The Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in the Outcome of Malignant Epitheliomas: Significance of CA215 Involvement

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were originally discovered as a part of the innate immune response of the host to bacteria. They form a web-like structure that can immobilize microorganisms or exhibit direct antimicrobial properties, such as releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). NETs are established when neutrophils undergo a sort of cellular death following exposure to ROS, chemokines, cytokines, or other soluble factors. This process results in the release of the neutrophil's DNA in a web-like form, which is decorated with citrullinated histones (H3/H4-cit), neutrophil elastase (NE), and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Emerging studies have put into perspective that NETs play an important role in oncology as they were shown to influence tumor growth, malignant initiation, and proliferation, mediate the transition from endothelial to mesenchymal tissue, stimulate angiogenesis or metastasis, and can even help cancer cells evade the immune response. The role of NETs in cancer therapy resides in their ability to form and act as a mechanical barrier that will provide the primary tumor with a reduced response to irradiation or pharmaceutical penetration. Subsequently, cancer cells are shown to internalize NETs and use them as a strong antioxidant when pharmaceutical treatment is administered. In this review, we explored the role of NETs as part of the tumor microenvironment (TME), in the context of malignant epitheliomas, which are capable of an autonomous production of CA215, a subvariant of IgG, and part of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) superfamily. Studies have shown that CA215 has a functional Fc subdivision able to activate the Fc-gamma-RS receptor on the surface of neutrophils. This activation may afterward stimulate the production of NETs, thus indicating CA215 as a potential factor in cancer therapy surveillance.

Bitter Phytochemicals as Novel Candidates for Skin Disease Treatment

Skin diseases represent a global healthcare challenge due to their rising incidence and substantial socio-economic burden. While biological, immunological, and targeted therapies have brought a revolution in improving quality of life and survival rates for certain dermatological conditions, there remains a stringent demand for new remedies. Nature has long served as an inspiration for drug development. Recent studies have identified bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) in both skin cell lines and human skin. Additionally, bitter natural compounds have shown promising benefits in addressing skin aging, wound healing, inflammatory skin conditions, and even skin cancer. Thus, TAS2Rs may represent a promising target in all these processes. In this review, we summarize evidence supporting the presence of TAS2Rs in the skin and emphasize their potential as drug targets for addressing skin aging, wound healing, inflammatory skin conditions, and skin carcinogenesis. To our knowledge, this is a pioneering work in connecting information on TAS2Rs expression in skin and skin cells with the impact of bitter phytochemicals on various beneficial effects related to skin disorders.

Relevance of Phytochemical Taste for Anti-Cancer Activity: A Statistical Inquiry

Targeting inflammation and the pathways linking inflammation with cancer is an innovative therapeutic strategy. Tastants are potential candidates for this approach, since taste receptors display various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory activity (AIA). The present study aims to explore the power different tastes have to predict a phytochemical's anti-cancer properties. It also investigates whether anti-inflammatory phytocompounds also have anti-cancer effects, and whether there are tastes that can better predict a phytochemical's bivalent biological activity. Data from the PlantMolecularTasteDB, containing a total of 1527 phytochemicals, were used. Out of these, only 624 phytocompounds met the inclusion criterion of having 40 hits in a PubMed search, using the name of the phytochemical as the keyword. Among them, 461 phytochemicals were found to possess anti-cancer activity (ACA). The AIA and ACA of phytochemicals were strongly correlated, irrespective of taste/orosensation or chemical class. Bitter taste was positively correlated with ACA, while sweet taste was negatively correlated. Among chemical classes, only flavonoids (which are most frequently bitter) had a positive association with both AIA and ACA, a finding confirming that taste has predictive primacy over chemical class. Therefore, bitter taste receptor agonists and sweet taste receptor antagonists may have a beneficial effect in slowing down the progression of inflammation to cancer.

