Interventional oncology at the time of COVID-19 pandemic: Problems and solutions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted the activity of interventional oncology in hospitals and cancer centers. In this review based on official recommendations of different international societies, but also on local solutions found in different expert large-volume centers, we discuss the changes that need to be done for the organization, safety, and patient management in interventional oncology. A literature review of potential solutions in a context of scarce anesthesiologic resources, limited staff and limited access to hospital beds are proposed and discussed based on the literature data.

Dietary (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids exert antihypertensive effects by modulating calcium signaling in T cells of rats.

After 10 wk of feeding an experimental diet enriched with (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA, 20:5(n-3)] and [DHA, 22:6(n-3)] (EPAX), blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats was reduced relative to rats fed an unsupplemented control diet. Concanavalin A-stimulated T-cell proliferation was diminished in both strains of rats fed the PUFA/EPAX diet. The experimental diet lowered secretion of interleukin-2 in SHR, but not in WKY rats compared with rats fed the control diet. To determine whether there was a defect in calcium homeostasis in T cells during hypertension, we employed the following agents: caffeine, which recruits calcium from the cytosolic Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release pool; ionomycin, which at low concentrations opens calcium channels; and thapsigargin (TG), which mobilizes [Ca(2+)]i from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pool. Caffeine-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i were not modified by the PUFA/EPAX diet. The ionomycin-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i in T cells from SHR were greater than in those from WKY rats; consumption of the PUFA/EPAX diet did not modify Ca(2+) influx in cells of either strain. The TG-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i in T cells from SHR were greater than those in cells from WKY rats. Interestingly, consumption of the experimental diet reduced TG-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)]i in T cells from SHR and increased those in T cells from WKY rats, indicating that the PUFA/EPAX diet could reverse the calcium mobilization from the ER pool in T cells. These results suggest that (n-3) PUFA exert antihypertensive effects and modulate T-cell calcium signaling during hypertension in rats.

Modification of arterial and portal hemodynamics after injection of iodized oils and different emulsions of iodized oils in the hepatic artery: an experimental study.

PURPOSE: A strong embolic effect of iodized oil/drug mixtures injected in the hepatic artery appeared to be an efficient way of prolonging the contact time between drugs and tumor tissue. Therefore, the authors evaluated arterial and portal embolic effects after hepatic intra-arterial injection of iodized oils and various emulsions of iodized oil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five pigs were monitored for the Doppler resistance index (DRI) in the hepatic artery and wedge hepatic vein pressure (WHVP) during 1 hour after injection of pure iodized oil, ultra-fluid or fluid, and four different emulsions of iodized oil ultra-fluid, into the hepatic artery. RESULTS: Mean area under the curve (AUC) values of DRI increases varied from 20.3 to 24.2 after injection of pure iodized oils or water-in-oil emulsions, and were 13.2 for large-droplet oil-in-water emulsion and 8.2 for small-droplet oil-in-water emulsion. Mean AUC values of WHVP increases varied from 151.6 to 195.6 after injection of pure iodized oils or water-in-oil emulsions, and were 105.5 for large-droplet oil-in-water emulsion and 8.5 for small-droplet oil-in-water emulsion. There was a significant difference in DRI and WHVP modifications between small-droplet oil-in-water emulsions and all other products (P = .001), between the two oil-in-water emulsions and the two water-in-oil emulsions (P = .004), and between the two oil-in-water emulsions and pure iodized oils (P = .002). CONCLUSION: After hepatic intra-arterial injection, water-in-oil emulsions and pure iodized oils provided a stronger embolic effect than oil-in-water emulsion, both in the hepatic artery and in the portal vein.

Does the Ukrain preparation protect mice against lethal doses of bacteria?

Ukrain, a semi-synthetic preparation obtained from Chelidonium majus L, is used in the treatment of cancer diseases. It has been observed to exert a protective influence in mice infected by influenza viruses. Recently, the influence of the preparation on the survival of mice infected by lethal doses of E. coli and S. aureus has been estimated. This preparation was administered to Balb/c mice subcutaneously in doses of 0.04, 0.4 and 4.0 mg/kg of body weight. Ukrain was given every second day during 20 days, or a short-term before-and-after method at 48, 24 and 2 h before the infection and or 2, 24 and 48 h after the infection of mice. The mice were infected intraperitoneally with E. coli or S. aureus in doses equivalent to 2LD50. Increased survival of mice, depending on the dose of the preparation and the kind of infecting bacterium was observed. The highest survival (50%) occurred in mice infected with E. coli and receiving the amount of the preparation corresponding to 0.4 mg/kg. The lowest survival was observed in mice infected by S. aureus and receiving the preparation in the amount of 4.0 mg/kg. Higher protective effectiveness of the Ukrain preparation was observed in mice when the preparation had been administered during 20 days as compared to the short-term before-and-after regime.

[Microbiological evaluation of ciprofloxacin efficacy for treatment of urinary tract infections]. / Mikrobiologiczna ocena skutecznosci ciprofloksacyny w leczeniu zakazen ukladu moczowego.

