Neumonía intersticial inducida por bloqueo androgénico máximo como tratamiento de cáncer de próstata avanzado: Report of one case / Fatal interstitial lung disease associated with maximum androgen blockade

Maximum androgen blockade is the standard endocrine treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Interstitial lung disease in different degrees of severity, with low mortality and excellent response to treatment may appear with its use. We report a 77 years old patient with advanced prostate cancer who developed severe and progressive respiratory failure associated to bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, attributed to the direct effect of maximum androgen blockade. Despite the therapeutic efforts, the patient died. Lung pathology revealed Usual Interstitial Pneumonia.

Effect of aromatase inhibitors on the endometrium and ovary with their possible role in ovulation in adult albino rats: a histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric, and hormonal assay

Aromatase inhibitors act by inhibiting estrogen synthesis and depletion of its concentrations in the circulation. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of exemestane and letrozole on the endometrium and ovary with their possible role in ovulation in adult albino rats. Thirty adult female albino rats were used and divided into control and experimental groups. Rats in the experimental group were further divided into subgroup IIA and subgroup IIB. In subgroup IIA each rat was given exemestane at 1 mg/kg/day and in subgroup IIB each rat was given letrozole at 5 mg/kg/day by means of a gastric tube for five consecutive ovarian cycles. Specimens from their ovaries and endometrium were taken and prepared for H and E staining and for immunohistochemical staining for vascular endothelial growth factor study. Morphometric study of endometrial thickness and surface area percentage of immunoreaction in the endometrium was evaluated. Hormonal assay of luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone was carried out. Significant decrease in endometrial thickness was observed in the exemestane-treated group. The letrozole-treated group revealed significantly thickened endometrium. The exemestane-treated group showed markedly disturbed ovarian architecture in the form of thickened germinal epithelial cell layer and multiple corpora lutea with atretic follicles. The letrozole-treated group revealed an ovarian cortex with multiple stages of follicular development. The vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreaction of the letrozole-treated group showed significant highly positive cytoplasmic reaction. Significant decrease in luteinizing hormone level in the exemestane group and significant increase in the letrozole group were detected. It is concluded that letrozole improved the endometrial thickness and may have a role in ovulation induction. In contrast, exemestane led to disruption of the endometrium and ovary. Therefore, not all aromatase inhibitors help in ovulation

Histopathological evaluation of tumor necrosis and volume after cyanogenic chemotherapy

PURPOSE: To determine the percentage of tumoral necrosis and volume after cyanogenic chemotherapy. METHODS: Histopathological findings of 20 Swiss mice inoculated subcutaneously in the left abdominal wall with 0.05 ml of cell suspension containing 2.5 x 105 viable cells of the Ehrlich tumor were evaluated. The tumor response to cyanogenic chemotherapy was determined using a system that comprises two inhibition factors of tumor growth by calculating the percentage of necrosis in the tumor tissue and calculation of tumor volume in treated animals relative to that in control animals. The importance of this system has been validated by the correlation between tumor inhibition in the groups treated with the respective percentages of necrosis. RESULTS: While the control group presented an average of 13.48 ± 14.71% necrosis and average tumor volume of 16.18 ± 10.94, the treated group had an average of 42.02 ± 11.58 and 6.8 ± 3.57, respectively. The tumor inhibition was significantly associated with treatment (p=0.0189). The analysis of necrosis percentage showed a significant prognostic importance (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the effect of cyanogenic chemotherapy showed strong inhibitory action of tumor growth, as well as an increase in its area of necrosis. .

Histomorphometric study of effects of bicalutamide on spermatogenesis in male rats

To study the effects of Bicalutamide on spermatogenesis in male rats. Laboratory based randomized controlled trial. Anatomy Department, Armed Forces Postgraduate Medical Institute [AFPGMI], Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Veterinary Laboratories [NVL], Islamabad from April 2008 to May 2008. Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 200-300 grams were randomly divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, each consisting of 20 animals each. Group A was taken as control group and was administered 5 cc of distilled water orally daily for 24 days while group B [Experimental group] was given 5 cc of distilled water daily containing bicalutamide 10 mg/ kg/ day for 24 days. All the animals were sacrificed on the next day after the last dose. The testes were removed and fixed in 10% formalin and then processed for paraffin embedding. Five micron thick sections were made. Haematoxylin, Eosin and PAS stains were used. Histomorphometric analysis was done and parameters, including the tubular diameter, height of seminiferous epithelium and germ cell count were noted. Statistically significant differences were found in tubular diameter, height of seminiferous epithelium and germ cell count in testes of experimental group when compared with the control group. The results showed that the mean tubular diameter, the height of the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules and the number of germ cells were significantly reduced in by the experimental group showing that bicalutamide suppresses spermatogenesis in the Sprague - Dawley rats

Results of letrozole in postmenopausal women after tamoxifen treatment for advanced breast cancer.

AIM: To analyze overall and progression-free survival after letrozole in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer who failed after tamoxifen therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 95 patients with breast cancer who were postmenopausal and had failed after tamoxifen therapy. Dose of letrozole was 2.5 mg daily until disease progressed. Patients had estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive tumors or both receptors were unknown. One complete course of (6 cycles) chemotherapy for metastatic disease was allowed. The primary end point was time to progression (TTP). Secondary end points included overall objective response rate (ORR), its duration, time to treatment failure (TTF), overall survival and tolerability. RESULTS: Median TTP was 10 months. ORR was 21% with complete response rate of 9%. Nine patients died of disease during treatment. Median overall survival was 36 months. Median time to response was three months and median duration of response was 13 months. Time to chemotherapy was 13.5 months and TTF was 9.3 months. Treatment failure was seen in 76% of patients. Disease progression was the main cause for treatment failure. Treatment was well-tolerated by all patients. CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis shows that letrozole is quite effective as second line therapy in postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer who had failed after tamoxifen therapy.

Malaria control using deltamethrin impregnated bed nets in a cantonment area at Allahabad (U. P.).

The study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of deltamethrin impregnated mosquito nets on malaria incidence, mosquito density, any adverse side effect among users and collateral effects on bed bugs and houseflies. A field trial was carried out over a period of three years in two adjacent military stations at Allahabad (UP), keeping one as a trial and other as a control station. During first year, baseline data were collected and during next two years residual spray was replaced with use of deltamethrin impregnated mosquito nets in trial station. The use of deltamethrin-treated bed nets resulted in a significant decline in malaria incidence and annual parasite index (API). The average mosquito density of anopheline mosquitoes decreased by 67.8% and culicine by 49.7%. The insecticide was found safe for use amongst troops and had favourable collateral effects against bed bugs and flies. Use of deltamethrin impregnated bed nets has beneficial impact on integrated control of malaria.