Intraoral Gavage of Second-Generation Probiotic Lactobacillus Reuteri Releasing IFN-β (LR-IFN-β) Mitigates Intestinal Irradiation Toxicity and Improves Survival During Whole Abdomen Irradiation (WAI)

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

We sought to establish a method by which to overcome the toxicity of WAI to facilitate clinical application in Ovarian Cancer patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We irradiated C57BL/6J mice to 19.75 Gy WAI and assessed the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS). In a separate experiment, mice were irradiated to 12 Gy WAI and intestinal barrier integrity was compared between groups: control (0 Gy), irradiation only, 12 Gy + LR, 12 Gy + IFN-β, and 12 Gy + LR-IFN-β. Luminex assay of plasma and intestinal cells were also assayed at day 5 after WAI for radiation-induced inflammatory cytokines, and fecal matter was analyzed for LR-IFN-β clearance and levels of the LR-derived IFN-β gene from day 1 to 5 in control non-irradiated mice. Moreover, fluorescent beads were intraorally administered three hours prior to sacrifice at days 2 or 5 after WAI, and blood was assayed for beads.

RESULTS

Mice receiving LR-IFN-β (109 bacteria in 100 mL of saline) 24-hours following a single fraction of 19.75 Gy WAI showed improved OS compared to control irradiated mice (p = 0.03). LR-IFN-β gavage maintained intestinal barrier integrity (p < 0.05) by stimulating intestinal stem cells regenerations (improved levels of Lgr5+ cells, occludin, and I-CAM; p < 0.05), and reduced levels of intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ (p = 0.0261), IL-3 (p < 0.0020) and IL-17 (p < 0.0070). There was no significant effect of control LR or intraperitoneal injection of IFN-β protein at 24 hours after WAI. Detectable levels of LR-IFN-β bacteria were also cleared from fecal matter by day three via colony assay and rt-PCR, with no detectable growth of LR-IFN-β in blood from gavaged irradiated mice (13.5 Gy WAI).

CONCLUSION

LR-IFN-β is both a feasible and effective radiation mitigator that could potentially improve the management of ovarian cancer patients. Furthermore, the subsequent addition of platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy to the combination of WAI and LR-IFN-β should reduce tumor volume while protecting the intestine and thus improve overall survival in ovarian cancer patients.

Oxidized LDLs as Signaling Molecules

Levels of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) are usually low in vivo but can increase whenever the balance between formation and scavenging of free radicals is impaired. Under normal conditions, uptake and degradation represent the physiological cellular response to oxLDL exposure. The uptake of oxLDLs is mediated by cell surface scavenger receptors that may also act as signaling molecules. Under conditions of atherosclerosis, monocytes/macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells highly exposed to oxLDLs tend to convert to foam cells due to the intracellular accumulation of lipids. Moreover, the atherogenic process is accelerated by the increased expression of the scavenger receptors CD36, SR-BI, LOX-1, and SRA in response to high levels of oxLDL and oxidized lipids. In some respects, the effects of oxLDLs, involving cell proliferation, inflammation, apoptosis, adhesion, migration, senescence, and gene expression, can be seen as an adaptive response to the rise of free radicals in the vascular system. Unlike highly reactive radicals, circulating oxLDLs may signal to cells at more distant sites and possibly trigger a systemic antioxidant defense, thus elevating the role of oxLDLs to that of signaling molecules with physiological relevance.

Growth and magnetic properties of vertically aligned epitaxial CoNi nanowires in (Sr, Ba)TiO3 with diameters in the 1.8-6 nm range

The growth by pulsed laser deposition of fully epitaxial nanocomposites made of Co _x Ni_1-x nanowires (NW) vertically self-assembled in Sr_0.5Ba_0.5TiO₃/SrTiO₃(001) layers is reported. The diameter of the wires can be tuned in the 1.8-6 nm range. The composition of the wires can be controlled, with the growth sequence and the fcc crystallographic structure of the wires preserved for Co content up to 78%. The nanocomposite systems obtained display a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with out-of-plane easy axis as shown through analysis of ferromagnetic resonance measurements. It is shown that the magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy depends sensitively on the structural quality of the nanocomposites.The energy barrier for magnetization reversal scales as the square of the diameter of the NW and reaches 60 [Formula: see text] for 6 nm diameter, with T _amb = 300 K.

