Effect of pentoxifylline on sunburn cell formation in a novel supravital human skin model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether pentoxifylline (Pf) has an effect on sunburn cell (SBC) formation in humans. METHODS: A novel supravital human skin model was used. Normal skin samples were placed on gauze in completed RPMI 1640 Medium and remained vital for 48 h. Three concentrations of Pf (7.5, 15.0 and 30.0 microg/ml) were tested. After 2 h, each skin sample was irradiated with 120 mJ/cm2 of UVB. After 24-h incubation, the samples were formalin fixed, paraffin embedded and sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin. RESULTS: The mean count of SBC (10.43 +/- 1.35 (SEM)) was significantly higher in the control group (without Pf) compared with its mean count in 7.5 microg/ml Pf (5.18 +/- 0.62, P < 0.001), or 15.0 microg/ml Pf (5.79 +/- 1.70, P < 0.001), or 30.0 microg/ml Pf (4.37 +/- 1.47, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline reduced SBC formation in our supravital human skin model. It presumably acts as an antioxidant agent.

Gastric acidity following longitudinal pancreaticogastrostomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The main aim of this study was to investigate whether pancreatic juice released into the stomach during longitudinal pancreaticogastrostomy and pancreatico-cysto-gastrostomy have an effect on gastric acidity. METHODOLOGY: We selected twenty-nine patients with chronic pancreatitis of whom 22 underwent longitudinal pancreaticogastrostomy and 7 pancreatico-cysto-gastrostomy due to painful chronic pancreatitis. Twenty-four hour gastric monitoring was carried out for every patient before and 6 weeks after the operation. Early and late results were evaluated. RESULTS: Following postoperative check-up we found that intervention had resulted in effective pain relief in 83% of patients. The median pain scores were reduced from 120 (range 30-220) to 40 (range 10-190). Patients had no digestive problems from pancreatic enzyme substitution. There were no postoperative deaths. Statistical evaluation of the 24-hour gastric pH monitoring before and after the operation showed no alteration in gastric pH levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that intractable pain can be relieved by pancreaticogastrostomy. We consider pancreaticogastrostomy as the operation of choice for the relief of intolerable pain in selected patients with chronic pancreatitis associated with pancreatic duct dilatation.

[Anaplastic large cell lymphoma based on our clinicopathological cases]. / Az anaplasticus nagysejtes lymphomáról, eseteink klinikopatológiai elemzése kapcsán.

CD30(Ki-1) positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct entity, in which the monoclonal antibody-positivity against the CD30(Ki-1) antigen of tumour cells has a diagnostic value. The histological subtypes of ALCL show also certain clinical differences. Except for some pediatric cases and cutaneous forms clinical outcome is very unfavourable despite of the various treatment methods. In this prospective study (follow-up of 11-60, median 16 months) clinicopathological data and treatment results of fifteen adult patients with ALCL were analysed, Mean age was 46 (16-69) ys with a bimodal tendency and a distinct female: male ratio (3:2) was observed. Early clinical stages (I-II/A-B, eight patients) dominated, and two main groups could be distinguished histologically (Hodgkin-related, ALCL-HR and common type, -CT in eight and seven patients), respectively. In all histological specimens CD30 antigen expression was detected. Additional immunophenotyping was performed in five cases (two 0-variant, two of B-cell and one of T-cell origin), respectively. A bulky disease, mainly in the mediastinum was observed in six cases, and a primary gastrointestinal localization in two other patients. In the treatment of these high grade malignant lymphomas a combination of cobalt irradiation and aggressive chemotherapy was applied (in elder the CHOP-regimen, in younger patients mainly the Pro-MACE-Cyta-BOM-protocol). In one relapsed younger patient autologous bone marrow transplantation was also performed. A complete or partial remission was achieved in thirteen patients (86.6%) but six patients expired after only a short response period to therapy. Overall survival was 19, whilst disease-free survival revealed to be 15 months. Eight of their living nine patients have a durable complete remission. Due to residual mediastinal mass after radiotherapy in three cases a permanent radiological follow-up is needed. Advanced age and clinical stages are considered to be unfavourable, whilst histological subtypes were indifferent prognostic factors, as well. Favourable results in therapy and durable complete remission in younger patients are probably caused by the their better tolerance of third-line aggressive chemotherapy.

Prognostic significance of bone marrow reticulin fibres in idiopathic myelofibrosis: evaluation of clinicopathological parameters in a scoring system.

A clinicopathological scoring system was performed for obtaining a better estimate of prognosis in 50 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF). Laboratory parameters including Hb-level, leukocyte and platelet counts, percentage of blast cells in peripheral blood, spleen and liver size, and a semiquantitative histological grading of reticulin fibre content of bone marrow biopsies taken at the time of initial diagnosis were analysed. Based upon these haematological and histological parameters three prognostic groups could be categorized with a significantly different survival (low-risk group with 21 patients = 75 months; medium-risk group with 18 patients = 51 months, and 11 patients in a high-risk group = 18 months). In an univariate (log rank test) and in a multivariate regression analysis the Hb-concentration, mild splenomegaly (less than 5 cm) and a higher grade of bone marrow reticulin content proved to be important prognostic parameters, whilst leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and the presence of peripheral blast cells were only of prognostic significance within the first 6 months from initial diagnosis. It was concluded that the increase of reticulin fibre deposition in bone marrow together with anaemia and mild splenomegaly could be responsible for a progressively worse life-expectancy of high-risk patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis.

IgE level in some dermatological diseases.

The total IgE level was measured by radioimmunosorbent test (Phadebas RIST, Pharmacia) in blood samples of 454 dermatological patients and 26 blood donors aged 14-70 years. The results showed different IgE values in the same groups of diseases. Elevated serum IgE values were observed in atopic dermatitis, drug allergy, discoid lupus erythematosus and chronic dermatomycosis. In drug allergy the average nonspecific IgE level of patients reacting with immediate reaction was higher than the normal value. Tested individually with Penicilloyl G RAST no strong correlation could be demonstrated between the quantity of specific and non-specific IgE.

[T & B-lymphocytes and immunoglobulins of the serum in drug eruptions of immediate type (author's transl)]. / T & B-Lymphozyten sowie Serumimmonoglobuline bei Arzneimittelallergien vom Soforttyp.

Lymphocyte subpopulations and serum immunoglobulins of patients with drug-hypersensitivity were studied. The results are as follows: Lymphocyte subpopulations: decrease of the E-rosette forming cells was observed in both active and symptom free state. The number of IgE-bearing lymphocytes in patients with drug-allergy was higher than that of the controls. Serum-immunoglobulins: The IgE-level in the serum of patients with drug-allergy was higher in active state than afterwards, but still higher than in the controls but it was lower than in atopic dermatitis patients. The level of the other immunoglobulins was normal.

[Relationship of time interval between steroid therapy and labor to the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome]. / Zusammenhang der zwischen Steroidtherapie und Geburt vergangenen Zeit mit der Häufigkeit des Respirations-Distress-Syndroms.

The authors used Dexamethasone before delivery in 577 cases of pregnancy. There were 460 prematurities. Occurrence of RDS was significantly lower in cases, where delivery took place more than 48 hours after the steroid treatment. Where the steroid effect was not optimum (48 hours), the RDS was similar to that of the control group, although mild in form. In their studies they found no connection between the tocolysis (Partusisten) and the occurence of RDS. They emphasize that in the cases where respiratory insufficiencies are predisponated (elective caesarean section, diabetes mellitus etc.) the steroids significantly reduce the frequency of the disease. Neither the number of apoplexy nor that of death due to infections increase in dexamethasone treatment.