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R L Giuntoli

Publications and source records attributed to R L Giuntoli.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Mucin gene expression in ovarian cancers.

Ovarian cancer is a highly lethal disease with metastases present in the majority of patients at the time of diagnosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying the metastatic process of this cancer are not well understood. One family of cell-associated and secreted glycoproteins, the mucin glycoproteins, has been implicated in events leading to metastasis of several epithelial cancers including gastrointestinal and lung cancers. The purpose of this study was to characterize mucin gene expression in ovarian cancers and relate expression to tumor histology, stage, and patient survival. RNA was isolated from 29 epithelial ovarian cancers, 1 neuroendocrine carcinoma, 3 mixed mesodermal tumors, and two transformed, yet nonmalignant, ovarian epithelial cell lines. The expression of mucin genes, MUC1, 2, 3, 4, 5AC and 5B, was determined by northern analyses. Epithelial ovarian cancers expressed several mucins including MUC1, 2, 4, and 5AC; MUC3 and 5B were rarely expressed. In contrast, the transformed nonmalignant ovarian epithelial cell lines expressed only MUC1 and 5AC. Although there was no correlation of mucin expression with tumor histology, there was a significant decrease in expression of MUC3 and MUC4 with increasing cancer stage (P < 0.05). In addition, a trend toward improved patient survival occurred with increased expression of MUC4. These observations suggest a relationship between mucin gene expression and the metastatic process in epithelial ovarian cancers. Additional investigation of MUC3 and MUC4 in ovarian cancers may lead to new approaches for early detection and therapy.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1994

Expression of GDP-L-Fuc: Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc-R (Fuc to GlcNAc) alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase and its relationship to glycoprotein structure in a human erythroleukemia cell line, HEL.

Terminal glycosylation may be a mechanism to control the function of specific biologically active glycoproteins. The biosynthesis of terminal sialyl and fucosyl residues on certain glycoproteins has been linked to the expression of the respective glycosyltransferase. In contrast, a human erythroleukemia cell line, HEL, contained a highly active GDP-L-Fuc: Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc-R (Fuc to GlcNAc) alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase (alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase) but no detectable alpha-1,3-linked fucosyl residues on the glycoproteins. The alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase gave apparent Km values for Fuc(alpha 1-2)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc beta-O-benzyl, Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc and GDP-fucose of 0.04, 0.68 and 0.12 mM, respectively. The lack of detectable fucosyl residues in alpha-1,3-linkage to GlcNAc on the [3H]fucose-labeled glycoproteins was shown with the use of almond alpha-1,3/4-fucosidase and internal controls to verify that the enzyme was active. Using Western-blot analysis, HEL cell glycoproteins reacted with blood group H type-2 antibody, confirming the presence of Fuc(alpha 1-2)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc as reported by others and the presence of the preferred substrate for the enzyme. It is proposed that controls for terminal glycosylation in addition to glycosyltransferase expression are operative in HEL cells and that they are part of a multi-regulated process controlling terminal modifications of glycoproteins.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1990

Database management for a gynecologic oncology service.

With the ready availability of powerful desktop computers, the ability to manage large clinical databases has become practical. A computer can enhance the capability of a gynecologic oncology service to catalog, recall, and analyze data about patients, tumors, and therapies. While commercially available database packages can be used for this purpose, we have developed a custom database for tracking the clinical activity of a busy gynecologic oncology service. The system catalogs data about patients, admissions, tumors, and therapeutic modalities and uses this information to generate several useful reports. The reports are used for daily patient care, fellow and resident case statistics, and clinical research. What is unique about the system is that it is optimized for ease of use. The development of this tumor registry, its user friendliness, and advantages over a manual recordkeeping system are described. Unlike other tumor registries, our system is utilized on a daily basis for patient care. Therefore, the data being entered have an immediate usefulness in addition to being simultaneously added to the tumor register for retrospective clinical research. One may hypothesize that it would be useful if all gynecologic oncology services used a common computerized tumor registry that could allow for the sharing of information on a national or global scale.

Database Management Systems↗
PubMed1984

The second-look celiotomy in ovarian cancer.

