Transcatheter arterial embolization versus surgery in the treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding after therapeutic endoscopy failure.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare the outcome of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and surgery as salvage therapy of upper gastrointestinal bleeding after failed endoscopic treatment.

Materials And Methods: From January 1998 to December 2005, 658 patients were referred to diagnostic/therapeutic emergency endoscopy and diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Ninety-one of these 658 patients (14%) had repeat bleeding or continued to bleed.

TP53 mutations predict for poor survival in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of germinal center subtype.

Presence of TP53 mutations has been associated with poor prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although this has remained controversial. The TP53 codon 72 polymorphism has shown negative impact on cancer survival, but this has not been analyzed in DLBCL. Furthermore, the MDM2 SNP309 has been associated with earlier age of onset in DLBCL.

Effects of radiation on growth of two human tumour cell lines surviving a previous high dose, low dose-rate, radionuclide exposure.

Effects of radiation on growth of two human tumour cell lines that survived a previous high dose, low dose-rate radionuclide exposure simulating intensive radionuclide therapy, were analyzed. The purpose was to investigate whether the survivors gained therapy induced changes in growth and radiation response. The U118MG, ParRes (parental resistant), and U373MG, ParSen (parental sensitive), glioma cells were used because they are known to be low dose-rate radiation resistant and sensitive, respectively.

Aberrant expression of cyclin E in low-risk node negative breast cancer.

Background: Cyclin E is a cell cycle regulatory protein which occurs in G1, peaks in late G1 and is degraded in early S-phase. Cyclin E overexpression appears to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in breast cancer. Nuclear cyclin A is a reliable marker for S-and G2-phases.

Reference dosimetry in a scanned pulsed proton beam using ionisation chambers and a Faraday cup.

In order to give the correct dose to a patient, the monitor chamber for a proton scanning system has to be calibrated. As recombination of ion pairs occurs in the monitor chamber, the relation between the number of particles traversing it per time unit and the ionization chamber signal is not linear. A method developed for a scanned pulsed proton beam taking the nonlinear monitor signal into account is described.

Parametrization and application of scatter kernels for modelling scanned proton beam collimator scatter dose.

Collimators are routinely used in proton radiotherapy to laterally confine the field and improve the penumbra. Collimator scatter contributes up to 15% of the local dose and is therefore important to include in treatment planning dose calculation. We present a method for reconstruction of the collimator scatter phase space based on the parametrization of pre-calculated scatter kernels.

A PDMS-based disposable microfluidic sensor for CD4+ lymphocyte counting.

A refined sensor for CD4+ lymphocyte count was developed and evaluated by comparison to flow cytometry. The micropillar structured sensor surface was cast in PDMS polymer and surface modified to gain biocompatibility and CD4-cell capturing properties. The sensor works by pure capillary action and sample filling and rinsing is performed without external equipment.

Low-dose hypersensitive gammaH2AX response and infrequent apoptosis in epidermis from radiotherapy patients.

Background And Purpose: A low-dose hypersensitivity to radiation can be observed in vitro for many human cell types in terms of increased cell kill per dose unit for doses below 0.5Gy. Quantification of the double-strand break marker gammaH2AX in samples taken in clinical radiotherapy practice has the potential to provide important information about how induction and repair of severe DNA damage and apoptosis are linked to low-dose hypersensitivity.

Formation of composite endothelial cell-mesenchymal stem cell islets: a novel approach to promote islet revascularization.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) contribute to endothelial cell (EC) migration by producing proteases, thereby paving the way into the tissues for ECs. MSCs were added to our previously described composite EC islets as a potential means to improve their capacity for islet angiogenesis.

Research Design And Methods: Human islets were coated with primary human bone marrow-derived MSCs and dermal microvascular ECs.

Monte Carlo simulation and analysis of proton energy-deposition patterns in the Bragg peak.

The spatial pattern of energy depositions is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that modify the relative biological effectiveness of different radiation qualities. In this paper, we present data on energy-deposition properties of mono-energetic protons (1-20 MeV) and their secondary electrons in liquid water. Proton-impact ionization was described by means of the Hansen-Kocbach-Stolterfoht doubly differential cross section (DDCS), thus modelling both the initial energy and angle of the emitted electron.

Predictive tests for individualization of pharmacological cancer treatment.

Background: The selection of cancer drugs for an individual patient is still based mostly on cancer type and stage. Predictive tests are needed to make individualized and more efficient pharmacological cancer treatment possible.

Objective: To provide an overview of available, possible future development and principles for development of predictive tests for individualized selection of cancer drugs.

Cross-fire doses from beta-emitting radionuclides in targeted radiotherapy. A theoretical study based on experimentally measured tumor characteristics.

A mathematical model based upon histological findings of cell cluster distributions in primary breast cancers and lymph node metastases was developed. The model is unique because it accounts for tumor cell cluster formations within both primary tumors and metastases. The importance of inter-cell cluster cross-fire radiation dose for beta-emitting radionuclides of different energies was studied.

In vivo and in vitro uptake of 111In, delivered with the affibody molecule (ZEGFR:955)2, in EGFR expressing tumour cells.

The epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR, is overexpressed in many carcinomas. Targeting this receptor with radionuclides is important for imaging and therapy applications in nuclear medicine. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo properties of a new high affinity EGFR binding affibody molecule, (ZEGFR:955)2, when conjugated with CHX-A''-DTPA and labelled with 111In.

The ratio between collagenase class I and class II influences the efficient islet release from the rat pancreas.

Background: Previous studies indicated different roles of collagenase class I, class II and neutral protease in the enzymatic islet release from pancreatic tissue. Because no information has been available, this study was aimed to investigate the isolation efficiency of different ratios between collagenase class II and I (C-ratio) in the rat pancreas serving as model for the human pancreas without being restricted by the large variability observed in human donors.

Methods: Rat pancreata were digested using a marginal neutral protease activity and 20 PZ-U of purified collagenase classes recombined to create a C-ratio of 0.

Experimental test of Monte Carlo proton transport at grazing incidence in GEANT4, FLUKA and MCNPX.

The ability of the Monte Carlo (MC) particle transport codes GEANT4.8.1 and GEANT4.

A randomized phase III multicenter trial comparing irinotecan in combination with the Nordic bolus 5-FU and folinic acid schedule or the bolus/infused de Gramont schedule (Lv5FU2) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: To compare irinotecan with the Nordic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) bolus schedule [irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on day 1, 5-FU 500 mg/m(2) and FA 60 mg/m(2) on day 1 and 2 (FLIRI)] or the Lv5FU2 schedule [irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on day 1, FA 200 mg/m(2), 5-FU bolus 400 mg/m(2) and infused 5-FU 600 mg/m(2) on day 1 and 2 (Lv5FU2-IRI)] due to uncertainties about how to administrate 5-FU with irinotecan.

Patients And Methods: Patients (n = 567) with metastatic colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive FLIRI or Lv5FU2-IRI. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

Differences in radiosensitivity between three HER2 overexpressing cell lines.

Purpose: HER2 is a potential target for radionuclide therapy, especially when HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells are resistant to Herceptin(R) treatment. Therefore, it is of interest to analyse whether HER2 overexpressing tumour cells have different inherent radiosensitivity.

Methods: The radiosensitivity of three often used HER2 overexpressing cell lines, SKOV-3, SKBR-3 and BT-474, was analysed.

Unidirectional Influx and Net Accumulation of PIB.

The compound {N-methyl-[(11)C]}2-(4'-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole, "PIB", measured by positron emission tomography, has been demonstrated to image brain beta-amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study the benefit of measuring the PIB accumulation rate together with the unidirectional influx of PIB into the brain was investigated in healthy control subjects and patients with AD. In a monkey changes in the influx rate constant K(1) of PIB closely followed changes in CBF, caused by alteration of Pa(CO2).

Short-course preoperative radiotherapy with delayed surgery in rectal cancer - a retrospective study.

Purpose: In the most advanced, non-resectable primary rectal cancers, conventional long-course radiotherapy (RT) (1.8-2Gyx25-28), frequently combined with chemotherapy, has been used since tumour regression is needed in order to allow a radical (R0) resection. In Uppsala, short-course 5x5Gy with planned delayed surgery has been used in patients with contraindications to long-course RT (+/-chemotherapy).

Extensive ssDNA end formation at DNA double-strand breaks in non-homologous end-joining deficient cells during the S phase.

Background: Efficient and correct repair of DNA damage, especially DNA double-strand breaks, is critical for cellular survival. Defects in the DNA repair may lead to cell death or genomic instability and development of cancer. Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the major repair pathway for DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian cells.

Late gastrointestinal disorders after rectal cancer surgery with and without preoperative radiation therapy.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyse late gastrointestinal disorders necessitating hospital admission following rectal cancer surgery and to determine their relationship to preoperative radiation therapy.

Methods: Curatively treated patients participating in the Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial during 1987-1990, randomized to preoperative irradiation (454 patients) or surgery alone (454), were matched against the Swedish Hospital Discharge Registry. Hospital records for patients admitted with gastrointestinal diagnoses were reviewed.

Cellular studies of binding, internalization and retention of a radiolabeled EGFR-binding affibody molecule.

Introduction: The cellular binding and processing of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting affibody molecule, (Z(EGFR:955))(2), was studied. This new and small molecule is aimed for applications in nuclear medicine. The natural ligand epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the antibody cetuximab were studied for comparison.

Application of the multicellular tumour spheroid model to screen PET tracers for analysis of early response of chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Introduction: Positron emission tomography (PET) is suggested for early monitoring of treatment response, assuming that effective anticancer treatment induces metabolic changes that precede morphology alterations and changes in growth. The aim of this study was to introduce multicellular tumour spheroids (MTS) to study the effect of anticancer drugs and suggest an appropriate PET tracer for further studies.

Methods: MTS of the breast cancer cell line MCF7 were exposed to doxorubicin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, tamoxifen or imatinib for 7 days for growth pattern studies and for 3 or 5 days for PET tracer studies.