Hyperglycemia Determines Increased Specific MicroRNAs Levels in Sera and HDL of Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients and Stimulates MicroRNAs Production in Human Macrophages

We aimed to determine the levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) in sera and HDL of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared to stable angina (SA) patients with/without hyperglycemia, and evaluate comparatively the functional effect of these sera on the processing machinery proteins (Drosha, DGCR8, Dicer) and miRNAs production in human macrophages. MiRNAs levels in sera and HDL from 35 SA and 72 ACS patients and 30 healthy subjects were measured by using microRNA TaqMan assays. MiR-223, miR-92a, miR-486, miR-122, miR-125a and miR-146a levels were higher in the hyperglycemic ACS compared to normoglycemic sera. MiR-223 and miR-486 prevailed in HDL2, while miR-92a predominated in HDL3, all three miRNAs discriminating between ACS and SA patients; their levels were increased in HDL from hyperglycemic ACS patients versus normoglycemic ones. The incubation of human macrophages with sera from ACS and SA patients showed that all patients' sera induced an increase of Drosha, DGCR8 and Dicer expressions and of selected miRNAs levels compared to control sera, the effect being higher in the case of hyperglycemic versus normoglycemic ACS sera. The addition of glucose to SA and ACS sera increased Drosha, DGCR8 and Dicer expression and miRNAs levels in the exposed macrophages. In conclusion, hyperglycemia is associated with increased miR-223, miR-92a, miR-486 levels in HDL, which discriminate between ACS and SA patients. Exposure of human macrophages to ACS compared to SA sera determines the upregulation of Drosha, DGCR8 and Dicer expression and the increase of selected miRNAs production, the effect being augmented by an increased glucose concentration.

Surveying colloid sedimentation by coplanar waveguides

By using coplanar waveguides, direct access to the dielectric properties of aqueous solutions of polystyrene beads with different diameters from 330 nm to 10 μm is provided. The relative variation of the transmission parameter with respect to water is monitored, ranging from [Formula: see text] obtained for a 9.5% solution with 330 nm diameter beads to ∼22% for 10 μm diameter particles at the same concentration. To highlight its applicability in biosensing, the technique was further employed to survey the clustering between biotin and streptavidin-coated beads. The transmission parameter displays a ∼50% increase for mixtures containing nine volumes of biotin and one volume of streptavidin-modified beads (4.5 ng μl(-1) of streptavidin) and reaches ∼400% higher values when equal volumes of biotin and streptavidin-coated beads (22.5 ng μl(-1) of streptavidin) were mixed.

Critical Au Concentration for the Stabilization of Au-Cu Nanoparticles on Rutile against Dissociation under Oxygen

Controlling aging of catalysts is of crucial importance to preserve their properties, in particular for bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) where reaction can modify the composition. Herein, we have studied the stability upon oxygen exposure of gold-copper NPs supported on rutile. We have used in situ scanning tunneling microscopy to follow the evolution of individual Au, Cu and Au-Cu NPs with various compositions grown on the TiO2(110) surface, during each step from their nucleation to their modification with oxygen. We demonstrated a direct relation between the stability of the nanoparticles and their Au concentration. Whereas pure Cu nanoparticles dissociate under O2, Au-Cu NPs containing at least 20% Au are stable. This is explained by a modification of the local density of states of Cu atoms upon alloying.

Hybrid supercapacitor-battery materials for fast electrochemical charge storage

High energy and high power electrochemical energy storage devices rely on different fundamental working principles--bulk vs. surface ion diffusion and electron conduction. Meeting both characteristics within a single or a pair of materials has been under intense investigations yet, severely hindered by intrinsic materials limitations. Here, we provide a solution to this issue and present an approach to design high energy and high power battery electrodes by hybridizing a nitroxide-polymer redox supercapacitor (PTMA) with a Li-ion battery material (LiFePO4). The PTMA constituent dominates the hybrid battery charge process and postpones the LiFePO4 voltage rise by virtue of its ultra-fast electrochemical response and higher working potential. We detail on a unique sequential charging mechanism in the hybrid electrode: PTMA undergoes oxidation to form high-potential redox species, which subsequently relax and charge the LiFePO4 by an internal charge transfer process. A rate capability equivalent to full battery recharge in less than 5 minutes is demonstrated. As a result of hybrid's components synergy, enhanced power and energy density as well as superior cycling stability are obtained, otherwise difficult to achieve from separate constituents.