Thirty-six patients with primary ovarian carcinoma who had 42 second-look procedures performed are reported. Twenty-three patients had no tumor found at the second-look celiotomy and were given no further treatment. Thirteen patients had tumor at the second-look procedure and were continued on therapy. Six patients have died with disease and all had a positive second-look celiotomy. Two patients have died with leukemia but with no evidence of ovarian cancer, one after a negative second-look and the other a negative third-look. No patient with a negative second-look celiotomy has died with disease. A correlation with respect to the findings at the second-look was found with respect to the stage of disease and the amount of residual tumor at the initial surgery. The use of the second-look celiotomy in patients with disease in the early stages and in patients treated with irradiation is discussed, along with the utilization of the laparoscopy.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1982

Pregnancy outcome in 98 women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, their mothers, and unexposed siblings.

The reproductive capability and labor complications of 98 women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero were compared with those of 3 separate control groups. The controls consisted of 167 age-matched, normal women, 20 siblings not exposed to DES who had achieved pregnancy, and their mothers. Spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, incompetent cervix, and premature labor occurred significantly more often in the DES-exposed population than in the normal controls. The controls also achieved a higher percentage of desired pregnancies overall; this was statistically significant (89.6 versus 75.0%, P less than .001). When compared with their mothers, however, the DES-exposed population achieved a greater percentage of desired, viable pregnancies (75.6 versus 67.0%, P less than .001). The unexposed siblings of the DES women achieved a higher percentage of desired, viable pregnancies than did their exposed sisters (86.9 versus 73.6%, P = .274), but less than the normal population (86.9 versus 89.6%).

Abortion, Incomplete↗
PubMed1979

Successful treatment of human genital herpes infections with 2-deoxy-D-glucose.

Thirty-six women with genital herpes infections (proved by virological or cytological means) were treated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study with the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose for a three-week period. In initial mucocutaneous cases, 89% were cured, with two recurrences after 24 months; in the case of recurrent or secondary infections, 90% had a notable improvement manifested by no or less-frequent recurrences, fewer lesions, or shortened duration of symptoms. In initial infections, discomfort cleared within 12 to 72 hours of therapy; 90% of the patients were asymptomatic within four days. In both cases, virus shedding was notably reduced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Concomitant controls treated with placebos failed to respond within this time frame. The use of 2-deoxy-D-glucose provides a simple and unique approach to the treatment of genital herpesvirus infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The 'problem' radical hysterectomy.

This is a study of 243 radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy procedures performed for gynecologic malignancy. The term 'problem' radical hysterectomy was applied to those patients with one of the following conditions: (1) recent cervical conization (within 21 days). (2) previous total or supravaginal hysterectomy, (3) pregnancy, or (4) previous pelvic radiation. There were 88 patients in theses categories. One hundred and fifty-five patients had none of these predisposing problems which might influence operative or postoperative complications. There were two deaths (0.82 per cent). There was no statistically significant difference in operative injuries to the bladder, ureters, or rectum or in the mean operative time and mean blood loss across the categories. However, there was a statistically significant difference across the categories in postoperative complicatons, both major and minor. The greatest incidence of such complications occurred in patients who had previous radiation therapy and the second greatest incidence was in patients who had recent cervical conization. Pregnant patients had the least number of complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Intralymphatic BCG in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies: a phase I study.

Thirteen patients with a variety of advanced gynecologic malignancies were administered BCG via the dorsal lymphatics of the lower extremity in addition to standard accepted forms of therapy. Prolonged febrile courses, lymphangitis and suppurative adenitis were observed along the lymphatic pathway of the injected lower limbs. There was no correlation between reaction to a standard anergy panel and survival. There was also no correlation between reaction to a standard anergy panel and the inflammatory response to intralymphatic BCG (ILP-BCG). There was, however, a positive correlation between the inflammatory response to ILP-BCG and survival. Intralymphatic administration of immunostimulants may conceivably be of value as ancillary therapy for use in gynecologic malignancy. However, complications of this approach to immunotherapy are significant and the method should not be used until complications are decreased.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Androgenic function of a granulosa cell tumor.

Virilizing granulosa cell tumors are uncommon and have not been well studied hormonally. A hirsute woman with a cystic granulosa cell tumor of the ovary is presented. Plasma hormone levles obtained before and after surgery indicate testosterone production by the tumor with LH and FSH suppression. Plasma testosterone (T) and T-index returned to normal after tumor removal, and ovulation resumed.

Adult↗