GalliForm, a database of Galliformes occurrence records from the Indo-Malay and Palaearctic, 1800-2008

Historical as well as current species distribution data are needed to track changes in biodiversity. Species distribution data are found in a variety of sources, each of which has its own distinct bias toward certain taxa, time periods or places. We present GalliForm, a database that comprises 186687 galliform occurrence records linked to 118907 localities in Europe and Asia. Records were derived from museums, peer-reviewed and grey literature, unpublished field notes, diaries and correspondence, banding records, atlas records and online birding trip reports. We describe data collection processes, georeferencing methods and quality-control procedures. This database has underpinned several peer-reviewed studies, investigating spatial and temporal bias in biodiversity data, species' geographic range changes and local extirpation patterns. In our rapidly changing world, an understanding of long-term change in species' distributions is key to predicting future impacts of threatening processes such as land use change, over-exploitation of species and climate change. This database, its historical aspect in particular, provides a valuable source of information for further studies in macroecology and biodiversity conservation.

Statistical matching for conservation science

The awareness of the need for robust impact evaluations in conservation is growing and statistical matching techniques are increasingly being used to assess the impacts of conservation interventions. Used appropriately matching approaches are powerful tools, but they also pose potential pitfalls. We outlined important considerations and best practice when using matching in conservation science. We identified 3 steps in a matching analysis. First, develop a clear theory of change to inform selection of treatment and controls and that accounts for real-world complexities and potential spillover effects. Second, select the appropriate covariates and matching approach. Third, assess the quality of the matching by carrying out a series of checks. The second and third steps can be repeated and should be finalized before outcomes are explored. Future conservation impact evaluations could be improved by increased planning of evaluations alongside the intervention, better integration of qualitative methods, considering spillover effects at larger spatial scales, and more publication of preanalysis plans. Implementing these improvements will require more serious engagement of conservation scientists, practitioners, and funders to mainstream robust impact evaluations into conservation. We hope this article will improve the quality of evaluations and help direct future research to continue to improve the approaches on offer.

Ten-year assessment of the 100 priority questions for global biodiversity conservation

In 2008, a group of conservation scientists compiled a list of 100 priority questions for the conservation of the world's biodiversity. However, now almost a decade later, no one has yet published a study gauging how much progress has been made in addressing these 100 high-priority questions in the peer-reviewed literature. We took a first step toward reexamining the 100 questions to identify key knowledge gaps that remain. Through a combination of a questionnaire and a literature review, we evaluated each question on the basis of 2 criteria: relevance and effort. We defined highly relevant questions as those that - if answered - would have the greatest impact on global biodiversity conservation and quantified effort based on the number of review publications addressing a particular question, which we used as a proxy for research effort. Using this approach, we identified a set of questions that, despite being perceived as highly relevant, have been the focus of relatively few review publications over the past 10 years. These questions covered a broad range of topics but predominantly tackled 3 major themes: conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems, role of societal structures in shaping interactions between people and the environment, and impacts of conservation interventions. We believe these questions represent important knowledge gaps that have received insufficient attention and may need to be prioritized in future research.

Zonation of hepatic fatty acid metabolism - The diversity of its regulation and the benefit of modeling

A pronounced heterogeneity between hepatocytes in subcellular structure and enzyme activities was discovered more than 50years ago and initiated the idea of metabolic zonation. In the last decades zonation patterns of liver metabolism were extensively investigated for carbohydrate, nitrogen and lipid metabolism. The present review focuses on zonation patterns of the latter. We review recent findings regarding the zonation of fatty acid uptake and oxidation, ketogenesis, triglyceride synthesis and secretion, de novo lipogenesis, as well as bile acid and cholesterol metabolism. In doing so, we expose knowledge gaps and discuss contradictory experimental results, for example on the zonation pattern of fatty acid oxidation and de novo lipogenesis. Thus, possible rewarding directions of further research are identified. Furthermore, recent findings about the regulation of metabolic zonation are summarized, especially regarding the role of hormones, nerve innervation, morphogens, gender differences and the influence of the circadian clock. In the last part of the review, a short collection of models considering hepatic lipid metabolism is provided. We conclude that modeling, despite its proven benefit for understanding of hepatic carbohydrate and ammonia metabolisms, has so far been largely disregarded in the study of lipid metabolism; therefore some possible fields of modeling interest are presented.

