Infection of rats with Taenia taeniformis metacestodes increases hepatic CYP450, induces the activity of CYP1A1, CYP2B1 and COH isoforms and increases the genotoxicity of the procarcinogens benzo[a]pyrene,cyclophosphamide and aflatoxin B(1)

Infection of rat liver by Taenia taeniformis metacestodes produced an increase in total CYP450 content and induced activity of the CYP1A1, CYP2B1 and COH isoforms. Variations in activity and p450 total content were found with increasing time of infection. During increased activity of p450 isoforms, rats were challenged with carcinogens metabolized by the mentioned isozymes and an increased amount of genotoxic damage was found when benzo[a] pyrene, cyclophosphamide and aflatoxin B(1) were used. No change was seen in CYP2E1 activity. These results support previous findings regarding an increased susceptibility to genotoxic damage of infected organisms.     

Paratesticular congenital malignant rhabdoid tumor diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. a case report

We report the FNA features of a congenital malignant extrarenal rhabdoid tumor (MERT) located in the right paratesticular area of a newborn full-term boy (39 wk gestation), with disseminated metastases in the liver and right parietal region. The diagnosis was suggested two days after birth by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the parietal mass, which demonstrated an atypical large cell proliferation with vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and abundant cytoplasm exhibiting paranuclear dense inclusions. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination of the primary paratesticular tumor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third MERT reported in the paratesticular region, one of the few congenital extrarenal non-central nervous system cases, and the third congenital case (renal or extrarenal) primarily diagnosed by FNAB. We emphasize the characteristic cytologic features of a congenital rhabdoid tumor, which must be known by pathologists because of the clinical and prognostic implications. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;30:46-50.     

Dietary micronutrients/antioxidants and their relationship with bronchial asthma severity

BACKGROUND: Because little is known about micronutrient/antioxidant intake and asthma severity, we investigated dietary intake and plasma/serum levels of micronutrients/antioxidants in a group of asthma patients with various degrees of severity, and compared the results with healthy subjects. METHODS: A case control study was carried out on 118 asthma patients and 121 healthy subjects. The severity of the disease was classified by division of patients into four groups. Normal dietary micronutrient/antioxidant intake was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. Plasma/serum levels of vitamins C, E, and A, selenium, magnesium, zinc, and platelet glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were also determined. RESULTS: No differences in daily micronutrient/antioxidant intake were seen between patients and healthy subjects. The severity of the disease showed no significant relationship with micronutrient/antioxidant intake. There were no differences in plasma/serum levels in any of the micronutrients/antioxidants between healthy subjects and asthmatics. Nor were any differences found between asthma groups in severity in the biochemical measures, except in platelet GSH-Px activity, which was significantly lower in the most severe groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found no evidence of any association between micronutrient/antioxidant intake or plasma/serum levels of micronutrients/antioxidants and asthma. Reduction of platelet GSH-Px activity in the most severe patients suggests that these patients have a diminished capacity to restore part of the antioxidant defences.     

Identification of 'Old World' Leishmania by DNA recombinant probes

Leishmania are usually identified by iso-enzyme analysis. This method works well, but there is a need for an additional, more simple, method of identification. Here we present data that show that in a Southern blot analysis, recombinant DNA probes in combination with certain restriction enzymes can differentiate between taxa of Leishmania. Probes based on clones selected from a L. infantum cDNA library gave characteristic patterns on Southern blots for reference strains of the different types of Leishmania found in Europe, Africa and Asia. Within the different taxa little or no variation was observed. Although the L. infantum derived probes showed a somewhat stronger hybridization for strains of the L. donovani complex, the signal obtained with most probes was satisfactory for L. major, L. aethiopica and L. tropica. Within the L. donovani complex none of the selected probes differentiated between isolates belonging to L. infantum, L. chagasi or L. donovani. Probes containing kinetoplast DNA showed considerable variation in hybridization within a taxon.     

Hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic surgery. Preliminary study

The haemodynamic changes produced by laparoscopic surgery in children have been evaluated. A transesophageal echocardiographic study on 13 patients (7 males and 6 females, 10.8 +/- 2.7 years old) has been performed before, during and after peritoneal CO2 gas insufflation. A change on the Doppler waves pattern of the infradiaphragmatic veins along with an increase in blood flow velocity were observed. Pulmonary veins suffered minimal changes showing an increase on either the systolic pressure and on atrial contraction. Diastolic retrograde flow in aorta reflected an increase in peripheral vascular resistance. Cardiac output increased minimally. All haemodynamic changes returned to basal after gas peritoneal desufflation. These data show that laparoscopic surgery could produce important cardiac derangements in children with ventricular dysfunction or in patients presenting left ventricular outlet obstruction. In these patients laparoscopic surgery might be precluded.     

Use of the humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody h-R3 in combination with radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy of the humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody h-R3 in combination with radiotherapy (RT) in unresectable head and neck cancer patients. Secondary end points were the measurement of h-R3 serum levels and the assessment of the potential mechanisms of antitumor effect on patient biopsies. Anti-idiotypic response to h-R3 was assessed. To predict pharmacologic effect, a mathematical model for antibodies recognizing antigens expressed in tumors and normal tissues was built. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with advanced carcinomas of the head and neck received six once-weekly infusions of h-R3 at four dose levels in combination with RT. Pretreatment tumor biopsies were obtained to evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor expression as an enrollment criterion. Second biopsies were taken to evaluate the proliferative activity and angiogenesis in comparison with the pretreatment samples. Patient serum samples were collected to measure h-R3 levels and anti-idiotypic response. RESULTS: The combination of h-R3 and RT was well tolerated. Antibody-related adverse events consisted in infusion reactions. No skin or allergic toxicity appeared. Overall survival significantly increased after the use of the higher antibody doses. Immunohistochemistry studies of tumor specimens before and after treatment revealed that antitumor response correlated with antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effect. One patient developed antibodies to h-R3. The mathematical model predicted that the maximum difference between the area under the curve in tumors and normal tissues is reached when the antibody has intermediate affinity. CONCLUSION: h-R3 is a well-tolerated drug that may enhance radiocurability of unresectable head and neck neoplasms.     

Changes in the Household Calorie Supply during the 1994 Economic Crisis in Mexico and Its Implications on the Obesity Epidemic

To characterize the effects of the 1994 economic crisis on calorie sources of Mexican households, five nutrition surveys done every leap year (1992–2000) in national representative samples (> 10,000 households) were analyzed. Each household was visited during 7 days to collect data on foods purchased, exchanged or home-grown and their monetary value. We selected 88 food items to calculate kilocalories/ person/day and cost in pesos/megacalorie (CPMC) for rural-urban strata (localities <2500, ≥2500). The food items were classified in 8 groups and the summation of kilocalories and CPMCs of items in each group were our units of analysis. Linear regressions for 1992–2000 were performed, and slopes and intercepts were used to characterize changes. Available calories showed very little change at the height of the economic crisis. Expensive calories (meat in ur-bans, eggs and milk in rurals, and industrialized meat and soft drinks in both) tended to increase, whereas the most inexpensive staples (cereals, legumes, sugars) decreased their share in both strata. An increase in obesigenic calories was seen, notably in soft drinks, despite a cost increase second only to meat. Main conclusions were: (1) the economic crisis did not affect total calories availability in Mexican households; (2) the 1992–2000 trends in calorie sources were contrary to any crisis effect in rurals and urbans (i.e., expensive foods increased and inexpensive staples decreased); (3) there were sizable rural-urban differences in number, source, and cost of calories; and (4) obesigenic calories increased and soft drinks emerged as a food with its own dynamic.