Vertical single nanowire devices based on conducting polymers

A simple scheme for single conducting polymer nanowire fabrication and device integration is presented. We discuss a combined top-down and bottom-up approach for the sequential, precise manufacture of vertical polyaniline nanowires. The method is scalable and can be applied on rigid as well as on flexible substrates. The kinetics of the template-confined growth is presented and discussed. We further study the electrical behavior of single vertical polyaniline nanowires and address the fabrication of crossbar latches using a criss-cross arrangement of electrodes. The as-synthesized polyaniline nanowires display electric conductivities reaching values as high as 0.4 S cm⁻¹.

Pioglitazone delays proximal tubule dysfunction and improves cerebral vessel endothelial dysfunction in normoalbuminuric people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

The renal and cerebral protective effects of pioglitazone were assessed in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

A total of 68 normoalbuminuric type 2 DM patients were enrolled in a one-year open-label randomized controlled trial: 34 patients (pioglitazone-metformin) vs. 34 patients (glimepiride-metformin). All patients were assessed concerning urinary albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR), urinary alpha1-microglobulin, urinary beta2-microglobulin, plasma asymmetric dymethyl-arginine (ADMA), GFR, hsC-reactive protein, fibrinogen, HbA1c; pulsatility index, resistance index in the internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery, intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery; cerebrovascular reactivity was evaluated through the breath-holding test.

RESULTS

At 1 year there were differences between groups regarding ADMA, urinary beta2-microglobulin, urinary alpha1-microglobulin, parameters of inflammation, serum creatinine, GFR, UACR, the cerebral haemodynamic indices. Significant correlations were found between alpha 1-microglobulin-UACR (R(2)=0.143; P=0.001) and GFR (R(2)=0.081; P=0.01); beta2-microglobulin-UACR (R(2)=0.241; P=0.0001) and GFR (R(2)=0.064; P=0.036); ADMA-GFR (R(2)=0.338; P=0.0001), parameters of inflammation, HbA1c, duration of DM, cerebral indices. There were no correlations between ADMA-UACR, urinary alpha1-microglobulin and beta2-microglobulin.

CONCLUSION

Proximal tubule (PT) dysfunction precedes albuminuria and is dissociated from endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 DM. Pioglitazone delays PT dysfunction and improves cerebral vessels endothelial dysfunction in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 DM.

Routine diagnostic procedures of myelodysplastic syndromes: value of a structural blood cell parameter (NEUT-X) determined by the Sysmex XE-2100™

INTRODUCTION

Diagnostic features of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are often polymorphic and nonspecific including anemia in most cases. Standard parameters provided by an automated analyzer seldom bring any argument for this diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether some structural parameters, not routinely provided by Sysmex™ XE 2100 analyzer, could help diagnose MDS in a simple way, adapted to routine practice.

METHODS

Blood samples from 184 MDS fully annotated cases and 3545 normal blood count controls were performed with XE 2100 Sysmex™ analyzer. Quantitative and structural parameters were considered.

RESULTS

We found that the structural neutrophil parameter, NEUT-X, converted into a semi-quantitative parameter, the granularity index (GI), could be used as a flag for MDS in front of anemia. Negative GI and anemia were able to make otherwise unrecognized MDS stand out in routine practice, increasing the number of slides addressed to review from 67% to 96%, without leading to a large excess of unfounded slide review among non-MDS.

CONCLUSION

Including the GI index in the routine parameters provided by the Sysmex analyzer could be of major help for nonspecialized routine laboratories in detecting MDS.

Diabetic nephropathy and multiorgan protection. Part II

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) presents a complex pathogenesis in which both the vascular system and the metabolism, in its complexity and mainly glucidic metabolism, are involved. Together with the glucid metabolism, lipid metabolism, anemia, oxidative stress, generalised inflammation, vitamin D disorders and smoking participate in DN pathogenesis. All these factors that disturb the homeostasis of the patient with DN require protective factors which will be presented in the second part of the paper. Like hypotensive medication, and especially the inhibitors of the renin angiotensin aldosterone (RAAS) system, antiproteinuric medication, and especially intensive control of glycaemia that have an important protective role, the pathogenic factors mentioned above also require protective measures. As they interest the whole organism in DN and in DM, respectively, we speak about multiple organ protection or multiorgan protection. The concept of multiorgan protection is especially important in DM. Although sometimes, some measures with multiorgan protective character are applied in current practice, it is necessary that they should be gathered and applied within a well established framework, a fact that is achieved by the concept of multiorganprotection. Diabetes mellitus, requires multiple measures of protection because of its vascular and metabolic complications. Diabetic nephropathy represents an important complication of diabetes mellitus, frequently associated with its other complications. The first part of the paper presented the concept of multiorgan protection, as well as some of the main protective measures: control of blood pressure mainly by means of inhibitors of the renine angiotensine aldosterone system, glycaemia monitoring and antiproteinuric treatment. The second part of the paper refers to protective measures used in diabetes mellitus, and diabetic nephropathy, respectively, regarding control of the anaemia, of endothelial disturbances, of the metabolism of lipids, of oxidative stress, of inflammation, smoking, of the metabolism of vitamin D, respectively. Diabetic nephropathy, by the complexity of its lesions, as well as by the complications of diabetes mellitus, cannot be regarded as separate from the organism seen as a unitary whole, a reason because of which the measures of protection are not limited only to the kidney, they must address all organs and metabolism in general, requiring measures of multiorgan protection.