A theoretical study of lipid accumulation in the liver-implications for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

A hallmark of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the accumulation of lipids. We developed a mathematical model of the hepatic lipid dynamics to simulate the fate of fatty acids in hepatocytes. Our model involves fatty acid uptake, lipid oxidation, and lipid export. It takes into account that storage of triacylglycerol within hepatocytes leads to cell enlargement reducing the sinusoids radius and impairing hepatic microcirculation. Thus oxygen supply is reduced, which impairs lipid oxidation. The analysis of our model revealed a bistable behavior (two stable steady states) of the system, in agreement with histological observations showing distinct areas of lipid accumulation in lobules. The first (healthy) state is characterized by intact lipid oxidation and a low amount of stored lipids. The second state in our model may correspond to the steatotic cell; it is marked by a high amount of stored lipids and a reduced lipid oxidation caused by impaired oxygen supply. Our model stresses the role of insufficient oxygen supply for the development of steatosis. We discuss implications of our results in regard to the experimental design aimed at exploring lipid metabolism reactions under steatotic conditions. Moreover, the model helps to understand the reversibility of lipid accumulation and predicts the reversible switch to show hysteresis. The system can switch from the steatotic state back to the healthy state by reduction of fatty acid uptake below the threshold at which steatosis started. The reversibility corresponds to the observation that caloric restriction can reduce the lipid content in the liver.

Social and ecological change over a decade in a village hunting system, central Gabon

Despite widespread recognition of the major threat to tropical forest biological diversity and local food security posed by unsustainable bushmeat hunting, virtually no long-term studies tracking the socioecological dynamics of hunting systems have been conducted. We interviewed local hunters and collected detailed hunting data to investigate changes in offtake and hunter characteristics over 10 years (2001-2010) in Dibouka and Kouagna villages, central Gabon, in the context of hunter recollections of longer term trends since the 1950s. To control for changes in hunter behavior, such as trap location and characteristics, we report hunting offtake data per trap. Our results suggest the hunting area was already highly depleted by 2001; local hunters reported that 16 large-bodied prey species had become rare or locally extirpated over the last 60 years. Overall, we observed no significant declines in hunting offtake or changes in species composition from 2001 to 2010, and offtakes per trap increased slightly between 2004 and 2010. However, trapping distance from the villages increased, and there was a switch in hunting techniques; a larger proportion of the catch was hunted with guns in 2010. The number of hunters declined by 20% from 2004 to 2010, and male livelihood activities shifted away from hunting. Hunters with the lowest hunting incomes in 2004 were more likely than successful hunters to have moved away from the village by 2010 (often in response to alternative employment opportunities). Therefore, changes in trap success (potentially related to biological factors) were interacting with system-level changes in hunter number and composition (related to external socioeconomic factors) to produce a relatively static overall offtake. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the small-scale context of hunting to correctly interpret changes or apparent stasis in hunting effort and offtake over time.

[Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia and HIV infection--case 3/2012]

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS

A 27-year-old male patient with a past medical history of HIV presented with acute myeloid leukemia for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Highly active anti-retroviral therapy suppressed the viral load below detection threshold.

INVESTIGATIONS

There were no contraindications for allogeneic HSCT.

TREATMENT AND COURSE

Myeloablative conditioning consisted of total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide. Anti-thymocyte globulin, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil were used for immunosuppression. Combined anti-retroviral therapy (nucleoside and nucleotide analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor, boostered protease inhibitor, maraviroc and raltegravir) was maintained for allogeneic HSCT and viral load remained below detection threshold. No graft-versus-host disease or serious infectious complications occurred. The patient showed good graft function with stable hematopoiesis. Localized Kaposi's sarcoma was diagnosed six months after allogeneic HSCT and treated successfully with surgical excision and reduction of immunosuppression. Almost one year after allogeneic HSCT, the CD4+ cell count is rising and viral load remains below detection threshold with combined anti-retroviral therapy.

CONCLUSION

Allogeneic HSCT can be safely performed in HIV positive patients. Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare event after allogeneic HSCT and linked to strong immunosuppression.

A non-comparative phase II study of bendamustine hydrochloride in patients with pretreated soft tissue sarcoma (German Sarcoma Group-AIO 001)

9525

Background: To assess the efficacy and safety of bendamustine hydrochloride, a nucleoside analogue with alkylating activity, in patients with adult type soft tissue sarcoma (STS) who have failed anthracyline-based chemotherapy. Methods: Pts with a ECOG performance status 0–2, measurable disease and adequate organ functions were eligible. All patients had inoperable locally advanced or metastatic disease and had progressive disease during or after first-line chemotherapy prior to study entry. Bendamustine was administered at a dose of 100 mg/sqm on day 1 and 2 every four weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles with tumour assessment every two cycles. The primary endpoint was overall response rate as defined by RECIST. The secondary endpoint was toxicity. A two-stage design was used (1st step: 14 pts, at least 1 PR in order to succeed with 2nd step; p0 = 5%, p1 = 25%, alpha = beta = 0.1). Results: 32 patients, median age 56 yrs (range, 18–74) with STS were recruited (3 pts not evaluable for efficacy analysis). In general the drug was well tolerated. Grade 3 toxicity was granulocytopenia in 9% and febrile neutropenia/fever in 3% of pts. No toxic death was seen in a total of 89 cycles administered. A single pt experienced a clinically significant allergic reaction (3%). Anti-tumour activity: 1 confirmed partial response (3%). A further 10 patients had progression arrest by cycle two (34%). Conclusions: The confirmed objective response rate is low. However, the incidence of progression arrest in pretreated adult type STS is in the range of other agents considered active in STS. The observed toxicity profile is favorable. Further investigation in STS appears warranted.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Adjuvant chemoradiation using 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid/cisplatin with or without paclitaxel and radiation in patients with completely resected high-risk gastric cancer: two cooperative phase II studies of the AIO/ARO/ACO

