Putative liver progenitor cells: conditions for long-term survival in culture

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We operated on three patients with leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. METHODS: Complete excision was possible in all three patients. RESULTS: One patient developed widespread metastasis at 23 months, one patient is alive with no evidence of disease at 70 months, and one patient is alive at 15 months. The third patient had subcutaneous and pulmonary metastases at the time of presentation, which are radiologically nondetectable at present following postoperative chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The clinicopathologic features, prognostic factors, and treatment of 130 cases found in a comprehensive literature search and our three cases are reported.     

A novel model to study the effects of burn lymph on pulmonary vascular hemodynamic variables

The possible hypocholesterolaemic properties of milk and fermented milk products have been investigated in groups of albino rats given a basal diet, basal diet plus cholesterol, and basal diet plus cholesterol together with whole milk or standard or bifidus yogurt. The yogurts were fortified with skim milk powder, condensed whey or lactose-hydrolysed condensed whey. After 30 d, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were measured in serum. Whole milk and ordinary yogurt had no hypocholesterolaemic effect, but standard yogurt containing lactose-hydrolysed condensed whey and all bifidus yogurts lowered serum cholesterol. In general, yogurts changed HDL-cholesterol little, but tended to raise triacylglycerols. There was marked lowering of LDL-cholesterol in rats given either type of yogurt fortified with whey proteins. This study has demonstrated in a rat model that bifidus yogurts and yogurts fortified with whey proteins can reduce total and LDL-cholesterol, and suggests that if they have the same effect in human subjects they have potential value in cholesterol-lowering diets.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. III. Treatment of regional lymph nodes

We analyzed the management of regional lymph nodes in 110 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis treated at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between 1956 and 1989 with curative intent. Of 66 patients who presented with unsuspected nodes 57 were placed on a surveillance program, while lymph node dissection was performed in 5 (with adjuvant external radiation therapy in 1) and 4 were treated with external radiation therapy only. The management of 40 patients with clinically suspected nodes included surveillance in 5, lymph node dissection in 27 (with adjuvant radiotherapy in 11), biopsy in 4 and external radiation therapy in 4. Postoperative radiotherapy had been given if more than 2 nodes were involved or when extracapsular growth was observed. Overall, 25 patients had a regional recurrence, 5 of whom could be cured subsequently. All regional recurrences developed within 2 years after primary treatment. Analysis showed 100% survival in histologically proved node negative patients (stage pN0). The success of lymph node dissection was related to the extent of the metastatic spread and to the number of involved nodes. Patients with 1 positive node and unilateral inguinal involvement showed a statistically significant survival advantage compared to patients with more extensive spread. Considering the indications for node dissection we found a clear relationship among T category, grade and the probability of lymph node invasion. Patients with stage T1 tumors and stage T2, grades 1 and 2 tumors presented significantly less often with lymphatic invasion than those with other categories of disease and were less likely to have a regional recurrence after treatment of the primary tumor only. In these categories we recommend surveillance of the regional lymph nodes in patients who present with unsuspected nodes. However, patients with stage T2 grade 3, stage T3 and operable stage T4 tumors should undergo an immediate inguinal node dissection because of the high probability of clinically occult lymph node invasion (in our material more than 50%). With respect to the extent of the node dissection, we found that the likelihood of spread to the contralateral and/or pelvic regions was related to the number of invaded nodes in the inguinal region. We recommend contralateral node dissection and unilateral pelvic node dissection when 2 or more positive nodes are found in the dissected groin specimen. Primary pelvic node dissection should be performed in patients who present initially with cytologically or biopsy proved positive inguinal nodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

An anti-IL-2 antibody increases serum half-life and improves anti-tumor efficacy of human recombinant interleukin-2

We examined the ability of anti-human recombinant interleukin-2 (hu rIL-2) monoclonal antibody DMS-1.10 to increase serum half-life of hu rIL-2, and the effect of this complex on inhibition of tumor progression in a B16-F10 murine melanoma model. In C57B1/6 mice, intravenous (i.v.) injection of DMS-1.10 premixed with 1 x 10(4) units (U) of hu rIL-2 at a 1:1 molar ratio extended serum half-life greater than 10-fold (222 min) when compared to the same dose of hu rIL-2 alone (20 min). In a murine tumor model, multiple intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of non-neutralizing DMS-1.10 premixed with hu rIL-2 at a 5:1 molar ratio reduced the growth rate of subcutaneous (s.c.) B16-F10 tumor in C57B1/6 mice by 64% when compared to PBS and irrelevant antibody treated controls. Although similar treatment with hu rIL-2 alone reduced tumor growth rate by 46%, it was significantly less effective than the premixed treatment. Results from a flow cytometry assay confirm B16-F10 does not have IL-2 receptors, precluding direct inhibition of tumor growth by hu rIL-2 treatments. We propose that therapeutic efficacy of hu rIL-2 is improved by prolonging the in vivo half-life with an anti-IL-2 antibody, thus augmenting hu rIL-2 bioactivity and enhancing the hosts immune response against tumor.     

Cardiovascular, renal, and neurohumoral responses to single large-volume paracentesis in patients with cirrhosis and diuretic-resistant ascites

OBJECTIVE: Large volume paracentesis is an effective treatment for refractory ascites, but the need for routine infusion of albumin or other volume expanders remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the short term effects of a single 5-L paracentesis without albumin replacement on total central blood volume, systemic and renal hemodynamics, sodium homeostasis, and neurohumoral factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis and tense, diuretic-resistant ascites were studied before and 48 h after a single 5-L paracentesis without albumin infusion. Systemic hemodynamics and total central blood volume were assessed using radionuclide angiography. Glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow were measured by inulin and para-aminohippurate clearances, respectively. Lithium clearance was used as an index of proximal tubular reabsorption of sodium. In addition, plasma concentrations of neurohumoral factors were determined. RESULTS: Total central blood volume was 2.41 +/- 0.33 L/m2 (mean +/- SEM) before and 2.34 +/- 0.18 L/m2 48 h after large volume paracentesis (p = 0.76). Similarly, no differences were detected in the cardiac index, glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, urinary sodium excretion, hematocrit, plasma renin activity, or concentrations of plasma aldosterone, norepinephrine, or atrial natriuretic factor. CONCLUSIONS: A single large volume paracentesis without albumin replacement causes no disturbances in systemic and renal hemodynamics 48 h after the procedure. These results suggest that a single 5-L paracentesis without albumin infusion is a safe and satisfactory short term option for the management of patients with cirrhosis and tense, diuretic-resistant ascites.     

"Even", integral indicators in systemic mathematical analysis of fatigue

The article considers 3 different points of view on systemic mathematical analysis of human fatigue process. In this case, the same physiologic information is processed according to various algorithms for integral and digital estimates of lowered performance and energy expenditure, as well as indirect characteristics of inhibition and excitation processes in the brain cortex. The mathematical results are applied in computer forecasting of individual occupational risk at the specific workplace.