Mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells by cyclophosphamide and rhGM-CSF in multiple myeloma

Fifteen consecutive patients with multiple myeloma (MM) scheduled for peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation, were randomly selected to receive cyclophosphamide (CY) (4 g/m2) alone (group I) or associated with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) (5 micrograms/kg/day) (group II). The mean time of neutropenia after CY administration was 9.8 +/- 4.3 days in group I and 6.4 +/- 1.2 days in group II (P = 0.0228). One hundred and eight aphereses were performed (7.1 +/- 1.8 aphereses per patient in group I and 6.4 +/- 2.8 aphereses per patient in group II). rhGM-CSF administration after CY allowed a higher collection of CD34+ cells in apheresis products (1.42 +/- 1.68 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg) in comparison to without factor administration (0.47 +/- 0.52 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg) (P = 0.0165). The mean number of cells infused per patient was 6.56 +/- 4.02 x 10(8) MNC/kg and 7.64 +/- 3.00 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg in group I and 6.25 +/- 4.03 x 10(8) MNC/kg and 8.16 +/- 9.73 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg in group II. The mean time to recover 0.5 x 10(9) granulocytes/I, 20 and 50 x 10(9) platelets/I in peripheral blood (PB) was 17.2 +/- 7.4, 13.4 +/- 3.7 and 16.5 +/- 6.9 days respectively, in group I and 13.3 +/- 1.7, 11.6 +/- 1.6 and 15 +/- 6.3 days, in group II. rhGM-CSF administration after CY treatment for PBPC mobilization in MM patients reduces the neutropenic period after CY and enhances apheresis CD34+ cell collection.

In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium kansasii to the difluorinated quinolone sparfloxacin using a broth microdilution and macrodilution MIC system

OBJECTIVES

To study the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the difluorinated quinolone sparfloxacin against 32 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium kansasii from 23 patients, all of whom had clinically significant infections due to M. kansasii, and 11 the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS). To study the correlation between the microdilution and macrodilution techniques in M7H9 broth.

DESIGN

The MICs were determined by two methods: broth microdilution in microplates and broth macrodilution in tubes. The isolates were inoculated into two-fold drug dilutions (ranging from 0.063 to 8 microg/ml) in Middlebrook 7H9 broth and then incubated at 37 degrees C for 21 days.

RESULTS

All 32 strains were susceptible, with identical MIC results in both methods, 96.9% of them showing an MIC of 0.25 microg/ml.

CONCLUSION

These MIC studies suggest that sparfloxacin may be useful for drug treatment of slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria such as M. kansasii. The microdilution method appears to be a reliable method for routine susceptibility testing of M. kansasii, and is easy to interpret and to carry out.

Abstract P5-08-43: CASCADE study: Longer overall survival in the novo versus recidivant patients with locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Current treatment strategies for locally advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer (LA/MBC) are meant to prolong survival while maintaining or improving the quality of life. Nevertheless, there is a lack of recent data regarding the actual clinical management and its impact on the prognosis of these patients. It is unknown whether prior diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer (EBC) make any difference in the outcome of the advanced disease. CASCADE is an epidemiological, retrospective, and multicenter study aimed at retrieving this information from a representative cohort of LA/MBC patients treated within the Spanish National Healthcare System.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen Spanish public hospitals covering nearly 5'000'000 inhabitants (>10% of the national population) applied several combined systematic strategies to identify patients firstly diagnosed with LA/MBC between 01/2007 and 12/2008. Once identified, patients were followed throughout their metastatic lifetime until death, lost to follow-up, or until December 2013, whichever occurs first. Data collected included demographical, pathological, diagnostic, and therapeutic information for each line of treatment. Descriptive statistics were applied.

RESULTS: We identified 443 LA/MBC patients; median age at diagnosis was 59 years (CI95%: 49.5 - 71.6). Previous history of early BC was reported in 69.3% of them with a median disease-free interval of 38 months. Median Overall Survival (OS) for the whole study population was 33.5 months, while numbers for advanced cases originally diagnosed as EBC or the novo LA/MBC were 31.7 (CI95%: 26.8 - 36.0) and 38.8 months (CI95% 32.8 - 45.3; p = 0.0138) respectively. Main tumor immunohistochemical subtypes for EBC and the novo LA/MBC were: HER2+/HR- 11.3% and 15.3%, HER2+/HR+ 16.2% and 19.1%, HER2-/HR+ 41.2% and 51.1%, and Triple-negative 17.9% and 11.5%, respectively.