BACKGROUND

The current two studies evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of an adjuvant combined modality treatment strategy containing a three to four-drug chemotherapy regimen plus 5-fluorouracil (FU)-based radiochemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between December 2000 and October 2003, a total of 86 patients were included in both studies. Patients with completely resected gastric adenocarcinoma including a D1 or D2 lymph node dissection (LND) were eligible. Treatment consisted of two cycles of folinic acid 500 mg/m2, 5-FU 2000 mg/m2 continuous infusion over 24 h once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks, paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 in weeks 1 and 4 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 in weeks 2 and 5 (FLPP; n=41) or two cycles of the same 5-FU/folinic acid schedule but with cisplatin 50 mg/m2 only in weeks 1, 3 and 5 (FLP; n=45). Radiation with 45 Gy plus concomitantly applied 5-FU 225 mg/m2/24 h was scheduled in between the two cycles.

RESULTS

Patients characteristics were: D1/D2 LND FLP group 53%/42%; FLPP group 27%/68%; stage distribution: UICC stages III/IV(M0) FLP group 63% and FLPP group 66%. Median follow-up was 10 months (3-25) for FLP and 18 months (2-51) for FLPP patients. CTC grade 3/4 toxicities during the first cycle/chemoradiation/second cycle of FLP: granulocytopenia 3%/0/27%, anorexia 6%/10%/8%; diarrhea 8%/0/4%, nausea 3%/0/4%; FLPP: granulocytopenia 0/0/37%, anorexia 5%/11%/6%; diarrhea 5%/0/3, nausea 3%/8%/0%; early death in one patient due to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Projected 2-year progression-free survival was 64% (95% CI 56% to 68%) for the FLP and 61% (95% CI 42% to 78%) for the FLPP group.

CONCLUSIONS

Both chemoradiation regimens appear feasible with an acceptable toxicity profile indicating that cisplatin can be added to 5-FU/FA and that even a four-drug regimen can be investigated further in prospective clinical trials in completely resected gastric cancer patients. Treatment should be given in experienced centres in order to avoid unnecessary toxicity.

Secondary leukemia after first-line high-dose chemotherapy for patients with advanced germ cell cancer

PURPOSE

We investigated the incidence of secondary leukemia in patients treated with first-line high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) plus autologous stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for advanced testicular cancer.

METHODS

Three hundred and twenty-three patients who were entered into two consecutive prospective Phase-II studies of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group were analyzed. A total of 221 patients had received HD-VIP containing cisplatin, ifosfamide, and etoposide and 102 patients were treated with Tax-HD-VIP containing cisplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide, and paclitaxel, each cycle supported by autologous PBSCT.

RESULTS

Patients had received a median cumulative etoposide dose of 4.9 g/m(2) (range, 2.2-9.4 g/m(2)). The median follow-up duration for all patients was 36 months (range, 0-128) with a median follow up time of 50 months (range, 0-128) for patients surviving at least 1 year after therapy. One patient developed a secondary acute myeloid leukemia (s-AML) involving a chromosomal translocation t(11;19)(q23;p13.3) 24 months after the start of chemotherapy resulting in a cumulative incidence of 0.48% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0-1.42]. Additionally, two patients with primary mediastinal germ cell cancer developed a myelodysplastic syndrome. No solid tumors had occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

HDCT including high-dose etoposide with autologous PBSCT as first-line therapy for advanced testicular cancer was associated with an acceptably low risk of developing secondary leukemia.

Long-term results of first-line sequential high-dose etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin chemotherapy plus autologous stem cell support for patients with advanced metastatic germ cell cancer: an extended phase I/II study of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group

PURPOSE

Patients with disseminated germ cell cancer and poor prognosis (International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group [IGCCCG] classification) achieve only a 45% to 50% long-term survival by standard chemotherapy. First-line high-dose chemotherapy might be able to improve the result. This analysis reports toxicity and long-term results of a large phase I/II study of sequential high-dose etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP) in patients with advanced germ cell tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between July 1993 and November 1999, 221 patients with either Indiana "advanced disease" (n = 39) or IGCCCG "poor prognosis" criteria (n = 182) received one cycle of VIP followed by three to four sequential cycles of high-dose VIP chemotherapy plus stem cell support, every 3 weeks, at six consecutive dose levels.

