Glucose Influences the Response of Cells to Temozolomide and Dexamethasone.

Objective: Current research indicates that weakness of glucose metabolism plays an important role in silencing of invasiveness and growth of hypoxic tumors such as GBM. Moreover, there are indications that DXM, frequently used in treatment, may support GBM energy metabolism and provoke its recurrence.

Methods: We carried out in vitro experiments on the commercial T98G cell line and two primary GBM lines (HROG02, HROG17) treated with TMZ and/or DXM in physiological oxygen conditions for GBM (2.

Microcrystalline paclitaxel-coated balloon for revascularization of femoropopliteal artery disease: Three-year outcomes of the randomized BIOPAC trial.

The aim of the BIOPAC trial was to determine long-term safety and efficacy of a novel microcrystalline paclitaxel-coated balloon (mcPCB) with a biocompatible polymer as an excipient in the treatment of occlusive femoropopliteal lesions. In this first-in-human prospective controlled randomized trial, 66 patients with femoropopliteal, symptomatic (Rutherford stages 2B to 5) occlusive arterial disease were randomized to either mcPCB (study group) or POBA (plain old balloon angioplasty) (control group) on a 1:1 basis. Late lumen loss (LLL) at 6 months was the primary endpoint of the study and serious adverse events (SAE: death, amputation, repeated revascularization) were considered a composite secondary endpoint.

Imipramine and Venlafaxine Differentially Affect Primary Glial Cultures of Prenatally Stressed Rats.

Here, we examine the effects of prenatal administration of two antidepressants-imipramine (IMI) and venlafaxine (VEN)-on morphology and activity of a primary glial culture. Microglia are targeted by antidepressants used for antenatal depression and are important regulators of central nervous system development. In this study, female Wistar rats were assigned to one of four groups: a control group that received water (1), and groups that received additionally once daily either water (2), IMI (10 mg/kg) (3), or VEN (20 mg/kg) (4) by oral gavage from gestation day 7 to 22.

Tricyclic Antidepressants Modulate Stressed Mitochondria in Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells.

Unlabelled: A common feature of solid tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is mitochondrial dysfunction. However, it is reported that the current standard of anti-GBM therapies may potentiate mitochondrial damage and, in effect, support the aggressive character of cancer. As mitochondria are implicated in the modulation of cellular drug sensitivity and chemoresistance mechanisms, activation-stressed mitochondria in GBM cells may represent a new target for anti-GBM therapy that is nontoxic for normal cells.

Reversing glioma malignancy: a new look at the role of antidepressant drugs as adjuvant therapy for glioblastoma multiforme.

Purpose: The role of glioma stem cells (GSCs) in cancer progression is currently debated; however, it is hypothesised that this subpopulation is partially responsible for therapeutic resistance observed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Recent studies have shown that the current treatments not only fail to eliminate the GSC population but even promote GSCs through reprogramming of glioma non-stem cells to stem cells. Since the standard GBM treatment often requires supplementation with adjuvant drugs such as antidepressants, their role in the regulation of the heterogeneous nature of GSCs needs evaluation.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale using the internal jugular venous approach.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale is routinely performed using the transfemoral approach, which is safe and technically easy. Our case represents the rare situation where the procedure needs to be performed using the right internal jugular venous approach. According to our best knowledge this is the first report of a patent foramen ovale closure procedure with access through the internal jugular with necessity to advance the guide wire and transseptal sheath into the left ventricle.

Efficacy and safety of cutting balloons for the treatment of obstructive lesions in the internal jugular veins.

Background: In this technical note we present the results of endovascular treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency with the use of cutting balloons, with focus on feasibility and safety of these endovascular devices.

Methods: We used cutting balloons during 70 procedures in 65 multiple sclerosis patients presenting with strictures of the internal jugular veins, primarily at the level of jugular valves. These devices were used only in selected cases, following unsuccessful standard balloon angioplasty, and on condition that commercially available devices could be applied (currently they are maximally 8 mm in diameter).

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency is unlikely to be a direct trigger of multiple sclerosis.

Background: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, a vascular pathology affecting the veins draining the central nervous system can accompany multiple sclerosis and is suspected to be involved in its pathogenesis.

Objective: This study was aimed at exploring a potential role for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in triggering multiple sclerosis. If it were venous abnormalities responsible for neurological pathology, one should expect negative correlation, i.

Catheter venography for the assessment of internal jugular veins and azygous vein: position statement by expert panel of the International Society for Neurovascular Disease.

This document by an expert panel of the International Society for Neurovascular Disease is aimed at presenting current technique and interpretation of catheter venography of the internal jugular veins, azygous vein and other veins draining the central nervous system. Although interventionalists agree on general rules, significant differences exist in terms of details of venographic technique and interpretations of angiographic pictures. It is also suggested that debatable findings should be investigated using multimodal diagnostics.