At the end of the study follow-up (Dec 2013) 78.2% of the patients had died. Breakdown of the decaying percentage and OS for the entire study population, early-, and the novo diagnosed LA/MBC from the beginning of each line of treatment was:

OS according to the type of diagnosisTreatment line1L2L3L4L5L6L7LWhole pulation Patients (%)95.370.253.538.424.215.19.5Whole pulation OS (months)32.622.616.613.513.312.48.5Early diag. LA/MBC OS (months))30.921.015.612.912.49.17.5The novo diag. LA/MBC OS (months)37.625.921.618.714.016.913.8

CONCLUSION: Our study's OS data supports the hypothesis that highly effective current neo/adjuvant treatment may cure most treatment-sensitive early tumors, allowing only those more aggressive to develop to LA/MBC, which then will fare worse than those of the novo metastatic diagnosis.

Citation Format: Servitja S, Zamora P, Santaballa A, García J, de Paz L, Plata Y, Garau I, Florian J, Chacón I, de la Haba J, García P, San José B, Rodríguez-Villanueva J, Orcajo L, Martínez E, Segui MA. CASCADE study: Longer overall survival in the novo versus recidivant patients with locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-08-43.

[Biological markers of alcohol abuse in patients with carcinoma of the larynx]

In a total of 85 patients with laryngeal carcinoma, four markers of alcohol abuse were analyzed. The Ggt and VCM were disturbed. We found no correlation between tumor location, lymph node metastases, T stage, and histological grade.

[Cor triatriatum associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]

Several anatomic anomalies have been associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. However, its association with cor triatriatum has never been previously established. We present a case report on a 34-year-old woman patient with paroxysmic palpitations and data of ventricular preexcitation seen on electrocardiogram. The presence of non-obstructive cor triatriatum was observed during echocardiographic valoration prior to radiofrequency catheter ablation.

[Effectiveness of postoperative autologous blood transfusion after knee replacement surgery and influence of preoperative hemoglobin level]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative autologous blood transfusion on reducing the need for allogenic transfusion during recovery from total knee arthroplasty until hospital discharge, and to determine whether effectiveness is related to preoperative hemoglobin level.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery at Hospital Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, in 2003, assessing the association between postoperative autologous blood transfusion, preoperative hemoglobin, and allogenic transfusion requirements.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients were studied. Eighty-three received autologous blood transfusions after surgery and 15 (14.02%) required allogenic transfusion. The rate of allogenic transfusion was higher in association with hemoglobin levels exceeding 13 g x dL(-1) (P=0.003) and it was lower in patients who received autologous blood transfusions (P=0.046). In patients who received autologous transfusion, preoperative hemoglobin level and risk of allogenic transfusion were unrelated. When autologous transfusion was not given, allogenic transfusion risk was higher when hemoglobin concentration was less than 13 g x dL(-1) (P=0.0008). Autologous transfusion had a significant effect when hemoglobin level was less than 13 g x dL(-1) (P=0.002) but did not affect the rate of transfusion when hemoglobin was 13 g x dL(-1) or more.

CONCLUSIONS

Autologous blood transfusion is effective for reducing the need for allogenic transfusion after knee replacement surgery, particulary when a patient's hemoglobin level is less than 13 g x dL(-1).

Uphill solitary waves in granular flows

We have experimentally observed uphill solitary waves in the surface flow on a granular material. A heap is constructed by injecting sand between two vertical glass plates separated by a distance much larger than the average grain size, with an open boundary. As the heap reaches the open boundary, solitary fluctuations appear on the flowing layer and move "up the hill" (i.e., against the direction of the flow). We explain the phenomenon in the context of stop-and-go traffic models.

Intraovarian platelet-rich plasma injection and IVF outcomes in patients with poor ovarian response: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

