Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Local Lymph Node Assay”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Induction of a proinflammatory program in normal human thyrocytes by the RET/PTC1 oncogene.

Rearrangements of the RET receptor tyrosine kinase gene generating RET/PTC oncogenes are specific to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most frequent thyroid tumor. Here, we show that the RET/PTC1 oncogene, when exogenously expressed in primary normal human thyrocytes, induces the expression of a large set of genes involved in inflammation and tumor invasion, including those encoding chemokines (CCL2, CCL20, CXCL8, and CXCL12), chemokine receptors (CXCR4), cytokines (IL1B, CSF-1, GM-CSF, and G-CSF), matrix-degrading enzymes (metalloproteases and urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor), and adhesion molecules (L-selectin). This effect is strictly dependent on the presence of the RET/PTC1 Tyr-451 (corresponding to RET Tyr-1062 multidocking site). Selected relevant genes (CCL20, CCL2, CXCL8, CXCR4, L-selectin, GM-CSF, IL1B, MMP9, UPA, and SPP1/OPN) were found up-regulated also in clinical samples of PTC, particularly those characterized by RET/PTC activation, local extrathyroid spread, and lymph node metastases, when compared with normal thyroid tissue or follicular thyroid carcinoma. These results, demonstrating that the RET/PTC1 oncogene activates a proinflammatory program, provide a direct link between a transforming human oncogene, inflammation, and malignant behavior.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed2002

Preoperative blood reverse transcriptase-PCR assays for prostate-specific antigen and human glandular kallikrein for prediction of prostate cancer progression after radical prostatectomy.

The association of the results reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with prostate cancer stage and progression remains controversial. We have previously shown that RT-PCR amplification of a native human glandular kallikrein fragment (hK2-L), but not a splice-variant hK2 transcript (hK2-U), performed preoperatively on peripheral blood before radical prostatectomy is an independent predictor of metastases to lymph nodes [K. M. Slawin, et al., Cancer Res., 60: 7142-7148, 2000]. We evaluated the ability of preoperative peripheral blood RT-PCR for PSA and hK2 to predict prostate cancer progression after surgery. The study group consisted of 224 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease (median follow-up: 52.9 months). Also evaluated were 14 healthy men and 8 patients with hormone-naïve, prostate cancer metastatic to bone. RT-PCR for PSA, hK2-L, and hK2-U were positive in 24, 25, and 26%, respectively, of prostatectomy patients; 88, 71, and 86%, respectively, of patients with metastases to bones; 7, 14, and 36%, respectively, of healthy men. Preoperative RT-PCR-hK2-L positivity was associated with higher final Gleason sum (P = 0.028), with an increased risk of metastases to lymph nodes (P = 0.019) and with overall and aggressive disease progression (P = 0.0231 and P = 0.028, respectively). Preoperative blood RT-PCR-PSA and RT-PCR-hK2-U were not associated with characteristics or outcomes of prostate cancer. Preoperative blood RT-PCR for PSA and hK2-U are neither therapy-guiding staging tools nor prognostic indicators in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. In contrast, preoperative RT-PCR-hK2-L status is associated with established markers of aggressive prostate cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The value of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase in the staging of localized prostate cancer.

With the development of reliable assays for the measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA), the use of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase in the staging of disease before radical prostatectomy has been called into question. We evaluated 460 consecutive men who were referred to our institution as candidates for radical prostatectomy. Staging evaluation included digital rectal examination, serum measurements of enzymatic acid phosphatase and PSA, bone scans and, in patients in whom advanced clinical stage was anticipated, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or transrectal ultrasonography. Of the 460 men 21 (4.6%) had elevations of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase. All 19 men with elevations who were fully evaluated proved to have either positive bone scans, extraprostatic extension of disease, PSA greater than 100 ng./ml., positive lymph nodes or positive seminal vesicles. However, in 17 of the 21 men (81%) with elevated serum enzymatic acid phosphatase advanced disease was detected by either abnormal digital rectal examination or PSA alone. Thus, serum enzymatic acid phosphatase provided unique information in only 4 of the entire study population (0.9%). Recognizing this low yield of unique information, we believe that measurements of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase are no longer mandatory before radical prostatectomy but may provide important confirmatory information in patients in whom advanced disease is suspected.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2000

Evidence for a causal association between human papillomavirus and a subset of head and neck cancers.

