Hospital cost analysis of a prospective, randomized trial of early vs interval appendectomy for perforated appendicitis in children.

Background: The methods of surgical care for children with perforated appendicitis are controversial. Some surgeons prefer early appendectomy; others prefer initial nonoperative management followed by interval appendectomy. Determining which of these two therapies is most cost-effective was the goal of this study.

Liposome-encapsulated curcumin suppresses neuroblastoma growth through nuclear factor-kappa B inhibition.

Background: Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) has been implicated in tumor cell proliferation and survival and in tumor angiogenesis. We sought to evaluate the effects of curcumin, an inhibitor of NF-κB, on a xenograft model of disseminated neuroblastoma.

Methods: For in vitro studies, neuroblastoma cell lines NB1691, CHLA-20, and SK-N-AS were treated with various doses of liposomal curcumin.

Rapamycin-induced tumor vasculature remodeling in rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts increases the effectiveness of adjuvant ionizing radiation.

Purpose: Rapamycin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a tumor-elaborated protein that stimulates neovascularization. This inhibition can cause transient "normalization" of the generally dysfunctional tumor vasculature, resulting in improved tumor perfusion and oxygenation.

Improved survival after hemostatic resuscitation: does the emperor have no clothes?

Background: In light of recent data, controversy surrounds the apparent 30-day survival benefit of patients achieving a fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to packed red blood cell (PRBC) ratio of at least 1:2 in the face of massive transfusions (MT) (≥10 units of PRBC within 24 hours of admission). We hypothesized that initial studies suffer from survival bias because they do not consider early deaths secondary to uncontrolled exsanguinating hemorrhage. To help resolve this controversy, we evaluated the temporal relationship between blood product administration and mortality in civilian trauma patients receiving MT.

Targeting multiple angiogenic pathways for the treatment of neuroblastoma.

Purpose: Resistance to angiogenesis inhibition can occur through the upregulation of alternative mediators of neovascularization. We used a combination of angiogenesis inhibitors with different mechanisms of action, interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and rapamycin, to target multiple angiogenic pathways to treat neuroblastoma xenografts.

Methods: Subcutaneous and retroperitoneal neuroblastoma xenografts (NB-1691 and SK-N-AS) were used.

Bevacizumab-induced tumor vessel remodeling in rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts increases the effectiveness of adjuvant ionizing radiation.

Purpose: Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may effect transient "normalization" of tumor vasculature by pruning immature vessels, resulting in improved tumor perfusion and oxygenation. This may improve the efficacy of adjuvant ionizing radiation (IR). We tested this hypothesis using bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) xenografts.

IFN-beta restricts tumor growth and sensitizes alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma to ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation is an important component of multimodal therapy for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS). We sought to evaluate the ability of IFN-beta to enhance the activity of ionizing radiation. Rh-30 and Rh-41 ARMS cells were treated with IFN-beta and ionizing radiation to assess synergistic effects in vitro and as orthotopic xenografts in CB17 severe combined immunodeficient mice.