Successful autografting in chronic myelogenous leukaemia using Philadelphia negative blood progenitor cells mobilized with rHuG-CSF alone in a patient responding to alpha-interferon

Several non-randomized studies suggest a possible survival advantage for chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) patients treated with an autologous stem-cell transplantation. Due to the possible contribution of residual leukaemic cells present in the inoculum in post-transplant relapse, several methods are being evaluated to eliminate neoplastic cells or to select 'normal' (Ph¹ negative) progenitor cells for autografting. Recently, several studies have shown that Ph¹ negative blood progenitor cells can be mobilized by rHuG-CSF alone in patients who have a cytogenetic response to alpha-interferon (IFN). We describe the first case, as far as we are aware, of a CML patient responding to IFN autografted by using blood progenitor cells collected by rHuG-CSF alone.     

Spanish Multicentre Trial on Somatrem (1985–1986)

Vicens-Calvet, E., Cuatrecasas-Membrado, J. M. and the Spanish Collaboraative Group. (Endocrinology Unit, Children's Hospital Tall 'd'Hebron', and Medical Department, KabiFides Peptide Hormones, Barcelona, Spain). Spanish multicentre trial on somatrem (1985–1986). Acta Paediatr Scand [Suppl] 337:126, 1987.
In an open multicentre trial, the safety and efficacy of somatrem, 4 IU i.m. three times weekly for 12 months, were evaluated in children with hGH deficiency with or without previous treatment with pituitary hGH. Patients were divided into young and prepubertal groups according to chronological age, and catch-up growth after treatment was greater in the former. Bone age evolved at the same rate as chronological age, irrespective of whether patients were previously untreated (naïve) or previously treated. Fewer previously treated patients exhibited anti-hGH antibodies than naive patients. Somatrem appears to be a safe, efficient product for treating different degrees of hGH deficiency.     

Factors involved in the 'rotation' of the human embryonic stomach around its longitudinal axis: computer-assisted morphometric analysis

The majority of studies as to whether gastric and nongastric factors are involved in the ‘rotation’ of the human embryonic stomach around its longitudinal axis have been morphological. The aim of this study was to analyse, with morphometric support, the influence on the angular modifications during gastric rotation of the simultaneous changes of the gastric walls and mesenteric growth, and the volumes of organs adjacent to the stomach (right, left and posterior groups). Computer imaging techniques were applied on cross sections of a graded series of 10 human embryos (from Carnegie stage (CS) 11) and 2 fetuses. A clockwise gastric rotation occurred during the embryonic period. The most rapid angular modifications took place from CS 11 to 16, after the rotation became oscillatory with angular changes in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, reaching the highest value at CS 18 (at the supraomental part of the stomach: 54.37°; at the omental part: 68.03°); after this period the angular values tended to stabilise. The predominant growth of the left gastric wall over the right and the changes in the width of the gastric mesentery were the most persistent factors involved in the modifications of the transverse gastric angle during the embryonic period although without relationship to their direction. During the increasing angular phases, clockwise rotation was promoted by the decrease of the volume of any group of organs adjacent to the stomach. When the volume of the left and posterior groups increased simultaneously, clockwise or anticlockwise angular directional change was related to the respective decrease or increase adjacent organ volume to the right. We conclude that the stomach of the human embryo undergoes heterogeneous and multifactorial rotation as a consequence of the overall increase in gastric wall growth to the left and the increase of gastric mobility produced by the previous mesenteric enlargement, and that the rotational direction results from the forces exerted on the stomach and the gastric mesenteries by the adjacent organs.     

Tobacco prevention in hospitals: long-term follow-up of a smoking control programme

This paper presents the results of a smoking control programme carried out in Sant Jaume i Santa Magdalena Hospital in Mataró (Barcelona, Spain) involving the entire hospital staff. The. general objective; of the programme were: (1) to reduce tobacco consumption among hospital staff and (2) to create an awareness of their exemplary role as health professionals. In order to achieve these aims, different activities were carried out: lectures on the consequences of smoking; restrictions on smoking in hospital areas; and smoking cessation kelp for those who wished to give up smoking. To measure the effectiveness of the intervention, a survey of smoking habits and attitudes among the hospital staff was conducted before the start of the programme in 1986 and repeated two and a half years later in 1989. The population studied in both surveys (n=298 and n=304) was similar by sex, age, and professional status. Regarding tobacco consumption there was the same proportion of never smokers, while the percentage of current smokers was reduced by 11 between the two surveys (51 to 40%), and the ex-smokers group showed an increase (16 to 23%). These differences were significant. There was also a remarkable change in attitudes among the health professionals, especially with regard to their disposition to give advice to stop smoking. The results show a reduction of the prevalence of smoking among the hospital staff and a positive change in their attitudes towards smoking.