BACKGROUND: High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are etiologic agents for anogenital tract cancers and have been detected in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). We investigated, retrospectively, an etiologic role for HPVs in a large series of patients with HNSCC. METHODS: Tumor tissues from 253 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent HNSCC were tested for the presence of HPV genome by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, Southern blot hybridization, and in situ hybridization. The viral E6 coding region was sequenced to confirm the presence of tumor-specific viral isolates. Exons 5-9 of the TP53 gene were sequenced from 166 specimens. The hazard of death from HNSCC in patients with and without HPV-positive tumors was determined by proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: HPV was detected in 62 (25%) of 253 cases (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19%-30%). High-risk, tumorigenic type HPV16 was identified in 90% of the HPV-positive tumors. HPV16 was localized specifically by in situ hybridization within the nuclei of cancer cells in preinvasive, invasive, and lymph node disease. Southern blot hybridization patterns were consistent with viral integration. Poor tumor grade (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.2- 4.9) and oropharyngeal site (OR = 6.2; 95% CI = 3.1-12.1) independently increased the probability of HPV presence. As compared with HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers, HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers were less likely to occur among moderate to heavy drinkers (OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.05-0.61) and smokers (OR = 0.16; 95% CI = 0.02-1.4), had a characteristic basaloid morphology (OR = 18.7; 95% CI = 2.1-167), were less likely to have TP53 mutations (OR = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.01-0. 36), and had improved disease-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.07-0.98). After adjustment for the presence of lymph node disease (HR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4- 3.8), heavy alcohol consumption (HR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.4-4.7), and age greater than 60 years old (HR = 1.4; 95% CI = 0.8-2.3), all patients with HPV-positive tumors had a 59% reduction in risk of death from cancer when compared with HPV-negative HNSCC patients (HR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.20-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: These data extend recent molecular and epidemiologic studies and strongly suggest that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers comprise a distinct molecular, clinical, and pathologic disease entity that is likely causally associated with HPV infection and that has a markedly improved prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Utilization of polymerase chain reaction technology in the detection of solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Most cancer detection tests currently performed are based on either antibody assays to a marker protein with altered expression in cancer patients or on imaging studies to identify characteristic lesions. Generally, for a positive result, these detection assays require that a tumor have a significant volume of cancer cells. Advances in diagnostic techniques and technology may allow for cancer detection at earlier stages, when the tumor burden is smaller and potentially more curable. The molecular techniques of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) are highly sensitive methods for detecting a small number of cancer cells. Over the past few years, numerous clinical studies have used PCR techniques to detect physical alterations of genes, such as mutations, deletions, translocations and amplification, the presence of oncogenic viruses, and the expression of genes specific to tissue, cancer, and metastasis. The current status of PCR as a method for detecting marker genes in the management of solid tumors is reviewed. METHODS: A review of the literature on the clinical utility of PCR and RT-PCR in the detection of solid tumor micrometastasis was conducted. RESULTS: Amplification by PCR is a highly sensitive method to determine gene expression. A single cell expressing a tumor marker among 10-100 million lymphocytes can be detected by the PCR assay. This approach has been used to detect tumor cells in approximately 18 different solid tumor types, with melanoma and carcinoma of the breast and prostate the most widely investigated to date. PCR-based assays have been used to detect cancer cells in biopsies of solid tissue, lymph nodes, bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other body fluids. Several studies have reported a high specificity and sensitivity of tumor marker detection and a high correlation between PCR results and the presence of metastatic disease. However, in a few studies, PCR assays have not consistently demonstrated a higher sensitivity and specificity of detection than traditional modalities for many types of cancer. There has been a wide range in sensitivity and specificity among the studies, which may be partly attributed to the lack of uniformity among the PCR protocols used in different studies. CONCLUSIONS: PCR can detect tumor marker-expressing cells that are otherwise undetectable by other means in patients with localized or metastatic cancer. Reports from various study groups have lacked uniformity in their protocols, and this has prevented adequate comparison. The clinical utility of this assay as a tool for the prognosis and management of cancer patients remains and area of active investigation. PCR is a powerful tool in the study of the biology of cancer metastasis and will likely serve as a useful adjunct to clinical decision-making in the future.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fetal-maternal immune interaction: blocking antibody and survival of the fetus.