RESULTS

Dose limiting toxicity occurred at level 8 (100 mg/m2 cisplatinum, 1750 mg/m2 etoposide, 12 g/m2 ifosfamide) with grade 4 mucositis (three of eight patients), grade 3 CNS toxicity (one of eight patients), grade 4 renal toxicity (one of eight patients), and prolonged granulocytopenia (one of eight patients). After 4-year median follow-up, progression-free survival and disease-specific survival rates in the poor prognosis subgroup were 69% and 79% at 2 years and 68% and 73% at 5 years, with 76% for gonadal/retroperitoneal versus 67% for mediastinal primaries. Severe toxicity included treatment related death (4%), treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia (1%), long-term impared renal function (3%), chronic renal failure (1%), and persistent grade 2-3 neuropathy (5%).

CONCLUSION

Repetitive cycles of high-dose VIP with peripheral stem cell support can be successfully applied in a multicenter setting. Dose level 6 with cisplatin 100 mg/m2, etoposide 1500 mg/m2, and ifosfamide 10 g/m2 is recommended for further investigation in randomized trials. An ongoing randomized trial within the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer evaluates this protocol against four cycles of standard cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin.

Treatment-induced anaemia and its potential clinical impact in patients receiving sequential high dose chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer

First-line sequential high dose chemotherapy is under investigation in patients with "poor prognosis" metastatic germ cell tumours in order to improve survival. Despite the use of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and granulocyte colony stimulating factor chemotherapy dose intensification is associated with severe haematotoxicity including anaemia, which may significantly affect quality of life and tolerability of chemotherapy. This study investigates the frequency and degree of anaemia in patients receiving first-line sequential high dose chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer and the impact of anaemia on treatment outcome. A total of 101 newly diagnosed patients with "poor prognosis" metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumours were treated with one cycle of standard VIP followed by three cycles of HD-VIP-chemotherapy (etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin) within a large phase I/II study. Differential blood cell counts were taken prior, during and after every cycle of chemotherapy. Additionally, the numbers of red blood cell and platelet transfusions were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to correlate pre-treatment and post-treatment haemoglobin values to response and overall survival. Forty-eight per cent of the patients were classified anaemic (haemoglobin <12 g dl(-1)) prior to the start of chemotherapy. The application of sequential HD-VIP resulted in median haemoglobin nadirs between 7.8 g dl(-1) (range 5.5-11.1 g dl(-1)) in the first cycle and 7.6 g dl(-1) (range 6.0-11.4 g dl(-1)) in the third cycle despite the frequent use of red blood cell transfusions. Almost all patients (99%) had haemoglobin levels <10 g dl(-1) at some timepoint during first-line sequential high dose chemotherapy. Overall, 97 patients received red blood cell transfusions with a median of 10 units (range 2-25) per patient during the four consecutive cycles of therapy. The time to first transfusion was shortest in patients with the lowest initial haemoglobin values. While there was no prediction of response or outcome by baseline haemoglobin-levels, a significant survival difference in favour of patients with a haemoglobin value >10.5 g dl(-1) after completion of four cycles of therapy (at leukocyte recovery after the last cycle) compared to those with haemoglobin values <10.5 g dl(-1) was found with 3-year overall survival rates of 87% vs 68%, respectively (P<0.05). Severe anaemia is a very frequent side effect of sequential dose intensive therapy in patients with germ cell cancer, with almost all patients becoming transfusion dependent. Despite the frequent use of red blood cell transfusions, median haemoglobin nadirs remained about 7.5-8 g dl(-1) during therapy. A correlation of haemoglobin-values after completion of therapy to overall treatment outcome was found.

Assessment of amifostine as protection from chemotherapy-induced toxicities after conventional-dose and high-dose chemotherapy in patients with germ cell tumor

BACKGROUND

We assessed the efficacy of amifostine for protection from chemotherapy-induced toxicities in patients treated with conventional-dose paclitaxel, ifosfamide, cisplatin (TIP) and high-dose carboplatin, etoposide and thiotepa (CET) followed by peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) rescue.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a prospective single-center study 40 patients with relapsed or refractory germ-cell tumors (GCT) were treated with 3 cycles of conventional-dose TIP followed by one cycle of high-dose CET. Patients were randomized either to receive one fixed dose of 500 mg amifostine per day of conventional-dose TIP and two fixed doses of 500 mg per day amifostine during high-dose CET (group A, n = 20) or no amifostine (group B, n = 20). Prior to the first cycle of TIP, one course of 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel and 5 g/m2 ifosfamide (TI) followed by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) at 10 microg/kg/day were given for PBPC mobilization.

RESULTS

Toxicities and response to conventional-dose TIP and high-dose CET could be evaluated in 40 patients (100%) and 32 of 40 patients (80%), respectively. Peripheral neurotoxicity (i.e. paresthesia or sensorymotor impairment), hearing impairment, hematologic toxicity, nephrotoxicity, nausea, myalgia, skin- and liver-toxicity did not differ siginificantly between the two patient groups. Likewise, the response rates to TIP and high-dose CET were comparable in patients with or without amifostine. After a median follow-up of 18 months, 8 of 20 (40%) patients of group A and 6 of 20 (30%) patients of group B are without relapse.

