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Biomedical subjects

T D Nguyen

Publications and source records attributed to T D Nguyen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Lipid processing and lipoprotein synthesis by the developing human fetal colon.

Despite significant progress in the elucidation of the ontogeny of gastrointestinal function, little attention has been given to colonic lipid processing during development. The major purpose of this study was to explore the intracellular phase of fat absorption, lipid synthesis, and secretion in the human fetal colon compared with the jejunum originating from the same fetuses. The synthesis of lipids and major apolipoproteins was examined using cultured fetal colonic explants incubated with [14C]oleic acid and [36S]methionine, respectively. Fetal colonic explants demonstrated substantial ability to incorporate [14C]oleic acid (dpm/mg protein) into phospholipids (48,743 +/- 4,783), triglycerides (25,687 +/- 2,469), and cholesteryl esters (6,751 +/- 1,227). The total amount of radiolabeled lipids was much higher within the tissue (87,472 +/- 9,142) than in the medium (51,916 +/- 4,970), indicating a limited capacity of the fetal colon to export newly synthesized lipids. The limited colonic lipid secretory process was even more evident when compared with homologous fetal jejunal de novo synthesized lipids in tissue (133,975 +/- 13,836) and medium (279,858 +/- 1,610), respectively. Similar to the jejunum, the colon was able to elaborate all the phospholipid classes, with phosphatidylcholine accounting for > 70% of tissue phospholipids. However, their individual levels were present in lesser amounts in the colon (P < 0.001). Colonic explants elaborated most of the major lipoprotein classes but were less efficient than jejunal explants in exporting chylomicrons (33-fold), very low density lipoprotein (1.5-fold), and high-density lipoprotein (9-fold) into the medium. Apolipoprotein (apo) B synthesis and apo B mRNA editing were comparable in colonic and jejunal explants; thus they are not responsible for the defective lipoprotein secretion in the fetal large bowel. These results establish for the first time te capability of the human fetal colon to form, but not to efficiently transport, lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins.

Apolipoproteins B↗

Dog pancreatic duct epithelial cells: long-term culture and characterization.

Epithelial cells, isolated from a normal dog pancreatic duct, were grown on collagen-coated culture inserts suspended above a feeder layer of myofibroblasts. The cells were examined by transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, and flow cytometry. In addition, the constitutive and agonist-stimulated mucin secretion of these cells was studied using a [3H]N-acetyl-D-glucosamine labeling assay, and the stimulation of intracellular cAMP was measured. Cells grown on inserts with a feeder layer developed into confluent monolayers consisting of strictly polarized columnar epithelial cells with prominent microvilli, intercellular junctions, and normal chromosomal characteristics. They could be passaged repeatedly without a detectable alteration in their morphology. The cells could also be grown on organotypic cultures, resulting in further differentiated cells simulating in vivo morphology. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of carbonic anhydrase II in these cells. Cells treated with vasoactive intestinal peptide, epinephrine, and dibutyryl-cAMP demonstrated a marked increase in mucin secretion compared with controls. In parallel experiments, VIP and epinephrine significantly increased intracellular cAMP. In conclusion we have developed a pancreatic epithelial cell preparation with morphology, cytokinetics, chromosomal, and DNA analyses characteristic of normal cells. Similar to normal columnar epithelial cells, these pancreatic duct cells secreted mucin constitutively and responded to agonist by increasing secretion via a cAMP-mediated pathway. They also contained carbonic anhydrase, which indicates that the cells are capable of secreting bicarbonate.

Animals↗

[In vivo evaluation of potential doubling time (Tpot) of tumors by flow cytometry: practical difficulties and possible solutions].

