Healthy sibling donor anxiety and pain during bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell harvesting for allogeneic transplantation: results of a randomised study.

This study reports the first comparison of healthy donor subjective well-being during two alternative procedures of hematopoietic stem cells harvesting for allogeneic transplantation. Among the 105 donors included between September 1996 and October 1998 in the SFGM French randomised trial aiming to compare allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation and blood cell (BC) transplantation, 64 donors (33 in BC and 31 in BM groups) were relevant for the analysis. They had received a set of self-administered questionnaires to complete during the collection process, aiming to measure anxiety (assessed using the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and pain induced by the procedure (evaluated using a visual analogical scale).

Multicenter phase II study of a 28-day regimen of orally administered eniluracil and fluorouracil in the treatment of patients with anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer.

Purpose: Eniluracil (776C85), a potent inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, allows fluorouracil (5-FU) to be administered orally on a schedule that simulates continuous-infusion 5-FU. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the objective tumor response rate of orally administered eniluracil and 5-FU in the treatment of anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients with anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer were enrolled onto this open-label, phase II, multicenter study.

Loss of caspase-8 mRNA expression is common in childhood primitive neuroectodermal brain tumour/medulloblastoma.

Upon binding of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), the agonistic TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 activate caspase-8 leading to apoptosis. In primitive neuroectodermal brain tumour (PNET) cell lines, TRAIL-induced apoptosis was recently shown to correlate with caspase-8 mRNA expression (Grotzer MA, Eggert A, Zuzak TJ, et al. Oncogene 2000, 19, 4604-4610).

Role of MAP kinase pathways in primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase and Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt-mediated signaling pathways play a major role in controlling cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of their specific Thr/Tyr residues is critical in determining their activity. We determined the expression pattern and activity of MAP kinases and Akt in Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors (PNETs).

Angiogenic profile of childhood primitive neuroectodermal brain tumours/medulloblastomas.

Primitive neuroectodermal brain tumours (PNET) including medulloblastomas (PNET/MB) are the most common malignant brain tumours of childhood. Similar to many other brain tumours, PNET/MB often show marked neovascularisation. To determine which angiogenic factors contribute to PNET/MB angiogenesis, we examined the expression of eight angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF, VEGF-B, VEGF-C), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiopoetins (Ang-1, Ang-2), transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha), and platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PDGF-A)) by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in six PNET cell lines and 28 primary PNET/MB.

Do very sick neonates born at term have antenatal risks? 2. Infants ventilated primarily for lung disease.

Aims: 1. Ascertain antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for term neonates ventilated primarily for respiratory problems. 2.

Do very sick neonates born at term have antenatal risks? 1. Infants ventilated primarily for problems of adaptation to extra-uterine life.

Aims: 1. Ascertain antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for term neonates ventilated primarily for 'perinatal asphyxia'. 2.

Enhanced activation of B cells in a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell graft.

In a randomized study that compared human leucocyte antigen-identical allogeneic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) versus bone marrow (BM) transplantation, the expression of activation markers, CD23, CD25 and CD45RO by B cells, was compared in blood before and after G-CSF mobilization and in PBSC versus BM grafts. The fractions of CD23+ and CD25+ B cells were higher in PBSC than in BM grafts. Moreover, we observed a G-CSF-induced increase in B-cell fractions in blood as well as in PBSC grafts when compared with BM grafts.

The Rationale for in utero repair of myelomeningocele.

Objectives: Despite advances in prenatal diagnosis, management of fetal myelomeningocele has been limited to abortion or supportive postnatal care. The rationale for fetal repair of myelomeningocele and initial clinical outcomes are discussed.

Methods: A complete review of the literature concerning fetal myelomeningocele and repair was performed.

MYC messenger RNA expression predicts survival outcome in childhood primitive neuroectodermal tumor/medulloblastoma.

Purpose And Experimental Design: Cerebellar primitive neuroectodermal tumors/medulloblastomas (PNET/MB) are the most common malignant brain tumors in childhood. To identify PNET/MB biological prognostic factors that define a patient group with a sufficiently good prognosis to permit a reduction in treatment intensity, we determined the expression levels of MYC mRNA in fresh frozen tumor samples from 26 PNET/MB patients using semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR.

Results: MYC mRNA expression levels in primary PNET/MB showed a wide range with a 22-fold difference between the highest and lowest values and did not correlate with MYC gene amplification.

Development of the Spitz-Holter valve in Philadelphia.

The history of the treatment for hydrocephalus dates back to the Fertile Crescent thousands of years ago. Despite three millennia of management, significant advances in the surgical treatment of the disease have been infrequent. During the 1950s, a milestone occurred at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with the successful development of the first working shunt valve for the treatment of hydrocephalus.

Azone enhances clinical effectiveness of an optimized formulation of triamcinolone acetonide in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing condition affecting up to 14% of the population in Western countries. Topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment. Triamcinolone acetonide, a corticoid of intermediate potency, has proven useful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

High microvessel density in primitive neuroectodermal brain tumors of childhood.

