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J Shamash

Publications and source records attributed to J Shamash.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

In vitro testing of calcium channel blockers and cytotoxic chemotherapy in B-cell low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The flux of calcium forms an important intracellular messenger system. The bcl-2 oncoprotein is thought to make cells resistant to a variety of insults, including cytotoxic drugs, by the suppression of apoptosis, which appears to involve the repartitioning of intracellular calcium. Three drugs that affect calcium pathways and may influence this repartitioning, i.e. dantrolene, azumolene (a water-soluble dantrolene analogue) and nimodipine, were studied in cell culture, using both a transformed follicle centre lymphoma cell line and primary culture of lymphoma cells in vitro in a manner that resulted in a growth pattern closely resembling that of the malignancy in vivo. Dantrolene and azumolene were potent inducers of cell death in both systems reducing the viable cell count by 70-90% in comparison with normal controls. Nimodipine, in comparison, appeared to have no significant effect. These results obtained in an in vitro setting suggest that further evaluation of dantrolene and azumolene for the treatment of low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is warranted.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

Spying at work.

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Employment

Larger units best.

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Health Care Reform

Mantle cell lymphoma: natural history defined in a serially biopsied population over a 20-year period.

BACKGROUND: The histological, immunological and molecular characteristics of mantle cell lymphoma have only recently been delineated. Amongst these characteristics possible factors of prognostic significance include histological growth pattern and blastoid change. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 66 previously untreated cases of mantle cell lymphoma were identified in a retrospective analysis. In 50 cases serial biopsies had been taken during the disease and in 20 cases autopsies had been performed. Besides established factors of prognostic significance, histological growth pattern and blastoid change were examined. RESULTS: 32 patients achieved an initial complete remission or good partial remission with most cases relapsing or progressing within 2 years. The median survival was 36 months. Factors predicting a poor outcome were high presenting stage, age > 70, low sodium, low albumin and splenomegaly. Blastoid transformation was also a poor prognostic feature, occurring in 32% of cases during life and in 70% of autopsies. Histological growth pattern had no influence on outcome. CONCLUSION: This study emphasises the difficulties in treating mantle cell lymphoma and the high frequency and prognostic importance of histological transformation.

Aged

Induction of CD80 expression in low-grade B cell lymphoma--a potential immunotherapeutic target.

The CD80 antigen (B7) is expressed on activated B lymphocytes. It is thought to be important in eliciting a T cell response via its ligands CD28 and CTLA-4 when antigen is presented in the presence of the MHC-1 peptide. Low-grade B cell lymphomas analysed by flow cytometry express CD80 very poorly. However, when grown in vitro using the IL-4/anti-CD40 stromal cell culture system, following depletion of T and IgD-bearing cells, a monoclonal B cell expansion occurs. Cells harvested at days 10-13 express the antigen strongly, regardless of the histological subtype of lymphoma. Further investigation of CD80-mediated immune functions may be possible using this system as a basis for testing immunotherapy.

B7-1 Antigen

Acetazolamide for alkalinisation of urine in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate.

Acetazolamide, 500 mg 6 hourly, has been used to alkalinise the urine in patients receiving high dose methotrexate. A urinary pH of greater than 7.5 was achieved in every cycle (13 cycles in 10 patients). In 6 cycles a single supplementary dose of sodium bicarbonate was necessary. Plasma methotrexate levels fell satisfactorily at 24 and 48 h. Acetazolamide is a simple and effective method of achieving urinary alkalinisation with advantages over oral and intravenous bicarbonate.

Acetazolamide

Hypercalcemia in atypical bronchial carcinoid tumors.

Atypical carcinoid tumors of the bronchial tree are uncommon. Their tendency to metastasize is well recognized, characteristically producing osteoblastic bone deposits without disturbance of calcium homeostasis. We report two patients who presented with hypercalcemia and osteolytic bone metastases following surgical removal of atypical bronchial carcinoid tumors. In one of the patients, chemotherapy induced remission and controlled the hypercalcemia.

Aged

In the line of fire.

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Crime Victims

Great expectations.

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Humans