Elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-6 serum levels in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients have been shown previously. To investigate the behavior and the prognostic role of IL-10 and IL-6 ...serum levels in gastric and colon cancer patients undergoing surgery, we studied the relationship between these cytokine levels and surgical radicality and outcome. Seventy-eight patients with gastric or colon cancer were admitted to the study, and 50 underwent radical surgery. Cytokine serum levels were measured by ELISA the day before surgery and 16 days after surgery. Circulating levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were found to be higher in cancer patients than in controls. Both IL-10 and IL-6 serum levels were demonstrated to be able to predict likelihood to perform radical surgery. IL-10 serum levels returned to normal in all but 8 radically resected patients. These 8 patients had tumor recurrence. In contrast, IL-6 serum levels were shown to significantly decrease in all patients but not to normalize regardless of the radicality of the operation. On multivariate analysis, basal IL-10 serum levels were found to be among the variables significantly affecting the disease-free survival rate. Stepwise regression selected tumor stage, number of metastatic resected nodes, and basal IL-10 serum level as the best combination of variables for prediction of likelihood of tumor recurrence. Preoperative IL-10 serum levels may be a useful marker to predict likelihood of performing radical surgery. Abnormally high postoperative IL-10 values negatively affected disease-free survival and tumor recurrence. IL-6 serum levels were found to have a more limited prognostic role.
Interleukin(IL)-2 is a T helper (Th) 1 type cytokine that has been shown to play an important role in antitumour immune responses. In this study, the prognostic significance of serum IL-2 levels was ...investigated in 60 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. IL-2 serum levels were determined before chemotherapy, at the end of chemotherapy and during follow-up, using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay kit. The results were analysed according to the response to therapy and were used to generate a model predicting overall survival and time to treatment failure. All 60 patients were shown to have higher IL-2 serum levels than controls (P < 0.0001). Stage IV patients had significantly lower IL-2 levels than stage III patients (P < 0.0001), although they were still significantly higher than controls (P < 0.0001). It is interesting that, when patients were divided into responders and non-responders according to the response to therapy, the former were shown to have significantly higher pre-chemotherapy levels than the latter (P < 0.0001). Moreover, a further significant increase in IL-2 serum levels (P = 0.004) and a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) were shown in responders and non-responders, respectively at the end of the therapy. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, both overall survival and time to treatment failure were shown to be affected by the mean pathological levels of IL-2. Furthermore, the prognostic significance of the serum level of IL-2 was confirmed by the stepwise regression analysis. In conclusion, determination of pre-treatment IL-2 serum levels was shown to be of independent prognostic utility in patients with advanced NSCLC; therefore, its possible use for prediction of outcome is proposed.
Anthracyclines are among the most active antineoplastic drugs developed to date, used both in the treatment of solid cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer and sarcomas, and of hematologic ...cancers. However, their clinical use is limited by cardiotoxicity, which is observed at a range of 0.4-41%. The risk of this side effect can be minimized by using cardioprotective agents, planning dosing schedules to lower the anthracycline peak plasma concentration, identifying and monitoring high-risk patients, keeping in mind that early anthracycline-induced histologic changes may be identified successfully by cardiac biopsy. Nonetheless, the challenge to increase the tumor response to chemotherapy while keeping low the cardiac risk may be now met by the use of a recently introduced polyethylene glycol-coated (pegylated) liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). Here, we review the pharmacologic properties of PLD as well as the results of phases I, II and III trials demonstrating activity and low cardiac toxicity associated with the use of this novel drug.
The analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is perhaps the most widely used technique in cancer genetics. In primary tumors, however, the analysis of LOH is fraught with technical problems that have ...limited its reproducibility and interpretation. In particular, tumors are mixtures of neoplastic and nonneoplastic cells, and the DNA from the nonneoplastic cells can mask LOH. We here describe a new experimental approach, involving two components, to overcome these problems. First, a form of digital PCR was employed to directly count, one by one, the number of each of the two alleles in tumor samples. Second, Bayesian-type likelihood methods were used to measure the strength of the evidence for the allele distribution being different from normal. This approach imparts a rigorous statistical basis to LOH analyses, and should be able to provide more reliable information than heretofore possible in LOH studies of diverse tumor types.
Optimum design of vertical rectangular fin arrays de Lieto Vollaro, Andrea; Grignaffini, Stefano; Gugliermetti, Franco
International journal of thermal sciences,
1999, Volume:
38, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The goal of this analysis has been the search for the optimal configuration for a finned plate (with rectangular and vertical fins) to be cooled in natural convection. Utilizing a simplified relation ...of the fins heat exchange some simple expressions for the determination of the optimum value of the fins spacing have been developed as a function of the parameters which feature in the configuration: dimensions, thermal conductivity, fins absorption coefficient and fluid thermo-physical properties.
Ce travail concerne la recherche de la configuration optimale de radiateurs à ailettes rectangulaires et verticales, refroidis par convection naturelle. Pour l'essentiel, on détermine, en utilisant une relation simplifiée pour l'échange thermique. la vateur optimale du pas d'ailettes. La recherche de cette valeur optimale prend en compte les différents paramètres thermiques et géométriques du radiateur: dimensions, conductivité thermique, propriétés thermiques et physiques du fluide, ainsi que le rayonnement dans les cavités formées par les ailettes.
