Dexamethasone in the treatment of meningeal leukemia

To determine if dexamethasone has a role in the treatment of meningeal leukemia, 8 consecutive patients with acute lymphoblastic and signs or symptoms of CNS were included in the study. After the confirmation of leukemic blast cells on cerebrospinal fluid, they received intrathecal and IV dexamethasone; 3 days later the patients received “triple” intrathecal chemotherapy with dexamethasone, methotrexate and cytarabine, and the spinal fluid was studied again. All patients had good clinical response and 7 out of the 8 patients showed reduction on the CSF cell count after the use of dexamethasone alone. The results suggest that dexamethasone is a lympholytic agent that could play a more active role in the prevention and therapy of meningeal leukemia and should be preferred over hydrocortisone in the so called “triple” intrathecal chemotherapy for the prevention and treatment of CNS leukemia. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Tumorigenicity and tumour-graft rejection of polyoma virus-transformed fibroblast-T-lymphocyte hybrids.

In anticipation of the use of functional T-lymphocyte hybrids in adoptive immunotherapy, the differentiation and tumorigenicity of hybrid clones generated by fusion of a T lymphocyte derived from F1 (DBA/J2 x AKR) mouse spleen, and a polyoma virus-transformed fibroblast initiated from C3H mouse cells, were studied. The hybrid cells grew in suspension and had an appearance (by transmission and scanning electron microscopy) very similar to that of the lymphocytic line. The hybrid and the different clones could induce tumour grafts. Malignancy was dominant in newborn mice where tumours were obtained in all mouse strains (allogeneic or semi-allogeneic) inoculated. In adult mice, the hybrid cells were tumorigenic in C3H and F1 (DBA/J2 x AKR), whereas there was complete tumour rejection in allogeneic (C57/BL6) or semi-allogeneic (DBA/J2 and AKR) mice. The role played by major histocompatibility antigens in the graft rejection is discussed. The histology of the tumour grafts was intermediate between fibrosarcoma and lymphosarcoma.     

Preoperative management of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: Role of endoscopy and Helicobacter eradication

BackgroundObesity is a pandemic disease associated to severe health problems. Management is usually multimodal, but many patients eventually need surgery to reduce weight. Many guidelines recommend endoscopy prior to surgery. This study reviews a series of patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy to see whether endoscopy performance and histopathological findings influence surgery outcome.Material and methodsRetrospective series of patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy as bariatric procedure at a single institution. We have reviewed the demographic data, the associated pathologies, endoscopic findings prior to surgery, histopathological findings in the surgical resection specimen and postoperative complication rate.Results259 patients fulfilled criteria for the study. Over 70% were women and the mean age was 46.9 (SD 9.8). Preoperative endoscopy was performed in 28.9% of the patients and biopsy only in 19.3%. Helicobacter pylori was detected in 28% of the patients undergoing endoscopy (either in the biopsy or the urease test) and eradicated before surgery in all the patients. Helicobacter pylori was present in 9.7% of the surgical resection specimens and its presence was significantly associated with the development of postoperative complications, mostly staple line leaks (p = 0.01).ConclusionOur study confirms that Helicobacter infection is significantly associated with postoperative complications after sleeve gastrectomy. It is therefore important to detect its presence and eradicate it before surgery.     

Surgical synovectomy in haemophilic arthropathy of the knee

Summary Twenty seven patients with haemophilia who had repeated haemarthroses affecting the knee joint, despite appropriate substitution therapy, were treated by surgical synovectomy. Open operations were carried out on 18 and 9 had an arthroscopic procedure. The average age at the time of synovectomy was 13 years for both the open and arthroscopic groups. The open group was followed up for an average of 15.2 years and the closed for 5.4 years. Operation took 70 minutes on average in the arthroscopic group and 50 minutes in the open. Patients who had an arthroscopy were in hospital for an average of 5 days and those with an open operation for 10. Synovectomy by both methods significantly reduced bleeding episodes. The results were assessed according to the classification recommended by the Orthopaedic Advisory Committee of the World Federation of Haemophilia. In the open group 2 patients had a good result, 10 were fair and 6 poor; in the arthroscopic group 3 had a good result, 5 were fair and 1 poor. Both operations appeared to slow, but did not halt, the radiographic deterioration of the joints.

