ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies (omalizumab) are able to induce clinically significant benefits in patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria (CS). Those results led clinicians and investigators to reconsider a possible pathogenic role not previously supported for IgE and its receptors in this disease, and to investigate additional approaches for understanding its pathogenesis. IgE antibodies to unknown environmental allergens able to trigger chronic urticaria are not generally regarded as the etiologic factor for the disease. Other proposed mechanisms for the production of wheals and angioedema in CSU include IgG autoantibodies and CD4-positive T cells directed to the high-affinity IgE receptor, autoantibodies to IgE itself, IgE autoantibodies directed to thyroid and nuclear autoantigens, highly cytokinergic IgE, and histamine-releasing factors able to bind to IgE and cause mast cell activation. It is expected that a better knowledge on the mechanisms leading to CSU and the clarification of the immunological effects of anti-IgE will provide novel therapies for this frequent condition.
Subject(s)
Anti-Allergic Agents/therapeutic use , Autoimmunity/drug effects , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Omalizumab/therapeutic use , Urticaria/drug therapy , Animals , Anti-Allergic Agents/adverse effects , Autoantibodies/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Chronic Disease , Cytokines/antagonists & inhibitors , Cytokines/immunology , Histamine Release/drug effects , Humans , Immunity, Cellular/drug effects , Mast Cells/drug effects , Mast Cells/immunology , Omalizumab/adverse effects , Receptors, IgE/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, IgE/immunology , Urticaria/diagnosis , Urticaria/immunologyABSTRACT
Mammary tissue diffusion of a radioactive marker (Pertechnetate-Tc99m), intravenously or selectively and intraarterially injected, has been studied in 15 breast cancers; a considerable increase of that diffusion with co-injected degradable starch microspheres has been demonstrated. A clinical application of these techniques should be soon considered.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Infusions, Intra-Arterial/methods , Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m , Diffusion , Female , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Mammary Arteries , Microspheres , Radionuclide Imaging , Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m/administration & dosage , Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m/metabolismABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to try to answer these two questions: is an intra-arterial chemotherapy of breast cancer technically possible? would such a treatment present a clinical interest? to this purpose, 12 tumoral breasts have been studied from a vascular, anatomic and arteriographic point of view; two of them were moreover subjected to scintigraphic and pathologic studies. The results seem to be encouraging, and studies are continued to specify different parameters of this therapeutic approach; then, the possibility of a clinical trial could be considered.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/blood supply , Microcirculation , Angiography , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Infusions, Intra-Arterial , Radionuclide Imaging , TechnetiumABSTRACT
The case report is that of patient who underwent tumorectomy plus X-ray therapy for mammary invasive ductal carcinoma. Eight years later a large cystosarcoma phyllodes, developed and quickly recurred after conservative surgery. Reviewing previous mammograms, the authors discovered that at the time of irradiation, there was a small lump which had the appearance of fibroadenoma. It may be that heavy X-ray therapy on a benign epithelial and stromal tumour of the breast, played a major role in the later development of cystosarcoma phyllodes.
