Intratemporal vascular tumors: evaluation with CT

Eleven patients each with a benign intratemporal vascular tumor (hemangioma or vascular malformation) were assessed with computed tomography (CT). Clinical, surgical, and histologic correlations were also available. On CT scans, most of the 11 tumors were smaller than 10 mm. Four occurred in or around the internal acoustic canal, six at the geniculate ganglion, and one at the posterior genu. The involved bone margins were often unsharp, and "honeycomb" bone or intratumoral bone spicules were sometimes present. Intratemporal vascular tumors cause profound nerve deficits despite their small size and must be resected early to salvage nerve function.     

Biological and clinical evaluation of Lanreotide (BIM 23014), a somatostatin analogue,in the treatment of advanced breast cancer

Summary Recently, compounds having pure antiestrogenic activity have become available. In this study, we examined the activity of the new steroidal antiestrogen EM-170 (N-n-butyl, N-methyl-11-(16-chloro-3,17-dihydroxy-estra-1,3,5-(10)-trien-7-yl) undecanamide) on the growth of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma stimulated by treatment with estrone (E₁), a steroid known to play an important role as precursor of 17-estradiol (E₂), especially in postmenopausal women. Twenty-five days after ovariectomy (OVX), tumor volume in control OVX animals decreased to 51.4 ± 11% of the initial volume; treatment with E₁, administered by Silastic implants, stimulated tumor growth to 179 ± 21%. Treatment with the antiestrogen EM-170 at a dose of 200 µg (twice daily) not only completely reversed the stimulatory effect of E₁, but also inhibited tumor growth to 30.5 ± 9.6%, an effect that is 41% (P < 0.01 vs OVX control) greater than that of ovariectomy alone. At a relatively low dose of 40 µg (twice daily), 20 days of treatment with EM-170 reversed by 55% the stimulatory effect of E₁ (1.0 µg, subcutaneously, twice daily) on tumor growth in OVX animals. On the other hand, the antiestrogen also induced a significant inhibitory effect on 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-HSD) activity in the DMBA-induced mammary tumors, an effect that is in agreement with the marked reduction caused by the same treatment on tumor estradiol (E₂) levels in E₁-treated OVX animals. The present data show that the new steroidal antiestrogen EM-170 exerts a potent inhibitory effectin vivo on E₁-stimulated growth of DMBA-induced mammary tumors, an effect that is probably mediated by both its antiestrogenic activity at the receptor level and its inhibitory effect on 17-HSD, thus inhibiting local E₂ formation and facilitating the action of the antiestrogen at the receptor level.     

