Bcl-xL antisense oligonucleotide and cisplatin combination therapy extends survival in SCID mice with established mesothelioma xenografts.

Bcl-xL functions as a dominant regulator of apoptotic cell death and is implicated in chemotherapeutic resistance of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Mesothelioma cell lines demonstrate increasing levels of Bcl-xL as resistant clones are selected in vitro. Moreover, upon introduction of antisense oligonucleotides specific to Bcl-xL mRNA, MPM cells are sensitized to chemotherapeutic agents.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults in an endemic region.

Aims: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) still constitutes an important clinical problem. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and features of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 14,266 tuberculosis patients diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2003 in a tertiary care hospital in Istanbul.

Histopathological diagnosis of endobronchial endometriosis treated with argon laser.

The authors present a case of endobronchial endometriosis with catamenial haemoptysis. The lesion was diagnosed as endobronchial endometriosis based on histopathological examination of a bronchial biopsy from the right second carina. Fibreoptic bronchoscopic examination revealed a tiny hyperaemic submucosal area with bleeding and a brown-coloured diverticulum at bottom of this lesion encompassing a 2-cm2 area at the right second carina.

Gene therapy for sarcoma utilizing adenoviral transfer of the beta-glucuronidase and bax genes and an anthracyline prodrug.

Background: When acted on by beta-glucuronidase (BG), HMR1826 is metabolized to doxorubicin. Use of this prodrug with adenoviral transfer of beta-glucuronidase (AdBG) is limited by the drug's inability to enter cells and intracellular retention of BG after transduction. We evaluated a system combining AdBG, transfer of the proapoptotic gene bax (AdBax) at a low multiplicity of infection, and HMR1826 administration.

Antisense oligonucleotides directed at the bcl-xl gene product augment chemotherapy response in mesothelioma.

Objective: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is resistant to both conventional chemotherapy and apoptosis. The bcl-2 family proteins are major determinants of apoptotic homeostasis. MPM lines and tumors routinely overexpress the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-XL.

Pleural complications of pulmonary hydatid disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and diagnostic features of pleural manifestations of pulmonary hydatid disease.

Methodology: Patients with pleural pathology in association with surgery for pulmonary hydatid disease over an 8-year period were evaluated.

Results: Twenty-nine (6%) of 474 patients with histologically confirmed pulmonary hydatid disease had pleural abnormalities.

Adenoviral transfer of mda-7 leads to BAX up-regulation and apoptosis in mesothelioma cells, and is abrogated by over-expression of BCL-XL.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is unresponsive to conventional therapies. Forced expression of the novel tumor suppressor mda-7 gene in other cell types has resulted in decreased growth and apoptosis. We evaluated cell growth, apoptosis and tumor suppressor characteristics following forced expression of this gene in mesothelioma cell lines.

Phosphatase and tensin analog gene overexpression engenders cellular death in human malignant mesothelioma cells via inhibition of AKT phosphorylation.

Background: Abnormal phosphatase and tensin analog (PTEN) gene expression has been noted in neoplasms. The PTEN protein cleaves phosphate groups from cellular growth kinases, inhibiting tumor propagation. A downstream target of PTEN is AKT, a serine-threonine kinase that when activated inhibits apoptosis.