Kinetic parameters of tumor growth yield predictive values and allow an optimisation of the treatment schedule, especially for fractionation in radiotherapy. Among those parameters, the labelling index (LI) and the potential doubling time (Tpot) may be measured by flow cytometry, a semi-quantitative analysis, after in vivo administration of iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) to humans. This Begg's recommended methodology needs the selection of thresholds and gates whose boundaries are arbitrary. They can be positioned on a more objective basis using a negative control (aspecific fixation). Moreover a previous identification of the different cell populations of the tumour samples according to the method of Vindelov allows a better determination of these cell populations processing IdUrd-DNA staining. This procedure was used with 11 tumour biopsies including mainly head and neck cancers. This method displayed results similar to the literature concerning LI and Tpot determinations as well as shortened Tpot when the patients recurred. One sample has no labelling at all. A small fraction, likewise up to 10% of cells exhibiting on S DNA content were not labelled by IdUrd. These cells leave the S phase or progress too slowly in order to display IdUrd uptake. Intra-tumoral hypoxia is a possible explanation of these findings. DNA ploidy and the percentage of cells in S phase could be worth while to precise the relationship between DNA index and tumour kinetic. The measurement of Tpot could also be used in other cancers and for optimisation of dose of chemotherapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy for invasive thymomas: a multicentric retrospective review of 90 cases. The FNCLCC trialists. Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer.

PURPOSE: Thymoma is a rare disease. The treatment of patients with invasive thymoma remains controversial. The prognosis of such patients is poor, even with the use of postoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome and prognostic factors in a series of 90 patients presenting with an invasive thymoma treated by partial resection or biopsy and radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1979-1990, 163 patients with the diagnosis of lymphoepithelial thymoma were treated in 10 French cancer centers. Patients were staged using the postoperative "GETT" classification derived from that of Masaoka. Ninety patients who presented with an invasive thymoma, 58 Stage III (21 IIIA: partial resection and 37 IIIB: biopsy) and 32 Stage IVA (intrathoracic thymoma spread), are the subject of this report. Treatment combined surgery and radiation therapy (+/- chemotherapy), with curative intent. Surgery consisted of partial resection in 31 patients (21 Stage III), and biopsy in 55 patients (37 Stage III). The median radiation dose to the tumor was 50 Gy (30-70 Gy). Supraclavicular radiation was performed in 59 patients (median dose 40 Gy). Chemotherapy, combined with radiation in 59 patients, consisted of multidrug regimens, mainly platinum based. RESULTS: The median follow-up is 105 months (20-165 months). The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates are 51 and 39%, respectively. There is a great impact of the extent of surgery on survival: the 5- and 10-year survival rates were 64% and 43%, respectively, after partial resection, compared to 39% and 31% after biopsy (p < 0.02). Local control at 8.5 years was obtained in 59 of 90 patients (66%): 40 Stage III, 19 Stage IVA. There is a significant relationship between the extent of surgery and the local control (16% of relapse after partial resection vs. 45% after biopsy, p < 0.05). Seven patients developed significant (grades 3-4 WHO grading system) treatment-induced side effects. Stage, histologic type, and chemotherapy were not prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: In this large multicentric retrospective study of invasive thymomas (Stage III-IVA) treated by surgery and radiation, results show the importance of loco-regional treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy. There is also a great impact of radiation on local control. However, the rate of local recurrence (34%) justifies recommending a higher dose of radiation (> 50 Gy) than doses used in this study, for incompletely resected patients. The role of chemotherapy needs to be further assessed.

Adolescent↗

Studies of mitochondria in oxidative embryotoxicity.

While the limb bud and brain of the rat develop abnormally in response to transient uteroplacental hypoperfusion during late gestation, the heart appears to be protected. These malformations have been associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Studies were designed to examine superoxide generation by mitochondrial electron transport particles (ETP) from adult and conceptal tissues and to investigate characteristics that could be responsible for heightened concentrations of ROS in sensitive tissues. Parameters investigated included NADH oxidase and cytochrome c oxidase activities, cytochrome content, and superoxide dismutase activity. NADH oxidase activities were significantly lower in sensitive tissues that also developed the highest concentrations of superoxide. Because ETP from adult CNS also had low NADH oxidase activity but did not show increased concentrations of superoxide, inhibition of electron transport did not adequately account for increased ROS concentrations. The reduced NADH oxidase activity of sensitive tissues could not be caused by inhibition at the cytochrome c oxidase region since this latter activity equaled or exceeded the former in all instances. No significant differences were found in the cytochrome contents of different tissues. There was significantly less superoxide dismutase activity in homogenates prepared from either of the two sensitive conceptual tissues compared with those from insensitive conceptual or adult tissues. These studies confirm the presence of heightened concentrations of superoxide anion radical in ETP from teratogenically sensitive tissues and suggest that these concentrations may result primarily from decreased activity of superoxide dismutase(s) in those tissues. Superoxide anion radical could therefore be available to participate in the generation of the more toxic oxidant species such as the hydroxyl radical.

