Expression of DARC, CXCR3 and CCR5 in giant cell arteritis

OBJECTIVES

Leucocyte infiltration is the hallmark of vasculitis, chemokines being mainly responsible for leucocyte migration into inflamed tissues. The objective was to evaluate the local expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors in biopsies of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) compared with arteries from patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We studied the expression of CCR5, CXCR3 and that of the Duffy antigen/receptor of chemokine (DARC), a chemokine internalizing receptor (interceptor), in parallel to the expression of the CCR5 ligand RANTES/CCL5.

METHODS

Paraffin-embedded tissue sections from six patients with GCA and five patients with PMR were available for immunohistological analysis of chemokine receptor expression. RANTES/CCL5 mRNA was detected in tissue sections by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

In patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis, CCR5 and CXCR3 were highly expressed by infiltrating leucocytes in involved tissue sections. Predominant clustering of CCR5+ and CXCR3+ leucocytes was found in the adventitia and was co-localized with the expression of CCL5/RANTES mRNA. Interestingly, we found marked expression of DARC on adventitial high endothelial venules in vasculitis lesions of patients with GCA, while in arteries from patients with PMR DARC was only expressed on a low number of vessels with flat lining endothelium.

CONCLUSIONS

The co-localization of infiltrating CCR5+ and CXCR3+ leucocytes together with CCL5/RANTES and DARC in vasculitis lesions suggests a role for these chemokine receptors in leucocyte infiltration, possibly supported by DARC-mediated vascular presentation of chemokines.

Perkutane Thermoablation von Lungenmetastasen - Erfahrungen mit dem Einsatz der LITT, der Radiofrequenzablation (RFA) und Literaturübersicht

PURPOSE

Evaluation of technical aspects, local efficiency and complications of thermoablative procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT), in percutaneous lung metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Techniques of thermal ablative procedures of RFA and LITT are presented. For primary positioning, monitoring and therapy control, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Different monopolar systems and one bipolar system were available for RFA and two different cooling systems for LITT. Percutaneous CT-guided RFA was performed on 32 metastases in 20 patients and percutaneous LITT on 34 metastases in 24 patients. Inclusion criteria were metastases < or = 5 cm in diameter in unresectable patients with up to 3 metastases per lung. All treatments were performed on outpatient basis using analgosedation.

RESULTS

In our patient group, all patients tolerated both the RFA and LITT procedures well with mild sedation. The pneumothorax rate was 15 % (5/32 procedures) for the RFA group and 12 % (4/34 procedures) for the LITT group, without insertion of a chest tube. In all RF ablations, a complete "roll off" (increase in impedance) was achieved. Local tumor control rate in the 6-month follow-up was 85 % for RFA and 91 % for LITT. Nineteen of the 20 patients treated are still alive, one patient died from tumor progression.

CONCLUSION

Both pulmonary RFA and LITT allow safe thermal ablation of pulmon arg metastases with a low complication rate and an acceptable tumor control rate.

Prevention of erosive oesophagitis relapse with pantoprazole

AIM

To compare the safety and efficacy of pantoprazole and ranitidine in maintaining erosive oesophagitis healing.

METHODS

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients (349) with endoscopically documented healed erosive oesophagitis (grade 0 or 1) were randomly assigned to receive pantoprazole (10, 20 or 40 mg/q.d.s.) or ranitidine (150 mg/b.d.). Erosive oesophagitis status was assessed endoscopically at months 1, 3, 6 and 12 or when relapse symptoms appeared (relapse = reappearance of erosive oesophagitis grade 2 within 12 months). Symptom-free days were also assessed.

RESULTS

Pantoprazole 20- and 40-mg were significantly more effective than ranitidine in maintaining healing regardless of initial erosive oesophagitis grade. Response was dose-related. After 12 months 78, 55, 46 and 21% of patients remained healed (40-, 20-, 10-mg pantoprazole and ranitidine). Pantoprazole 40-mg produced significantly more symptom-free days (83%) than ranitidine (58%). Heartburn-free days/nights were significantly higher with pantoprazole 40-mg (92 and 93%) than ranitidine (73 and 77%). The most frequent reason for discontinuation, unsatisfactory efficacy, occurred most often with ranitidine (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Once-daily pantoprazole therapy prevented relapse of healed erosive oesophagitis more effectively than ranitidine and with fewer heartburn days. Response to pantoprazole was dose-related. Pantoprazole 40-mg was the most effective regimen and consistent in maintaining erosive oesophagitis healing with a good safety and tolerability profile.

Laserinduzierte Thermotherapie von Lungenmetastasen und prim�ren Lungentumoren

We present laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) of primary and secondary lung tumors analysing indications and technical concepts. Thirty patients with lung metastases of different primary tumors (n=24) as well as localized lung tumors (n=6) were prospectively treated in 41 sessions using laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT). An MR-compatible puncture system was used with direct puncture technique. The puncture was performed via CT guidance in care vision technique. Eight patients were thermoablated using MR tomographical monitoring, 22 patients using CT monitoring. Local therapy effects, tumor control rate, side effects, complications, and survival were evaluated. In 74% of cases (28/38 lesions) of 24 patients with lung metastases and in all cases of the 6 patients with lung carcinoma a complete local ablation could be achieved. The complication rate (pneumothorax) was 9,8%. One patient with bronchial carcinoma had to be thoracotomized and resected. 93% of the patients are still alive. Percutaneous LITT of lung tumors permits a complete ablation of lung metastases and lung carcinomas with a low complication rate. Indications for the procedure were defined for patients with no more than 5 metastases up to 3 cm in size.