The significance of imaging examinations during follow-up for malignant melanoma.

Currently, there is a general lack of consensus regarding optimal strategy and imaging during follow-up for patients suffering from melanoma. Our aim was to analyse the utility of various imaging procedures, in particular CT scans, during the follow-up of patients with different stages of melanoma. A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients suffering from melanoma diagnosed between 2001 and 2011 was carried out at the Department of Dermatology, University of Pécs. Patients with in situ (Stage 0) and metastatic (Stage IV) melanoma were excluded from the analysis, as well as patients who succumbed during the first three years of follow-up. In total, 649 melanoma patients met the inclusion criteria. During the entire follow-up period, 90 recurrences were detected. The vast majority (n = 71; 79%) of the total metastatic cases (n = 90) were diagnosed within the first three years. In 35% of the cases, metastases were detected by CT. Although more than 66% of the CT scans were performed for Stage I patients, only three cases were positive (0.1%) within this population. On the basis of our results, intensive radiological work-up is not deemed necessary during the surveillance of patients in the early stages (IA-IIA) of melanoma. Initial and regular follow-up imaging examinations (preferably CT scans) may be recommended from Stage IIB of the disease.

Inhibition of the MDR1 transporter by new phenothiazine derivatives.

The MDR1 transporter mediated efflux of different xenobiotics out of the cells serves as the most important mechanisms of the multidrug resistance in cancer cells, thus inhibition of the MDR1 transporter may increase the efficiency of anticancer drugs in the therapy. Here we describe some new phenothiazine derivatives, which possess strong in vitro MDR1 inhibitory activity. The effectiveness of the compounds on the MDR1 mediated calcein-AM efflux, ATPase activity, and colchicine resistance was proven by microplate assays and flow cytometry using recombinant and control cell lines. Some of these derivatives were more active than verapamil and one of them was at least as active as cyclosporin A. According to our results the new structural elements built in these phenothiazine type compounds increased their MDR1 inhibitory activity, which may serve as a basis of the development of an effective MDR1 inhibitor drug.

Suppression of Ca2+ influx by unfractionated heparin in non-excitable intact cells via multiple mechanisms.

Effect of unfractionated heparin (UFH), described as a cell-impermeant IP3 receptor antagonist, was studied on the capacitive Ca(2+) entry in non-permeabilized, intact cells, measuring the intracellular Ca(2+) levels using fluorescence microplate technique. Ca(2+) influx induced via Ca(2+) mobilization by histamine in Hela cells or evoked by store depletion with thapsigargin in RBL-2H3 cells was dose-dependently suppressed by UFH added either before or after the stimuli. UFH also prevented the spontaneous Ba(2+) entry indicating that the non-capacitive Ca(2+) channels may also be affected. In addition, UFH caused a significant and dose-dependent delay in Ca(2+), and other bivalent cation inflow after treatment of the cells with Triton X-100, but it did not diminish the amount of these cations indicating that UFH did not act simply as a cation chelator, but modulated the capacitive Ca(2+) entry possibly via store operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCCs). Inhibitory activities of UFH and 2-aminoethyl diphenyl borate on the capacitive Ca(2+) influx was found reversible, but the time courses of their actions were dissimilar suggesting distinct modes of action. It was also demonstrated using a fluorescence potentiometric dye that UFH had a considerable hyperpolarizing effect and could alter the changes of membrane potential during Ca(2+) influx after store depletion by thapsigargin. We presume that the hyperpolarizing property of this agent might contribute to the suppression of Ca(2+) influx. We concluded that UFH can negatively modulate SOCCs and also other non-capacitive Ca(2+) channels and these activities might also account for its multiple biological effects.

Potency and specificity of the pharmacological action of a new, antiasthmatic, topically administered soft steroid, etiprednol dicloacetate (BNP-166).

In the present study, the pharmacological effects of etiprednol dicloacetate (BNP-166; ethyl-17alpha-dichloroacetoxy-11beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3-one-17beta-carboxylate), a new soft steroid, intended to use for the treatment of asthma, were investigated in an animal model of allergen sensitized and challenged Brown Norway rats using local treatment. The examinations involved the determination of the effect of the compound on the extent of allergen induced broncho-alveolar fluid and lung tissue eosinophilia, goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus production, perivascular edema formation, and airways hyperresponsiveness. The activity of etiprednol dicloacetate was compared with that of budesonide. Using in vitro methods, the soft character of etiprednol dicloacetate was investigated together with its capability to dissociate transrepressing and transactivating properties. We found that combining all the examined parameters etiprednol dicloacetate was at least equipotent with budesonide in the animal model, but in several investigated variables it surpassed the activity of budesonide. The effect of etiprednol dicloacetate in vitro was shown to be the function of the quantity of the serum, present in the assay, it was also strongly affected by the incubation time and decreased significantly when it was preincubated with human plasma. These features are characteristics of a soft drug that is quickly inactivated in the systemic circulation. In addition, it was revealed that while the transrepressing potential of etiprednol dicloacetate remained high, its transactivating activity was greatly reduced. These data indicate that the strong local effect of the compound will very likely be accompanied with a significantly reduced systemic activity predicting favorable selectivity in the pharmacological action of etiprednol dicloacetate.