An attempt has been undertaken to evaluate the aetiology of urinary tract infections in a large group of patients and to determine the resistance to ciprofloxacin during therapy, and the efficacy of the drug in treating of urinary tract infections. 52 patients with urinary tract infections were treated with ciprofloxacin. Ciprobay by BAYER was used in coated 500 mg tablets twice a day and intravenous solutions in 200 mg dosages every 12 hours for 10-14 days depending on the clinical condition. Microbiological tests were made according to general methods. Sensitivity evaluation to ciprofloxacin was done using E-tests by AB Biodisk and dilution tests. The most common a etiology of urinary tract infections were Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae rods, mainly E. coli. Ciprofloxacin gave the best results against Enterobacteriaceae rods (100% eradications). In other infections, effective therapy was possible after determining of the sensitivity in vitro. S. haemolyticus bacteria tended significantly towards resistance to ciprofloxacin during therapy.

Circulatory alterations induced by intra-arterial injection of iodized oil and emulsions of iodized oil and doxorubicin: experimental study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate circulatory alterations induced by intra-arterial injection of iodized oil and emulsions of iodized oil with an anticancer drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The viscosities and stability were evaluated in arterial flow of iodized oil and the emulsions. Doppler ultrasound was used to quantify the embolic effect in the arteries of rabbits. The behavior of doxorubicin and iodized oil in the rat cremaster muscle was studied with videomicroscopy. RESULTS: The emulsions did not break up after injection, and the size of discontinuous-phase droplets did not change. The embolic effect did not correlate with viscosity. The thinnest water-in-oil emulsion had the lowest embolic effect and induced homogeneous distribution of iodized oil droplets in the arterial tree. CONCLUSION: Changes in the formulation of emulsions obtained with the same proportions of drug and iodized oil change the distribution of iodized oil in the arterial tree, the location at which the drug is released, and the embolic effect.

[Effect of TFX (Polfa) on the course of experimental bacterial infections in mice treated with ciprofloxacin, amikacin and cefoperazone]. / Wplyw preparatu TFX (Polfa) na przebieg doswiadczalnych zakazen bakteryjnych u myszy leczonych cyprofloksacyna, amikacyna i cefoperazonem.

The effect of TFX-Polfa administered alone or with three antibiotics on the survival time in mice infected with E.coli and S.aureus was estimated. TFX has been administered 48, 24, 2 hours before and 24, 48 and 72 hours after infection, in doses of 10 mg/kg of body weight. Ciprobay has been administered 2 hours after infection, and every 24 hours during the experiment in dose of 15, 7.5 and 3.75 mg/kg of body weight. Amikin has been used in doses of 7.5, 3.75 and 1.87 mg/kg of body weight, Cefobid in doses of 30, 15 and 7.5 mg/kg of body weight. The antibiotics have been administered 2 hours after infection and every 12 hours to the end of experiment. Animals have been observed 10 days after infection. The positive effect of TFX on the survival time in mice infected with E.coli has been observed, but this preparation has given a little effect on the tested parameter in mice infected with S.aureus. Best antibacterial effect of Ciprobay and Amikin has been observed after administration of clinical doses. However, simultaneous therapy with TFX and tested antibiotics resulted in various (positive and negative) effects on the survival time during 10 days of observation.

[Effect of cefoperazone on the activity of selected parameters of cellular immunity in mice with experimental viral-bacterial infection]. / Wplyw cefaperazonu na aktywnosc wybranych parametrów odpornosci komókowej u myszy w doswiadczalnym zakazeniu wirusowo-bakteryjnym.

We applied mixed, viral-bacterial infections of mice (with influenza virus to the respiratory tract and Staphylococcus aureus) intereperitoneally. We used Sodium Cefoperazone subcutaneously in the dose of 30 mg/kg body weight 24, 48 and 72 hours after the infection. We evaluated phagocytic activity of the granulocytes isolated from animals and bactericidal activity of these cells expressed as their chemiluminescent activity. We studied it on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and the 14th day after the infection. Phagocytic activity of cells taken from infected mice and treated with the preparation expressed as phagocytic index was the following: 0.38, 0.19; 0.88; 0.99 respectively. In the comparative studies, concerning the effect of preincubation of cells with antibiotic (at the concentration produced in blood serum by therapeutic doses) we found the increase in chemiluminescent process by 57% on the average. Analyzing the preliminary data form the experimental studies on the influence of Cefoperazone on mixed, viral-bacterial infections in mice we found the positive effect of the antibiotic evaluated in some immunological test. Intracellular killing of bacteria is stimulated. Preincubation of granulocytes with the antibiotic gives higher chemiluminescent activity of cells. However, chemotactic and phagocytic activity of cells are not changed.

Complex studies of the influence of the working conditions in the Plock Petrochemical Plant on the behaviour of some parameters of cell immunity.

Complex evaluations of the function of peripheral blood granulocytes in the Phenol Plant workers were made. Only precise examinations of the bactericidal and ingestive functions as well as the metabolism of those cells may lead to the discovery of a clinically unnoticeable insufficiency of the system as has been confirmed by other authors and by our own previous studies. Routine methods of separating granulocytes of heparinized peripheral blood were used. Phagocytic activity of cells after contact with three antigens was studied. Bactericidal activity of granulocytes in the presence of Staph. aureus and antibactericidal activity of lysosomal proteins of granulocytes were evaluated. According to the general assessment, no permanent disturbances of the granulocyte function were observed in the phenol plant workers. However, disturbances of the phagocytic and bactericidal abilities were detected in some individual cases. In general evaluation no disturbances of function of granulocytes concerning all some cases phagocytary and bactericidal abilities did not occur simultaneously.