Liver transplantation improves survival of rats bearing hepatoma-3924A.

There was interest in developing a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor dissemination that would respond to liver transplantation. Thus, a model of intrahepatic hepatoma implantation with micrometastases was developed by modifying a previously reported technique in the ACI rat. The pattern of tumor growth permits surgical resection with liver transplantation if done early in the course of disease. In addition, this model results in a reproducible rate of pulmonary metastatic disease. The pulmonary metastatic rate (number of rats developing pulmonary metastases) was 45.5% (n = 11) 2 weeks following intrahepatic tumor implantation and rose to 100% at the fifth week (n = 7). To examine the long-term outcome of animals with tumor, 46 animals were followed until death or 100 days after tumor implantation. Of these animals, 67.4% died from tumor within 100 days, all with pulmonary metastases. Several of the animals that were followed long term had advanced liver tumor as well, with intraperitoneal spread and ascites. To evaluate the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTX) in this model, syngeneic OLTX was performed 16 days after intrahepatic tumor implantation (n = 11). OLTX improved the 100-day survival of the recipients from 32.6% (control group) to 80.0% (P < 0.05). None of the long-term survivors had evidence of tumor on postmortem examination. The mechanisms responsible for decreased metastases following syngeneic liver transplantation are being investigated. The influence of immunosuppression, more advanced stage of tumor at the time of OLTX, and chemotherapeutic agents on this survival benefit could be be investigated with this model.

[Influence of nalcrom (sodium cromoglycate) on the course of the intestinal phase of trichinellosis in mice]. / Wplyw Nalcromu (sodium cromoglycate) na przebieg jelitowej fazy wlosnicy u myszy.

The influence of Nalcrom (sodium cromoglycate) on the course of the intestinal phase of trichinellosis in mice was investigated. The animals infected with 200 Trichinella spiralis larvae were treated with Nalcrom between 7-20 or 3-20 days after infection (d.a.i.). The drug was administered in two doses: 0.6 or 1.7 mg/mouse/day. In the all groups of animals received Nalcrom higher number of mast cells and eosinophils than in the control groups was observed. These results are the opposite of those obtained with Nalcrom in ulcerative colitis in man.

[The level of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) positive cells in some organs of mice infected with Trichinella spiralis]. / Poziom komórek reagujacych z blekitem nitro-tetrazoliowym (NBT) w wybranych narzadach myszy zarazonych Trichinella spiralis.

The percentage of NBT-positive cells in peritoneal fluid, spleen and mesenteric lymph node of CWF mice infected orally with 200 Trichinella spiralis larvae was investigated. The highest level of NBT-positive cells in peritoneal fluid was found on the 5-6th and 50-60th day post infection (p.i.), in spleen between the 30-75th and in mesenteric lymph node between the 50-75th day p.i. The lack of reaction between peritoneal fluid cells and newborn migrating larvae at the 15th and 20th day p.i. observed by the authors, may be associated with slight activity of these cells in the NBT reduction test between 8-30th day p.i.