In the late 1940s it became clear that the homograft reaction was essentially the result of an immune response. Subsequently, Medawar commented on the apparent paradox of the survival of the mammalian fetus in the face of such a potential (cell-mediated) immune response. In an outbred population the fetal-placental unit will be antigenically different to the mother by virtue of its complement of paternal genes and additionally there may be developmental or stage-specific gene products that are immunogenic. Many mechanisms have been proposed to account for the survival of the fetus in the face of a potential immune attack and, while many of these have been investigated in considerable detail, there has been no clear-cut indication that any one plays a predominant role. Either control of immune rejection of the fetus is exercised by an as yet undiscovered mechanism or, more probably, by a combination of some or all of the mechanisms that have been proposed by many workers over the last three decades. Potential controlling processes, which will be reviewed briefly, include: systemic and local modification of maternal responsiveness; altered expression of MHC antigens on extra-embryonic tissues; the placenta as a barrier; and blocking antibody responses. We discuss some of our recent studies in which we have started to look for potential blocking antibodies in a mouse model system. Cells secreting immunoglobulins M and G, characterized in hemolytic plaque assays, have been mapped to areas close to the midgestation mouse embryo, using an immunocryohistological technique. A scaled-down version of hybridoma technology has been used as an analytical probe of the specificity and isotype of immunoglobulin secreted by cells originating either from close to the embryo/fetus or from the para-aortic lymph nodes (PALN). So far monoclonal (IgG1) antibodies with specificity for embryonic cells have been derived together with some monoclonal immunoglobulins with as yet uncharacterized antibody specificity.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The influence of site of antigen deposition on the local immune response in the mammary gland of the ewe.

Experiments were carried out to compare the local antibody responses in mammary glands of ewes immunized by infusion of antigen (killed Brucella abortus) into the lactiferous sinuses (trans-epithelial presentation of antigen) or injection into the mammary tissue near the supramammary lymph node (interstitial presentation of antigen). Although both methods of antigen presentation resulted in similar antibody levels in blood, infusion of antigen into the lactiferous sinus resulted in significantly higher levels of agglutinating antibody in milk whey than did injection of antigen. When within-animal comparisons were made, infusion of antigen was also significantly superior to injection of antigen in terms of levels of non-agglutinating antibody in milk as determined by Coomb's antiglobulin assays. Evidence from immunoglobulin estimations in milk whey suggested that any elevation in concentrations of immunoglobulins (including IgA) in milk from ewes, which had received injections of antigen into mammary tissue, was associated with chronic inflammatory damage to these glands.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Cell-mediated immunity after bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract.

Lower respiratory tract and systemic cell-mediated immunity have been studied in rabbits after infection with Listeria monocytogenes or Diplococcus pneumoniae. Respiratory tract cell-mediated immunity was evaluated by direct and indirect assays of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production. Systemic delayed hypersensitivity was determined by means of intradermal testing with appropriate antigens. Aerosol exposure to listeria was followed by markedly increased numbers of free lower respiratory tract cells. These cells manifested antigen-stimulated inhibition of migration (mean inhibition of migration = 30.4%). Pneumococcal pneumonia was associated with similar but less dramatic changes. Intravenous administration of organisms was uncommonly followed by inhibition of lower respiratory tract cells in direct migration assays. Fractionated MIF, as well as crude supernates of antigen-stimulated lower respiratory tract and lymph node lymphocytes from animals exposed to listeria aerosols, caused inhibition of normal alveolar macrophage migration. MIF, produced by lymph node lymphocytes, has a molecular weight of approximately 65,000 and is inactivated by chymotrypsin or neuraminidase. Delayed dermal hypersensitivity to listeria antigen was observed in 54 of 55 animals exposed to listeria aerosols and in all 9 animals infected by the intravenous route. Delayed dermal reactions to pneumococcal sonicate antigen (but not capsular polysaccharide) followed D. pneumoniae respiratory tract infection in 19 of 28 animals, and was elicited in 5 of 6 animals after intravenous infection. Both local (macrophage migration inhibition) and systemic delayed hypersensitivity followed bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract. MIF activity was shown to be one mechanism for inhibition of alveolar macrophage migration.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) membrane expression on head-and-neck cancer biopsy-a target for natural killer (NK) cells.