CONCLUSION

Repeated low doses of 500 mg amifostine additional to conventional-dose TIP or high-dose CET showed no unequivocal advantage in protection from treatment-related toxicities. Furthermore, no significant differences in response rates or survival could be observed in this small number of patients.

Clinical impact of germ cell tumor cells in apheresis products of patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy

PURPOSE

High-dose chemotherapy (HD-Ctx) followed by autologous peripheral-blood stem-cell (PBSC) transplantation is currently investigated in patients with poor prognosis or relapsed metastatic germ cell tumor (GCTs). This study analyzed the presence and the clinical importance of contaminating tumor cells in PBSC preparations used to support HD-Ctx in GCT patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven targets for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based detection of GCT cells were able to detect seminomatous and different histologic variants of nonseminomatous tumor cells. PBSC preparations from 57 patients were investigated for the presence of contaminating tumor cells using this set of targets, including beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), fibronectin (EDB variant), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), CD44 (v8 to 10 variant), germ cell and placental alkaline phosphatase (AP), human endogenous retrovirus type K (ENV and GAG), and XIST. Samples of PBSC preparations from four healthy donors for allogenic transplantations as well as blood specimens from 10 healthy volunteers served as negative controls.

RESULTS

Fifty patients (43 first-line and seven second-line Ctx) were assessable. Combining all RT-PCR results, 29 PBSC preparations (58%) were positive for tumor-specific amplification products (HERV-K 0, fibronectin 4, XIST 14, beta-hCG 19, AP 19, CD44 24, EGFR 26). Ten (35%) of 29 patients who underwent transplantation with positive PBSC preparations and seven (33%) of 21 patients with negative PBSC preparations have suffered relapse or progression (not significant [ns]). With a median follow-up of 22 months (2 to 66) post-HD-Ctx projected 3-year survival rates are 68% (RT-PCR+) and 58% (RT-PCR-) (ns). None of the 10 control peripheral-blood samples showed positivity for any of the targets studied.

CONCLUSION

GCT cells can be detected in more than 50% of PBSC preparations using a RT-PCR approach with multiple targets. Despite the presence of tumor cells, retransplantation of the PBSC products did not effect long-term outcome. Factors such as responsiveness to chemotherapy and tumor mass seem to overcome the importance of potentially re-infused tumor cells.

PBPC mobilization with paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and G-CSF with or without amifostine: results of a prospective randomized trial

BACKGROUND

The impact of amifostine on PBPC mobilization with paclitaxel and ifosfamide plus G-CSF was assessed.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Forty patients with a median age of 34 years (range, 19-53) who had germ cell tumor were evaluated for high-dose chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a single 500-mg dose of amifostine (Group A, n = 20) or no amifostine (Group B, n = 20) before mobilization chemotherapy with paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) given over 3 hours and ifosfamide (5 g/m(2)) given over 24 hours (TI) on Day 1. G-CSF at 10 microg per kg per day was given subsequent to TI with or without amifostine from Day 3 until the end of leukapheresis procedures.

RESULTS

In 2 (10%) of 20 patients receiving amifostine and 3 (15%) of 20 patients not receiving it, no PBPC separation was performed because of mobilization failure. No significant differences were observed in the study arms with regard to the time from chemotherapy until first PBPC collection or the number of apheresis procedures needed to harvest more than 2.5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells per kg. Furthermore, leukapheresis procedures yielded comparable doses of CD34+ cells per kg (3.4 x 10(6) vs. 3.6 x 10(6); p = 0.82), MNCs per kg (2.7 x 10(8) vs. 2.6 x 10(8); p = 0.18), and CFU-GM per kg (15.9 x 10(4) vs. 19.3 x 10(4); p = 0.20). Patients in Group A had higher numbers of circulating CD34+ cells on Day 10 (103.0/microL vs. 46.8/microL; p = 0.10) and on Day 11 (63.0/microL vs.14.3/microL; p = 0.04) than did patients in Group B.

CONCLUSION

Administration of a single dose of amifostine before chemotherapy with TI mobilized higher numbers of CD34 cells in the circulation, but did not enhance the overall collection efficiency in the present trial.

Detection of small numbers of immature cells in the blood of healthy subjects

AIMS

To determine the frequency of immature haemopoietic cells in the peripheral blood of healthy persons.

METHODS

Cytocentrifuge preparations were made using mononuclear leucocytes separated by a Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient. The slides were stained by May-Grünwald-Giemsa. The combination with immunoperoxidase technique allowed immunotyping of uncommon blood cells.