Animals↗

Solubilization of receptors for pancreatic polypeptide from rat liver membranes.

We have previously identified, on rat liver microsomes and plasma membranes, proteins that bind pancreatic polypeptide (PP) with high affinity and specificity and that may serve as receptors for a hepatic effect of PP (J. Biol. Chem. 267: 9416-9421, 1992). Further characterization of these proteins requires the solubilization of receptors with conserved ability to bind PP selectively and efficiently. In this report, using 6 mM of the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), we solubilized, from liver microsomes, receptors that bound PP with high affinity (dissociation constant 6.15 +/- 1.6 nM) and specificity (no interaction with the homologous peptides neuropeptide Y and peptide YY). Gel filtration chromatography showed different degrees of receptor aggregation related to different concentrations of CHAPS in the eluent. To characterize the structure of these solubilized receptors, the chemical cross-linker N-(5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxy)succinimide was used to covalently bind these receptors to radiolabeled PP, and the resulting PP-receptor complexes were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A radioactive band with an apparent molecular weight (M(r)) of 46,000 was detected that was inhibited by unlabeled PP with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of approximately 10(-8) M. It most likely reflected a PP receptor with an estimated M(r) of 42,000, excluding the molecular weight of PP. The migration of this complex was not affected by the reducing agent dithiothreitol, suggesting the absence of disulfide bonding. The solubilization and identification of a bioactive hepatic PP receptor will allow further characterization and purification of this receptor and will lead to the clarification of the interaction between PP and the digestive system.

Animals↗

[Postoperative radiotherapy in carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. Work of the "Groupe radiothérapie de la Féderation national des centres de lutte le cancer"].

