Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Post

Publications and source records attributed to S Post.

134 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Improvement of hepatic microhemodynamics by N-acetylcysteine after warm ischemia.

In this study we investigated the influence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the hepatic microcirculation after warm ischemia by intravital fluorescence microscopy. Clamping of the left liver lobe was performed in 20 male Wistar rats for 70 min. The treatment group (n = 10) received 400 mg NAC/kg body weight 20 min prior to clamping. After reperfusion, acinar and sinusoidal perfusions were observed as well as the leukocyte-endothelium interaction. Phagocytic activity was assessed after application of latex beads. NAC reduced the number of nonperfused sinusoids in all acinar zones. A reduction in zone 1 (portal) was achieved from 15.5 to 7.1% (p < 0.0001), in zone 2 (midzonal) from 14.6 to 6.1% (p < 0.0001) and in zone 3 (central) from 11.9 to 2.9% (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in leukocyte adherence as well as in phagocytic activity detectable. We conclude that NAC improves hepatic microcirculation after warm ischemia by increasing sinusoidal blood flow.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The woman's voice. Social policy should be gender specific.

The burdens of the elderly cannot be fully understood in a nonfeminist framework--that is, one that does not consider women's special concerns--for these burdens fall primarily on women. Surprisingly little attention has been given to the woman's voice in discussions of the aging society, but times are changing. Elaine M. Brody defines "women in the middle" as those who care for a parent or parent-in-law while also fulfilling parental duties and possibly working outside the home. Even the traditionalist who stridently affirms filial caretaking must recognize that these duties have limits. Obligations to one's parents or parents-in-law, to one's children, and to oneself can conflict. Some dismiss the need to develop support programs for family caretakers. Familial care for the elderly is the ideal. Government can assist families, however, without being invasive. The fastest way to deplete caring is not to care for the care giver. This debate is not gender neutral. Those in need of respite are most often women. Feminist and nonfeminist women soon will find common cause in supporting new policies that ease the burdens of family caretaking.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radioimmunotherapy of colorectal cancer in small volume disease and in an adjuvant setting: preclinical evaluation in comparison to equitoxic chemotherapy and initial results of an ongoing phase-I/II clinical trial.

The 5-year survival of colorectal cancer patients with distant metastases is below 30%, despite the development and use of a variety of chemotherapeutic regimens. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are warranted. Whereas radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has shown disappointing results in bulky disease, it may be a promising therapeutic alternative in limited and small volume disease. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare, in a preclinical study, the therapeutic efficacy of RIT in colorectal cancer to equitoxic chemotherapy, as well as to evaluate, in a pilot clinical trial, its efficacy in small volume disease. Nude mice, bearing subcutaneous or metastatic human colon cancer xenografts, were injected either with the unlabeled or 131I-labeled monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), CO17-1A (which is a murine IgG2a directed against a 41-kD membrane glycoprotein) or F023C5 (which is an anti-CEA MAb of murine IgG1 subtype), or were administered 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU/LV) at equitoxic doses. In a pilot clinical study, 10 colorectal cancer patients with small volume metastatic disease (all lesions < or = 3 cm) have been entered so far in an ongoing mCi/m2-based dose escalation study with the 131I-labeled F023C5. In the animals, the maximum tolerated activities (MTD) of 131I-labeled CO17-1A and F023C5 were 300 microCi and 600 microCi, respectively, corresponding to blood doses of approximately 15 Gy each. Accordingly, myelotoxicity was dose-limiting. The MTD in the chemotherapy group was 0.6 mg 5-FU/1.8 mg LV, given as intravenous bolus 1 h apart for 5 subsequent days. Whereas no significant therapeutic effects were seen with both unlabeled MAbs or 5-FU/LV chemotherapy, tumor growth was retarded significantly with both radiolabeled antibodies. In the metastatic model, chemotherapy prolonged life for only a few weeks, whereas RIT led to cures in 35-55% of the animals. As was the case in the animals, myelotoxicity seems to be dose-limiting in patients as well. Encouraging anti-tumor effects were observed, lasting for up to more than 12 months. These data suggest that radioimmunotherapy may be a viable therapeutic option in colorectal cancer patients with limited disease. Myelotoxicity is the only dose-limiting organ toxicity. Although most patients were treated below the MTD, anti-tumor effects are encouraging. Further studies are ongoing.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of postoperative survival and angiogenic growth factors in pancreatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and EGF (epidermal growth factor) are promoters of angiogenesis. It was the aim of this study to investigate a possible coexpression of both growth factors in tumor samples of pancreatic cancer patients in relation to survival after resection of the tumor. METHODOLOGY: We investigated the expression of VEGF165 and EGF in tumor specimen from 19 patients that underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Growth factor expression was determined using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Coexpression of VEGF165 and EGF was observed in tumor samples of 9 (47%) patients. VEGF165 and EGF expression in the same tumor correlates significantly (P < 0.05, Fisher-test). UICC stage III pancreatic carcinoma patients with VEGF165 negative tumor cells had a significantly better outcome after surgery compared to UICC stage III patients with VEGF165-positive tumor cells (median survival time 19 months vs. 9 months respectively; P < 0.05, Wilcoxon-test). CONCLUSIONS: Antiangiogenic therapy after surgery for pancreatic cancer may be beneficial, especially for UICC III patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