RESULTS

Blast cells expressing the progenitor cell marker CD34 represented 0.11 (0.06) per cent (mean (SD)) of the total mononuclear leucocyte count; these were the haemopoietic progenitor cells in the peripheral blood. Dark blue cells expressing CD38, CD45, HLA-DR, CD4, CD11a, CD29, CD49d, CD50, and CD54 represented 0.30 (0.21) per cent of the mononuclear leucocytes; most of these cells did not express T, B, NK, myelomonocytic, progenitor cell, proliferation, activation, blood dendritic cell, or follicular dendritic cell markers. These were dendritic cell precursors in the peripheral blood. Very small numbers of cells expressing CD83 were found. Blast-like cells expressing CD45, HLA-DR, CD11a, and CD50 represented 0.15 (0.10) per cent of the mononuclear leucocytes; morphology and immunotyping supported the conclusion that these cells were poorly differentiated monocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Morphological investigation of mononuclear leucocytes in peripheral blood of healthy persons can be used to detect small numbers of blasts, dark blue cells, and blast-like cells. The immunoperoxidase technique can then be used for immunotyping of these cells. This simple method may be helpful in diagnosing haematological disorders.

High-dose chemotherapy in germ cell tumours: a large single centre experience

High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) has evolved as a strategy to improve the treatment outcome in patients with relapsed and/or refractory germ cell tumours. Between August 1989 and September 1995, 150 consecutive patients with relapsed and/or refractory germ cell tumours were treated with conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy followed by one cycle of HDCT with carboplatin 1500-2000 mg/m2, etoposide 1200-2400 mg/m2 and ifosfamide 0-10 g/m2 and were retrospectively analysed. With a median follow-up time of 55 months (range 21-88 months) 51/150 (34%) patients are alive and disease free. The projected event-free and overall survival are 29% (confidence interval 22-37%) and 39% (confidence interval 31-47%) respectively. The relevance of prognostic variables for long-term survival after HDCT were prospectively confirmed. Persisting toxicities occurred in approximately one third of the long-term survivors. Treatment intensification with HDCT resulted in a significant proportion of the long-term survivors in patients with relapsed and/or refractory germ cell tumours. Trials to prospectively evaluate HDCT as an early intervention in these patients seem justified.

Treatment of relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with unmanipulated G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell preparation

Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) are an effective treatment of leukemia relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Undesired side-effects are the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the occurrence of pancytopenia in some patients. In a pilot study, we investigated if unmanipulated G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells which naturally contain large numbers of T lymphocytes (D-PBSC/LI) would be equally effective or even superior than DLI in generating a graft-versus-leukemia reaction (GVL) but could mitigate or prevent the development of pancytopenia. We treated 12 patients with CML chronic phase (n = 5), CML blast crisis (n = 2), AML (n = 2), ALL (n = 1), CLL (n = 1) and multiple myeloma (n = 1). In five patients with acute leukemia or CML blast crisis D-PBSC/LI followed intensive chemotherapy (group A), in seven patients D-PBSC/LI were given without any prior chemotherapy (group B). In group A two patients were evaluable for hematologic toxicity. Leukopenia <1000/microl lasted for 10 and 19 days, and thrombocytopenia <20,000/microl for 11 and 13 days, respectively. In group B leukopenia <1000/microl and thrombocytopenia <20,000/microl was observed in only one patient. Moderate cytopenia developed in four of five evaluable patients. A complete remission could be achieved in all seven patients with CML who all developed acute and/or chronic GVHD. None of the remaining five patients achieved a complete remission despite acute and/or chronic GVHD in two of them. Four patients died from disease progression, one patient from a secondary lymphoma, and one patient as a result of uncontrolled GVHD. In conclusion, D-PBSC/LI is effective in inducing GVL reaction but it does not prevent pancytopenia in each case. It remains unclear if it mitigates the incidence and severity of pancytopenia.

Mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells by disease-specific chemotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma

We investigated peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) mobilization by disease-specific chemotherapy in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Nine patients, five females and four males, aged 12-51 years, pretreated by one to nine courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy, underwent STS-specific mobilization followed by G-CSF at 5 microg/kg/day. PBPC were collected by 19 conventional-volume aphereses (8-12 l) with one to four procedures in individual patients. Leukaphereses started on median day 15 (range 13-18) from the first day of mobilization chemotherapy at medians of 25.8 x 10(3) WBC/microl (6.8-46.9), 3.5 x 10(3) MNC/microl (1.1-8.8), 122 x 10(3) platelets/microl (72-293) and 30.7 CD34+ cells/microl (6.7-207.8). Cumulative harvests resulted in medians of 4.6 x 10(8) MNC/kg (3.0-6.4), 2.9 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (1.1-11.1) and 12.0 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg (2.0-37.8). Eight patients underwent high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by PBPC rescue. Seven patients recovered hematopoiesis at medians of 12 days (8-15) for ANC >0.5 x 10(3)/microl and 14 days (8-27) for platelets >20 x 10(3)/microl. One patient, who received 1.6 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg, exhibited delayed ANC recovery on day +37 and failed to recover platelets until hospital discharge on day +55. We conclude that in patients with metastatic STS, who are pretreated by standard chemotherapy, PBPC can be mobilized by a further course of STS-specific chemotherapy plus G-CSF. One to four conventional-volume aphereses result in PBPC autografts that can serve as hematopoietic rescue for patients scheduled for HDCT.

