Search results for "Therapeutics"
showing 10 items of 489 documents
Nifedipine improves blood flow and oxygen supply, but not steady-state oxygenation of tumours in perfusion pressure-controlled isolated limb perfusio…
2002
Isolated limb perfusion allows the direct application of therapeutic agents to a tumour-bearing extremity. The present study investigated whether the dihydropyridine-type Ca2+-channel blocker nifedipine could improve blood flow and oxygenation status of experimental tumours during isolated limb perfusion. Perfusion was performed by cannulation of the femoral artery and vein in rats bearing DS-sarcoma on the hind foot dorsum. Perfusion rate was adjusted to maintain a perfusion pressure of 100–140 mmHg throughout the experiment. Following equilibration, nifedipine was continuously infused for 30 min (8.3 μg min−1 kg−1 BW). During constant-pressure isolated limb perfusion, nifedipine can signi…
Immunophenotype and molecular characterisation of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine
2009
Background: Despite having a dramatically larger surface area than the large intestine, the small intestine is an infrequent site for the development of adenocarcinoma. To better understand the molecular abnormalities in small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA), we characterised a number of candidate oncogenic pathways and the immunophenotype of this rare cancer. Methods: Tissue microarrays were constructed from tumour samples from 54 patients with all stages of the disease. Immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing were conducted. Results: The profile of cytokeratin 20 and 7 coexpression was variable, but expression of caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) was …
Trastuzumab therapy vs tetracycline controlled ERBB2 downregulation: influence on tumour development in an ERBB2-dependent mouse tumour model
2008
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) has improved therapy of breast cancer. Only patients overexpressing ERBB2 are treated with trastuzumab, whereas its use in tumours without ERBB2 expression is useless. This led to the concept that the subgroup of trastuzumab-sensitive tumours is ‘ERBB2-dependent', meaning that ERBB2 signalling is indispensable for growth of these tumours. We used a mouse model that allows anhydrotetracycline (ATc)-controlled downregulation of ERBB2 in tumour tissue. ERBB2 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated below detection limit leading to a macroscopically complete tumour remission within 14 days. Tumour remission was accompanied by a strong decrease in proliferation, a m…
SYNTHESIS, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A PACLITAXEL MACROMOLECULAR PRODRUG
2004
Paclitaxel was attached to poly(hydroxyethylaspartamide) via a succinic spacer arm by a two-step protocol: (1) synthesis of 2'-O-succinyl-paclitaxel; (2) synthesis of PHEA-2'-O-succinyl-paclitaxel. The 2'-O-succinyl-paclitaxel derivative and the macromolecular conjugate were characterized by UV, IR, NMR and mass spectrometry analysis. The reaction yields were over 95% and the purity of products over 98%. Paclitaxel release and degradation from 2'-O-succinyl-paclitaxel occurred at a faster rate at pH 5.5 than 7.4. After 30 h of incubation at pH 5.5 and 7.4 the released free paclitaxel was about 40 and 20%, respectively. In plasma both drug release and degradation were found to occur at a hig…
Subzonal insemination, partial zona dissection or intracytoplasmic sperm injection? An easy decision?
1995
This review aims to analyse and compare the results to date of subzonal insemination (SUZI), partial zona dissection (PZD) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to evaluate critically whether it is now possible to replace SUZI and PZD by ICSI. It appears that ICSI is a much more efficient assisted reproduction technique than SUZI and PZD for resolving cases of severe male infertility and/or repeated failure of conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF). For ICSI compared with SUZI and PZD, fertilization (49.4, 17.7 and 16.8% respectively), percentage of patients reaching embryo transfer (91.0, 55.1 and 23.3% respectively), percentage of transfers performed with two or three embryos (83…
Adherence to the Mediterranean Lifestyle and Desired Body Weight Loss in a Mediterranean Adult Population with Overweight: A PREDIMED-Plus Study
2020
Background. Body weight dissatisfaction is a hindrance to following a healthy lifestyle and it has been associated with weight concerns. Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle (diet and exercise) and the desired body weight loss in an adult Mediterranean population with overweight. Methods. Cross-sectional analysis in 6355 participants (3268 men; 3087 women) with metabolic syndrome and BMI (Body mass index) between 27.0 and 40.0 kg/m2 (55–75 years old) from the PREDIMED-Plus trial. Desired weight loss was the percentage of weight that participants wished to lose. It was categorized into four cut-offs of this perce…
Efficacy of low-intensity psychological intervention applied by ICTs for the treatment of depression in primary care: a controlled trial
2015
Background: Depression is one of the most common disorders in Psychiatric and Primary Care settings and is associated with significant disability and economic costs. Low-intensity psychological interventions applied by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) could be an efficacious and cost-effective therapeutic option for the treatment of depression. The aim of this study is to assess 3 low-intensity psychological interventions applied by ICTs (healthy lifestyle, positive affect and mindfulness) in Primary Care; significant efficacy for depression treatment has previously showed in specialized clinical settings by those interventions, but ICTs were not used. Method: Multicenter c…
Prospective, open, multi-centre phase I/II trial to assess safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with docetaxel and oxaliplatin in pat…
2013
Abstract Background This phase I/II-trial assessed the dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) with docetaxel and oxaliplatin in patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric junction. Methods Patients received neoadjuvant radiotherapy (50.4 Gy) together with weekly docetaxel (20 mg/m2 at dose level (DL) 1 and 2, 25 mg/m2 at DL 3) and oxaliplatin (40 mg/m2 at DL 1, 50 mg/m2 at DL 2 and 3) over 5 weeks. The primary endpoint was the DLT and the MTD of the RCT regimen. Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results A total of 24 patients were included. F…
Role of Kras Status in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving First-Line Chemotherapy plus Bevacizumab: A TTD Group Cooperative Study
2012
Background: In the MACRO study, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were randomised to first-line treatment with 6 cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) plus bevacizumab followed by either single-agent bevacizumab or XELOX plus bevacizumab until disease progression. An additional retrospective analysis was performed to define the prognostic value of tumour KRAS status on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and response rates. Methodology/Principal Findings: KRAS data (tumour KRAS status and type of mutation) were collected by questionnaire from participating centres that performed KRAS analyses. These data were then cross-referenced with efficacy da…
Angiogenesis and vascular network of teratocarcinoma from embryonic stem cell transplant into seminiferous tubules
2009
Background: Carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the testis is considered to be a precancerous germinal cell lesion, but the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying transformation of CIS into invasive pluripotent cancer cells remain to be elucidated. Moreover, a satisfactory animal model for the experimental study of germinal tumours has not been developed to date. METHODS: We have developed a tumour model that involves the microinjection of green fluorescent protein-labelled embryonic stem (ES) cells (which are functionally equivalent to CIS cells) into syngenic mouse seminiferous tubules, a unique cell microenvironment in which germinal cells mature and CIS arise. To characterise the v…