Conventional treatment for metastatic melanoma consists of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. New approaches toward treatment of this disease include the development of passive and active immunotherapeutic regimens. Malignant melanoma is particularly amendable to immunotherapy since the tumor is relatively immunogenic, expressing unique cell surface protein and lipid antigens. Clinical trials investigating the benefit of active specific immunotherapy documented increased survival of invasive Stage 1 and metastatic Stage 2 melanoma patients following immunization with tumor cell vaccines and BCG. Additional trials showed that the development of specific antibodies after immunization of Stage 2 patients with a viral oncolysate was correlated with an increased survival compared to matched controls given only BCG. Passive immunotherapy approaches using either lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) administered with interleukin 2 have also resulted in regression of disease with complete or partial remissions occurring in 25% of the patients. Additional studies have focused on the generation of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by stimulation with autologous tumor in vivo. Future trials will evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of these specific cytologic T lymphocytes relative to LAK and TIL.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Early CT findings of Fournier's gangrene in a healthy male.

Early clinical identification of Fournier's gangrene is imperative to avoid delay in the aggressive surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, and sometimes hyperbaric oxygen treatments. We report on the early computed tomography findings of a non-gas-forming Fournier's gangrene in a healthy male to aid urologists, surgeons, and radiologists in the recognition of this rapidly progressive and often fatal infection.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cloning and gene structure of the rod cGMP phosphodiesterase delta subunit gene (PDED) in man and mouse.

Rod-specific cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) is a key enzyme of the phototransduction cascade, and mutations in its catalytic subunits have been associated with retinal degenerative diseases. The bovine delta-subunit solubilises the normally membrane-bound PDE and is the only subunit expressed in extraocular tissues. We isolated the human and mouse orthologs, and found 78% identity at the DNA level and 98% identity at the protein level. The Caenorhabditis elegans homolog shows 69% identity at the protein level. The human PDED gene consisted of 5 exons spanning at least 30 kb of genomic DNA. Northern blot analysis showed a 1.3 kb transcript in human retina, heart, brain, placenta, liver, and skeletal muscle. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and radiation hybrid mapping localised the human PDED gene to chromosome 2q37. A preliminary screen of all 5 exons in 20 unrelated patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa revealed no PDED mutations.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Expert assessment of initial surgical management after experimental chemical eye burn].

BACKGROUND: Initial surgical treatment of severe eye burns is important for the long lasting healing period. To look closer at the efficacy of the early surgical treatment and the possible consequences for woundhealing, the surgical interventions were examined in an animal experiment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The right eye of 20 rabbits each was burned with 1 n NaOH for 30 seconds followed by a surgical treatment 48 hours later. In the first study necrosectomy, tenonplasty, application of an artificial epithelium and blepharoplasty was withdrawn and the fornices were prevented from cicatrization by mechanical treatment treatment with blunt spatula. Antiinflammatory depotinjection of Volon A 40 was applicated additionally. After an interval of 4-18 weeks the eyes were examined histologically. RESULTS: A higher risk for infections could be observed in eyes which underwent blepharorhaphy. Furthermore proliferative processes and corneal ulcerations were predominant. In contrast to these findings the latter complications could be prevented due to the clinical inspection of the artificial epithelium and described mechanical irritation of the fornices in the second study. DISCUSSION: It could be shown that proliferative processes are major complications after severe burns of the eye. Nevertheless the intensity could be minimized by the consequent therapy. Furthermore it could be demonstrated that the artificial epithelium is an effective tool providing good prognosis for subsequently planned keratoplasty. To enable necessary postoperative inspection blepharoplasty should be avoided.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative studies on the detection of benzodiazepines in serum by means of immunoassays (FPIA).

Serum was tested for benzodiazepines by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) on Abbott's ADx system using the benzodiazepine serum reagents (Benzo S) and the benzodiazepine urine reagents (Benzo U) after pretreatment of specimens by means of acetone precipitation. The following sera were included for comparing the two methods: negative sera spiked with various benzodiazepines; 80 sera randomly selected out of a total of 8654 serum specimens from impaired drivers; and blood specimens from individuals who stated that they had taken benzodiazepines. The different benzodiazepines were added to serum at concentrations of 25, 75, and 300 ng/mL. The low-dose benzodiazepines flunitrazepam and triazolam were additionally tested at serum concentrations of 10 ng/mL. Because of the better reproducibility and the shift of the dynamic range to lower concentrations, the Benzo S assay was found to be more sensitive than the Benzo U assay after acetone precipitation. The direct ADx benzodiazepine serum assay has clear advantages over the acetone precipitation method, especially with regard to therapeutic concentrations and for the detection of the highly potent and low-dose benzodiazepines flunitrazepam and triazolam.