Diabetic nephropathy and multiorgan protection. Part I

Diabetic nephropathy, one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus, requires during its evolution protective measures defined as renoprotective. Since the complications of diabetes mellitus are not limited to diabetic nephropathy and as this is frequently associated with heart complications that require protective measures defined as cardioprotective, neurologic measures that require neuroprotection of the retina, of the large vessels etc., much more complex protective measures are necessary. The metabolic complications that are usually at the basis of the other complications at the level of the cell also impose measures of protection. Such an approach can have important practical consequences. It is a well-known fact that most patients with chronic kidney disease--CKD--do not reach final stages as in the meantime they decease because of cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, cardioprotective measures have to be associated with renoprotective ones, as well as protective measures that address other organs, in close connection with protective measures at metabolic level. The protective measures must also address to microcirculation, diabetic nephropathy being a disease that primarily affects microcirculation. Diabetes mellitus also frequently affects the large vessels, the circulatory system being usually affected in its complexity. The paper represents a synthesis of multiorganprotective measures in diabetic nephropathy, in diabetes mellitus, respectively, the concept of multiorgan protection finding in this disease an ideal domain of expression. The first part gives the main multiorgan measures: monitoring of blood pressure and, mainly, protection by means of the renine aldosterone (RAAS) system, multiorgan by intensive monitoring of glycaemia and by treatment of proteinuria. The second part presents the other protective measures used in diabetic nephropathy.

Thermopower of interacting GaAs bilayer hole systems in the reentrant insulating phase near nu=1

We report thermopower measurements of interacting GaAs bilayer hole systems. When the carrier densities in the two layers are equal, these systems exhibit a reentrant insulating phase near the quantum Hall state at total filling factor nu=1. Our data show that, as the temperature is decreased, the thermopower diverges in the insulating phase. This behavior indicates the opening of an energy gap at low temperature, consistent with the formation of a pinned Wigner solid. We extract an energy gap and a Wigner solid melting phase diagram.

GADA and islet cell antibodies in Romanian children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus

Childhood type 1 diabetes is defined by autoimmunity and insulinopenia. Etiopathogenic definition based on biochemical characteristics has recently replaced the clinical definition based on insulin requirement for treatment. The aim of this study was to describe biochemical and clinical characteristics of children with clinically diagnosed type 1 diabetes, hospitalized at the "Cristian Serban" Center in Buziaş.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fasting C peptide, HbA1c, islet cell autoantibodies (ICA) and antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) were measured in 278 subjects aged (mean +/- SD; range) 15.1 +/- 4.8 (4-28) years, with a disease duration of 2.1 +/- 0.7 (1.1-3.1) years. GADA and ICA positivity was defined by values higher than the 95th percentile in 99 age-matched non-diabetic controls (0.4 units for ICA and 1.4 for GADA).

RESULTS

As many as 66.2% of all patients had positive GADA and 10.1% had positive ICA. While 68.7% had at least one positive antibody, only 7.6% had both antibodies positive. As expected, most of the children (79.9%) had fasting C peptide values in the low range (<0.5 ng/ml), but 3 patients (1.1%) had biochemical signs of insulin resistance (C peptide concentrations >3 ng/ml). Two of the three insulin resistant children had positive GADA and one of them had positive ICA, therefore showing "mixed" features of both type 1 (autoimmunity) and type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood diabetes is now acknowledged to be a complex disorder with heterogeneity in its pathogenesis, clinical course and outcomes. While type 1 diabetes is the most frequent form of diabetes among Caucasian children, measurement of diabetes autoantibodies and C peptide is necessary to better define the types of diabetes in youth.