Subclavian artery stenosis: hemodynamic aspects and surgical outcome

Ninety seven patients (mean age: 58 years) with lesions involving the subclavian artery were studied to determine the relationship between clinical symptoms, angiographic lesions and Doppler-detected hemodynamic disorders. Ninety patients had vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) and 7 had hemispheric manifestations or upper limb ischemia. Of the 105 lesions of the subclavian artery, we observed 76 stenoses greater than 50% and 29 complete occlusions. Thirty seven patients presented a unilateral subclavian lesion and 63 multiple lesions. Doppler examination of the vertebral artery including an upper limb hyperaemic test allowed classification of the patients into three stages: stage 1 "pre-subclavian steal" (35 patients): sudden decrease in the systolic vertebral flow with complete interruption during hyperaemia; stage 2 "intermittent subclavian steal" (18 patients): transient inversion of vertebral during systole with permanent inversion for 1 or 2 minutes after hyperaemia; stage 3 "permanent subclavian steal" (33 patients): complete inversion of the vertebral flow without diastolic flow and increase of flow during hyperaemia. The clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic findings were compared. In stage 1, 65.7% of the patients presented severe VBI (at least two signs) and 66% had a 50 to 70% stenosis of the subclavian artery. In stage 2, 66.6% of the patients presented severe VBI and 78% had a 75 to 95% stenosis. In stage 3, 72.7% of the patients had severe VBI and 73% had either subtotal or complete occlusion of the subclavian artery. There was no correlation between the severity of VBI and the hemodynamic stages but a strong correlation between the hemodynamic grades and the anatomical lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Magnitude of late asthmatic response to allergen in relation to baseline and allergen-induced sputum eosinophilia in mild asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Late asthmatic response (LAR) to allergen challenge is a validated method for studying the pathogenesis of and new treatments for asthma in the laboratory. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the magnitude of allergen-induced LAR and clinical and biological determinants, including sputum and blood eosinophil percentages and eosinophil cationic protein concentrations. METHODS: Thirty-eight untreated mild asthmatic patients (mean age, 21.2 years) were selected for the presence of allergen-induced early asthmatic response (EAR) and LAR. Each patient measured methacholine responsiveness (provocation dose that caused a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 20% [PD20FEV1]) at baseline, differential blood cell counts and eosinophil cationic protein levels in blood and induced sputum, and serum neutrophil chemotactic activity at baseline and 24 hours after allergen challenge. RESULTS: A correlation was found between LAR (as area under the curve [AUC]) and sputum eosinophil percentages at baseline (r = 0.51; P = .001) and 24 hours after allergen challenge (r = 0.44; P < .007). Furthermore, we found significant correlations between AUC LAR and AUC EAR, baseline methacholine PD20FEV1, baseline blood eosinophil percentages, and baseline serum neutrophil chemotactic activity. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the stronger determinants of AUC LAR were baseline sputum eosinophilia and AUC EAR. CONCLUSION: Baseline sputum eosinophilia and functional findings are determinants of the magnitude of allergen-induced LAR.     

Multispectral imaging approach in the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: potentiality and limits

In an attempt to overcome the subjectiveness of clinical observation in the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma, a computerized method is proposed. Reflectance images of 237 pigmented lesions (67 melanomas and 170 non-melanomas) were analysed using a telespectrophotometric technique. This device consists of a CCD camera with 17 interference filters. Images were acquired at selected wavelengths, from 420 to 1040 nm. Morphological and reflectance related parameters were extracted from the wavelength-dependent images of the lesions. The most significant features in the comparison between benign and malignant lesions were: lesion dimension (P < 10(-8) at 578 nm); mean value (P < 10(-7) at 940 nm) and standard deviation (P < 10(-4) at 904 nm) of lesion reflectance; lesion roundness (P < 10(-5) at 461 nm); and border irregularity (P < 10(-4) at 461 nm). Based on these parameters, a discriminant function between the two populations of lesions (naevi and melanomas) was obtained. By using the results of the analysis of the recruited lesions as 'training data', discriminant functions enabled the assignment of a score, or a 'risk probability', to each studied lesion. By imposing a sensitivity of 80% (a figure that mimics the diagnostic capability of an experienced clinician), entering or not entering the lesion dimension as input data in the discriminant analysis led to a specificity of 51% or 46% respectively. The high number of false-positive cases, which is a consequence of the selection criteria of the lesions, is, at present, the major limitation of the current technique. Nevertheless, our results suggest that an imaging-based computer-assisted device could be capable of discriminating malignant lesions mainly by evaluation of reflectance, especially in the infrared region, and shape properties. The dimension of a lesion should not be essential in the diagnosis of melanoma and, in our opinion, small melanomas should be recognized by a computer system as well as they are on clinical grounds.     

