Combined acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid and radiation treatment inhibited glioblastoma tumor cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive subtype of malignant gliomas. The current standard of care for newly diagnosed GBM patients involves maximal surgical debulking, followed by radiation therapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. Despite the advances in GBM therapy, its outcome remains poor with a median survival of less than two years.

Protective effects of rosuvastatin in a rat model of lung contusion: Stimulation of the cyclooxygenase 2-prostaglandin E-2 pathway.

Background: Lung contusion, which can occur in patients with blunt thoracic trauma, is a leading risk factor for development of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs with many beneficial antiinflammatory and antioxidative effects. We therefore hypothesized that the administration of statins immediately after trauma will inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators, and thereby alleviate the severity of lung injury.

MicroRNA expression signatures in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) represent a spectrum of tumors that range from low-grade (LG) dysplastic tumors to invasive cancer. Identification of IPMN at high risk for malignant transformation is important for the prevention and early treatment of pancreatic cancer. The roles of microRNA expression in the development of IPMN have not been extensively evaluated.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: associated cancers, family history, genetic predisposition?

Background: High rates of extrapancreatic malignancies (EPM) have been observed in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). IPMN in patients with familial pancreatic cancer have also been reported. Our purpose was to evaluate the association of IPMN with EPM, malignancies in family members, and germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

High-throughput mutation profiling in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).

Background: Specific mutations leading to the development of various histological grades of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) have been partially characterized.

Methods: Analysis of 323 oncogenic mutations in 22 tumor-related genes was conducted, using a chip-based matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer of DNA extracted from microdissected cells of low-grade (n = 14), borderline (n = 6), and invasive IPMN (n = 7). Additional assays were performed on the DNA extracted from dyplastic cells found in the background of the adenocarcinoma.

Neoadjuvant treatment with paclitaxel and epirubicin in invasive breast cancer: a phase II study.

Background And Objectives: The modern management of locally advanced breast cancer includes a multimodal approach consisting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (usually given as initial treatment), surgery, radiotherapy and adjuvant hormone therapy. This therapeutic approach converts many patients with initially unresectable disease to reasonable surgical candidates, with acceptable rates of loco-regional disease control. Induction of a pathological complete response (pCR) with modern chemotherapy agents or combined with immunotherapy, when applicable, should be one of the primary goals of neoadjuvant therapy in order to achieve better disease-free and overall survival in this subset of patients.

ErbB4 increases the proliferation potential of human lung cancer cells and its blockage can be used as a target for anti-cancer therapy.

Clinical and experimental data suggest that ErbB-4, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, may have a role in cancer progression and response to treatment. We found recently, using a retrospective clinical analysis, that expression of ErbB-4 receptor is correlated with metastatic potential and patient survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this work was to correlate the expression of the ErbB-4 and lung cancer cells growth in vitro and in vivo and to determine the therapeutic potential of a monoclonal antibody to ErbB-4 against lung cancer.

Transthoracic needle biopsy in the diagnosis of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.

To determine the effect of cytological diagnosis, fine-needle aspiration and brush cytology on lung tumors and core-needle biopsy, we retrospectively reviewed 11 cases of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) found in our archives between the years 1997 and 2004. The preoperative cytological diagnosis of LCNEC is challenging because of the broad histologic similarity to other neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. The original cytologic diagnosis was LCNEC in nine of the cases while the remaining two were misdiagnosed as small-cell lung carcinoma.

Electromechanical impairment of human auricle and rat myocardial strip subjected to exogenous oxidative stress.

Objective: Animal myocardial dysfunction induced by remote ischemia-reperfusion (IR) was shown to be partly accomplished via a direct effect of the pro-oxidant xanthine oxidase (XO). This direct remote effect was not tested in humans. We now assessed the performance of human auricles in the presence of solutions containing XO and/or allopurinol and compared them to those of rat myocardial strips.

Cystic appearance of cervical lymph nodes is characteristic of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: The usefulness of high-resolution sonography in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma was investigated. The accuracy of a particular sign, cystic change within a node, in establishing the diagnosis was assessed.

Methods: The sonographic findings in 63 patients with enlarged cervical lymph nodes were retrospectively reviewed.

Cutting edge: anti-inflammatory properties of low levels of IFN-gamma.

Activation of naive T and B cells occurs only within the context of organized lymphoid tissue. Thus, the continuous recirculation of mature lymphocytes is crucial for the development of primary immune response to foreign Ags. We have previously shown that low levels of IFN-gamma inhibit homing of B cells to the secondary lymphoid organs.

[Multi-organ failure in a young soldier: a clinical-pathological meeting].

This clinical-pathological conference took place at the Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, on February 21, 2001. We present the case of a young and previously healthy soldier who developed multi-organ failure with predominant liver dysfunction following exertional heatstroke. The patient's clinical course consisted of an early phase of transient encephalopathy, associated with hyperthermia, hypophosphatemia, mild laboratory indications of renal failure, rhabdomyolysis and consumption coagulopathy.