Anti-tumor effects of adenovirus containing human growth hormone sequences in a mouse model of human ovarian cancer

Women with ovarian cancer have a low survival rate and develop resistance to chemotherapy, so new approaches to treatment are needed. We unexpectedly found administration of a replication-deficient adenovirus containing human growth hormone sequences (AdXGH) was beneficial in a mouse model of human ovarian cancer. Intraperitoneal injections of AdXGH prolonged median survival from a mean of 31?±?1.2 to 40?±?1.4?days in immunodeficient SCID mice given SKOV3.ip1 human ovarian cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity. Adenovirus containing human prolactin or del32-71growth hormone sequences had no effect. Repeated injection of growth hormone or implantation of tablets with sustained growth hormone release did not increase survival. Control mice had overlapping tumors throughout the peritoneal cavity and liver and frequent lung metastases 24?days after tumor cell injection. Mice that received two injections of AdXGH had no lung metastases. Mice that received four injections had no lung or liver metastases and peritoneal fibrosis. They did not survive longer than mice that received two injections, but they had enlarged livers with hepatocellular changes, indicating that a limitation of increasing the dose is liver toxicity.     

Noninvasive surgery of prostate tissue by high intensity focused ultrasound: an updated report.

OBJECTIVE: To establish clinical efficacy and safety of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a multiple site clinical study. METHODS: Seven clinical sites were set up for the studies, five in the USA, one in Canada and one in Japan respectively. Sixty two patients were enrolled in these three studies. Transrectal ultrasound probes made to produce sufficient acoustic power required for focused ultrasound surgery of the prostate as well as to perform imaging of the prostate, were employed in the study. The probes ware made of 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 cm focal length transducers to treat varying prostate sizes and shapes and operated at 4 MHz frequency for both imaging and treatment. The employed ultrasound device produced both transverse and longitudinal images of the prostate on the same display. The images were used for selection of tissue volume, treatment planning and monitoring of tissue during the HIFU treatment cycle. The patients in the USA and Canada were followed for two years and those in Japan were followed for one year on a regular interval. The results were evaluated for changes in the peak flow rate (Qmax in ml/s), quality of life (QOL) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). RESULTS: The average pre / post treatment results at 180 days were significantly different for Qmax, QOL and IPSS 8.5/14.2 (ml/s), 4.7/2.1 and 22/10 respectively. CONCLUSION: Under this protocol, HIFU was found safe and efficacious for the treatment of BPH. The HIFU treatment produced statistically significant results for the parameters measured with least complications. Additionally, the HIFU treatment was found to be durable.     

Fractional photothermolysis for the treatment of granuloma annulare: a case report

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To date, reports on the safe and effective laser treatment of disseminated granuloma annulare (GA) are still limited. STUDY DESIGN/PATIENT AND METHODS: A 58-year-old Caucasian female with disseminated GA was treated with fractional photothermolysis (FP) using a 1,440-nm Nd:YAG laser. Four lesions on the patient's left upper arm were defined as the "test region" with the remaining untreated areas serving as controls. RESULTS: A complete remission was achieved after two to three treatment sessions. Treatments were well tolerated. Due to the controlled study design, a spontaneous remission was unlikely. CONCLUSION: We conclude that FP may be a potentially efficacious therapeutic approach and should be considered in managing generalized GA.     

Tattoo removal – state of the art

Tattooing has been around since the early beginnings of modern civilization. The discovery of selective photothermolysis at last has made it possible to remove tattoos without leaving a scar. Q‐switched neodymium: yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet, alexandrite, and ruby lasers with pulse durations in the nanosecond domain fulfill this need. Argon or cw‐CO₂ lasers as well as intense pulsed light sources should not be used since they often produce significant scarring. This article provides an overview of current laser systems.Developments leading to new tattoo inks, feedback systems to detect the absorbance characteristics of tattoo inks, dermal clearing agents, and perhaps even lasers with shorter pulse‐durations might improve the results in the future.