The value of basal C peptide and its relationship with pancreatic autoantibodies in young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

It is well known that sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus using clinical criteria, in subjects with disease onset relatively early in adult life. The measurement of C peptide level and of immunological markers may represent important additional tools for establishing the correct diagnosis. The aim of the study is to assess the trend of basal C peptide in patients with clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and to relate it to the type of treatment, the body weight and the positivity for pancreatic autoantibodies.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

we studied a group of 268 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged between 30 and 50 years, with a diabetes duration of less than 5 years. In all patients, we measured basal C peptide, islet cell autoantibodies and antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase, computed the body mass index and recorded the current antidiabetic treatment.

RESULTS

Based on basal C peptide value, diabetic subjects fell under 3 categories: a) low C peptide (<0.58 ng/ml): 7.5%, b) normal C peptide (0.58-2.70 ng/ml): 57.8%, and c) high C peptide (>2.70 ng/ml): 34.7%. Patients with low C peptide were treated more often with insulin, while those in high C peptide group received more often biguanides. A direct correlation between C peptide and body weight was established. Mean C peptide was lower in patients positive for at least one pancreatic autoantibody, compared to those who were negative for antibodies

CONCLUSION

Low basal C peptide can be considered criterion for transferring the patients, initially diagnosed as type 2 diabetes, in the type 1 diabetes group.

[Chronic dacryocystitis fistulization in a Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome]

The article presents the treatment difficulties of the chronic dacryocystitis at an eight month old patient, diagnosed with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. The difficulties occurred as a result of numerous antibiotic treatments and surgical procedures suffered by the patient since his second week of life.

[Primary obstructive megaureter- diagnosis and treatment]

The authors have treated 13 cases of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in children, presenting without vesicoureteric reflux. The diagnostic possibilities and the surgical approach options are discussed. Both Cohen and Leadbetter--Politano uretero-vesical reimplantation techniques proved to be successful in this series. Ureteric folding was done in 2 cases. Reported final results are good in 10 cases.

[Osteoarticular changes in childhood leukemia, lymphoma and neuroblastoma]

Osteoarticular changes may occur in up to 23% of the cases with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and even more frequent with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML). Most of the bone and joint pains are due to neoplastic infiltration, radiologically obvious as metaphyseal clear stripes, parietal enlargement, periosteal reaction, osteolysis and diffuse osteoporosis in the long bone. In Malignant Lymphomas (ML) the bone involvement is rarer, usually bone metastases identifiable with Tc scintigraphy being the cause. In Neuroblastoma (Nbl) cases, bone metastases are commonly associated with abdominal tumor beyond one year of age. Of the total ALL, AML, ML and Nbl cases treated in our Oncology Dept, we selected 43 children with osteoarticular involvement. The sex ratio was 24 boys to 19 girls and the specific malignancy was ALL in 25 cases, AML in 5 cases, ML in 2 cases and Nbl in 10 cases. The following biological parameters were monitored: type of onset, the localization and nature of the bone affectation, differential diagnosis, and the response to therapy. The presence of the osteoarticular involvement has proved to be of no prognostic significance. The spectrum of clinical manifestations varied from mild pain to severe disability, in 7% of the cases being the unique symptoms. The type of lesion did not rise important differential diagnosis issues, excepting the cases with unique osteolytic lesion or diffuse osteoporosis, where the rest of the data and the elevated urine vanilmandelic acid helped to establishing the diagnosis. We conclude that the osteoarticular involvement encountered in different malignancies in children is a major sources of diagnostic problems, but it is not associated with a significant outcome.

[Intestinal occlusion by persistence of the omphalo-enteric conduct in a 10-year old child]

The persistence of the omphalo-enteric conduct is a rare, but possible, cause of pathology in children. Haemorrhage and intestinal occlusion are the most frequent clinical presentations, usually in infants. We describe the case of a 10 year old boy, who was admitted in our department for what seemed first to be an acute appendicitis. During hospitalization, the clinical picture turned on to an intestinal occlusion, and the patient finally required surgery. We performed exploratory laparotomy and we discovered a mechanical occlusion by persistence of the omphalo-enteric conduct, which was treated according to standard protocols. The post-operative course was good, and the child was discharged 8 days after surgery. This case emphasizes that the persistence of the omphalo-enteric conduct should be sought as the source of symptoms in any child presenting with intestinal occlusion.

