Somatostatin Receptor Localization of Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors

n = 39) than conventional imaging studies (MRI, n = 25; CT, n = 13); 23 of 24 patients had positive octreotide scintigraphy, 17 of 24 had positive MRI-scans, and 12 of 24 patients had positive CT scans. It was concluded that ¹¹¹ In-octreotide scintigraphy combined with conventional imaging improves the preoperative localization of presumably tumorous lesions in patients with gastroenterohepatic endocrine tumors.     

Spinal accessory nerve palsy due to neurovascular compression. Report of a case diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography

The case of a young patient with left accessory nerve paralysis is reported. He had slight tilting of the head to the right side, developed over a period of about 6 months. On neurological examination hypotrophy of the left sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles was observed. MRI and MR-angiography imaged the presence of a neurovascular compression between the medulla oblungata, at the level of the nerve entry zone, and a vessel loop of an elongated left vertebral artery. In spite of the absence of a surgical demonstration it is our opinion that the neurovascular conflict is the cause of the accessory nerve palsy.     

A small molecule Smac mimic potentiates TRAIL-mediated cell death of ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of death in women and development of new therapies is essential. Second mitochondria derived activator of caspase (Smac) has been described to sensitize for apoptosis. We have explored the proapoptotic activity of a small molecule mimic of Smac/DIABLO on ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 cells and its chemoresistant derivatives A2780/ADR and A2780/DDP), cancer cell lines and in primary ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: The effects of a small molecule mimic of Smac/DIABLO on ovarian cancer cell lines and primary ovarian cancer cells were determined by cell proliferation, apoptosis and biochemical assays. RESULTS: This compound added alone elicited only a weak proapoptotic effect; however, it strongly synergizes with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) or agonistic TRAILR2 antibody (Lexatumumab) in inducing apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that small molecule mimic of Smac/DIABLO could be useful for the development of experimental strategies aiming to treat ovarian cancer. Interestingly, in addition to its well known proapoptotic effects, Smac/DIABLO elicited a significant increase of pro-caspase-3 levels.     

Low-intensity oral anticoagulant plus low-dose aspirin during the first six months versus standard-intensity oral anticoagulant therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement: a pilot study of low-intensity warfarin and aspirin in cardiac prostheses (LIWACAP).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-intensity warfarin treatment plus aspirin during the first 6 months after surgery in patients undergoing heart valve substitution with mechanical prostheses. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are able to reduce but not eliminate thrombosis and systemic embolism in patients with mechanical heart valves. The intensity of treatment and additional use of aspirin in these patients is still controversial. Consecutive patients undergoing aortic or mitral valve replacement (or a combination of the two) with mechanical prostheses were invited to participate in the study. After stratifying for site of prosthesis, patients were randomized to receive low intensity VKA treatment (target INR 2.5) plus aspirin (100 mg/day) for the first six months (Group A) or standard-intensity (INR target 3.7) VKA treatment (Group B). Mean follow-up was 1.5 years. Principal outcome events were systemic embolism, major bleeding, and vascular death. A total of 94 patients in Group A and 104 in Group B were randomized and followed up for 144 and 163 patient years, respectively. There were 5 (5%) events in Group A (4 major bleeding events and 1 vascular death) and 4 (4%) in group B (2 major bleeding events and 2 ischemic stroke). All the events except 1 occurred within the first 6 months after surgery. Cumulative incidence of primary outcome events was 5.8% (95% CI 0.9 to 10.7) in Group A and 4.3% (95% CI 0.2 to 8.4) in Group B (p=0.6). Low-intensity treatment plus aspirin during the first six months after surgery appears to be as effective and safe as moderate-high-intensity anticoagulation.     

