Sensitization of AIDS related non-Hodgkin's B lymphoma cell lines to cytotoxic drugs toxins by interferon-gamma

AIDS-related lymphomas (ARL) progressively become resistant to conventional chemotherapy. We have developed three B cell lines from tumor biopsies of AIDS patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The ARL cell lines were shown to be resistant to a panel of cytotoxic cytokines, toxins and drugs such as tumor necrosis factor, diphteria toxin, ricin, adriamycin, cis-platinum and anti-Fas antibody. However, when these cell lines were pretreated with low concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), (50 U/ml or 150 U/ml) for 24 to 48 h, the tumor cells became sensitive to these cytotoxic agents. Pretreatment of ARL with IFN-gamma stimulated proliferation while IFN-gamma inhibited the growth of ovarian tumor cell lines. Further, following treatment with IFN-gamma, the secretion of TNF-alpha by ARL lines was significantly decreased and TNF-alpha surface receptor expression was downregulated. The expression of several surface antigens on ARL was upregulated by IFN-gamma. These findings demonstrate that treatment of ARL with IFN-gamma stimulated cell proliferation, modulated several surface antigens, inhibited TNF-alpha secretion and sensitized the tumor cells to cytotoxicity by various drugs/toxins. These findings may be clinically relevant in the treatment of drug-refractory ARL.

[Early intervention for people with alcohol related disorders or at-risk for alcohol use]

Use of alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adolescents and young adults. Early interventions may reduce the burden associated with alcohol misuse and alcohol related disorders. Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a comprehensive and integrated approach to the delivery of early interventions for persons with substance use disorders or at risk for substance use. This paper describes the components, rationale and evidence for the SBIRT approach for people with at risk alcohol use or with alcohol abuse or dependence.

Multiple cavernous haemangiomas of the the orbit and conjunctiva: A rare association

Cavernous haemangioma(CH) is mostly intraconal, single and unilateral in location. A 32 year old female presented with painless progressive growth near the inner canthus of right eye along with swelling of right upper eyelid and superomedial quadrant of the right orbit for five years. MRI showed lesions involving the preseptal space and extraconal compartment of the orbit at the superomedial aspect continous with the conjunctival swelling. Excision biopsy of the growths via anterior orbitotomy (vertical eyelid split technique) was done. Histopathological findings confirmed orbital cavernous haemangioma along with conjunctival CH.

We report a rare case of multiple cavernous haemangiomas arising from the conjunctiva as well as the superomedial orbit. Complete removal of the tumour is possible even in such difficult cases as the CH is totally encapsulated and meticulous surgical dissection can give good cosmetic result to the patient.

In-utero transfer is too difficult: results from a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Perinatal transfer is an unavoidable part of neonatal care. In-utero as opposed to postnatal transfer is recommended whenever possible.

AIMS

To quantify prevalence of in-utero transfers, determine the duration of time spent arranging in-utero transfers and whether failures in the organisation of potential in-utero transfers were occurring.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study of in-utero transfers referred and completed, and questionnaire study of failed potential in-utero transfers.

SUBJECTS

Women referred to the Emergency Bed Service (EBS), women undergoing in-utero transfer by London Ambulance Service (LAS), and preterm infants undergoing postnatal transfer where in-utero transfer had been potentially achievable, in the London area, over a six month period in 2009.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Number of in-utero transfers being undertaken, duration of time spent arranging in-utero transfer, and number of failed in-utero transfers.

RESULTS

Over the study period LAS undertook 438 in-utero transfers and there were 338 referrals for in-utero transfer to EBS, of which 180 (53%) were successful. Of 69 emergency postnatal transfers of preterm infants (<29 weeks gestational age), 11 were classified as failed in-utero transfers. Median (IQR) duration of EBS involvement in in-utero referrals was 340 (200-696)min. A median (IQR) of 240 (150-308)min was spent contacting a median (IQR) of 7 (6-8)units when attempting to arrange in-utero transfer in the failed in-utero transfer group.

CONCLUSIONS

Arranging in-utero transfer consumes considerable clinical time; an important number of in-utero transfer attempts fail for non-clinical reasons; establishment of a centralised in-utero transfer planning service will save clinical time and may improve outcomes.

Renal insufficiency retains adverse prognostic implications despite renal function improvement following Total Therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Renal insufficiency (RI) is a frequent complication of multiple myeloma (MM) with negative consequences for patient survival. The improved clinical outcome with successive Total Therapy (TT) protocols was limited to patients without RI. We therefore performed a retrospective analysis of overall survival, progression-free survival and time to progression (TTP) of patients enrolled in TT2 and TT3 in relationship to RI present at baseline and pre-transplant. Glomerular filtration rate was graded in four renal classes (RCs), RC1–RC4 (RC1 ⩾90 ml/min/1.73 m², RC2 60–89 ml/min/1.73 m², RC3 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m² and RC4 <30 ml/min/1.73 m²). RC1–3 had comparable clinical outcomes while RC4 was deleterious, even after improvement to better RC after transplant. Among the 85% of patients with gene expression profiling defined low-risk MM, Cox regression modeling of baseline and pre-transplant features, which also took into consideration RC improvement and MM complete response (CR), identified the presence of metaphase cytogenetic abnormalities and baseline RC4 as independent variables linked to inferior TTP post-transplant, while MM CR reduced the risk of progression and TTP by more than 60%. Failure to improve clinical outcomes despite RI improvement suggested MM-related causes. Although distinguishing RC4 from RC<4, 46 gene probes bore no apparent relationship to MM biology or survival.

CMOS Conductometric System for Growth Monitoring and Sensing of Bacteria

We present the design and implementation of a prototype complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) conductometric integrated circuit (IC) for colony growth monitoring and specific sensing of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The detection of E. coli is done by employing T4 bacteriophages as receptor organisms. The conductometric system operates by measuring the resistance of the test sample between the electrodes of a two-electrode electrochemical system (reference electrode and working electrode). The CMOS IC is fabricated in a TSMC 0.35-μm process and uses a current-to-frequency (I to F) conversion circuit to convert the test sample resistance into a digital output modulated in frequency. Pulsewidth control (one-shot circuit) is implemented on-chip to control the pulsewidth of the output digital signal. The novelty in the current work lies in the ability of the CMOS sensor system to monitor very low initial concentrations of bacteria (4×10(2) to 4×10(4) colony forming unit (CFU)/mL). The CMOS system is also used to record the interaction between E. coli and its specific receptor T4 bacteriophage. The prototype CMOS IC consumes an average power of 1.85 mW with a 3.3-V dc power supply.