Malawi pilot study of Burkitt lymphoma treatment.

Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) accounts for 50% of childhood cancer in Malawi. Lack of resources precludes the use of new successful treatment approaches such as the LMB 89 group B protocol, which cures >80% of children with stage III BL with high dose chemotherapy and matching supportive care. Our objective was to achieve a good cure rate in Murphy stage I-III BL with manageable toxicity in Malawi at a drug cost of <1000 US dollars per patient.

Red wines good, white wines bad?

A review of the literature on the 'antioxidant' action of white wines on the cardiovascular system is given. The conclusion is that ingestion only of white wines very low, or lacking, in polyphenolics leads to a reduction in the antioxidant action of blood serum, and to an increase in the low density lipoprotein to high density lipoprotein ratio.

The cardioprotective effect of wine on human blood chemistry.

We investigated the in vivo effects of regular consumption of red and white wine on the serum lipid profile, plasma plasminogen activator-1, homocysteine levels, and total antioxidant status. This study confirmed that moderate consumption of wine, red more than white, exerts cardioprotective effects through beneficial changes in lipid profiles and plasma total antioxidant status.

The in vivo antithrombotic effect of wine consumption on human blood platelets and hemostatic factors.

We compared the in vivo effect of red vs. white wine consumption on platelet aggregation, responsiveness and membrane viscosity, plasma total antioxidant status, thromboxane B(2) levels, and fibrinolysis. Diet and red wine had a synergistic effect in decreasing platelet aggregation.

Malignancy: 2'-Chlorodeoxyadenosine Effectively Induces Complete Remission in Hairy Cell Leukaemia.

Hairy cell leukaemia, previously known as leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis, is an indolent lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. It typically affects males, causes marked splenomegaly and moderate enlargement of the liver, whilst lymphadenopathy is inconspicuous. Pancytopenia is characteristic with unusually profound monocytopenia, variable reduction in platelets, and the presence in the peripheral blood and marrow of abnormal small lymphocytes having irregular cytoplasmic margins.