PURPOSE: Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was detected on the cell membrane of human tumor cell lines, but not on normal cells. Here we studied Hsp70 membrane expression as a target for natural killer (NK) cells on tumor material and control tissues of head-and-neck cancer patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Membrane-bound Hsp70 was determined by flow cytometry on single-cell suspensions of tumors and the corresponding normal tissues of head-and-neck cancer patients. The cytolytic activity of NK cells against Hsp70-positive tumor cells was measured in a standard cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS: In total, 54 of 74 primary tumors were found to be Hsp70 membrane-positive (73%); tongue/mouth, 21 of 24 (88%); oropharynx, 13 of 20 (65%); hypopharynx, 3 of 6 (50%); larynx, 8 of 11 (73%); trachea 1 of 2 (50%); esophagus, 4 of 5 (80%); lymph node metastases, 4 of 6 (67%). The corresponding control tissue was negative for membrane-bound Hsp70. Biopsies (6 of 6) of patients after in vivo gamma-irradiation (fractionated 5 x 2 Gy) were strongly Hsp70 membrane-positive. Irradiated, Hsp70-positive tumor cells are targets for Hsp70-peptide stimulated NK cells. CONCLUSION: An irradiation-inducible, tumor-selective Hsp70 membrane localization provides a target structure for Hsp70-peptide stimulated human NK cells.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Antibody responses after Sendai virus infection and their role in upper and lower respiratory tract disease in rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sendai virus infection in rats is an excellent model for studying development and role of host defenses throughout the respiratory tract after this infection. Therefore, development of serum antibody responses and disease were studied. METHODS: Forty-two anesthetized pathogen-free 3- to 4- week-old LEW/NCr rats were inoculated intranasally with Sendai virus. At postinoculation days 0, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 14, rats were euthanized by administration of a pentobarbital sodium overdose followed by exsanguination. Serum was obtained from all animals, and nasal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage specimens were collected during selected experiments. An ELISPOT assay was used to measure numbers of Sendai virus-specific antibody-forming cells in respiratory tract lymphoid tissue. RESULTS: Recovery from disease and clearance of virus from respiratory tract tissues coincided with development of serum antibody responses. Upper respiratory tract lymph nodes were the initial and major sites of appearance of antibody-forming cells. Immunoglobulin G was the predominant subtype of these cells during recovery from the infection and in rats resistant to infection. Passive transfer of antisera or specific IgG protected the lower but not the upper respiratory tract. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating components of immunity have a major role in resistance and recovery from disease in the lower respiratory tract, whereas local responses are likely involved in protection of the upper respiratory tract. Local lymphoid tissues are the major production sites of IgG, which contributes to resistance to and recovery from respiratory tract diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Techniques used to define human MHC antigens: serology.

The classical, routine test employed for definition of HLA antigens expressed in humans (tissue typing) is the complement-mediated cytotoxicity assay developed by Terasaki and McClelland in the early 1960s. In both healthy persons and patients, the assay target cells are usually lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood, but when typing cadaver donors, splenic or lymph node lymphocytes can be used. HLA-A, B, Cw (class I) antigens are expressed on all nucleated cells while HLA-DR, DQ (class II) are restricted to B lymphocytes and immune activated cells. Tissue typing has been achieved using culture cells from amniocentesis and typing of cell lines is possible with small modifications to the standardised cytotoxicity assay. Usually, target cells are incubated under oil with typing antisera at 22 degrees C in a 60- or 72-well Terasaki tray. After 30 min rabbit serum is added as a source of complement. After a further 60 min incubation the test is stained. A positive reaction results in target cell death. There are local variations to this test. Automation of the assay is now commonplace, from reagent dispensing to automated reading of finished assay. The use of antibody-coated magnetisable microspheres has enabled separation of pure B lymphocyte samples for class II typing and has reduced incubation times through antigen modulation. It is possible to define antibodies to HLA antigens in the same assay using target cells with known HLA phenotypes.

