Changes in microorganisms populations in the soil after fumigation.

Soil fumigation with dazomet, metam sodium, chloropicrin and chloropicrin + 1.3 D resulted in significant decrease of fungi and increase of bacteria populations in trials carried out in four farms located in different areas. Depending on the farm and the active substance applied, the fungi population was decreased by 1.4- to 3500-fold in comparison to control. Metam sodium and chloropicrin showed the best efficacy, both of them almost totally eliminated the fungi from the soil environment.The total number of bacteria was increased by the chemical fumigation with all tested products. While the population of fluorescent Pseudomonads in all treated plots increased from 2- to 100-fold, depending on the farm, the number of Bacillus spp. was not changed or decreased compared with non fumigated soil.The nematology analysis of the soil indicated that any chemical fumigant significantly limited the population of plant parasitic nematodes, which number was, anyway, below the damage threshold. However, in most cases dazomet and metam sodium reduced the total number of all nematodes present in the soil.The fumigation with chloropicrin and 1,3 D at dose of 30 g/m2 resulted in an increase of the total number of all nematodes in soil.

Results of chemotherapy for pulmonary metastases of carcinoma of the cervix in patients after primary surgical and radiotherapeutic management.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of chemotherapy of pulmonary metastases from invasive carcinoma of the cervix, which were detected after a disease-free period after initial treatment with surgery or radiotherapy. Fifty patients with radiologically proven pulmonary metastases were treated with chemotherapy. All patients received a platinum-5-fluorouracil (PF) program: cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks. The overall 1- and 3-year survival after PF chemotherapy was 62% and 17.6%, respectively. The progression-free survival at 1 and 3 years was 36.7% and 14.3%, respectively. There were 6 (12%) complete responses and 17 (34%) partial responses. Hematologic tolerance was acceptable. Third degree and fourth degree leukopenia was diagnosed in four (8%) and six (12%) patients, respectively. Three individuals had third degree thrombocytopenia. In the multivariate analysis, the following prognostic factors were associated with poor survival: time to recurrence after primary treatment (P= 0.002), number of lung metastases (P= 0.016), and progression during chemotherapy (P= 0.001). We conclude that PF regimen is a safe and reasonably effective chemotherapy in the management of patients with pulmonary metastases after primary treatment for invasive carcinoma of the cervix who do not qualify for surgical metastasectomy.

The evaluation of intra- and postoperative complications related to debulking surgery with bowel resection in patients with FIGO stage III-IV ovarian cancer.

The surgical treatment of advanced ovarian cancer is based on the maximal debulking with widening the operation range to the infiltrated organs. The aims are as follows: (1) the assessment of the quantity and quality of intra- and postoperative complications in patients with advanced ovarian cancer in which partial bowel resection was performed and (2) the evaluation of intra- and postoperative complications related to surgery with bowel resection and anastomosis, compared to Hartmann's procedure. The analysis of debulking procedures with intestinal resection and postoperative period in 39 ovarian cancer patients, FIGO stage III-IV, was performed. During 39 operations, the most frequent type of resection was the sigmoidectomy or proctosigmoidectomy (29 patients). In the remaining patients, left- and right-side hemicolectomy or partial enterectomy was done. Twenty-four anastomosis and 15 Hartmann's procedures were performed. There were no differences between surgery with anastomosis and Hartmann's procedure in aspect of quantity of complications, blood loss, and the time of surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival and progression-free survival in both groups. We conclude that the percentage of complications related to debulking surgery with intestinal resection in advanced ovarian cancer patients might be accepted. The quantity of complications related to surgery with anastomosis and to Hartmann's procedure is similar. If possible, the surgery with anastomosis should be performed.

Comparison of the results of surgical treatment using laparoscopy and laparotomy in patients with endometrial cancer.

The objective of the current study was to compare the results of surgical treatment in endometrial cancer with the use of laparoscopy and the traditional approach of laparotomy. Our goal was to evaluate and compare the morbidity, recurrence rate, and disease-free survival in both groups. This article is a retrospective study. A chart review of 45 patients treated by laparoscopy between 1994 and 2002 and 136 patients treated by laparotomy between 2001 and 2002 was performed. Disease-free survival in both groups was evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier method and was compared using the log-rank test. The rate of recidive was 6% in the laparoscopy group and 13% in the laparotomy group. There was no statistically significant difference in disease-free survival and recidive rate between the laparoscopy and laparotomy groups. Laparoscopic management in endometrial cancer does not worsen the prognosis, and the disease-free survival is similar to that resulting from the traditional approach. The benefits of minimal invasive surgery are quicker postoperative recovery, shorter hospital stay, and no wound complications.

Analysis of the treatment of ovarian cancer patients with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy--preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: Primary surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment in ovarian cancer patients. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is one of the treatment modes in patients with a poor general condition or advanced disease, not adjustable for primary surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the efficacy of this new option of therapy is comparable to the standard method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 319 ovarian cancer patients, FIGO Stage III and IV, have been analyzed. Within this group, 50 women were treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. 18 patients were operated after three cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and 32 patients--after six cycles. Results of treatment were evaluated, including disease-free survival, and number of complications. Factors that may influence the treatment results were also analyzed. RESULTS: Median disease-free survival in the group treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (group 3), and operated on after three cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (group 1), were 19 and 20 months, respectively. For the group operated on after six cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (group 2), median disease-free survival was 15 months (p = 0.27). The following factors have been found to influence treatment results: optimal cytoreduction and tumor grading. There was no difference in complication rates among the three analyzed groups.