STUDY QUESTION

Does platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intraovarian injection increase the number of retrieved oocytes in successive ovarian punctions among patients with poor ovarian reserve (POR)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The injection of PRP increases the number of retrieved oocytes without increasing the quality of developed blastocysts.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Management of women with reduced ovarian response to stimulation is one of the significant challenges in reproductive medicine. Recently, PRP treatment has been proposed as an adjunct in assisted reproduction technology, with controversial results.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial included 60 patients with POR stratified according to the POSEIDON classification groups 3 and 4. It was conducted to explore the efficacy and safety of intraovarian PRP injection. Patients were proposed to undergo three consecutive ovarian stimulations to accumulate oocytes and were randomized to receive either PRP or placebo during their first oocyte retrieval. Randomization was performed using computer-generated randomization codes. Double blinding was ensured so that neither the participant nor the investigators knew of the treatment allotted. All patients underwent three ovarian stimulations and egg retrieval procedures. ICSI was performed after a third ovarian puncture. The primary endpoint was the number of mature oocytes retrieved after PRP or placebo injection in successive ovarian punctures.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Sixty women (30-42 years) fulfilling inclusion criteria were randomized in equal proportions to the treatment or control groups.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics [age, BMI, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels] were comparable between the groups. Regarding the primary endpoint, the cumulative number (mean ± SEM) of retrieved mature oocytes was slightly higher in the treatment group: 10.45 ± 0.41 versus 8.91 ± 0.39 in the control group, respectively (95% CI of the difference 0.42-2.66; P = 0,008). The number of mature oocytes obtained among all patients increased in successive egg retrievals: 2.61 ± 0.33 (mean ± SEM) in punction 1 (P1), 3.85 ± 0.42 in P2, and 4.73 ± 0.44 in P3. However, the increase was higher among patients receiving the assessed PRP treatment. In P2, the number of retrieved mature oocytes was 4.18 ± 0.58 versus 3.27 ± 0.61 in controls (95% CI of the difference: -0.30 to 2.12; P = 0.138) and in P3, 5.27 ± 0.73 versus 4.15 ± 0.45 (95% CI of the difference: 0.12-2.12; P = 0.029). The mean ± SEM number of developed and biopsied blastocysts was 2.43 ± 0.60 in the control group and 1.90 ± 0.32 in the treatment group, respectively (P = 0.449). The mean number of euploid blastocysts was 0.81 ± 0.24 and 0.81 ± 0.25 in the control and treatment groups, respectively (P = 1.000). The percentages of patients with euploid blastocysts were 53.33% (16 out of 30) and 43.33% (13 out of 30) for patients in the control and treatment groups, respectively (Fisher's exact test P = 0.606). The overall pregnancy rate per ITT was 43% (26 out of 60 patients). However, the percentage of clinical pregnancies was higher in the control group (18 out of 30, 60%) than in the treatment group (8 out of 30, 27%) (P = 0.018). There was also a trend toward poorer outcomes in the treatment group when considering full-term pregnancies (P = 0.170). There were no differences between control and treatment groups regarding type of delivery, and sex of newborns.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The mechanism of the potential beneficial effect of PRP injection on the number of retrieved oocytes is unknown. Either delivered platelet factors or a mechanical effect could be implicated. Further studies will be needed to confirm or refute the data presented in this trial and to specify the exact mechanism of action, if any, of PRP preparations.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The increasing number of women with a poor response to ovarian stimulation supports the exploration of new areas of research to know the potential benefits of therapies capable of increasing the number of oocytes available for fertilization and improving the quality of developed blastocysts. An increase in the retrieved oocytes in both arms of the trial suggests that, beyond the release of growth factor from platelets, a mechanical effect can play a role. However, neither improvement in euploid blastocyst development nor pregnancy rates have been demonstrated.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This trial was supported by Basque Government and included in HAZITEK program, framed in the new Euskadi 2030 Science and Technology Plan (PCTI 2030). These aids are co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). The study funders had no role in the study design, implementation, analysis, manuscript preparation, or decision to submit this article for publication. No competing interests are declared by all the authors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinical Trial Number EudraCT 2020-000247-32.

TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE

3 November 2020.

DATE OF FIRST PATIENT’S ENROLLMENT

16 January 2021.

Abstract P6-09-33: CASCADE study: Rapid survival decline per treatment line in metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Appraisal of the impact that current therapeutic strategies of advanced breast cancer (ABC) have on the survival expectancy, is vital to understand the prognosis of this disease. This entails assessing simultaneously the tumour phenotype and the therapeutic approach used per line of treatment. CASCADE is an epidemiological, retrospective, multicenter study aimed to retrieve demographic and clinical information from a representative cohort of ABC patients treated within the Spanish National Healthcare System.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 13 Spanish public hospitals serving nearly 5M inhabitants (~10% of the national population) identified 422 ABC patients between 01/2007 and 12/2008 who received active treatment for their disease and were followed until death, lost to follow-up, or until December 2013. Overall Survival (OS) was analysed per tumour immunotype and treatment line from the diagnosis until a minimum of 10 patients were still evaluable. OS resulting from the different therapeutic approaches per line was also revised. Data collected included demographical, pathological, diagnostic, and therapeutic information for the entire follow-up. Descriptive statistics were applied (Methods previously described in SABCS 2015 Poster P3-07-39).