Long-term survival of patients with recurrent or refractory germ cell tumors after high dose chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment of patients with recurrent or refractory germ cell tumors is still a debated topic. High dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell rescue (ASCR) might be promising for intensification of first or subsequent salvage treatment. However, the long-term results of this approach remain largely unknown.

METHODS

Between August 1989 and September 1992, 74 patients with recurrent and/or refractory germ cell tumors were treated in a Phase I/II trial with HDCT consisting of carboplatin (1500-2000 mg/m2), etoposide (1200-2400 mg/m2), and ifosfamide (0-10 g/m2). In September 1995 all patients were reevaluated to determine overall response, late toxicities, and survival.

RESULTS

Two patients died from treatment-related toxicity shortly after HDCT, and 47 had recurrence or progression of disease after a median of 3 months (range, 1-44 months). Of these latter patients, three were living continuously disease free at the conclusion of this study after a second HDCT regimen, salvage surgery, or chronic oral etoposide treatment. The results were an overall survival of 38% (95% confidence interval, 27-50%) and a failure free survival of 31% (95% confidence interval, 21-43%) at 5 years. There were no long-term survivors among patients whose disease progressed while they were receiving conventional doses of cisplatin before HDCT. Late toxicities consisted mainly or renal impairment (in 21% of patients), paresthesias (in 29%), and ototoxicity (in 18%).

CONCLUSIONS

HDCT can be curative for patients with germ cell tumors who do not become disease free after conventional dose chemotherapy but respond to this treatment.

Immunotyping of blasts in human bone marrow

The diagnostic potential of immunocytochemical investigation of human bone marrow has not been fully realized due to difficulties in morphological identifying of immunostained cells. We used an indirect immunoperoxidase technique after May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining for simultaneous morphological and immunocytochemical analysis of blasts in human bone marrow. Six healthy bone marrow donors were investigated. Most blasts I expressed CD34, CD38 and HLA-DR. Expression of c-kit (CD117) was observed on 42 +/- 9% of blasts I. Granulocytomonocytopoietic character was demonstrated by expression of CD13 (33 +/- 15%) and CD45RA (23 +/- 10%) and erythropoietic character was demonstrated by expression of CD36 (22 +/- 8%) and CD45RO (30 +/- 11%). A very low proportion of blasts I were Thy-1 and CD61 positive; 34 +/- 6% of blasts I expressed CD22, representing B lymphoid committed progenitors. CD3, CD15, and glycophorin A expression was not detected. Blasts II and III and proerythroblasts did not show CD34 positivity. We conclude that blasts I are morphologically identifiable cells with a high percentage of CD34, CD38, and HLA-DR positivity. They are a pool of committed progenitor cells for erythropoiesis, granulocytomonocytopoiesis, megakaryocytopoiesis, and B cell development. Blast II and proerythroblast represent the first morphologically identifiable cells of granulocytopoiesis and erythropoiesis.

The effect of FK506 versus cyclosporine on glucose and lipid metabolism--a randomized trial

In order to evaluate the effect of cyclosporine (CsA) versus FK506 on glucose and lipid metabolism, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 101 patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) (mean interval after OLT: 511 days). The liver graft recipients had been randomized prospectively to two groups prior to OLT to receive either immunosuppression with CsA, azathioprine, and corticosteroids (CsA group) or FK506 and corticosteroids (FK group). Along with the OGTT, serum insulin, insulin C-peptide and glucagon as well as serum lipids were monitored. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or manifest diabetes mellitus disease between the two groups. In fact, not a single patient developed new-onset diabetes in any group. In male and female patients, serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides increased significantly under FK506 and CsA treatment after OLT. Cholesterol was significantly higher in the CsA group in men, in women this was marked, but not significant. While triglycerides were significantly higher in women on CsA treatment, there was no such difference in men. In conclusion, both CsA and FK506 proved to have similar effects on glucose metabolism, while there was a different spectrum of serum lipid alterations.

