Israel Medical Association Journal

Background: The bladder tumor antigen stat is a simple and fast one-step immunochromatographic assay for the detection of bladder tumor-associated antigen in urine.

Objectives: To evaluate the BTA[1] stat in non-bladder cancer patients in order to identify the categories contributing to its low specificity.

Methods: A single voided urine sample was collected from 45 patients treated in the urology clinic for conditions not related to bladder cancer. Each urine sample was examined by BTA stat test and cytology.

Results: The overall specificity of the BTA stat test was 44%, which was significantly lower than that of urine cytology, 90%. The false positive rates for BTA stat test vary among the different clinical categories, being highest in cases of urinary tract calculi (90%), and benign prostatic hypertrophy (73%). Exclusion of these categories from data analysis improved BTA stat specificity to 66%.

Conclusions: Clinical categories contributing to low BTA stat specificity can be identified, and their exclusion improves the specificity of this test.

Background: Rectal administration of iodoacetamide induces colitis by blocking sulphhydryl groups and generating inflammatory mediators. Thalidomide, a non-barbiturate hyp­notic, also has an anti-inflammatory effect, presumably by suppressing the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha. In patients with Crohn’s disease, neutralization or suppression of TNFá reduces inflammation.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of thalidomide in a model of experimental colitis.

Methods: Colitis was induced in rats by intracolonic administration of 3% iodoacetamide. In the treatment group, thalidomide 50 mg/kg was given daily by gavage and continued for 7 days until the rats were sacrificed. Their colons were then processed for wet weight, lesion area, weight of mucosal scraping, myeloperoxidase activity and histology. Serum levels of TNF were determined.

Results: Colonic wet weight, lesion area, myeloperoxidase activity and serum levels of TNFá were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the treatment group (iodoacetamide + thalido­mide) than the control group (iodoacetamide only). Histologi­cally, colonic inflammation in the treated group was markedly decreased.

Conclusions: Thalidomide effectively decreases colitis induced by iodoacetamide. The mechanism is probably associated with inhibition of TNFá, and should be further studied.
 

There is accumulating evidence that tumor necrosis factor plays a major role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Recent biotechnological advances have allowed for the development of agents that directly target TNF, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. In the last 2 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union’s Commission of the European Communities have approved two biological agents for the treatment of refractory RA, etanercept and infliximab. Etanercept is a fusion protein, composed of the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G1 and the extracellular domain of a TNF receptor (p75). Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody composed of murine variable and human constant regions. In placebo-controlled trials, both agents have proven to be effective and well tolerated in PA patients.

Sex steroid hormones (estrogens, progestagens and androgens) have been associated with healthy and neoplastic pancreatic biology, although the precise significance of the findings has not been well established. Receptors for the three different types of SSH are expressed in normal and tumoral pancreatic tissue with varying profiles related to cell origin (exocrine or endocrine), to type of neoplasm. and probably even to tumoral behavior. The activity of specific enzymes involved in the synthesis and transformation of SSH are increased in some neoplastic pancreatic tissues, which may influence the circulating concentrations of these hormones, such as the low serum testosterone: dihydrotestosterone ratio described in male patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Different patterns of age and gender-related incidence and growth of neoplasms have been identified. Experimental studies have shown that pancreatic carcinogenesis is promoted or inhibited by SSH. At present, the data supporting hormonal manipula­tion for the treatment of these tumors are non-conclusive. Normal and tumoral pancreatic tissues may be regarded as a target for SSH and an additional site of biosynthesis. The influence of these hormones on physiological activities is not well known but should be further explored. The study of SSH in pancreatic neoplasms will provide clues about its origin, development, tumoral behavior, prognosis and more specific hormonal therapy. We review here the evidence favoring the role of SSH and their possible clinical implications in pancreatic function.