No early signs of atherosclerotic alterations in carriers of inherited thrombophilia

BackgroundCongenital thrombophilia is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Whether it is associated with increased risk of arterial disease is today a matter of debate. We aimed to look for early signs of atherosclerotic alterations in carriers of inherited thrombophilic alterations (ITA).MethodsBetween January 2006 and September 2008 ultrasonography assessment of the carotid arteries with measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT), and determination of the ankle/brachial pressure index (ABI), was performed in: a) 161 carriers of ITA (deficiency of antithrombin, protein C or S, factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A mutations), 84 of whom with previous VTE, and b) 180 subjects without ITA, matched for age, sex and previous VTE. All subjects were < 66 year old.ResultsCarotid plaques were found in 8 subjects [3 (1.9%) with ITA]. Increased IMT values (> 1 mm) were detected in 6 subjects with and 1 without thrombophilia (p = 0.055). The prevalence of IMT values > 90^th percentile was not different in subjects with/without thrombophilia (15.2% vs 11.6%, p = 0.416). At multivariate analysis only age was significantly associated with increased odds ratios for IMT values > 90^th percentile. No subjects had abnormal (< 0.9) ABI values.ConclusionsThe present study, the first to investigate the presence of atherosclerotic markers in relatively young subjects with inherited thrombophilia, did not find a particular prevalence of signs of early atherosclerotic markers in these subjects.     

Treatment of Isolated Below the Knee Deep Vein Thrombosis

The natural history of isolated distal deep-vein thrombosis (IDDVT) is still uncertain, as well as the real clinical risks associated with the disease and the need for its diagnosis and treatment. While more and more IDDVTs are diagnosed in everyday clinical practice, their appropriate therapeutic management is, unfortunately, far from straightforward, and different recommendations on how patients with diagnosed IDDVT should be treated are present between expert professionals and even among international guidelines. The present article aims at briefly reviewing the issue of IDDVT therapy in general, particularly focusing on the different approaches to the treatment of the disease that have been suggested by recent guidelines, those that are currently adopted in clinical practice, and necessary future directions.     

A new rapid bedside assay for quantitative testing of D-Dimer (Cardiac D-Dimer) in the diagnostic work-up for deep vein thrombosis

The accuracy of a new bedside, rapid and quantitative D-Dimer assay (Cardiac D-Dimer) was evaluated in outpatients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT); VIDAS test was used as reference method. Eighty consecutive outpatients with suspected DVT of a lower limb were included in the study. Patients were classified as DVT positive or negative according to results of objective test (serial CUS), pretest clinical probability and 3-month follow-up. DVT was diagnosed in 32/80 patients (40%). The performance of the two D-Dimer assays was comparable, as indicated by the areas under the ROC curves (0.89 and 0.88, for Cardiac D-Dimer and VIDAS, respectively) and the coefficient of correlation (r=0.91). The reproducibility of the test was acceptable (from 6.2% to 12.0%). The sensitivity and negative predictive values were 100% for both tests. The specificity (SP) and positive predictive values (PPV) were similar (SP: 50.0% and 52.0%, PPV: 57.1% and 58.2%, for Cardiac D-Dimer and VIDAS, respectively). The Cardiac D-Dimer test proved to be very accurate and produced results fully comparable to those obtained with the VIDAS test. Since the test can be directly performed in the emergency room within a few minutes, it seems to have great clinical potential. The place of this assay in the diagnostic strategy of DVT remains to be determined in prospective management studies.     

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone protects the allograft in experimental heart transplantation

BACKGROUND: With the increasing need for organ transplantation and the use of "marginal" organs, novel approaches are sought to increase the efficiency and survival of transplanted tissue. We tested the idea that treatment with the anti-inflammatory peptide, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), an endogenous hormone that does not cause marked immunosuppression but does reduce reperfusion injury, may protect allografts and prolong their survival. METHODS: Donor cardiac grafts (Brown Norway) were transplanted heterotopically into the abdomen of recipient (Lewis) rats. Treatments consisted of intraperitoneal injections of Nle DPhe -alpha-MSH (NDP-alpha-MSH) or saline from the time of transplantation until sacrifice or spontaneous rejection. Allografts were removed on day 1, day 4, or at the time of rejection and examined for histopathology and expression of molecules prominent in reperfusion injury, transplant rejection, and apoptosis. RESULTS: NDP-alpha-MSH treatment caused a significant increase in allograft survival and a marked decrease in leukocyte infiltration. Expression of molecules such as endothelin 1, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, which are involved in allograft rejection, was significantly inhibited in NDP-alpha-MSH-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that protection of the allograft from early injury with alpha-MSH can postpone rejection. Addition of this early protection with the peptide to usual treatment with immunosuppressive agents may, therefore, improve success of organ transplants.