[Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma: technique, indication and results]

To present current data on technique, indications and results of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The principle of TACE is the intra-arterial injection of chemotherapeutic drug combinations like doxorubicin, cisplatin and mitomycin into the hepatic artery, followed by lipiodol injection, Gelfoam for vessel occlusion and degradable microspheres. The side effects and complications after TACE range from fever, upper abdominal pain and vomiting to acute or chronic liver cell failure. The palliative effect in unresectable HCC using TACE allows local tumor control in 15 to 60% of cases and 5-year survival rates ranging from 8-43%. The potentially curative treatment option allows local tumor control from 18-63%. The neoadjuvant treatment option of TACE in combination with other treatment options like percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) reach local tumor control rates between 80-96%. The bridging effect of TACE before liver transplantation reaches 5-year survival rates from 59-93%. The symptomatic therapy option of TACE is used to counteract pain directly caused by HCC and acute/subacute bleeding in the HCC. The local tumor response reaches up to 88% and the bleeding control is from 83 to 100%.

CONCLUSION

TACE is a potentially curative, palliative, neoadjuvant, bridging and symptomatic therapy option for local and diffuse HCC.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumour of the prostate gland: ultrasound and MRI findings

We report a rare case of primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) of the prostate occurring in a 26-year-old man with a mass replacing the prostate gland in the absence of any lesion involving the bone and soft tissues. To our knowledge, there is no radiological literature that has described the imaging findings in a case of PNET of the prostate. Imaging findings in cases of PNET of the kidney are described in the literature. On ultrasound, the mass appeared multilobulated and multinodular with intratumoural heterogeneity. No brightly reflective echoes with posterior acoustic shadowing to suggest calcification were noted. MRI revealed a heterogeneous lobulated mass with irregular septae within. The mass showed low signal intensity on T(1) weighted images and appeared heterogeneous on T(2) weighted images. Haemorrhage and necrosis were also seen in the tumour.

Bilirubin oxidation provoked by nitric oxide radicals predicts the progression of acute cardiac allograft rejection

Bilirubin, a strong intrinsic antioxidant, quenches free radicals produced under inflammatory conditions. The oxidized bilirubin metabolites, i.e. biopyrrins, are immediately excreted into urine and can indicate the intensity of oxidation in vivo. Our preliminary studies suggested the involvement of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in generation of biopyrrins. However, little is known about biological significance of bilirubin oxidation by RNS. Here, we analyzed the correlation between bilirubin oxidation and nitric oxide (NO) radicals during rat acute cardiac allograft rejection. In allograft recipients, urinary biopyrrins steeply increased on day 3 prior to the increase in myocardial tissue damage marker, serum troponin-T. In contrast, no significant changes in urinary biopyrrins were evident in recipients of isografts or cyclosporine-A treated allografts. Urinary nitrotyrosine, a marker of oxidation by NO radicals also increased on day 3, while administration of a NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine apparently diminished the elevation of urinary biopyrrins as well as nitrotyrosine. Immunohistochemistry revealed enhanced local expression of heme oxygenase-1, biopyrrins and nitrotyrosine in allografts in accordance with the cellular infiltrates, suggesting that changes in urinary biopyrrins reflect the bilirubin oxidation in grafts undergoing rejection. These results indicate that locally evoked bilirubin oxidation by NO radicals can predict the progression of rejection.

Antibody-quantum dot conjugates exhibit enhanced antibacterial effect vs. unconjugated quantum dots

The effect of a 20-min exposure to antibody-quantum dot (Ab-QD) conjugates on colony counts of Escherichia coli was assessed by the spread-plate method and compared with exposure to unconjugated QDs having only amine or carboxyl groups on their surfaces. Under these conditions, Ab-QD conjugates generally exhibited >90% reduction in colony-forming units as compared to untreated E. coli and E. coli treated with unconjugated QDs after incubation for as long as 41 h. The antibacterial effect of Ab-QD conjugates vs. unconjugated QDs on Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium was also assessed by means of a disk-diffusion technique which demonstrated greater growth inhibition (approximately 3 mm greater) by Ab-QD conjugate-impregnated disks than by unconjugated-QD-only-impregnated disks at a 10-microg disk load. At a 25-microg disk load, both treatment groups exhibited nearly equal growth inhibition.

Iatrogenic duodenal perforations caused by endoscopic biliary stenting and stent migration: an update

Endoscopic biliary stenting is the preferred method of decompression in obstructive jaundice. Duodenal perforations caused during stenting and stent migration are rare but life-threatening complications, and require judicious management. With the increasing use of therapeutic endoscopy, an awareness of these complications is becoming important in our surgical practice. Advances in interventional radiology, endoscopy, and laparoscopy have enhanced the scope and reduced the morbidity of both conservative and surgical treatments of these perforations. This article presents an update on the current state of our knowledge on the science and the management of this complication.