A cohort study of art glass workers in the Empoli area

The investigation aimed at studying cause-specific mortality of art glass workers employed in 17 industrial facilities in Tuscany, Italy. A cohort of 3390 workers employed for at least 1 year was obtained from company payrolls. Follow-up was between the year each factory started operations, mostly in the mid-fifties, and the end of 1993. The cause specific expected mortality was computed relative to Tuscany rates, specified for gender, 5-year age groups and calendar year. Separate analyses were carried out for the job titles of makers, batch mixers and grinders. For males, 3180 individuals, the observed mortality for cancer causes was above the expected for the lung [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 123, 10 observed (Obs)], larynx (SMR 166, 10 Obs), stomach (SMR 105, 30 Obs) and brain (SMR 150, 7 Obs). For non-cancer causes observed mortality was above expected for hypertensive diseases (SMR 178, 10 Obs) and diseases of the genitourinary system (SMR 169, 11 Obs). Increases for the above listed causes were shown also among makers. Mortality for larynx and lung cancer increased with time since first exposure and significantly increased SMRs were observed for 21 or more years since first exposure: this pattern was still present with smoking adjustment. The results showed consistently increased mortality for lung and larynx cancer in the overall cohort and among makers. Stomach cancer, brain cancer, hypertensive diseases and diseases of the genitourinary system were also increased in the overall cohort and among makers.     

An artificially induced follicle stimulating hormone surge at the time of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration in controlled ovarian stimulation cycles has no effect on cumulus expansion, fertilization rate, embryo quality and implantation rate

In the spontaneous menstrual cycle, the mid-cycle gonadotrophin surge causes maturation of the cumulus-oocyte complex, mucification of cumulus cells and expansion of the cumulus oophorus, resumption of meiosis and maturation of the cytoplasm of the oocyte. Whether this is an effect purely of luteinizing hormone (LH) or whether follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) also plays a role is unknown. The effect of an artificially induced FSH surge at the time of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection on maturation of the cumulus-oocyte complex was investigated in a prospective randomized double-blind trial. Twelve patients underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation [long gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa)/human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) protocol] for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. At the time of HCG administration, six patients received a bolus injection of FSH (450 IU i.m.); the other six patients received a placebo. The peak plasma concentrations of FSH of the experimental group were compared with the peak values of FSH obtained at the mid- cycle gonadotrophin surge of the natural cycle of a group of 12 volunteers to validate the bolus injection of FSH. Maturation of the cumulus-oocyte complex was quantified by measuring the expansion of the cumulus, by the fertilization rate and the implantation rate. The quality of the embryos was scored according the average morphology score. The bolus injection of FSH mimicked the mid-cycle gonadotrophin surge. The mean peak value of FSH (12.9 IU/l) in the experimental group was fully comparable with the mean peak value of FSH (10.0 IU/l) of the mid-cycle gonadotrophin surge in the natural cycle. No effect of a bolus injection of FSH on the maturation of the cumulus-oocyte complex or any other outcome variable was found. It is not advantageous to combine the final HCG injection with a bolus injection of FSH in GnRHa/HMG stimulated cycles.      

Microdeletions of the Y chromosome and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: from gene to clinic

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a successful treatment option for severe male infertility, although the aetiology of the disorder remains unclear in most cases. Recently, microdeletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome have been detected in men with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. In this study we investigated the prevalence of microdeletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome in a population of men undergoing ICSI, and looked for clinical characteristics of men with and without this deletion. Blood was drawn from 164 men, who were on the waiting list for ICSI treatment: 19 were azoospermic, 111 oligozoospermic and 34 normozoospermic (after previous total fertilization failure). A total of 100 men with proven fertility served as a control. Microdeletions in the AZFc region were present in seven of the 111 oligozoospermic men (6.3%). Compared with oligozoospermic men without microdeletions, men with microdeletions had a lower concentration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), a lower number of motile spermatozoa and a lower frequency of abnormal findings at andrological history or examination. No microdeletions were found in the azoospermic, normozoospermic and control groups. In conclusion, microdeletions in the AZFc region are relatively frequently found in men with severe unexplained oligozoospermia. In the ICSI era this finding has an important impact because this form of male infertility is now potentially hereditary. Therefore we recommend DNA screening (and genetic counselling) before ICSI, especially in men with normal FSH, severe oligozoospermia and no abnormal clinical andrological findings.