This work analyses the thermo hygrometric conditions inside buses used for public transport. The technical solutions, found through the analysis of the thermo hygrometric conditions inside trains, ...were also set out and extended to buses. This was in order to maximize the conditioning system and the installation of the air distribution terminals. A pattern for the simulation of the thermo fluid dynamics has been researched, in order to evaluate possible improvements in the conditioning system or in the distribution system. The summer time is the most critical period in the year for public transport. This fact is due to the frequent opening of doors, which makes the internal temperature uneven, due to the strong air drafts. It is also important to assess the cooling transition, which can often be long and unbearable for passengers inside. The simulation pattern, produced with Airpack 2.1 (Fluent) software, was then validated with a series of measures and used for the analysis of the main issues concerning discomfort. It was also used for the finalization of the improvements. This assessment addresses the fundamental problem that takes place at a bus stop when passengers exit and enter. It has been compared to the solution studied for installing doors equipped with air screens (or air screened doors). The thermo fluid dynamic results guarantee a significant improvement in thermo hygrometric comfort.
Interleukin (IL)-10 is a Th2 type pleiotropic cytokine that has been found to be produced at the tumor site and to be increased in sera of patients suffering from different types of cancer. IL-10 has ...been shown to hinder a number of immune functions, i.e., T lymphocyte proliferation, Th1 type cytokine production, antigen presentation, and lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity. To assess its prognostic value, we measured serum levels of IL-10 in 118 patients with advanced solid tumors before treatment, after completion of therapy, and during follow-up. Other prognostic variables, to which IL-10 results were compared, were analyzed as well. IL-10 serum levels were found significantly elevated in cancer patients with respect to healthy controls. Of interest, a significant decrease in IL-10 serum levels was observed in the responder group, whereas a significant increase was recorded in the non-responder group. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, a significant relationship was shown between IL-10 serum levels and both overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF). Stepwise regression analysis selected IL-10 serum level, performance status (PS), and stage as the best association of variables with significant impact on OS and TTF. In conclusion, this study shows that IL-10 has an independent prognostic significance in patients with advanced solid tumors and may be useful for monitoring disease progression.
True cysts of the spleen are rare. In a few cases, high serum levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have been reported. It has been suggested that they are ...produced by inner epithelium of the cyst. In such instances, cyst resection or splenectomy is indicated to rule out malignant lesions and to remove cancer antigen-producing epithelium. Furthermore, a high serum level of interleukin (IL)-10, an immunosuppressive cytokine, has been described in many neoplastic diseases, suggesting it as a potential new diagnostic method. Giant cystic lesion of the left upper abdomen associated with ovarian tumor was diagnosed in a young patient. Laboratory data revealed elevated serum levels of several tumor markers CA 19-9, CEA, cancer antigens (CA) 125 and 50, and tissue polypeptide antigen. In contrast, IL-10 serum level was normal. After splenectomy and ovariectomy, tumor marker serum levels normalized. Histology and immunohistochemical analysis revealed true splenic cyst with inner epithelium strongly positive for CA 19-9, CEA, and high levels of cancer antigens in fluid. Ovarian lesion was a serous cystoadenoma; its inner epithelium showed no immunoreactivity for tumor markers that were not measurable in fluid. The reported case showed that epithelium lining true splenic cysts may produce, in addition to CA 19-9, CEA, and other tumor markers, in particular CA 125 and CA 50. When malignant disease is suspected, IL-10 serum level could be useful to correctly predict the nature of the lesion.
A giant cystic lesion of the left upper abdomen associated with a smaller ovarian cyst in a young female patient is reported. Laboratory data revealed elevated serum levels of carbohydrate antigen ...19-9 (CA 19-9), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigens 50 and 125, and tissue polypeptide antigen. In contrast, the serum levels of interleukin 10, a cytokine involved in modulating immune responses and produced by many cancer histotypes, were normal. Since ovarian cancer or cystic adenocarcinoma of the tail of the pancreas were not ruled out, the patient underwent laparotomy. After splenectomy and ovariectomy, the tumour marker serum levels normalized. Histology and immunohistochemical analysis revealed a true splenic cyst with the inner epithelium strongly positive for CA 19-9 and CEA and high levels of cancer antigens in the fluid. The ovarian lesion was a serous cystadenoma. The inner epithelium showed no immunoreactivity for tumour markers which were not measurable in the fluid. True cysts of the spleen are rare; in a few cases, high serum levels of CA 19-9 and CEA have been reported. In such instances, cyst resection or splenectomy is indicated to rule out malignant lesions and to remove the cancer antigen producing epithelium. The reported case shows that the epithelium lining true splenic cysts may produce, besides CA 19-9 and CEA, other tumour markers, in particular cancer antigens 50 and 125. In addition, normal serum values of interleukin 10 correctly predicted the benign nature of the lesion.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a significant risk of gallbladder perforations with bile and stone spillage. The retrieval of dropped stones is sometimes impossible, and ...intraperitoneally retained stones can be the source of serious complications, such as inflammatory masses or abscesses. The authors describe a patient in whom a large retroperitoneal abscess developed as a result of missed stone fragments during cholecystectomy. Although several cases of intraperitoneal abscess have been reported in the literature, retroperitoneal collection is very uncommon. Crushed and infected stones seem to be the essential prerequisite for abscess formation. Therefore, every attempt should be made to avoid stone spillage and intra-abdominally retained stones. Conversion to open surgery has to be considered in the presence of adverse factors, such as primary acute cholecystitis or cholecystitis induced by previous sphincterotomy, or bilirubinate stones believed to be infected. Abdominal abscess treatment requires removal of missed stones by surgical incision or new laparoscopic procedure because simple percutaneous drainage is usually unsuccessful.
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