Complement System Proteins↗
PubMed1998

A subcloned human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line with low thrombomodulin expression showed increased invasiveness compared with a high thrombomodulin-expressing clone--thrombomodulin as a possible candidate for an adhesion molecule of squamous cell carcinoma.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell surface glycoprotein which converts thrombin from a procoagulant protease to an anticoagulant. We have previously reported that TM is a useful marker for immunohistochemical diagnosis of angiogenic tumors and also have reported that TM is expressed on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the human esophagus. In addition, the expression of TM is significantly decreased in metastatic foci in lymph nodes compared with that in primary lesions. In order to reveal the biological significance of TM in SCC, we subcloned and established two different cell lines, i.e. TM-high-expressing (TE3HTM) cells and TM-low-expressing (TE3LTM) cells, from a human SCC cell line, TE3, using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) and examined the biological characteristics of these variant cell lines. These tumor cells revealed very similar morphological figures in ordinary cultured conditions and showed almost equal growth rates under various cultured conditions. By the invasion assay of these tumor cells using matrigel, we found that TE3LTM cells showed significantly increased invasive ability compared with that of TE3HTM cells. Characteristic intercellular localization of TM and a different manner of invasiveness between TE3LTM cells and TE3HTM cells suggest that TM may act as a cell-to-cell interaction molecule.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1980

Inhibition of leukocyte migration by soluble tumor extracts in human malignant melanoma.

Leukocytes from 63 melanoma patients and from 38 control donors were examined by a leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) assay. The antigens were three soluble extracts of fresh melanomas and one of lung cancer. A total of 62 out of the 99 (62.6%) blood samples from melanoma patients reacted with allogeneic extracts of melanoma in comparison with 11 out of the 48 (22.9%) in the controls (the values significantly different; P less than 0.001). The migration inhibition of melanoma patients' leukocytes by the lung cancer extract was markedly less than inhibition by any of the melanoma extracts. LMI in patients with distant metastases before treatment (9 out of the 11--81.8% positive results) was higher than in patients with regional lymph node metastases (5 out of the 9--55.5%) and than in patients with localized disease (3 out of the 7--47.8%). The reactivity of patients after surgery was higher than in patients before surgical resection of the tumor. Positive reactions were less frequent in patients with distant metastases receiving chemotherapy or/and immunotherapy than in patients before treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The assessment of local tolerance, acute toxicity, and DNA biodistribution following particle-mediated delivery of a DNA vaccine to minipigs.

Particle-mediated DNA delivery was used to administer a DNA vaccine against Hepatitis B to minipigs. The study represented one arm of the safety evaluation program for this product and was designed to assess local tolerance, acute toxicity, and biodistribution of the DNA plasmid. The vaccine was given to 4 groups of minipigs that were sacrificed at 2, 28, 56, or 141 days after treatment. The procedure was well tolerated with mild local skin reactions at 2 days postdosing and no evidence of systemic toxicity. By 28 days the skin lesions had regressed apart from a low grade perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate in the upper dermis, together with a small number of phagocytosed gold particles. This infiltrate persisted up to 141 days. The expressed HBsAg was detected by immunohistochemistry in keratinocytes (usually in association with an intranuclear gold particle) at 2 days but not at later time points. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assay treatment sites and selected internal organs to evaluate biodistribution and persistence of the DNA plasmid. At 2 days the plasmid was detected in the treatment sites and also in the inguinal lymph nodes. At day 57 it was present in the treatment sites only and by day 141 appeared to have cleared. The results from this study demonstrate that particle-mediated gene delivery was well tolerated in the minipig. The biodistribution and persistence of the plasmid was within acceptable limits for this type of vaccine. As the minipig is regarded as a good model for humans these data support the concept that particle-mediated DNA delivery will be safe in human clinical applications.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Detection of HIV-1 DNA in cells and tissue by fluorescent in situ 5'-nuclease assay (FISNA).

The critical aspects of successful in situ amplification include fixation, permeabilization, amplification and detection. We address these aspects and present a novel detection scheme that eliminates hybridization following amplification. We use the 5'-nuclease activity of Taq polymerase to cleave in situ a 5'-reporter dye from an oligonucleotide probe which hybridizes to the target amplicon during amplification. The 5'-reporter dye is disassociated from the 3'-quenching dye and remains localized by charge interactions. In addition, we describe probe design constraints for 5'-nuclease assays both in solution and in situ. Using this technique, we show the sensitive and specific detection of HIV-1 DNA in cells lines and tissue from HIV-1-infected individuals.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed2000

A gelatin sponge implantation model in swine for the determination of local immune reactions.