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Résumé Vingt-sept hémophiles qui présentaient des hémarthroses récidivantes du genou en dépit d'une thérapeutique substitutive appropriée ont été traités par synovectomie chirurgicale, 18 à ciel ouvert et 9 par arthroscopie. L'âge moyen des malades au moment de l'opération était de 13 ans dans les deux groupes, le recul moyen des observations est de 15,2 ans dans le groupe opéré à ciel ouvert et de 5,4 ans dans l'autre, la durée de l'opération a été de 70 minutes dans le groupe arthroscopique et de 50 minutes dans l'autre, l'hospitalisation a été de 5 jours dans le groupe arthroscopique et de dix jours dans l'autre. Les deux techniques ont obtenu la diminution des épisodes hémorragiques. Les résultats ont été évalués selon la cotation du «Comité orthopédique consultatif de la Fédération mondiale de l'Hémophilie»: 2 sont bons, 10 médiocres et 6 mauvais dans le groupe opéré à ciel ouvert et 3 bons, 5 médiocres et 1 mauvais dans le groupe arthroscopique. Ces résultats montrent que les deux techniques peuvent ralentir la détérioration du genou, mais non l'interrompre.

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Deceased     

Human decidual stromal cells express alpha-smooth muscle actin and show ultrastructural similarities with myofibroblasts.

Previous reports in human and mouse material demonstrated that decidual stromal cells expressed antigens associated with haematopoietic cells, exerted immune functions, and originated from bone marrow. These findings suggested that these cells belonged to the haematopoietic lineage. We purified and expanded in culture precursors of human decidual stromal cells, and found in electron microscopic images that the ultrastructure of these cells was similar to that of myofibroblasts, which are of mesenchymal origin. The relationship between these two types of cell was confirmed by the detection (by flow cytometry) in the decidual precursors of alpha-smooth muscle actin, a contractile microfilament expressed solely by smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts and related cells. This filament was also detected in decidual stromal cells decidualized in vitro by the effect of progesterone. We also found vimentin in decidual precursors and decidualized cells. This intermediate filament has been previously reported to be expressed by all decidual stromal cells and also by myofibroblasts. Desmin, another intermediate filament expressed by myofibroblasts, was not detected in the decidual precursors; however, this filament was observed in decidualized cells. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin by decidual stromal cells was also found by immunostaining in cryostat sections of early decidua. Our results suggest that decidual stromal cells are related to myofibroblasts.     

Hamartoma mamario: un tumor infrecuente

We present a case of hamartoma of the breast. This is an infrequent tumour that requires the correct diagnosis to distinguish it from other histopathology types because it has a better prognosis. The characteristic image from a mammogram is useful in its diagnosis.     

Mg, Mn, and Co ions enhance the formation of Entamoeba histolytica cyst-like structures resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate

BACKGROUND: Entamoeba histolytica forms cyst-like structures (CLS) in PEHPS but not in TYS-33 medium. Sodium dodecyl sulfate [(SDS (0.1%)] dissolves most of them in 10 min, but not natural cysts. Chitin is responsible mainly for cyst wall resistance. Its synthesis depends on Mg(2)+, Mn(2)+, or Co(2)+, whose action is interactive. With the aid of the Simplex method, we analyzed the effect of 20 blends of these cations to find the one that, when added to PEHPS, produced the highest proportion of CLS resistant to 1% SDS (RCLS). METHODS: The concentration of Mg(2)+, Mn(2)+, and Co(2)+ was determined in PEHPS and TYI-S-33 with a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The proportion of RCLS produced in PEHPS with each ion blend was tested. The CLS and RCLS affinity to fluorescein wheat germ agglutinin (WGA/FITC), which binds chitin, was determined. RESULTS: PEHPS contained a similar concentration of Co(2)+ (0.52 microM) and 3.4 and 1.6 times more Mg(2)+ (798 microM) and Mn(2)+ (3.15 microM) than TYI-S-33, respectively. The proportion of RCLS increased gradually in PEHPS until reaching 3.6 +/- 1.43% with MgCl(2) 1.22 mM, MnCl(2) 14.44 mM, and CoCl(2) 19.44 mM (ion blend No. 20). Both CLS and RCLS bound WGA/FITC. The RCLS formed in the presence of ion blend No. 20 appeared wrinkled. CONCLUSIONS: Mg(2)+, Mn(2)+, and Co(2)+ enhanced the ability of PEHPS to form RCLS, possibly because these ions stimulated their chitin synthesis. Although ion blend No. 20 produced the highest proportion of RCLS, this high ion concentration may be toxic for encysting amebas.