RESULTS: Remarkably, by the 2nd line of treatment, on average, one third of the OS is already gone. Tumour type imposes clear differences in this decline rate. As expected, triple-negative patients have the shortest survival expectancy at diagnosis, but their OS attrition rate is the slowest compared to the other subgroups (Table 1).

Table 1. OS per tumour type and line of treatment in ABC.PopulationOS from ABC Diagnosis (months)OS from 1L (months)OS from 2L (months)OS from 3L (months)OS from 4L (months)OS from 5L (months)Whole (N=422)33.532.622.616.613.513.3HER2-/HR+ (N=187)38.637.122.415.612.610.2Triple-negative (N=67)19.016.515.814.110.29.5HER2+/HR+ (N=72)34.433.729.421.620.318.9HER2+/HR- (N=53)36.335.423.113.19.314.1

OS time derived from the five mayor therapeutic approaches used at any given line, could only be registered for chemotherapy, hormone therapy and chemo + anti-HER2 therapy. Regardless of their treatment history, patients treated exclusively with hormone therapy portray a less aggressive behaviour than those treated with chemotherapy only, resembling the natural history of HER2-/HR+ and triple-negative phenotypes (Table 2).

Table 2. OS per pharmacological approach and line of treatment in ABC.Pharmacological treatmentOS from 1L (months)OS from 2L (months)OS from 3L (months)OS from 4L (months)OS from 5L (months)OS from 6L (months)OS from 7L (months)Chemotherapy (N=155)25.012.513.310.88.310.87.2Hormone therapy (N=92)44.030.922.311.214.0--Chemo + Anti-HER2 thp. (N=57)36.927.218.814.125.8--Chemo + Other Targeted thp. (N=44)19.721.014.121.1---Chemo + Hormone thp. (N=38)44.325.0-----Other Targeted thp.: anti-angiogenic antibody, mTOR inhibitor, anti-EGFR antibody, etc.

CONCLUSION: Chances to benefit from effective treatments may be jeopardized if their start is postponed to late lines. Only the most widely used therapies and, ultimately chemotherapy, hold until very late in the treatment of the advanced disease.

Citation Format: García J, De La Haba J, Servitja S, Santaballa A, De Paz L, Plata Y, Garau I, Florián J, Chacón JI, García P, Zamora P, Orcajo L, Rodríguez-Villanueva J, San José B, Martínez E, Seguí MA. CASCADE study: Rapid survival decline per treatment line in metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-09-33.

THU0307 RESPONSE OF BEHÇET’S REFRACTORY ORAL AND/OR GENITAL ULCERS TO APREMILAST IN COMBINATION VS MONOTHERAPY. NATIONAL MULTICENTER STUDY OF 51 CASES OF CLINICAL PRACTICE

Background:

Apremilast (APR) has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of oral and/or genital aphthous ulcers in Behçet´s disease (BD). Combination of APR to other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has not been assessed.

Objectives:

To compare the efficacy and safety of APR in monotherapy or combined with DMARDs in refractory BD.

Methods:

National multicenter open-label study on 51 BD patients with oral and/or genital ulcers refractory to conventional treatment.

Results:

We included 51 patients (35 women/16 men), mean age 44.7±13.2 years. Before APR, all patients had received several systemic conventional drugs. The main clinical symptoms for starting APR were oral (n=19) and genital (2) aphthous ulcers or both (30).

Excluding corticosteroids, colchicine or NSAIDs, APR was given at standard dose of 30 mg twice daily in monotherapy (n=31), or combined with conventional DMARDs in 16 cases (6 azathioprine, 5 methotrexate, 4 hydroxychloroquine, 4 sulfasalazine, 1 dapsone) or with biologic DMARDs in 4 (2 tocilizumab, 1 adalimumab, 1 infliximab). There were not found statistically significant differences in demographic features, previous therapy, clinical manifestations or reported adverse effects.

After a median follow-up of 6 [3-12] months, most of the patients experienced improvement of the orogenital ulcers in both groups (89.8% in the first 2 weeks), without statistically significant differences.(TABLE)

Conclusion:

APR leads to a rapid and maintained improvement in most patients with refractory BD orogenital ulcers. APR seems as effective and safe in monotherapy as combined.