For in vivo determination of innate and memory immune reactions we have implanted sterile gelatin sponges subcutaneously in swine for the monitoring of the following immunological parameters: 1. Analysis of local cell population phenotypes after vascularization of the gelatin sponges using flow cytometry. 2. Comparative analysis of sponge-infiltrating cells after loading with viral antigen in primed as well as naive animals. 3. Performance of reverse transcription quantitative competitive PCR (RT-qcPCR) for the detection of porcine cytokine mRNA indicative for IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8 and IL-10. The in vitro analysis, e.g. by re-exposure to viral antigens, allows the determination of cytokine reaction patterns of sponge derived cells, draining lymph node cells as well as PBMC of the same individual. Studies of innate reactions and modulation of cellular infiltration in transplanted gelatin sponges are possible. Functional assays, e.g. cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antigen specific cell proliferation, using sponge-derived cells will provide additional information about the suitability of the model for example in vaccine potency tests.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Papillary thyroid cancer: medical management and follow-up.

The incidence of epithelial derived thyroid cancer (papillary thyroid cancer and follicular thyroid cancer, known collectively as differentiated thyroid cancer) is rising. About 80% of patients with thyroid cancer have PTC and are best treated with thyroidectomy and functional lymph node dissection, followed by radioiodine ablation or therapy and performance of a posttreatment whole-body scan, followed by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression. One year after radioiodine administration, the use of sensitive thyroglobulin (Tg) assays can separate the vast majority of patients with persistent disease from those who are free of disease and unlikely to have recurrent disease all without the need for repeat whole-body radioiodine imaging. Patients with detectable serum Tg during TSH suppression (Tg-on) or Tg that rises above 2 ng/mL after TSH stimulation (TSH-Tg) are highly likely to harbor residual tumor. TSH stimulation can be achieved using either thyroid hormone withdrawal or recombinant human TSH (rhTSH). Highly skilled screening neck ultrasonography can identify a few additional patients with subcentimeter residual neck lymph node metastases not detected by TSH-Tg. However, ultrasonography and chest computed tomography (CT) are most critical for tumor localization in those patients with Tg values that suggest residual disease or in those patients with persistent antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) that falsely lower Tg measurement. TgAb quantitative titers typically resolve steadily over just a few years in patients free of disease after initial therapy. Another paradigm shift is the recognition that most patients who eventually achieve freedom from disease do so by surgery with fewer patients cured by repetitive radioiodine treatments, and even fewer cured with external beam radiation. Patients who appear to be free of disease require a lifetime of follow-up to optimize levothyroxine treatment, and they will undergo periodic stimulation testing because some will still manifest recurrent disease. Patients with persistent disease despite negative ultrasonography, chest CT, and whole-body radioiodine imaging may have a tumor identified by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, optimally performed with combined TSH stimulation and image fusion with CT or magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with metastatic disease who are unresponsive to conventional treatment are encouraged to participate in increasingly available thyroid cancer-specific clinical trials using targeted experimental oral or intravenous chemotherapeutic agents to address this tumor that has historically proven resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2003

[Canine leishmaniasis in the Rif mountains (Moroccan Mediterranean coast): a seroepidemiological survey].

A sero-epidemiological survey has been conducted in several localities of the province of Nador to investigate canine leishmaniasis in the North-Eastern slope of the Rif mountains (Mediterranean coast of Morocco). Serum samples collected from 257 dogs were analysed using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies. Forty eight (18.7%) of the screened dogs were IFAT positive and 54 (21.0%) were ELISA positive; the concordance of the two methods was 96.1%. The prevalence of infection is significantly higher in dogs more than four years of age whereas no significant difference in prevalence of infection was seen between males and females. The frequent symptoms observed in seropositive dogs were the enlargement of lymph nodes (57.4%), emaciation (51.9%) and skin involvement (25.9%). However, 38.9% of those dogs showed no one of the major symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmania isolated from three of the examined dogs was identified as L. infantum MON-1. These results show that the North-Eastern slope of the Rif mountains is one of the most active Mediterranean areas of visceral leishmaniasis and confirm that the dog is the main reservoir of L. infantum.

Age Distribution↗