Background: The transfer of therapeutic genes into malignant brain tumors has been the subject of intense pre­clinical and clinical research in recent years. Most approaches have used direct intratumoral placement of a variety of vectors and genes, such as retroviruses or adenoviruses carrying drug-susceptibility genes, modified replication-competent herpes virus, and several vectors carrying tumor suppressor genes such as the p53 gene. However, clinical results have so far been disappointing, mainly due to the limited ability to effectively distribute the genetic material into the target cell population. Accordingly, alternative delivery approaches into the central nervous system, e.g., intravascular, are under investigation. Genetic vectors administered intravascularly are unlikely to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and transfer a gene into brain or tumor parenchyma. However, intravascular delivery of vectors may target endothelial cells lining the blood vessels of the brain. Since endothetial cells participate in a variety of physiological and pathological processes in the brain, their modulation by gene transfer may be used for a variety of therapeutic purposes. Angiogenically stimulated endothelial cells within tumors replicate rapidly and hence may become targets for retroviral-mediated gene transfer.

Objective: To assess the anti-tumor effect of transferring a drug-susceptibility gene into endothelial cells of the tumor vasculature.

Methods: As a model for this approach we delivered concentrated retroviral vectors carrying a drug-susceptibility gene via the internal carotid artery of rats with malignant brain tumors. The safety and efficacy of this approach, without and with subsequent treatment with a pro-drug (ganciclovir). was evaluated.

Results: No acute or long-term toxicity was observed after intraarterial infusion of the vector. Treatment with ganciclovir resulted in variable hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors, indicating preferential transduction of the angiogenically stimulated tumor vasculature. This was accompanied by severe toxicity caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage in vascular territories shared by the tumor and adjacent brain.

Conclusion: The data indicate that endothelial cells can be targeted by intraarterial delivery of retroviral vectors and can be used for devising new gene therapy strategies for the treatment of brain tumors.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor is associated with various local and systemic inflammatory sequelae following snakebite. Xanthine oxidase is a principal mediator of remote tissue injury (e.g., lungs, heart, liver).

Objective: To investigate in a snakebite-like animal model the as yet unexplored role of TNF and XO in mediating organ damage following snakebite.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intramuscularly with a non-lethal 500 g/kg dose of Vipera aspis venom (n=10) or saline (n=10). Blood pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored, TNF- was measured in the blood, and total XO + xanthine dehydrogenase activity was assessed in various tissues. Lung histology and permeability indices were analyzed.

Results: Venom injection caused a significant (P0.05) reduction in both heart rate and invasive arterial pressure. The blood circulating TNF levels were significantly higher in the intoxicated group (P0.05 vs. saline group), with changes seen at 30 minutes from intoxication in both groups. Total XO + XDH activity in the kidney, lung and liver of the venom-injected group was significantly (P0.05) higher than in the saline group, while the activity in the heart was similar.

Conclusions: The mediation of remote organ and hemodynamic changes following intramuscular injection of a non-lethal dose of Vipera aspis venom can be attributed partly to TNF and partly to XO. More research is needed to better understand the role of either compound and the time frame of their activity before specific antagonists can be introduced for snakebite management.
 

Background: Differentiating between benign and malignant submucosal tumors is difficult. Moreover, the natural course of benign-appearing SMTs is not clearly elucidated.

Objectives: To evaluate the natural course of upper gastrointestinal SMTs by endoscopic endosonography.

Methods: We followed 25 consecutive patients with small (<40 mm) SMTs for a mean period of 19 months. Evaluation included maximal tumor diameter, internal echo pattern, and outer margin of lesions.

Results: Follow-up revealed no change in echo features in 24 of 25 patients (96%). In only one patient a homogenous hypoechoic smooth margin lesion converted to a non-homogenous tumor with an irregular outer margin. This lesion also increased in size from 30 to 38 mm. On surgical removal this tumor was found to be a stromal tumor with high malignant potential.

Conclusions: Most small SMTs do not change during a period of 19 months and a conservative policy of surveillance is warranted.

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SMTs= submucosal tumors