Protective effect of a radical scavenger, MCI-186 on islet cell damages induced by oxidative stress

Oxidative stress generated during islet isolation and transplantation causes islet cell damage. These oxidative injuries are mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). MCI-186 is an antioxidant used for clinical treatment of cerebral infarction in Japan. We examined a possible protective effect of MCI-186 on islet cells against oxidative stress. Islets isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats by collagenase P digestion were purified by density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll. Islets were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2); 5 to 250 micromol) in the presence or absence of MCI-186. Cell death was measured by an LDH release assay. Maximum islet cell death was observed at 250 micromol of H(2)O(2). MCI-186 inhibited islet cell death in a dose-dependent manner with significant reduction above 30 micromol. From the results observed we suggest that the antioxidant effects of MCI-186 may prove beneficial to improve the preservation of islet cells.

Screening of patients with acute febrile illness for leptospirosis using clinical criteria and serology

BACKGROUND

Leptospirosis is one of the common zoonoses but, in most instances, the infection goes unnoticed. Rapid diagnostic modalities are needed to diagnose the disease in the early stages. We assessed the usefulness of clinical criteria and compared these with enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) for the early detection of leptospirosis.

METHODS

One hundred patients with a febrile illness for > 7 days were screened by Faine criteria and their sera were subjected to both IgM and IgG ELISA using a commercially available kit (Institut Virion Serion GmbH, Warburg, Germany).

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients satisfied the clinical criteria for leptospirosis and 8 of them tested positive for IgM antibodies while 1 patient who was clinically negative tested positive by serology. Thus, Faine criteria had a sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity of 80.2%, positive predictive value of 30.8% and a negative predictive value of 98.6%. Paired serum samples were obtained from 70 patients but the IgG levels of only 2 showed a 4-fold rise.

CONCLUSION

Faine criteria has moderate sensitivity and specificity but a high negative predictive value in comparison with IgM ELISA. The high negative predictive value may help to screen patients with acute febrile illness for leptospirosis during the early phase of the disease.

DOES THE ENDOSCOPIC TECHNIQUE OF URETEROCELE INCISION MATTER?

PURPOSE

Endoscopic ureterocele decompression is a well established procedure in children. However, an accurate endoscopic incision may be challenging in large ectopic ureteroceles. We describe a percutaneously assisted technique to facilitate the ease of ureterocele incision and review other described methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 12 children with ectopic ureteroceles subtending a double collecting system who underwent endoscopic, percutaneously assisted incision. Six ureteroceles were on the left side, 5 were on the right side and 1 child had bilateral ureteroceles. Decompression results were evaluated by ultrasound and Tc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine imaging during a mean of 2.8 years of followup.

RESULTS

There were 7 girls and 5 boys. Mean age at presentation was 11.6 months (range 1 week to 6 years). The decompression success rate was 84% (11 of 13 renal units), and improved renal function and drainage was noted in 5 of 12 patients (41.6%). Seven of 12 patients had vesicoureteral reflux, of whom 2 were asymptomatic at followup and, hence, were treated conservatively. Five children underwent surgery because of recurrent urinary tract infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Although our results are similar to those of other methods, percutaneously assisted cystoscopic incision of ureterocele enables easier and more accurate decompression. However, when comparing the various techniques described, it seems that postoperative results mostly reflect the anatomical and functional characteristics of the urinary system rather than the technique used.

Effectiveness of Reproductive Health and AIDS Education among Adolescent Girls in Udupi Taluk, India

An intervention study was undertaken among adolescent girls in age group 16-19 years, studying in preuniversitycolleges, in Udupi town in Karnataka State, India, to asses the impact of health education onknowledge regarding reproductive health & AIDS. 4 pre-university colleges were randomly selected inUdupi town. There were 551 students present for the pretest and 548 in the post test. Knowledge wasassessed at the beginning of the study with the help of a questionnaire that was duly pre-tested. Based on theresults of this baseline survey, a health education programme was developed and implemented after a weekin each of the selected colleges. A second visit was made to the same colleges after one month of conductinghealth education programme for post-test The same questionnaire was administered to assess the impact ofhealth education. Significant increase in knowledge about adolescence, menarche, pregnancy, delivery,immunization and various aspects of AIDS following health education. This study has shown that there is abeneficial effect of health education on the knowledge and awareness related to reproductive health andAIDS among adolescent girls.Key Words: Reproductive Health, AIDS, Health Education.