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Biomedical subjects

T Solano

Publications and source records attributed to T Solano.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Bleomycin in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars by multiple needle punctures.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars has been difficult and a recent French study showed that bleomycin has been useful in the treatment of these lesions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of bleomycin in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids when this drug is administered through multiple superficial punctures. METHODS: We applied bleomycin to keloids and hypertrophic scars in 13 patients using a multiple-puncture method on the surface of the skin. All patients were given bleomycin at a concentration of 1.5 IU/ml. Clinical response after treatment was classified according to the following scale: complete flattening (100%), highly significant flattening (>90%), or significant flattening (75-90%). RESULTS: The clinical response was very positive in all cases: complete flattening in six cases, highly significant flattening in six cases, and significant flattening in one case. Two patients presented a recurrence as a small nodule 10 and 12 months after the last infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: These clinical findings show that administration of bleomycin in keloids and hypertrophic scars shows promise and needs further investigation.

Adolescent↗

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and melanoma. N-acetylcysteine downregulates VEGF production in vitro.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the most potent angiogenic factor identified to date, is associated with growth and metastasis of solid tumours, including melanoma. It has been shown in vitro that melanoma cells produce raised concentrations of VEGF. We examined the VEGF concentrations in plasma of 20 patients with primary melanoma, local recurrence and metastatic melanoma. We also studied the inhibiting effect of one antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, on VEGF production in three human melanoma cell lines. We found elevated levels of VEGF (median 205 pg ml; 95 percent confidence interval, 80-414) in metastatic melanoma, with respect to primary and locally recurrent melanoma (75 pg/ml; 95 percent confidence interval, 35-130). The health control patients had levels of 25 pg/ml (95 percent confidence interval, 10-35). Human melanoma cell lines secreted VEGF in basal conditions (550-963 +/- 125 pg/ml) and N-acetylcysteine (0.5-20 mM) significantly decreased the VEGF production in a dose-dependent manner. VEGF concentrations were found to be raised in patients with primary melanoma, local recurrence, and above all, metastatic melanoma (P=0.008). N-acetylcysteine inhibits VEGF production in three human melanoma cell lines. This antioxidant might have therapeutic applications in metastatic melanoma in combination with other cytotoxic drugs.

Acetylcysteine↗

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis on the vulva.

BACKGROUND: Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) affecting the vulva alone is rare. At present, there are 51 published cases of LCH affecting the genital area. Of these, only 7 had LCH located in the genital area alone; in these cases, there was no subsequent systemic spread of the disease. A report of the 8th such case is presented with a review of the previous 7 cases. CASE: A 40-year-old white woman presented with a several-month history of pruritic and ulcerous lesions on the vagina which had then spread to the vulva. No tiredness, general malaise, or associated temperature was observed. Physical examination disclosed an erythematous plaque on the labia minora, which was bilateral and slightly infiltrated. The rest of the physical examination brought no other disorders of interest to light. Histological findings were characteristic of LCH. Four cycles of iv vincristine (2 mg/m cycle) 15 days apart did not obtain objective or symptomatic improvement in the vulvar lesions. Therefore, a local and partial extirpation of both labia minora was performed. Eighteen months after surgery, the patient has no symptoms or signs of local recurrence or systemic spread. CONCLUSIONS: Although the occurrence of LCH on the vulva is very unusual, we must bear this possibility in mind when a woman presents atypical chronic lesions on the genital mucosa. In such cases, it is necessary to perform a biopsy on the mucosa, rule out the possibility of systemic disease, and review the patient periodically in order to forestall a possible spread of the disease at any time.

Adult↗

Cidofovir inhibits growth of B16 melanoma cells in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Cidofovir [(S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonyl-methoxypropyl) cytosine] is a commercially available nucleotide analogue that has antiviral activity against a broad range of DNA viruses and is effective against human cytomegalovirus infection. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the effect of cidofovir on growth of the highly aggressive melanoma tumour arising from mouse melanoma B16 cells grafted subcutaneously in C57B16/J mice. METHODS: Mice were treated daily with systemic cidofovir at several doses. In treated and control groups, tumour growth was measured using a calliper, and histological studies were performed. RESULTS: In untreated mice, massive invasive melanoma tumours were observed on day 5 after tumour cell grafting. Cidofovir treatment gave a dose-dependent reduction in tumour size. Tumour growth was inhibited by 62% at a dose of 37.5 mg kg(-1) three times weekly, as compared with control mice treated with saline alone. At 67 mg kg(-1) three times weekly, tumour growth was inhibited by 90%. Increasing the cidofovir dose to 50 or 100 mg kg(-1) daily resulted in a gradual increase in the antitumoral effect of the compound. In one experiment, cidofovir was administered at 100 mg kg(-1) five times weekly from the eighth day after the injection of tumour cells, when the tumour already had a volume of approximately 100 mm(3). In the treatment group, on the 14th day the tumour volume was approximately 200 mm(3), while in the control group it had increased to 750 mm(3). CONCLUSIONS: Although the mechanism is unknown, an antitumoral or antiangiogenic effect may be the reason for the activity of cidofovir in this model. In view of our findings, use of cidofovir should be further explored in the treatment of neoplastic diseases.

Animals↗