Induction of programmed cell death in human breast cancer cells by an unsymmetrically alkylated polyamine analogue

The need for antineoplastic compounds with novel mechanisms of action is great. One such agent is the recently synthesized polyamine analogue N1-ethyl-N11-((cyclopropyl)methyl)-4,8-diazaundecane (CPENSpm). Exposure of hormone-dependent and -independent human breast cancer cells to 0.1-10 microM CPENSpm led to both growth inhibition and induction of programmed cell death. Fragmentation of DNA to high molecular weight fragments and oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, both characteristic of programmed cell death, was determined to be time and concentration dependent. Depletion of natural polyamine pools and accumulation of the analogue was also demonstrated. These data provide the first evidence that a polyamine analogue induces programmed cell death.     

Bougienage of esophagus in critical burn strictures

Bougienage was made in 625 patients with burn strictures of the esophague which made up 59.4% of all patients (1053) who have undergone treatment since 1966 to October 1977 in Research Center of Surgery. Indications and contraindications for bougienage are discussed. In patients with short strictures (146) good effect was obtained in 83.1% of cases, in long strictures (803) the bougienage was effective in 61.1% of patients, in total strictures (104) good and favourable results were obtained in 26.2% of cases. Bougienage is an important method of treatment for patients with burn strictures of the esophagus, as well as a method of preoperative preparation.     

Broad spectrum chemokine antagonistic activity of a human poxvirus chemokine homolog

A secreted CC chemokine homolog, encoded by the MC148 gene of molluscum contagiosum virus, potently interfered with the chemotaxis of human monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in response to a large number of CC and CXC chemokines with diverse receptor specificities. Evidence that the viral protein binds to human chemokine receptors was obtained by competition binding and calcium mobilization experiments. The broad spectrum chemokine antagonistic activity of MC148 can explain the prolonged absence of an inflammatory response in skin tumors that harbor replicating molluscum contagiosum virus.