Multiple sclerosis, an unlikely cause of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: retrospective analysis of catheter venography.

Objectives: It is unknown if a relationship exists between multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and if this venous pathology is a causal factor for multiple sclerosis or is a product of a neurological disease. Even so, one should expect that if multiple sclerosis were the cause for venous lesions, then patients with an extended history of the disease would present with a more severe venous pathology.

Design: Retrospective analysis of catheter venography of the azygous and internal jugular veins, and duration of clinical history of the disease in multiple sclerosis patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of current sonographic criteria for the detection of outflow abnormalities in the internal jugular veins.

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluation of the diagnostic value of Doppler sonography for the assessment of abnormalities in the internal jugular veins (IJVs).

Method: One hundred and sixteen IJVs were assessed in 58 patients with associated multiple sclerosis. Findings of Doppler sonography were compared with results of the reference test: catheter venography.

Prevalence of extracranial venous abnormalities: results from a sample of 586 multiple sclerosis patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in an unselected cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. A total of 586 patients with clinically defined MS underwent catheter venography of the internal jugular veins, brachiocephalic veins and azygos vein. The following findings were regarded as pathologic: no outflow, slowed outflow, reversal of flow direction, prestenotic dilation accompanied by impaired outflow, outflow through collaterals, intraluminal structures obstructing the vein, hypoplasia, agenesia or significant narrowing of the vein.

[Percutaneous angioplasty of the left renal artery in a patient with acute infarction of the left kidney with persistent occlusion of the right renal artery treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor].

A case of a 67 year-old woman with acute renal syndrome during treatment of angiotensin converting enzyme is presented. In angiography was affirmed acute occlusion left renal artery (LRA) with chronic occlusion right renal artery. Percutaneous angioplasty with implantation stent of the LRA were performed with optimal effect.

Magnetic Resonance Venography of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in patients with associated multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease with not well understood etiology. Recently, a possible association of MS with compromised venous outflow from the brain and spinal cord has been studied (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency - CCSVI). Angioplasties of internal jugular veins (IJV) and azygous vein (AV) have given promising results, with improvements in patients' clinical status.

Endovascular treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: is the procedure safe?

Objectives: The aim of this report is to assess the safety of endovascular treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Although balloon angioplasty and stenting seem to be safe procedures, there are currently no data on the treatment of a large group of patients with this vascular pathology.

Methods: A total of 564 endovascular procedures (balloon angioplasty or, if this procedure failed, stenting) were performed during 344 interventions in 331 CCSVI patients with associated multiple sclerosis.

Self-expandable metallic stents in the treatment of post-esophagogastrostomy/post-esophagoenterostomy fistula.

Esophageus or gaster resection in patients with malignant disease is still a treatment of choice. It is obvious that each surgical procedure in these patients carries some possibility of complications. Esophageo-gastric or esophageo-jejuno anastomosis has a 4-27% frequency of fistula occurrence.

Ankle-brachial pressure index estimated by laser Doppler in patients suffering from peripheral arterial obstructive disease.

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements are widely used for evaluating the functional state of circulation in the lower limbs. However, there is some evidence that the value of ABI does not accurately reflect the degree of walking impairment in symptomatic patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD). We investigated the diagnostic value of ABI estimated by means of laser Doppler flowmetry (IT) for evaluating limb ischemia.

[Aorto-caval fistula as a results of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture imitating acute renal insufficiency].

Aorto-caval fistula (ACF) is a rare complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm. It occurs in 1-6% of cases. The classic diagnostic signs of an ACF (pulsatile abdominal mass with bruit and right ventricular failure) are present only in a half of the patients.

Neoplastic lesions of the human liver in relation to the activity of the cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase system.

We studied the activity of Mixed function oxidase (MFO) in human livers affected by cancer. We determined the content of cytochrome P-450 and b5, as well as the activity of their corresponding reductases, according to generally accepted methods. Liver fragments corresponding with a) healthy tissue, b) tissue at the cancer border and, c) cancerous tissue were collected during surgery from patients with liver cancer.

[Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm].

The reported incidence of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is from 2% to 14% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and the etiology of this disease is still discussed--according to the literature several pathogenic theories have been proposed. From 1992 to 1997 32 patients with IAAA were operated on. The patients were mostly symptomatic--abdominal pain was present in 68.

Thrombocytosis after prophylactic administration of enoxaparin: unexpected findings in a Polish prospective multicenter trial on the efficacy and safety of enoxaparin in the prevention of postoperative thromboembolism.

Background: Heparin-related thrombocytopenia is a common complication of heparin administration and therefore platelet count was monitored in our study.

Experimental Design: Prospective multicentre study.

Setting: 14 Departments of General, Thoracic or OrthopaedicSurgery, Poland.