Development of a semi-nested PCR based method for sensitive detection of tumorigenic Agrobacterium in soil.

AIMS: To develop a specific, sensitive and rapid PCR-based method for detection of tumorigenic Agrobacterium in soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three newly designed primers complementary to tms2 gene amplified DNA of only the tumor-inducing agrobacteria of 113 strains tested, resulting in 617 bp and 458 bp products in the first and second rounds of semi-nested PCR respectively. As optimized method of pre-incubation of soil suspensions on selective medium, DNA isolation and two-round semi-nested PCR enabled detection of 1-2 bacterial cells in 1 g of soil. Using this method tumour-inducing Agrobacterium was detected in 67 of 69 samples of naturally infested soil originating from the field, where plants with crown gall symptoms occurred. The pathogen was detected only in two samples of 15 tested, collected from a nursery where crown gall symptoms were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The semi-nested PCR-based method allowed for sensitive and rapid detection of tumorigenic agrobacteria in soil. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The method is proposed for testing of soil in fields intended for nursery production of fruit trees, roses or other plants susceptible to crown gall, as well as a tool for ecological studies.

[Evaluation of the value of hysteroscopy or doppler ultrasonography for monitoring treatment effects of radiotherapy in patients with cervix carcinoma]. / Ocena wartosci histeroskopii oraz ultrasonografii dopplerowskiej dla monitorowania efektów leczenia wylaczna radioterapia u chorych na raka trzonu macicy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the useful of colour flow doppler (CDF) and hysteroscopy to determine the endometrium status in endometrial cancer patients who were treated by radiotherapy alone. The study group comprised 33 patients. There were hysteroscopy and CDF performed in obligatory regular periods. High useful of hysteroscopy was confirmed. It appeared 89% of sensitivity and 91% of specificity. CDF sensitivity was 69% and specificity 75%. Absence of the flow signal in endometrial tissue was correlated with no of malignant pathology in uterus. Pulsatility and resistance indexes in CDF were not characterised for histopathology status of endometrium.

[Granulosa cell tumor--the assessment of some clinical and therapeutic parameters as prognostic factors]. / Ziarniszczak jajnika--ocena wybranych czynników klinicznych i terapeutycznych w ich prognostycznym znaczeniu.

The results of the clinical and therapeutic factors in prognostic mean was presented. 48 cases of granulosa cell tumours treated from 1984 to 1994 in Oncology Centre in Warsaw were analysed. In investigated group 13 patients died, but only 8 because of relapse of the tumour. Among all analysed patients, 79% have reached 5 years free survival period. Tumour rupture, FIGO stage and incidence of irregular bleeding before recognition of the tumour had significant prognostic value. There were surprising that relative risk of relapse between patients stage I and II were similar (1.0 vs 1.01). The relative risk between I and III stage had strong prognostic difference. Additional operation after no radical surgery did not influence on better prognosis, but followed radiotherapy increase treatment results.

Phylogenetic analysis of 23S rRNA gene sequences of. Agrobacterium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium strains.

The phylogenetic relationship among twelve Agrobacterium, four Rhizobium, and two Sinorhizobium strains originating from various host plants and geographical regions was studied by analysis of the 23S rDNA sequences. The study included Agrobacterium strains belonging to biovars 1, 2 (with tumor- or hairy-root inducing and non-pathogenic strains), A. vitis, A. rubi; representative species of the Rhizobium genus: R. galegae, R. leguminosarum and R. tropici and Sinorhizobium meliloti strains. The phylogenetic analysis showed that within Agrobacterium, the biovar designation was reflected in the 23S rDNA similarity and that strains of Agrobacterium and Rhizobium are closely related to each other. The results suggest that the taxonomic definition of Agrobacterium and Rhizobium should be considered for revision and that the Agrobacterium-biovar identity is probably a reliable taxonomic trait.

[Carcinoma of the fallopian tube. Clinical analysis of 40 cases]. / Pierwotny rak jajowodu. Analiza kliniczna 40 przypadków.

The results of clinical analysis of 40 cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube are presented. All patients were treated with surgery and post operative external beam irradiation. Overall 5 years survival was 37% and symptom free survival 21%. The influence of following prognostic factors on the results of treatment had been evaluated: clinical stage, histologic grading and depth of infiltration of fallopian tube wall. Only the depth of infiltration proved to be statistically significant negative prognostic factor. The main cause of treatment failure was the intraperitonal dissemination of the disease. The results of treatment of recurrences was only palliative. No long term survivors were noted.

[Clinical usefulness of color doppler flow examination during treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease]. / Ocena przydatnosci klinicznej badan przeplywów naczyniowych z uzyciem kolorowego Dopplera u chorych leczonych z powodu ciazowej choroby trofoblastycznej.

Neovascularisation is the integral part of tumor development. Presence and type of pathological vascularisation can be used in therapy monitoring and follow up. The value of beta HCG and pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) in 14 women treated for nonmetastatic persistent trophoblastic disease (NMTD) were been compared. There was statistical, significant correlation between dropped BHCG level and increased value of RI. No correlation between BHCG blood concentration and values of PI was observed. In summary it should be stated that color Doppler ultrasonography is useful method in monitoring patients with NMTD.