Between January 1980 to December 1985, 248 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus were retrospectively analysed. Criteria for inclusion in the study were the following: no previous treatment and treatment combining total pharyngolaryngectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. Mean follow up was 5 years with a minimum of 3 years. Seventy-one patients had a local regional recurrence (27.4%). Clinical staging at presentation and residual tumor at the primary site after surgery were factors significantly associated with higher local failure rates. The 5 year survival rate was 33% and the median survival time was 32 months (plateau was reached after the 6th year). The most frequent severe complication observed was pharyngeal stenosis occurring in 6% of the cases. This study confirms the poor prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus, in spite of the combination of radical surgery and high dose postoperative radiotherapy.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Modulation of human colonic T84 cell secretion by hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a reactive oxygen species that can be produced in the digestive tract by inflammatory cells or during reperfusion following ischemia. To evaluate a possible direct effect of H2O2 on epithelial secretory cells, well-differentiated colonic T84 cells were grown to confluence on permeable membranes and studied in Ussing chambers. In this model, where the measured short-circuit current (Isc) reflects electrogenic secretion, we observed that H2O2 stimulated a concentration-dependent and transient secretory response: 5.5 mM H2O2 produced a peak Isc of 12.4 microA/cm2 after 4 min, 2.2 mM H2O2 a peak Isc of 7.9 microA/cm2 after 4 min, and 1.1 mM H2O2 a peak Isc of 5.5 microA/cm2 after 16 min (N = 5). When 97 experiments using 5.5 mM H2O2 were reviewed, the mean peak Isc response was 8.9 +/- 0.5 microA/cm2. A similar secretory response was elicited whether H2O2 was added to the serosal, to the mucosal, or simultaneously to both sides of the T84 cell monolayer. This secretory response reflected transcellular chloride secretion because it was inhibited by the depletion of chloride in the medium and by the suppression of the Na+,K+,2Cl- co-transporter activity necessary for the chloride gradient driving chloride secretion. When T84 cell monolayer resistance was studied, 5.5 mM H2O2 produced a transient decrease in resistance, reflecting transcellular chloride secretion, and a gradual decline in resistance (75% of the initial value after 55 min). The secretory response to H2O2 was increased 2-fold in T84 cells maximally stimulated with 10 nM vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a neuropeptide which acts via cAMP, demonstrating synergism between the two agents. In contrast, the secretory responses produced by H2O2 and carbachol, which acts through the Ca2+ pathway, were additive. A late inhibitory effect of H2O2 was also observed: in cells previously treated with 5.5 mM H2O2, the subsequent secretory responses to either VIP or carbachol were partially inhibited. These secretory effects were specific for the oxidant properties of H2O2 because they were inhibited by 450 U/mL catalase and by 5 mM dithiothreitol, but were unaffected by 50 microM deferoxamine B or Fe3+. H2O2 may be a potential modulator of intestinal or colonic secretion in certain pathologic conditions such as inflammation or ischemia-reperfusion.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Prognosis of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing seminoma treated by postoperative radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To clarify the controversy about the management and prognosis of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing seminoma, the records of 132 patients with abnormal human chorionic gonadotropin values treated with radiotherapy were analyzed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 1169 patients with pure seminoma treated in 10 institutions were screened for serum or urinary human chorionic gonadotropin. One hundred and thirty two patients with elevated human chorionic gonadotropin were found: 96 Stage I, 20 IIA, 7 IIB, 8 III and 1 IV. Median age was 34 y., mean follow-up was 5.0 years [range 1-12 y]. All received infradiaphragmatic radiotherapy (median dose 30 Gy), 25 (2 Stage I, 11 IIA, 5 IIB and 7 III) supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy (median dose: 28.5 Gy) and 10 had also initial chemotherapy (3 Stage IIB 6 III and 1 IV). Patients were allocated to three groups according to human chorionic gonadotropin values: (a) moderate elevation: up to 10 times (104 pts), (b) high elevation: 10 to 100 times (20 pts), (c) very high elevation: over 100 times the upper limit of normal value (8 pts). RESULTS: The proportion of Stage I, II and III was 76%, 19%, 5% in the ME group versus 50%, 35%, 15% in the high elevation group (p < 0.05). In the very high elevation group there were 7 Stage I and 1 Stage IV. Of 132 patients, six died (three dead of disease, two suicides, one acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The 5 years overall survival probability was 94%. There were seven recurrences (initial stage: 1 Stage I, 2 IIB, 3 III and 1 IV). Of these, there were one in-field recurrence, 3 out of field and 3 in both sites. In 5 of 7, the human chorionic gonadotrophin level was again elevated at recurrence. The 5 years recurrence-free-survival probability was 94% (98% for Stage I, 100% for Stage IIA and 65% for Stage IIB and III [p < 0.001 between I and IIB + III, p < 0.05 between IIA and IIB + III]). Four of the 7 recurrences were salvaged by chimiotherapy +/- radiotherapy. In the high elevation and very high elevation groups, the 5 years recurrence-free-survival was 88%, vs. 96% for the moderate elevation group (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Based on this series of patients, human chorionic gonadotropin production is not an unfavorable prognostic factor in pure seminoma. Even in the subgroups with high or very high human chorionic gonadotropin levels (who had a higher proportion of advanced stages), the prognosis remained excellent. In Stage I and IIA seminoma with abnormal human chorionic gonadotropin levels, recurrence rate after post-operative radiotherapy alone is extremely low.

Adolescent↗

Citrus flavonoids stimulate secretion by human colonic T84 cells.

