Isolation of 1-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2",4",6"-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol from grape seed extract and evaluation of its antioxidant and antispasmodic potential

HPLC profiling of phenolics in grape seed extracts revealed a prominent peak of an unknown substance with concentrations up to 5.3%. Spectroscopic data allowed the identification of the compound 1 as 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol. 1 is known to be produced from catechin and epicatechin through anaerobic bacteria from human, as well as the rat, intestines. It was hypothesized that the marc remaining after expression of juice from grapes became infested during storage, resulting in the production of 1. Because compound 1 is infrequently found in nature and has never been found in grape seeds, its presence may be considered a marker of an unwanted anaerobic bacterial process occurring during production. The antioxidant potential of 1 was determined by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays and compared to the potential of the following compounds: phloroglucine, pyrogallol, gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin. Furthermore, it was established that 1 significantly reduced guinea pig ileum contraction induced by histamine

Twice a day accelerated irradiation in postoperative treatment of supratentorial grade III and IV astrocytomas in adults

Fourty-seven patients with histologically proven grade III–IV astrocytoma received postoperative accelerated radiotherapy with 2 fractions of 2,65 Gy twice daily, up to total tumor dose of 53 Gy in ten days. The tolerance of the treatment was good, actuarial survival rates at 2, 3 and 5 years were 15%, 9% and 0% respectively

Radiation therapy in the management of malignant gliomas

Several randomized trials have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of conventional radiation therapy in the management of malignant gliomas. In this paper a review of different radiotherapeutic modalities including non conventional regiments of irradiation, use of radiosensitizers, boron neutron capture therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy is presented

44. Radiation therapy in the treatment of partially resected low-grade cerebellar astrocytomas in adult patients

Between 1975 and 1995, ninety two adult patients received postoperative irradiation for subtotally resected cerebellar tumours, of which 31 were low-grade (I-II) astrocytomas. The median dose of 51 Gy was given. 29 patients showed good tolerance to treatment. The overall 5 and 10-year actuarial survival rates were 78% and 61 % respectively. Age of patients had the strongest influence on prognosis. Young patients (up to 20 years) achieved the 10-year overall actuarial survival rate of 85%, while older patients had poorer survival with the 10-year overall actuarial survival rate of 46% (p=0.0205)

DNA ploidy and tumour cell kinetics as prognostic factors in radiotherapy of cervical carcinoma and malignant gliomas

IntroductionThere is Increasing evidence that in a variety of malignancies proliferative rate and DNA ploidy are prognostic factors in respect to patients survival. Therefore the study was carried out in order to find if the biologic tumour parameters are predictive factors in patient's survival after radiotherapy (RT).MaterialThe proliferative potential and DNA ploidy of 260 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCC) and 62 gliomas were studied before treatment. Tumour cell proliferation was performed on basis of bromodeoxyuridine labelling index (percentage of labelled S-phase cells, BrdUrdLI), S-phase fraction (SPF), Proliferating index (PI; number of cells in S + G2/M), and predictive potential doubling time the tumour cells (Tpot).MethodTumour samples from biopsy were incubated in vitro with BrdUrd for one hour at 37°C using a high preasure oxygen method. After fixation and staining they were analysed with flow cytometer.ResultsThe difference in the proliferation rate between SCC of the cervix and gliomas was found. The best parameters in assessment of the proliferation proved to be: BrdUrdLI and Tpot. A higher mean BrdUrdLI (10.3%) was shown for cervical tumours than for low-grade gliomas (1.4%). Also shorter mean Tpot of 7.2 days was found in cervical cancers, than in gliomas, Tpot of 43.3 days. The high-grade gliomas presented higher percentage of aneuploidy (70%) than cervical cancers (56%).Cox multivariate analysis showed that fast proliferating cervical cancers (LI>10.3% or Tpot 1.5%, Tpo