Microvessel density (MVD), a measure of tumor angiogenesis, has been shown to correlate significantly with overall and progression-free survival outcomes in various cancers including astrocytic brain tumors. To assess if the MVD is an independent prognostic factor in primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the central nervous system, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor sections of 78 children with PNET were studied by CD34 immunohistochemistry to highlight endothelial cells. Microvessel density was determined in the most active area of neovascularization according to well-established methods.

Decreased cyclin B1 expression contributes to G2 delay in human brain tumor cells after treatment with camptothecin.

DNA damage produces delayed mitosis (G2/M delay) in proliferating cells, and shortening the delay sensitizes human malignant glioma and medulloblastoma cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Although activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase CDC2 mediates G2/M transition in all tumor cells studied to date, regulation of CDC2 varies between tumor types. Persistent hyperphosphorylation of kinase and reduced cyclin expression have been implicated as mediators of treatment-induced G2 delay in different tumor models.

Antitumor activity of a human cytotoxic T-cell line (TALL-104) in brain tumor xenografts.

Malignant glioma in adults and primitive neuroectodermal tumors/medulloblastomas in children are the most common malignant primary brain tumors that either respond poorly to current treatment or tend to recur. Adoptive therapy with TALL-104 cells-an IL-2-dependent, major histocompatibility complex nonrestricted, cytotoxic T-cell line-has demonstrated significant antitumor activity against a broad range of implanted or spontaneously arising tumors. This study investigates distribution of systemically and locally administered TALL-104 cells and their efficacy in effecting survival of a rat model of human brain tumor.

Acute myeloid leukaemia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults: epidemiology, treatment feasibility and outcome.

The epidemiology and clinical outcome of acute myeloid leukaemia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults is poorly documented. We retrospectively surveyed all French haematology centres for adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases diagnosed between January 1990 and July 1996 who were found to be HIV-seropositive before or at the time of AML diagnosis. Medical charts were reviewed to determine the stage of HIV infection, the characteristics of AML and the response of AML to chemotherapy.

Antitumor activity of the rapamycin analog CCI-779 in human primitive neuroectodermal tumor/medulloblastoma models as single agent and in combination chemotherapy.

We examined the cytotoxicity of the immunosuppressant agent rapamycin and its analogue CCI-779 in human brain tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo as single agents and in combination with standard chemotherapeutic drugs. In the rapamycin-sensitive PNET/MB cell line DAOY, rapamycin exhibited additive cytotoxicity with cisplatin and with camptothecin. In vivo, CCI-779 delayed DAOY xenograft growth by 160% after 1 week and 240% after 2 weeks of systemic treatment, compared with controls.

Abundance of apoptotic neoplastic cells in diagnostic biopsy samples is not a prognostic factor in childhood primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system.

Purpose: To assess if the abundance of apoptotic tumor cells is an independent prognostic factor in primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the central nervous system.

Patients And Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections from 78 clinically well-characterized children with PNET were evaluated by terminal deoxytransferase-mediated deoxyuridinie-5'-triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Apoptotic indices (AI) were determined by counting TUNEL-positive tumor cells either in the highest staining region (AI hot spot) or in at least 15 randomly chosen fields (AI random).

The effects of transdermal nicotine therapy for smoking cessation on depressive symptoms in patients with major depression.

This study examines the effects of transdermal nicotine patches for smoking cessation on depressive and withdrawal symptoms among 38 non-medicated subjects with Major Depressive Disorder. The study was conducted over a 29-day period, which included a 7 day baseline phase, a 14 day treatment phase, and an 8 day placebo phase. During the treatment phase subjects received either active nicotine patches (N = 18) or placebo patches (N = 20) that were administered in a randomized, double-blind fashion.

Administrative relationships between medical schools and community preceptors.

Purpose: To determine the current administrative relationships between medical schools and community preceptors, with special emphasis on arrangements for academic appointment, review, and promotion.

Method: In 1999, administrative contacts at all 126 U.S.

Fetal neurosurgery.

SURGERY BEFORE BIRTH has been performed for lethal conditions for several years. The techniques that have been developed are being applied to nonlethal conditions such as meningomyelocele. It is possible that fetal surgery might find a place in the management of certain forms of hydrocephalus as well.

Long-term outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for advanced stage acute myeloblastic leukemia: a retrospective study of 379 patients reported to the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle (SFGM).

To assess the place of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the advanced stage of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we retrospectively analyzed 379 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for advanced AML. The median follow-up of the entire cohort was 7.5 years.

Complete spontaneous resolution of childhood Chiari I malformation and associated syringomyelia.

The diagnosis of Chiari I malformation and associated syringomyelia is often made in childhood. Since the advent of magnetic resonance imaging, these abnormalities are increasingly detected incidentally. Despite incomplete understanding of the natural history of asymptomatic Chiari I malformations, the current recommendation is to consider prophylactic surgical intervention in those with an associated syringomyelia.