TABLE:Week 1-2Week 4Month 6Month 12Month 24Outcome of oral and/or genital ulcers n, (%)Cn=19Mn=30Cn=19Mn=26Cn=12Mn=17Cn=7Mn=6Cn=1Mn=1 Complete resolution8 (42.1)11 (36.7)12 (63.2)20 (77)7 (58.4)14 (82.4)3 (42.8)3 (50)1 (100)1 (100) Partial resolution9 (47.4)16 (53.4)7 (36.8)3 (11.5)5 (41.6)2 (11.7)4 (57.2)3 (50)00 No response2 (10.5)3 (9.9)03 (11.5)01 (5.9)0000p value0.90.10.10.80.7

Abbreviations: C= combined; M= monotherapy; n= available data.

Disclosure of Interests:

Alba Herrero Morant: None declared, Belen Atienza Mateo: None declared, J. Loricera: None declared, Vanesa Calvo del Rio Grant/research support from: MSD and Roche, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Lilly, Celgene, Grünenthal, UCB Pharma, José Luis Martín-Varillas Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, Janssen and Celgene, Speakers bureau: Pfizer and Lilly, Jenaro Graña: None declared, Gerard Espinosa: None declared, Clara Moriano: None declared, Trinidad Pérez Sandoval: None declared, Manuel Martín Martínez: None declared, Elvira Diez: None declared, María Dolores García-Armario: None declared, Esperanza Martínez: None declared, Ivan Castellví Consultant of: Boehringer Ingelheim, Actelion, Kern Pharma, Speakers bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Actelion, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Patricia Moya Alvarado: None declared, Francisca Sivera: None declared, Jaime Calvo Grant/research support from: Lilly, UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Jansen, Celgene, Isabel de la Morena: None declared, Francisco Ortiz Sanjuán: None declared, José Andrés Román Ivorra: None declared, Ana Pérez Gómez: None declared, Sergi Heredia: None declared, Alejandro Olive: None declared, Águeda Prior: None declared, Carolina Díez: None declared, Juanjo J Alegre-Sancho Consultant of: UCB, Roche, Sanofi, Boehringer, Celltrion, Paid instructor for: GSK, Speakers bureau: MSD, GSK, Lilly, Sanofi, Roche, UCB, Actelion, Pfizer, Abbvie, Novartis, D Ybáñez-García Speakers bureau: Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Ángels Martínez-Ferrer: None declared, J. Narváez: None declared, Ignasi Figueras: None declared, Ana Isabel Turrión: None declared, Susana Romero-Yuste: None declared, Pilar Trénor: None declared, Soledad Ojeda Speakers bureau: AMGEN, LILLY, GEBRO, Miguel Á. González-Gay Grant/research support from: AbbVie, MSD and Roche, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, MSD and Roche, Ricardo Blanco Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen, Lilly and MSD

Analysis of chemically-induced alterations of the motor activity in rats

A computerized method for the evaluation of behavioral responses induced by neurotoxicants in rats is described. A dynamic image analysis system was adapted for the measurement of the duration, vigor and averaged velocity of motor activity (locomotor or not) of behavioral responses induced chemically in rats. Three known animal models of epilepsy: systemic administration of kainic acid, pentylenetetrazole and 4-aminopyridine were used for reference. The method, based on the concurrent measurement of the quantity and quality of the movements, allowed the systematic evaluation of the behavior patterns induced. Three different levels of analysis were used. Firstly, we measured the time spent by the animal performing physical movements during long successive intervals (30 min) of the test, a motor activity analysis similar to that obtained with other motor activity recording devices. Secondly, the system was designed to distinguish movements energetically or forcefully performed by the animal according to a previously defined vigor level and then we determined the presence of vigorous and non-vigorous activity throughout the test at 2 min interval. Finally, we applied the method to perform a more detailed analysis of the motor characteristic of behavioral components exhibited by the animals determining the velocity and vigor of movements over short intervals of time (5 sec). Thus, motor activity profiles, the vigor of the motor responses and the description of behavioral components were used for the comparative analysis of behavior induced by the aforementioned convulsant agents.

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in arterial hypertension: relationship to left ventricular hypertrophy

OBJECTIVE

It was reported previously that circulating insulin-like growth factor I levels are abnormally elevated in patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. Tissue availability of the factor depends on the distribution of the circulating bound factor between its high- and low-molecular mass binding proteins, only the latter being able to cross the endothelium. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of the different serum binding proteins is altered in patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy.

