ERCP in infants, children and adolescents is feasible and safe: results from a tertiary care center.

Background: Indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children differ from adults. Paucity of data and concerns about potential lower effectiveness and more side effects limit its use even in high volume centers. We retrospectively analyzed indications, success rates, limitations, and side effects of ERCPs in children <18 years.

Accuracy of the size estimation in wireless capsule endoscopy: calibrating the M2A PillCam (with video).

Objective: To describe the accuracy and precision of a size estimation in wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and to develop a simple device that facilitates learning of an exact size estimation in WCE.

Design: A prospective study with an animal model. Seventy-five medical students were compared with 21 physicians not performing WCEs and 21 experts actively performing WCEs.

In vitro gene targeting in human hepatoblastoma.

Poor treatment results in advanced hepatoblastoma (HB) made alternative treatment approaches desirable. Gene-directed tumor therapy is increasingly investigated in different malignancies. The aim of this study was to analyze possible alternatives of gene transfer into HB cells and to study therapeutic applications based on different strategies.

Expression liver-directed genes by employing synthetic transcriptional control units.

Aim: To generate and characterize the synthetic transcriptional control units for transcriptional targeting of the liver, thereby compensating for the lack of specificity of currently available gene therapeutic vector systems.

Methods: Synthetic transcriptional control unit constructs were generated and analyzed for transcriptional activities in different cell types by FACS quantification, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and Western blotting.

Results: A new bifunctionally-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)/neo(r) fusion gene cassette was generated, and could flexibly be used both for transcript quantification and for selection of stable cell clones.

Combined endostatin/sFlt-1 antiangiogenic gene therapy is highly effective in a rat model of HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as a suitable target for antiangiogenic strategies. However, antiangiogenic agents aimed at single targets can be neutralized by upregulation of other proangiogenic factors. Therefore, combined approaches addressing at least two angiogenic targets should be more effective.

Endothelial endostatin release is induced by general cell stress and modulated by the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway.

Endostatin is a 20 kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment of collagen XVIII that, when added exogenously, inhibits endothelial proliferation and migration in vitro and angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo. Previous results showed endostatin/collagen XVIII labeling in few endothelial cells in human glioblastoma multiforme. We have now observed constitutive release of endostatin from one of four endothelial cell lines.

Negative-strand RNA viral vectors: intravenous application of Sendai virus vectors for the systemic delivery of therapeutic genes.

Treatment by gene replacement is critical in the field of gene therapy. Suitable vectors for the delivery of therapeutic genes have to be generated and tested in preclinical settings. Recently, extraordinary features for a local gene delivery by Sendai virus vectors (SeVV) have been reported for different tissues.

Application of poly-lactide-co-glycolide-microspheres in the transarterial chemoembolization in an animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To introduce an animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in ACI-rats, and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Poly-lactide-co-glycolide (Plcg) -microspheres in the transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in this model, as well the value of this model in the experiments of interventional therapy.

Methods: Subcapsular implantation of a solid Morris Hepatoma 3 924A (1 mm(3)) in the livers was carried out in 11 male ACI-rats. The tumor volume (V1) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (13 days after implantation).