[Achalasia in children: Diagnostic opportunities and therapeutical options]

Achalasia is a functional disorder of the distal esophagus, which fails to relax during swallowing. Although being rare, this disorder is the source of a significant morbidity, including developmental disorders in children. Several therapeutical options are available: myorelaxants administration, esophageal dilations and surgery--distal esophageal myomectomy followed by an antireflux procedure. The paper introduces our experience in treating a number of 5 children between 1991 and 1998.

Immunization of chimpanzees with tumor antigen MUC1 mucin tandem repeat peptide elicits both helper and cytotoxic T-cell responses

CTLs and antibody responses to the tumor-associated antigen MUC1 mucin can be detected in patients with adenocarcinomas of the breast, pancreas, colon, and ovary. However, neither response is generally effective at controlling disease. Methods to augment immunity to MUC1 are being designed, with the expectation that this will lead to an antitumor response. The key to eliciting potent immunity to tumor MUC1 may be in generating MUC1-specific T-helper cell responses, which, to date, have not been reported in cancer patients. We have recently demonstrated that a synthetic vaccine representing five copies of the MUC1 tandem repeat peptide can be used to prime MUC1-specific human CD4+ T cells in vitro. Here, we extend these studies to test the immunogenicity and safety of the tandem repeat peptide in the chimpanzee, which has the identical MUC1 tandem repeat sequence to the human. To promote induction of Th1-type responses, we used the novel adjuvant LeIF, a Leishmania-derived protein that is known to stimulate human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and antigen-presenting cells, to produce a Th1-type cytokine profile. We found that MUC1 tandem repeat peptide administered with LeIF elicited positive, albeit transient, proliferative T-cell responses to MUC1 in the PBMCs from four of four chimpanzees. Immunization induced MUC1-specific IFN-gamma but not interleukin 4 expression in CD4+ T cells from PBMCs and draining lymph nodes. MUC1-specific CTLs were also generated that did not induce detectable autoimmune dysfunction during the 1 year of observation. We conclude that the MUC1 tandem repeat peptide can be used to elicit both T-helper and cytotoxic cell responses to MUC1 in the primate and holds promise as a safe and effective cancer vaccine.

Etiological, clinical and pathomorphological aspects of acute respiratory distress syndrome in children

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the result of severe injuries of different etiologies of the capillary system in patients with previously healthy lungs, resulting in noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. The authors studied 42 infants in whom the histopathologic aspects were suggestive for ARDS. The etiologic factors of this syndrome were: severe gastroenteritis with hypovolemic or endotoxic shock (13 cases), sepsis (9 cases), fulminans purpura (2 cases), severe neurological disorders (13 cases), pulmonary infections (5 cases). In such conditions, if the infant presents hyperpnea followed by generalised cyanosis, refractory to oxygen therapy, and if there are clinical and radiologic signs of acute pulmonary edema, the diagnosis of ARDS must be considered and a complete intensive care therapy is compulsory in order to alleviate the severe prognosis of this syndrome.

MTD calculations on quantitative structure-activity relationships of steroids binding to the progesterone receptor

The minimal topological difference (MTD) method is used to describe quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for the progesterone-receptor binding affinity including 59 progestational steroids. Multiple correlation coefficients of r = 0.962 and r = 0.955 are obtained by use of the MTD variable and a measure of hydrophobicity for the series of progesterone and ethisterone derivatives, respectively. Hydrophobic effects are found to strongly influence receptor binding. In accordance with the hydrogen bonding concept, the optimized MTD receptor maps indicate cavity vertices in the regions of oxygen functions at C3 and in the 17 beta position. Receptor wall vertices are attributed in the areas of 4, 10 beta, and 13 beta substituents of 4-en-3-one steroids while 17 alpha side chains additionally contain receptor cavity vertices. A comparison of corresponding receptor maps suggests in accord with X-ray crystal structure data that progesterone and ethisterone derivatives are bound in somewhat different orientations relative to the receptor surface.