A phase I study of adenovirus-mediated wild-type p53 gene transfer in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Mutations of the tumor suppressor gene p53 are the most common genetic alterations observed in human cancer. Loss of wild-type p53 function impairs cell cycle arrest as well as repair mechanisms involved in response to DNA damage. Further, apoptotic pathways as induced by radio- or chemotherapy are also abrogated. Gene transfer of wild-type p53 was shown to reverse these deficiencies and to induce apoptosis in vitro and in preclinical in vivo tumor models. A phase I dose escalation study of a single intratumoral injection of a replication-defective adenoviral expression vector encoding wild-type p53 was carried out in patients with incurable non-small cell lung cancer. All patients enrolled…

Bronchiektasen und Infekthäufigkeit bei Alpha-1-Antitrypsin-Mangel

UNLABELLED PURPOSE of this study was to determine the prevalence of bronchiectasis in patients suffering from alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and to compare its extent with the frequency of infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS High-resolution CT examinations (HRCT) of 23 patients with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency were retrospectively assessed for extent, severity and localisation of bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening and extent of emphysema. Chest radiographs and clinical records were available for correlation. RESULTS HRCT scans showed bronchiectasis in 14 of 23 patients, bronchial wall thickening in 3/14, and panlobular emphysema in 23/23. Chest radiographs showed bronchiectasis in 4/…

Kardiopulmonale Parameter bei Hyperthyreose

Background Hyperthyroid patients often suffer from impaired exercise capacity with dyspnoea. Two well established, non-invasive methods were used to evaluate the influence of hyperthyroidism on cardiopulmonary function. Patients and methods In 42 patients with hyperthyroidism we performed spirometry and cardiopulmonary exercise testing before and after 7 days of propranolol therapy as well as in euthyroidism. Results In hyperthyroidism reduced vital capacity and 1-second capacity were observed (95.5 +/- 2.4% vs 102.6 +/- 1.5%; p = 0.0087; 89.4 +/- 2.3% vs 95.2 +/- 2.2%; p = 0.0179). No changes showed during beta-blockade. At the anaerobic threshold reduced tidal volume and enhanced respirat…

A New Dosimeter Methacholine Challenge Protocol Based On A Single Methacholine Concentration

Focal airtrapping at expiratory high-resolution CT: comparison with pulmonary function tests

This study was undertaken to determine prevalence, extent, and severity of focal airtrapping at expiratory high-resolution CT, and to compare focal airtrapping with age, gender, pulmonary function tests, and blood gas analysis. Two-hundred seventeen patients with and without pulmonary disease underwent paired inspiratory/expiratory high-resolution CT. Six scan pairs with corresponding scan levels were visually assessed for focal – not diffuse – airtrapping using a four-point scale. Pulmonary function tests and blood gas analysis were available for correlation in all patients (mean interval 5 days). Focal airtrapping with lower lung predominance was observed in 80 % of patients. Twenty-six o…