A study of the Unna Boot compared with the elastic bandage in venous ulcers: a randomized clinical trial / Estudo da Bota de Unna comparado à bandagem elástica em úlceras venosas: ensaio clínico randomizado / Estudio de la Bota de Unna comparada al vendaje elástico en úlceras venosas: ensayo clínico aleatorio

AbstractObjective: to analyze the process of tissue repair in patients with venous ulcers using inelastic compression therapy (the Unna Boot), in comparison with the use of the elastic bandage.Method: a controlled randomized clinical trial in which the patients (n=18) were allocated to two groups, those who used the Unna Boot (group B) and those who used the elastic bandage (group A). The study's follow-up period was 13 weeks.Results: a significant reduction took place, at the level of 5%, in the area, in square centimeters, of the ulcers of group B (p<0.0001) throughout the treatment, and there was a tendency of group A for reduction in the area of the ulcer, in centimeters squared (p=0.06), only after the fifth week.Conclusion: the treatment with the Unna Boot presented better results in venous ulcers with areas over 10cm², and the elastic bandage with Petrolatum(r) gauze in venous ulcers below 10cm². Brazilian Clinical Trials Register: Trial (req: 195) and WHO UTN U1111-1122-5489.

ResumoObjetivo:analisar o processo de reparo tecidual de pacientes com úlcera venosa em uso da terapia compressiva inelástica (Bota de Unna), em comparação ao uso da bandagem elástica.Método:ensaio clínico controlado randomizado em que os pacientes (n=18) foram alocados em dois grupos, os que utilizavam a Bota de Unna (grupo B) e os que utilizavam a atadura elástica (grupo A). O tempo de seguimento da pesquisa foi de treze semanas.Resultados:ocorreu redução significativa, no nível de 5%, na área, em centímetros quadrados, das úlceras do grupo B (p<0,0001) ao longo de todo o tratamento, e tendência do grupo A à redução, na área da úlcera, em centímetros quadrados (p=0,06), apenas após a quinta semana.Conclusão:o tratamento com a Bota de Unna apresentou melhor resultado em úlceras venosas com áreas superiores a 10cm², e a atadura elástica com a gaze Petrolatum(r)em úlceras venosas inferiores a 10cm². Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos: Trial (req: 195) e WHO UTN U1111-1122-5489.

ResumenObjetivo:analizar el proceso de reparación del tejido de pacientes con úlcera venosa que usan la terapia compresiva inelástica (Bota de Unna), en comparación con el uso del vendaje elástico.Método:ensayo clínico controlado aleatorio en que los pacientes (n=18) fueron designados en dos grupos, los que utilizaban la Bota de Unna (grupo B) y los que utilizaban el vendaje elástico (grupo A). El tiempo de duración de la investigación fue de trece semanas.Resultados:se constató reducción significativa, al nivel de 5%, en el área, en centímetros cuadrados, de las úlceras del grupo B (p<0,0001) a lo largo de todo el tratamiento; y tendencia del grupo A a la reducción, en el área de la úlcera, en centímetros cuadrados (p=0,06), solamente después de la quinta semana.Conclusión:el tratamiento con la Bota de Unna presentó mejor resultado en úlceras venosas con áreas superiores a 10cm², y el vendaje elástico con la gasa Petrolatum(r)en úlceras venosas inferiores a 10cm². Registro Brasileño de Ensayos Clínicos: Trial (req: 195) y WHO UTN U1111-1122-5489.

Tumor-Specific Immunity Induced by Cryoablation in a Murine Renal Cell Carcinoma Model

PURPOSE: To evaluate tumor-specific immunity and define the mechanisms involved in the cryoimmunologic response, we compared the tumor control efficacy and immunologic responses of cryoablation with those of surgical excision in a tumor rechallenge model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty BALB/c mice with RENCA tumors that were generated in the left flank area underwent cryoablation or radical excision. The mice successfully treated were rechallenged with RENCA or an undifferentiated colon carcinoma cell line, CT26, in the contralateral right flank area. The recurrence rate after tumor rechallenge in each group was then observed. To assess the immunologic response of each treatment modality, fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis and a cytotoxicity assay using 51Cr release were performed. RESULTS: After reinoculation of the RENCA cells, the rate of tumor growth was significantly higher in the surgical excision group than in the cryoablation group (94.4% vs. 11.1%, p=0.001). In the cryoablation group, the tumor growth rate was significantly increased after rechallenge of CT26 cells compared with RENCA (94.1% vs. 11.1%, p=0.001). The cryoablation group showed an elevated CD3, CD4, CD8 T, and natural killer cell count in the FACS analysis and also showed significantly increased cytotoxicity in the 51Cr release assay compared with the excision group. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that cryoablation, compared to surgical resection, was more effective in preventing tumor growth after rechallenge with RENCA cells and that this response was tumor-specific, because the CT26 cells did not have the same effect.

Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of kidney: A clinicopathologic study of six cases.

Background: Mucinous tubular and spindle carcinoma (MTSCC) of kidney is a rare, low-grade polymorphic tumor. Recent studies have described a wide morphology spectrum of this tumor. Aim: To report the clinico-pathologic features of six cases of MTSCC of kidney. Materials and Methods: Six cases of MTSCC of kidney were studied and literature was reviewed. Immunohistochemistry was done by Envision method. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 44 to 84 years (mean 58.5 years). Four patients were males and two were females. The tumor was located in the left kidney in four cases and in the right kidney in two cases. The tumor size ranged from 4.5 to 15 cm (mean 6.4 cm). All tumors exhibited an admixture of tubules, spindle cells, and mucinous stroma in variable proportions. Tubules were predominant in five cases and spindle cells in one case. Psammomatous calcifications, papillations, and necrosis were seen in two cases. Collections of foamy histiocytes were noted in four cases. Cytoplasmic vacuoles and osseous metaplasia were seen in one case each. All cases were Fuhrman's nuclear grade II. Five cases were of stage pT1, and one was pT3. All cases stained positive for alcian blue at pH 2.5. Immunohistochemical stain CK7 was positive in all cases and CD10 was positive in 1/1 case. All patients were alive and well at follow-up of 12-59 months (mean 33.5 months). No metastases were detected. Conclusions: We report six cases of MTSCC of kidney, a rare distinct variant of RCC, with a favorable prognosis. A male predominance was seen in our cases. MTSCC shares histologic and immunohistochemical overlap with papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) and cytogenetic analysis should be performed in difficult cases to avoid a misdiagnosis.

Paracoccidioidomicose cutânea disseminada e pulmonar em paciente portador de neoplasia maligna visceral / Cutaneous and pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in a patient with a malignant visceral tumor

Paracoccidioidomicose é doença causada pelo fungo Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, caracterizada por quadro polimórfico e acometimento preferencial de pele, mucosas, pulmões, linfonodos, adrenais e sistema nervoso. De acordo com o local de inoculação e o estado imunológico do indivíduo, ocorrem as diversas formas da doença: tegumentar, linfonodular, visceral e mista. Relatamos caso de paciente com quadro de paracoccidioidomicose mista (tegumentar e pulmonar), com lesões cutâneas caracterizadas por pápulas e pústulas disseminadas e sintomas sistêmicos, possivelmente associada a imunossupressão causada por neoplasia maligna visceral.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis that is characterized by polymorphous clinical manifestations principally affecting the skin, mucous membranes, lungs, lymph nodes, adrenal glands and the central nervous system. Depending on the site of inoculation and the individual's immunological status, the disease may take various different forms, affecting the skin, lymph nodes, viscera or a combination of these. The present report describes a patient with extensive cutaneous and pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis, with disseminated papules and pustules, fever and pulmonary symptoms, probably related to immunosuppression caused by a renal carcinoma.

Actividad citolítica NK en cancer renal y prostático / NK cytolitic activity in renal and prostatic cancer

Natural killer cytolitic activity, the basis of cancer immunotherapy that uses cytolytic cells, may be impaired in cancer. The aim of this work was to study in vitro the natural killer cytolitic activity and its response to the immunomodulators interleukin-2 interferon and phytohemagglutinin stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in a group of 9 patients with renal cell cancer and 6 with prostatic cancer. The results were compared with those of 20 normal volunteers. Twelve patients were operated and were studied twice 48 h and 14 days after surgery. Natural killer cytolitic activity was significantly lower in renal cell and prostatic cancer patients than controls (3.3 ñ 1.6, 4.9 ñ 2.2 and 20.6 ñ 3.7 per cent of specific lysis respectively). This activity was not modified in cancer patients by interleukin-2 50 Ul/ml or interferon 3000 Ul/ml and did not differ in the two postoperative pèriods. Phytohemagglutinin stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was also lower in cancer patients, compared to controls (stimulation index of 18 ñ 3 and 26.5 ñ 5 respectively). It is concluded that these patients have a low immunological level and this study is the first step towards an immunological characterization of cancer patients that are candidate to adoptive immunotherapy

Reduction of interleukin 1 and interleukin 2 production by patients with advanced cancer

The concentrations of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) produced in the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from patients with advanced cancer were measured to identify some of the causes of the immunological impairment characteristic of malignant disease. Mononuclear cells obtained from 19 cancer patients were stimulated to produce IL-1 and IL-2 and compared with those of healthy controls. A severe reduction of both IL-1 and IL-2 activity was observed. There was no correlation between the lower number of OKT4+ cells observed in these patients and the levels of IL-2 production. The removal of monocytes did not bring IL-2 levels to normal. Impaired IL-2 production could not be restored to normal by addition of IL-1. These results suggest that exogenous IL-01 and IL-2 may be useful in cancer immunotherapy