[Comparison of the effectiveness of the HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors pravastatin versus colestyramine in hypercholesteremia]

Comparison of the Efficacy of Pravastatin and Colestyramine in Hypercholesterolemic Patients. We have treated 55 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, familial combined and polygenic hyperlipoproteinemia in a controlled, randomized study to compare the efficacy of pravastatin (CAS 81093-37-0) and colestyramine (CAS 11041-12-6). After an initial therapy of 8 weeks with 20 mg pravastatin doubling of dose led to an additional decrease of the atherogenic lipid fractions (total cholesterol, TC) 21% versus 25%, LDL-C 26% versus 31%, Apo B 12% versus 17%). After 24 weeks of therapy TC decreased by 28%, LDL-C by 33% and Apo B by 14%. Colestyramine reduced cholesterol in 22 FH patients by mean 18%, LDL-C by mean 28% and Apo B by mean 12%. Both drugs did not differ significantly in their lipid-lowering potential. 16 g colestyramine and 20 mg pravastatin did not change the antiatherogenic lipids and apoproteins (HDL-C, Apo AI and AII), however, with 40 mg pravastatin HDL-C increased significantly by 8.4 to 16.5%. The triglycerides remained constant under colestyramine therapy. Pravastatin lowered serum triglycerides after 16 weeks significantly by 11-16%. Pravastatin had no significant effect on liver and kidney function or muscular metabolism. Under therapy with colestyramine well-known complaints like constipation or flatulence were rarely seen.

Lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and other risk factors in Chinese men and women with and without myocardial infarction

One hundred and fifty-four male and 69 female Chinese patients, aged between 40 and 60 years, who had suffered myocardial infarction (MI) were investigated and compared with 216 men and 219 women who had no history or ECG evidence of coronary heart disease. The male MI patients had significantly raised levels of triglycerides (160 mg/dl), cholesterol (194 mg/dl), VLDL-CH (31 mg/dl), apolipoprotein B (122 mg/dl) and apolipoprotein E (4.7 mg/dl) and a lower apolipoprotein A-I level (126 mg/dl) than the control group (triglycerides 131, cholesterol 179, VLDL-CH 26, apo B 102, apo E4.2, and apo A-I 138 mg/dl). The women with MI also had higher values for the atherogenic lipids than the control group (triglycerides 175 vs. 134 mg/dl, cholesterol 218 vs. 186 mg/dl, LDL-CH 128 vs. 104 mg/dl, VLDL-CH 32 vs. 26 mg/dl, apo B 121 vs. 103 mg/dl and apo E 5.4 vs. 4.3 mg/dl), as well as lowered apolipoprotein A-I (128 vs. 144 mg/dl). The Lp(a) levels (men and women considered together) were significantly higher for the MI patients (34.3 mg/dl vs. 26.2 mg/dl). Anti-atherogenic lipoproteins such as HDL-cholesterol, HDL2-CH, HDL3-CH, phospholipids and apolipoprotein A-II, C-II and C-III showed no difference between the groups.

[Kinetics of lipids and lipoproteins with determination of the recovery rate in the non-steady state following plasma, membrane filtration and dextran sulfate adsorption apheresis in hypercholesterolemia]

In the work presented here, the efficiency of the following techniques was determined in the period 1983-1988 with respect to the elimination of lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia; firstly with plasmapheresis, then with membrane-filtration apheresis, and recently with dextran sulfate adsorption apheresis. Furthermore, the loss resulting from removal by apheresis in lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins was calculated by means of a single-compartment model from pool size and recovery rates. It could be shown that the individual lipids (TG, CH, LDL-CH, P) in the serum as well as in the lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL, HDL) attained new steady states at differing rates, the recovery times for cholesterol being the longest, those of HDL-CH and apoproteins AI, AII, CII, CIII and E the shortest. The absolute replacement in "mg/kg BW/d" was 35 for beta-lipoprotein, 18-22 for total-CH, 13-17 for LDL-CH, 10-12 for apoprotein B; for the antiatherogenic lipids HDL-CH it was 1.72-2.7 mg/kg BW/d; for alpha-lipoprotein 14-23 mg/kg BW/d; for apoprotein HDL 16-19 mg/kg BW/d. The recovery rates for anti- and atherogenic lipids for women with heterozygous FH were higher than for men with FH. Rates of 0.235; 0.510 and 0.183 mg/kg BW/d were measured for CII, CIII and apoprotein E respectively. Dextran sulphate adsorption apheresis (Kaneka) is a more specific method for eliminating LDL-CH and apoprotein B than plasmapheresis and membrane filtration apheresis. The amounts removed in LDL and apo B with the Kaneka technique are largely identical with those taken out by membrane filtration. Larger relative and absolute recovery rates for LDL-CH, total-CH and apo B were found after Kaneka's DSA-apheresis, which may be explained by the more specific removal in LDL-CH and apo B.

[Use of "fermosine"--fodder yeast in a multi-generation trial with chickens. 3. Evaluation of health safety in a long-term toxicologic test]

In a 3-generation experiment with a total of 2520 hens and 210 cocks of the species 'White Leghorn' kept in cages, the compatibility of 5.0%, 7.5% and 15% 'fermosin' torula yeast in the mixed feed ration was tested under long-term toxicologic aspects. The parameters investigated and relevant for the toxicological statement, with high probability, did not show a negative influence of the test ration. Thus, a good compatibility of the tested yeast product 'fermosin' for laying hens can be stated.