fields from underwater electrical cutting on in vitro corrosion of dental amalgam

Metallic taste has been reported from divers working with underwater electric welding and cutting. An in vitro model was designed to simulate the intraoral situation of the divers with respect to the magnetic field. Potentiostatic analyses were performed on amalgam samples exposed to AC and DC magnetic fields. Morphologic changes were analyzed using differential interference light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Chemical changes on the surface of the amalgam samples were analyzed with secondary ion mass spectrometry. Results demonstrated that dental amalgams exposed to a specific AC magnetic field underwent morphologic and chemical changes in the superficial amalgam layers.     

Palliative treatment at home for patients with haematological disorders

 Supportive treatment of patients with haematological disorders mainly takes the form of transfusions of blood and platelets, and sometimes palliative chemotherapy is given. Most patients are treated in hospital or at the outpatient clinic. However, it is often difficult for the patients to arrange to come to the hospital, as they need transport by ambulance or taxi and sometimes a relative to help them. Throughout 1996 we offered such patients supportive treatment at home. A nurse was employed on the project, who was supplied with a car and a mobile telephone. Treatment was given at home. In all, 17 patients were treated, with a total of 90 blood and 40 platelet transfusions. At three visits chemotherapy was administered. No complications were seen, and the patients felt safe and content. We conclude that supportive treatment at home is safe and well accepted by patients and their relatives. In addition, the costs for transportation and hospital care of this patient group were reduced.