ABSTRACT
In this study the effect of suramin on tumor growth, vascularity and oxygenation of a human glioma xenografted in the nude mouse was examined. Vascular parameters and oxygenation status of the xenografts were determined immunohistochemically in frozen sections of the tumors, using the hypoxia marker pimonidazole-hydrochloride to detect hypoxic areas. Tumor vessels in these sections were stained by an endothelial cell marker and perfusion of vessels was visualized by administration of the perfusion marker Hoechst 333342 before harvesting the tumors. The vascular parameters were quantified with an image analysis system. The results show that tumor growth was reduced considerably after suramin treatment. This growth suppression was accompanied by marked changes in vascular architecture. Although the total vascular area and perfused fraction of tumor vessels remained unchanged after suramin treatment, vascular density increased, indicating that more but smaller vessel structures had developed during therapy. These vessel structures were also more homogeneously spread over the tumor area. Control tumors showed extensive areas of hypoxia while in treated tumors hypoxic areas had mostly disappeared. This effect was probably due to the higher density of homogeneously distributed perfused vessel structures in the treated tumors, contributing to an increased oxygenation of the tumor. These observations suggest that suramin therapy can result in marked changes not only in tumor vascularity but also in tumor oxygenation status which may have important consequences for sensitivity of these tumors to other therapies such as radiation treatment.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy , Glioma/drug therapy , Suramin/therapeutic use , Animals , Blood Vessels/drug effects , Blood Vessels/pathology , Brain Neoplasms/blood supply , Brain Neoplasms/metabolism , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Glioma/blood supply , Glioma/metabolism , Glioma/pathology , Humans , Hypoxia/diagnosis , Mice , Mice, Nude , Neoplasm Transplantation , Nitroimidazoles , Oxygen Consumption , Staining and Labeling , Transplantation, HeterologousABSTRACT
The effect of the cleanliness of environmental air on the microbial contamination of a simulated i.v.-admixture during its preparation by aseptic transfer was studied under three conditions: (i) in a laminar air flow (LAF) bench situated in a class 1000 clean room, (ii) in an LAF bench in a microbiology laboratory and (iii) on a bench in an ordinary laboratory. Three thousand bottles were manually filled with 10 ml of a nutrient broth under each of the three conditions. The liquid was transferred by means of a syringe and a needle that pierced through the rubber closures of the bottles. The numbers of contaminated bottles under those three conditions were 1, 1 and 2, respectively. Background contamination had no demonstrable effect on the incidence of contamination, provided that preparation of the simulated i.v.-admixture solution was performed by skilled personnel in an LAF cabinet and air contact is avoided.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution, Indoor , Drug Contamination , Asepsis , Environment, Controlled , Infusions, Intravenous , Injections, Intravenous , Microbiological Techniques , Penicillins/administration & dosage , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
In a prospective study in 227 parturients, carriership of group B streptococci was established to be 25%. In carriers, transmission of streptococci to the newborn occurred in 50%. 10 ml of a chlorhexidine gel containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose was introduced into the vagina during labor in 17 parturients, who were known to be carriers of group B streptococci from the first trimester of pregnancy. In none of the newborns from these mothers colonization by group B streptococci did occur. Vaginal application of chlorhexidine may prevent transmission of group B streptococci, and serve as an alternative to intrapartum prophylaxis using antibiotics. A large multicenter randomized controlled study should be performed to confirm this hypothesis.
Subject(s)
Chlorhexidine/administration & dosage , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/transmission , Sepsis/prevention & control , Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control , Administration, Intravaginal , Carrier State/transmission , Female , Gels , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Streptococcus agalactiaeABSTRACT
Suppositories containing 300 mg 5-aminosalicylic acid (1.96 mmol) or 425 mg acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (1.96 mmol) were used in 40 patients with idiopathic proctitis to determine the efficacy of acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid in treating this bowel inflammation. Each patient was treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid or acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid suppositories twice daily for 4 weeks in a double-blind trial. Four patients were included twice in the trial. The second time they were treated with the alternative regimen. Six patients in the acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid group did not complete the trial, four of them because of diarrhoea. Complete clinical remission with normal rectal mucosa on sigmoidoscopy was achieved in 10 out of 18 patients on 5-aminosalicylic acid and in only two out of 15 in the acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid group (P = 0.03). A favourable histological improvement was demonstrated with 5-aminosalicylic acid suppositories, but the difference with acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid was not significant (P = 0.059). Three of the four patients who received both drugs recovered with 5-aminosalicylic acid; in none of them was acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid effective. The results from this study and from previous investigations show that acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid is not superior to placebo.
Subject(s)
Aminosalicylic Acids/therapeutic use , Proctitis/drug therapy , Adult , Aminosalicylic Acids/administration & dosage , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Mesalamine , SuppositoriesSubject(s)
Intestinal Diseases/therapy , Parenteral Nutrition, Total , Parenteral Nutrition , Self Care , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical , Catheterization , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Parenteral Nutrition/adverse effects , Parenteral Nutrition/psychology , Parenteral Nutrition, Total/adverse effects , Parenteral Nutrition, Total/psychology , Vena Cava, SuperiorABSTRACT
The response of active Crohn's disease to sulphasalazine (4-6 g per day) has been studied in a placebo-controlled trial. The study was carried out at two hospitals. From August 1977 to August 1979 all patients with established Crohn's disease were examined for their eligibility for the trial. A nine-item index of inflammatory activity was used as the primary measure of response. The variables in this index were serum albumin, ESR, body weight released to height, abdominal mass, temperature, stool consistency, bowel resection, and extraintestinal symptoms related to Crohn's disease. A favourable response to therapy was defined as a decrease of the activity index with 25% or more at the end of the trial period, compared with the initial value. Twenty-six patients (13 in each treatment group) have been followed up for six months. The response of active Crohn's disease to sulphasalazine was significantly better than to placebo.
Subject(s)
Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Sulfasalazine/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Random AllocationABSTRACT
Suppositories of sulphapyridine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and placebo were used in 45 patients with idiopathic proctitis to determine the active part of sulphasalazine. Each patient used one of the suppositories twice daily for four weeks in a double-blind controlled trial. Complete clinical remission with normal rectal mucosa on sigmoidoscopy occurred in 60% of patients given 5-aminosalicylic acid, but in only 13% and 27% of those given sulphapyridine and placebo respectively. Twelve patients were included twice. In eight of these patients 5-aminosalicylic acid was given one time and sulphapyridine (two patients) or placebo (six patients) another time. Clinical remission occurred in each patient with 5-aminosalicylic acid, but in only one patient during other therapy. The results suggest that 5-aminosalicylic acid is the active therapeutic moiety of sulphasalazine.