DESIGN

The study was performed in 30 never-treated patients with essential hypertension and 30 age- and sex-matched normotensive subjects. Patients were separated into two groups according to the presence or the absence of echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy.

METHODS

Plasma insulin-like growth factor I levels were determined by specific radioimmunoassay. The different molecular forms of its serum binding proteins were analysed by Western blotting using [125I]-labelled insulin-like growth factor I. A densitometric scanning of the blots was performed to analyse the quantitative relationships between the different forms of binding proteins.

RESULTS

Insulin-like growth factor I levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive patients with than in the hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy or in the normotensive subjects. Compared with the normotensive subjects, both hypertensive patients subgroups exhibited increased high-molecular mass binding protein type 3 and decreased low-molecular mass binding proteins types 1 and 2. However, changes in the binding proteins were more marked in the hypertensive patients without than in the hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Accordingly, the ratio of low- to high-molecular mass binding proteins (an index of insulin-like growth factor I bioavailability) was higher in the hypertensive patients with than in the hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that the distribution of the molecular forms of serum insulin-like growth factor binding proteins is altered in patients with essential hypertension, independently of insulin-like growth factor I levels. This suggests that regulation of the binding proteins is abnormal in essential hypertension. Whether the tissue availability of circulating insulin-like growth factor I is higher in hypertensive patients with than in hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy merits further investigation.

[Electrophysiological characteristics of inflammatory demyelinating chronic polyneuropathy]

INTRODUCTION

The electrophysiological studies, specially nerve conduction studies (NCS) constitute one of the basic supports to obtain an early and accurate diagnosis to perform a successful treatment in the chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). There is nevertheless, no definite consensus about which would be the most specific and sensitive electric variables in the illness.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the NCS findings in a group of patients with this diagnosis, in order to contribute to its electrophysiological characterization.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We an analyzed the NCS on 37 patients diagnosed with CIDP. The NCS were done using standard techniques. These studies were assessed according to the reference values of a normative study on 90 healthy persons. We performed somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), visual (VEP) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in 8 patients, and motor potentials (MP) by transcranial magnetic stimulation in 3.

RESULTS

The registered values are presented in media comparison tables (cases/controls). The frequency of abnormalities in latencies (L), amplitudes, conduction velocity (CV) and the presence of partial blocks is analyzed. The affectation of the evoked potentials in some patients, demonstrated subclinical concomitant demyelinization of the central nervous system.

CONCLUSIONS

The most sensitive electrophysiological parameters are the motor CV, the total duration and distal latencies, that gives these variables a confident value in the initial stages of the illness. The relative normality of conduction through the sural nerve, even in the presence of severe abnormalities of the median nerve constitutes a repetitive and specific pattern to this kind of illness.

[Our experience in the treatment of superficial cancer of the bladder with BCG]

We report on our experience with 21 patients with superficial bladder cancer who were treated with intravesical BCG instillation. The BCG vaccine was effective in the treatment of carcinoma in situ. Tumor regression was achieved in 83.3% at 3 months, and 61.1% at 24 months. It is advisable to follow patients closely because of the possibility of tumor progression.

Blood Parameters in Children and Adolescents With Underweight and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify biochemical, hematological, and endocrinological abnormalities in a sample of children and adolescents with underweight AN and atypical AN and to compare these results between the two groups.

METHOD

Based on the 5th BMI-percentile admission, adolescents with underweight AN (n = 520) and atypical AN (n = 255) were included and medical records were reviewed.

RESULTS

Low prealbumin (35%) and neutropenia (39%), and several abnormalities in endocrinological parameters (50%) were the most common alterations found in the whole sample. Compared to the atypical AN group, the underweight AN group had significantly higher frequencies of elevated cholesterol (OR = 2.50; p < 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (OR = 0.22; p = 0.005) and of reduced insulin-like growth (IGF) factor-1 (OR = 0.29; p < 0.001), T3 (OR = 0.46; p < 0.001), luteinizing hormone (OR = 0.24; p < 0.001), follicle stimulating hormone (OR = 0.58; p = 0.004), and 17b-estradiol (OR = 0.39; p < 0.001). However, other blood parameters showed similar alterations in both groups.

DISCUSSION

Both groups showed abnormalities in the same blood parameters, but some abnormal parameters were more common in the underweight AN group. These results suggest that atypical AN and underweight AN could present similar risks of certain medical complications.