Flavonoids, compounds containing a 2-phenylbenzo(gamma)pyrane nucleus, are universally distributed among vascular plants. Even though flavonoids are ingested in a normal diet in average quantities of 1 g daily, their effects on the digestive system have only been recently investigated. This study used an in vitro model of colonic secretion, monolayers of T84 colonic adenocarcinoma cells mounted in Ussing chambers, to demonstrate that 100 mumol/L of either tangeritin or nobiletin, polymethoxylated flavonoids contained in citrus fruits, stimulated sustained electrogenic chloride secretion with a maximal short-circuit current of 3.3 microA/cm2. In contrast, naringin and hesperidin, glycosylated citrus flavonoids, stimulated minimal secretion, suggesting that carbohydrate substitutions inhibited their secretory potential. The secretion stimulated by tangeritin and nobiletin was synergistic with carbachol but not with vasoactive intestinal peptide and was inhibited by barium chloride, bumetanide, H-89, and Cl- depletion. These properties suggest that tangeritin and nobiletin stimulated Cl- secretion via the cAMP pathway; however, these flavonoids did not stimulate cAMP production to the extent seen with vasoactive intestinal peptide. These flavonoids did not autooxidize, suggesting that reactive oxygen species did not mediate this secretion. These observations suggest that dietary citrus flavonoids may modulate colonic secretion, possibly through direct interaction with intracellular secretory pathways.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Structural characterization of PACAP receptors on rat liver plasma membranes.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP-38) and PACAP-27 are recently characterized hypothalamic peptides with marked homology with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which are concentrated in the innervation of the digestive tract. We now report that, on rat liver plasma membranes, PACAP interacts with at least two types of receptors: receptors demonstrating equally high affinity for PACAP and VIP and receptors with high affinity for PACAP but low affinity for VIP. In contrast, on rat intestinal epithelial cell laterobasal membranes, only receptors with high affinities for PACAP and VIP were observed. After 125I-labeled VIP or 125I-labeled PACAP-27 was cross-linked to the liver plasma membrane receptors with the use of either disuccinimidosuberate or disuccinimido dithiobis(propionate), analysis of the resulting ligand-receptor complexes on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the structures of the VIP and PACAP receptors were similar: both ligand-receptor complexes displayed two radioactive bands with relative molecular weights of 80,000 and 56,000 under reducing conditions and of 75,000 and 53,000 under nonreducing conditions. These findings suggest that the receptors for the PACAP peptides and VIP are closely related, reflecting the marked homology between these peptides. The presence of receptors specific for PACAP on rat liver plasma membranes should stimulate further studies of the interaction between PACAP and the liver.

Animals↗

[Typhoid fever in South Vietnam, 1990-1993].

In South Viet-nam, typhoid fever remains a considerable intestinal infection. Between 1990 and 1993, among 15 districts in the South of the country, a total per year of 3,853 to 9,179 cases was registered: from 8 to 31 led to death. Recently a large epidemic of typhoid fever broke out in the An Minh district (territory of KiênGiang, South Viet-nam), affecting 3,049 people and bringing on two cases of death. Among the 574 blood samples, 266 strains of S. Typhi, 22 S. Paratyphi A and 2 S. Choleraesuis have been isolated. Our investigations on the spot led to some epidemiologic and clinical reflexions and enabled us to estimate the effectiveness of quinolones (?) in the treatment for typhoid fever. The epidemic may be ascribed to different causes: lack of pure water supply in rural area; fecal pollution caused by inhabitants of this endemic area defecating directly in the waterways; ingestion of contaminated food, especially vegetables sprayed with polluted water; quite low level of public sanitation and individual hygiene. Clinically, the disease consists in prolonged fever, with digestive disorders (anorexia, diarrhoeae, diffuse abdominal aches). Splenomegalia and hepatomegalia are inconstant. The dissociation of the pulse from the temperature is not frequent and the rosy spots are rare. The antibiogramm applied on the isolated strains of S. Typhi revealed their resistance (R) to usual antibiotics (chloramphenicol, ampicillin, Bactrim), but S. Typhi is very sensitive to quinolones (ofloxacin, fléroxacin, R = 0).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

High affinity binding proteins for pancreatic polypeptide on rat liver membranes.