Antibody Specificity↗

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The determination of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCCOOH) in meconium.

The determination of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCCOOH), the major urinary metabolite of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in meconium is extremely difficult because of the high concentration of lipids in the specimen and the low concentration of drug present. A simple, robust, analytical procedure for the screening and confirmation of THCCOOH in meconium is presented. To our knowledge, the procedure is the first published method for the successful confirmation of THCCOOH in meconium and is used routinely in our laboratory for the purpose of detecting marijuana use during pregnancy.

Dronabinol↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interactions between ocular surface fluid and cornea related to contact lenses.

PURPOSE: To improve the quantification of damage to the ocular surface, metabolite levels, electrolyte concentrations, and enzyme activities were assayed in corneal epithelium, stroma and tears. METHODS: In rabbits, rinsing or contact lenses were used to induce microtrauma. For more severe trauma, experimental injuries were induced with 1 N NaOH. Human accidents included epithelial lesions and mild chemical burns. Enzymatic test systems and electron dispersive X-ray analyses (EDXA) were employed. Corneal hydration was assessed by wet and dry weights. Interleukins were analysed with ELISA. RESULTS: In contrast to normal eyes, in ocular surface trauma the interaction between tear fluid and cornea played an important part. After wearing contact lenses or rinsing, glucose and lactate levels in the cornea and in tears increased, and ATP and glycogen in the cornea decreased. After epithelial lesions, N-acetylglucose aminidase (NAcGA, E.C.3.2.1.50) was released into the tears. Epithelial defects alone and--much more--rinsing the denuded stromal surface produced an increase of lactate and glucose in tears and a dramatic fall in Na, Cl, and S levels in the stroma. Rinsing with phosphate induced corneal calcification. IL-1 and IL-6 were increased in human corneal buttons from patients with trauma and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical analyses may be useful to quantify trauma to the ocular surface.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Measuring method for the X-ray cine-densitometry of moving vessels (author's transl)].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Latex hypersensitivity reactions despite prophylaxis.

Latex rubber hypersensitivity represents a significant problem facing the medical, surgical, radiologic, and dental professions. As a tertiary care center, the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia has a large population of patients with spina bifida and complex genitourinary anomalies; a number of these children have latex rubber allergy, which may first present as intraoperative anaphylaxis. Although there is no substitute for complete antigen avoidance, all medical products containing latex rubber may not have suitable alternatives. Therefore, we have formulated a protocol to prevent perioperative reactions through the use of prophylactic medications and the limitation of latex exposure. This regimen includes steroids, antihistamines, and bronchodilators when indicated. In four children, prophylaxis failed perioperatively because of parenteral infusion of latex rubber proteins.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computer tomography in children with electrophysiological abnormalities.

A computed tomography examination was carried out in a group of 43 children, of whom 15 had learning disabilities (LD). Children were selected with electrophysiological abnormalities in the routine EEG, in the quantitative EEG analysis and/or in the visual cortical and auditory brainstem evoked responses. Seven children, 1 control and 6 LD, had abnormalities in the computed tomography. The most frequent localization of the lesion was the left temporal lobe. This localization might explain the origin of the learning disorder, since the left temporal lobe is involved in reading and writing processes. There was a great concordance between the anatomical localization of the lesion by the computed tomography and the place of electrical abnormalities in the quantitative EEG and the visual evoked responses. These results strongly support the indication of a computed tomography examination in LD children.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hantavirus reservoir hosts associated with peridomestic habitats in Argentina.

Five species of sigmodontine rodents have been identified in Argentina as the putative reservoirs of six circulating hantavirus genotypes. Two species of Oligoryzomys are associated with the genotypes causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Oligoryzomys flavescens for Lechiguanas and O. longicaudatus for Andes and Oran genotypes. Reports of human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome prompted rodent trapping (2,299 rodents of 32 species during 27,780 trap nights) at potential exposure sites in three disease-endemic areas. Antibody reactive to Sin Nombre virus was found in six species, including the known hantavirus reservoir species. Risk for peridomestic exposure to host species that carry recognized human pathogens was high in all three major disease-endemic areas.

Animals↗