[Prudent use of computed tomography for the improvement of patient safety].

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most useful imaging modalities, and has an important role in guided biopsies and therapeutic procedures. The expansion of CT practice is sometimes accompanied with disregard of the fact that it is an invasive methodology, with deviations from patient safety principles. The major risk is associated with ionizing irradiation which may damage the DNA, leading to malignant transformation.

Tumor necrosis factor receptors support murine hematopoietic progenitor function in the early stages of engraftment.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family receptors/ligands are important participants in hematopoietic homeostasis, in particular as essential negative expansion regulators of differentiated clones. As a prominent injury cytokine, TNF-alpha has been traditionally considered to suppress donor hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function after transplantation. We monitored the involvement of TNF receptors (TNF-R) 1 and 2 in murine hematopoietic cell engraftment and their inter-relationship with Fas.

Expression of Fas and Fas-ligand in donor hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is dissociated from the sensitivity to apoptosis.

Objective: The interaction between the Fas receptor and its cognate ligand (FasL) has been implicated in the mutual suppression of donor and host hematopoietic cells after transplantation. Following the observation of deficient early engraftment of Fas and FasL-defective donor cells and recipients, we determined the role of the Fas-FasL interaction.

Methods: Donor cells were recovered after syngeneic (CD45.

Fas ligand enhances hematopoietic cell engraftment through abrogation of alloimmune responses and nonimmunogenic interactions.

Early after transplantation, donor lineage-negative bone marrow cells (lin(-) BMC) constitutively upregulated their expression of Fas ligand (FasL), suggesting an involvement of the Fas/FasL axis in engraftment. Following the observation of impaired engraftment in the presence of a dysfunctional Fas/FasL axis in FasL-defective (gld) donors or Fas-defective (lpr) recipients, we expressed a noncleavable FasL chimeric protein on the surface of donor lin(-) BMC. Despite a short life span of the protein in vivo, expression of FasL on the surface of all the donor lin(-) BMC improved the efficiency of engraftment twofold.

[Sportsman's hernia--a plea for conservative therapeutical approach].

Sportsmen often suffer prolonged inguinal pain which can become a serious debilitating condition. In most cases the pain originates from a musculoskeletal problem. However, for some patients it has been suggested that the etiology is a weakness of the inguinal canal.

[Waiver of medical confidentiality].

The duty to maintain medical confidentiality is one of the fundamental and well-known obligations imposed on physicians, and is incorporated in the Law of Patient's Rights 1996 (the Law). Medical confidentiality applies to information conveyed to a physician for medical purposes trusting that the physician will not disclose it. The patient's identity and financial arrangements are not confidential.

Detection of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor receptor (c-Met) and MUC1 from the axillary fluid drainage in patients after breast cancer surgery.

Background: Drains are inserted in the dissected axilla of most patients during surgery for breast cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the presence and prognostic value of MUC1 and Met-hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor in the axillary drainage of these patients.

Methods: The study group included 40 consecutive patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who were suitable for breast-conserving treatment; 20 malignant melanoma patients found to have negative axillary sentinel lymph node served as the control group.

A non-laser light source for photodynamic therapy: in vitro effects on normal and malignant cells.

Aim: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the use of photosensitizing drugs combined with light to treat tumors. Laser systems, the current source of light for PDT, have several inherent drawbacks: the spectrum is essentially monochromatic which may be problematic for second generation photosensitizers, the systems are bulky and nearly impossible to move between hospital locations and require complicated electrical and cooling installations, the cost of a typical system is enormous, and its maintenance and operation require highly trained personnel. We now introduce a new non-laser light system, Versa-Light, which appears to work as effectively and has none of the above drawbacks.

Detection of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor receptor (c-Met) in axillary drainage after operations for breast cancer using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Background: The diverse biological effects of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) are mediated by c-Met, which is preferentially expressed on epithelial cells. Met signaling has a role in normal cellular activities, and may be associated with the development and progression of malignant processes. In this study we examined whether Met can be detected in the axillary drainage from patients who underwent conservative operations for breast cancer, and its prognostic significance.

[Repair of anorectal fistulas using fibrin glue tissue adhesive--preliminary experience in 15 patients].

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate whether commercially produced fibrin sealant can be used for the treatment of complex anorectal fistulae.

Methods: Fibrin glue was used for patients with primary and recurrent ano-rectal fistulae, but patients with Crohn's disease or AIDS were excluded. The procedure was performed under anesthesia in the operating room.

Breast carcinoma: a report on the potential usage of the CC chemokine RANTES as a marker for a progressive disease.

Background: High incidence and intensity of RANTES (CC chemokine) expression were noted in advanced breast carcinoma.

Objective: To present two cases of breast carcinoma patients in whom RANTES expression was analyzed in parallel to disease progression.

Results: Although no evidence of malignancy was detected in the axillary lymph nodes of the two patients, their disease progressed.