We report here the identification on rat liver plasma membranes and microsomes of proteins that bind pancreatic polypeptide (PP) with high affinity and specificity (plasma membranes: KD = 4.6 nM, Bmax = 3.28 pmol/mg protein; microsomes: KD = 3.45 nM, Bmax = 18.7 pmol/mg protein). These binding proteins appeared coupled to a G-protein, since 0.1 mM guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) decreased the affinity by half. When 125I-labeled PP-binding protein complexes covalently cross-linked with disuccinimido suberate were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, two radioactive bands with M(r) values of 52,000 and 38,000 were demonstrated. Both bands were inhibited by unlabeled PP with an IC50 of approximately 5 nM (but not by neuropeptide Y or peptide YY). After the cross-linked complexes were solubilized from liver microsomes with 0.2% Triton X-100 and gel-filtered, they did not interact with the lectins wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin, and soy bean agglutinin. That these binding proteins may not be glycosylated was further supported by the failure of either peptide N-glycosidase F and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F to alter the size of the PP-binding protein complexes on gel electrophoresis. These PP-binding proteins may serve as receptors and mediate a hepatic effect of PP.

Animals↗

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide stimulates secretion in T84 cells.

Pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating peptide (PA-CAP) and PACAP-27 are novel hypothalamic peptides that can stimulate adenylate cyclase in cultured anterior pituitary cells. Because these peptides are present in the gut and are homologous with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), itself known to stimulate intestinal ion transport, we examined the effects of these peptides on the T84 colonocyte cell line. Using cells grown on semipermeable supports and mounted in Ussing chambers, we showed that PACAP and PACAP-27 potently activate intestinal secretion. The half-maximal secretory response was produced with 0.5 nmol/L PA-CAP and 0.1 nmol/L PACAP-27. PACAP resembled VIP in that it stimulated a secretory response potentiated by carbachol, inhibited by bumetanide and barium chloride, and not further stimulated by the subsequent addition of VIP. Like VIP, PACAP also stimulated 5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production and the phosphorylation of cellular proteins known to be substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In addition, PACAP inhibited 125I-VIP binding to T84 cells, and the secretion it stimulated was reduced by the VIP receptor antagonist, L-8-K. Thus PACAP and PACAP-27 potently stimulate colonocyte ion transport via mechanisms mediated by the VIP receptor and cAMP-dependent signaling.

Cell Line↗

Results of postoperative radiation therapy in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid: a retrospective study by the French Federation of Cancer Institutes--the Radiotherapy Cooperative Group.

Between 1971 and 1989, 59 patients received external radiation therapy with a curative intent. There were 25 females and 34 males, ranging in age from 19 to 87. No patients had distant metastasis at the onset of treatment. The majority of patients had a total thyroidectomy (55/59), generally combined with neck dissection. Residual tumour was left in 11 cases, and 44 patients had positive cervical nodes. Using megavoltage radiotherapy, the whole neck and the upper mediastinum area were most often irradiated through a large anterior Y-shaped field without laryngeal shielding. The mean dose to the tumoral bed was 54 Gy. Dysphagia was observed in 32 patients (11, 17 and 5 scores were grade 1, 2 and 3, respectively). Dyspnea occurred in five cases and in two of these cases, it was considered to be severe. Local recurrences were noted in 18 (30%) patients, most of them occurring within the fields of irradiation. Parameters such as age, sex, total dose, irradiated volumes or cervical node enlargement did not modify the local control rate. The same conclusions can be drawn for distant failures. Thirty five patients are still alive and among them, 24 have no evidence of disease. The average length of survival is 70.5 months and is shortened by the occurrence of distant failures except in patients with bone metastases.

Adult↗

Effects of gamma irradiation on dermal equivalents in vitro.

Dermal equivalents (DE), collagen lattices, were produced in vitro and used as a model for studying the possible role of a pure population of fibroblasts in post-radiotherapeutic dermal fibrosis. Single doses of gamma irradiation induced a partial inhibition of the collagen lattice retraction and of protein synthesis. The collagen production was less inhibited than was synthesis of non-collagen protein, which resulted in an increase of the relative amount of collagen synthesized by irradiated fibroblasts. These data suggest that gamma irradiation might be able to select some fibroblast clones able to produce increasing amounts of collagen. This selection process could be involved in the development of tissue fibrosis after therapeutic radiation.

Animals↗