24 research outputs found
Cytogenetic behaviour of crocin on cultured lymphocytes from leukemic patients
Crocin is isolated from saffron, an important spice rich in carotenoids obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L, commonly consumed all around the world and used as a medical drug to treat numerous diseases. In the present work a comparative study of the cytogenetic behaviour of crocin between cultured lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemic patients as well as from healthy individuals was undertaken in order to test the hypothesis that the sister chromatid exchange assay in vitro can be used for the prediction of the in vivo tumor response to the potential chemotherapeutic action of crocin. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and proliferation rate index (PRI) were evaluated in cultured lymphocytes from peripheral blood of all donors. Results showed that all tested crocin solutions didn’t cause remarkable changes to the PRI values of lymphocytes neither of the leukemic patients, nor of healthy individual. Contrariwise, after crocin affection a statistically significant decrease of the SCEs frequency of lymphocytes of leukemic patients had been observed (p<0,001, t-test) whereas the SCEs of the healthy donor’s cells presented slight, but not statistically significant increase. Our results indicate that crocin did not prove to be cytostatic in the tested concentrations, but it mainly reduced significantly the DNA damages along with being demonstrated as cytoprotectiv
Vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression in a renal ablation rabbit model under prolonged warm and cold ischemia
Background/Aims: To establish a potential correlation between renal and
systemic production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein
after prolonged ischemia in a renal ablation model under normothermic
and hypothermic conditions. Methods: 38 uninephrectomized New Zealand
rabbits were divided into 5 groups. The rabbits of each group underwent
partial nephrectomy under 90 and 60 min of warm and 90 and 120 min of
cold ischemia, except for the sham group (S), which served as control.
Serum creatinine (SCr) and blood-urea-nitrogen (BUN) levels were
assessed. On the 15th postoperative day (POD), the animals were
euthanized and the remaining kidneys were evaluated. VEGF
immunohistochemistry and serum Western blot analysis were performed.
Results: In comparison to the control group, groups 60W, 90C and 120C
showed 1.6-, 1.14- and 1.75-fold decreases, respectively, while the
production of VEGF was significantly declined by 7.4-fold in group 90W
(p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed prominent VEGF staining in the
above-mentioned three groups, while in group 90W staining was negative.
Serum biochemistry and microscopic evaluation verified the same
differentiation. Conclusion: Renal and serum VEGF seem to have an
analogous expression under conditions of prolonged ischemia. VEGF is
overexpressed in hypothermic conditions compared to warm ischemia
exceeding 60 min. Hypothermia can be more advantageous in a procedure
applying prolonged ischemia. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
Multiple metastases of prostatic adenocarcinoma to the urethra after radical prostatectomy
We present a rare case of multiple metastases of a prostatic
adenocarcinoma to the urethra. Radical prostatectomy had been performed
13 years before, and during this time he had been frequently treated
with transurethral resections of the bladder neck for obstructive
urinary symptoms
Short- and long-term complications of open radical prostatectomy according to the Clavien classification system
To assess the use of the Clavien classification system in documenting
the complications related to open retropubic radical prostatectomy
(RRP).
The medical records of 995 patients, who had open RRP during a period of
7 years, were reviewed retrospectively. Short- and long-term
complications were classified according to the recently revised Clavien
classification system. We also compared the results with a recently
reported series of laparoscopic and robotic RRP.
The overall complication rate was 26.9%; Grade I, Id, II, IIIa, IIIb
and V complications were recorded in 3.4%, 3.9%, 12.8%, 2.6%, 3.8%
and 0.3% of cases, respectively. Rectal injuries (10) and postoperative
wound infections (24) were included in the Grade I category. Anastomotic
leakage was recorded in 39 patients and rated as Grade Id. Grade II
included cases of deep vein thrombosis (11), urinary tract infections
(42), lymphorrhoeas (22) and haemorrhage requiring transfusion (53).
Anastomotic strictures (26) and incisional hernias (38) were included in
Grade IIIa and IIIb, respectively. Pulmonary embolism was fatal for
three patients (0.3%) of Grade IV and V.
To avoid incoherence in reporting morbidity data, a reproducible and
practical classification system is necessary. The Clavien system could
provide, after refinement and validation, a common language among
urologists
Neoadjuvant cisplatin and interferon-2B in the treatment and organ preservation of penile carcinoma
We investigated the antitumor activity and toxicity of cisplatin and
interferon-alpha 2B as the primary treatment of penile carcinoma. A
total of 13 consecutive patients with nonmetastatic histologically
confirmed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis underwent
treatment consisting of 20 mg./m.(2) cisplatin intravenously and 5 x
10(6) mu./m.(2) interferon-alpha 2B subcutaneously daily for 5
consecutive days. An equivalent dose of interferon was then administered
subcutaneously every 2 days for 3 weeks and the regimen was repeated at
28-day intervals. Of 12 evaluable patients 9 responded: 4 achieved a
pathologically confirmed complete remission of 38+, 21+, 10 and 7 months
in duration (2 with relapse were treated with local therapy and remain
with no evidence of disease), and 5 achieved a partial response,
underwent surgical removal of residual disease and remained disease-free
for 14+ to 24+ months. The most significant toxicities were anemia in 5
patients and reversible renal impairment in 3 but no patient had
neutropenic fever or required platelet transfusion. We conclude that
primary treatment with cisplatin and interferon-alpha 2B induced
responses in 75% of 12 patients with penile carcinoma and allowed for a
less radical operation than originally scheduled. A larger number of
patients and longer followup will be required to confirm these
encouraging preliminary results