Establishment of a patient-derived Wilms' tumor xenograft model: a promising tool for individualized cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Lack of appropriate approaches that reliably predict response of Wilms' tumor (WT) to anticancer agents remains a major deficiency in clinical practice of individualized cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to establish a patient-derived tumor tissue (PDTT) xenograft model of WT for individualized chemotherapeutic regimen selection in accordance with the patient's tumor nature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tumor specimens of a primary WT were orthotopically implanted into three nude mice, and after 4 weeks xenografts were harvested for serial heterotopic transplantation in 20 nude mice that were divided into three experimental groups and one control group. In vitro and in vivo chemosensitivity to doxorubicin, actinomycin-D, and vincristine were evaluated. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical examination with desmin, vimentin, myogenin, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were also applied to determine histological stability of the xenograft during serial transplantation compared with the original tumor tissue. RESULTS: The xenograft model was successfully established. Histopathologic characteristics of the xenograft tumors were similar to the patient's tumor. Early passage of the PDTT showed a similar chemosensitivity pattern to the original tumor tissue. CONCLUSIONS: PDTT xenograft of WT provides an appropriate model for individualized cancer therapeutic regimen selection by means of its biological stability compared with original patient's tumor.

Combination of probiotics and antibiotics in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in children.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the preventive effect of probiotic and antibiotics versus antibiotics alone, in children with recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI) in a preliminary randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Between March 2007 and April 2011, children with the history of RUTI and unilateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) were randomly assigned to receive concomitant probiotic and antibiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis, 10(7)/ml, as 0.25 ml/kg three times a day regimen in addition to Nitrofurantoin, 1mg/kg daily (group I). In group II, all children received conventional prophylactic antibiotics alone (Nitrofurantoin, 1 mg/kg daily). Randomization was performed via using the random numerals table in a 1:1 manner with stratification by sex, age and grade of reflux. The urine examinations were done monthly and the incidence of UTI was evaluated in these two groups. FINDINGS: Forty-one children (age: 8.3±3.1 years) in group I and 44 children (age: 8.0±3.0 years) in group II were compared. During the course of three years, 39% in group I and 50% of participants in group II experienced RUTIs (P=0.4). Incidences of UTI - febrile and afebrile - reduced in both groups without any significant differences after two years of prophylaxis. Also, incidence of afebrile UTIs did not significantly differ (0.51±1.30 and 0.81±1.41 respectively, P =0.3); however, the incidence of febrile UTIs in particular were lower in group I (0.00±0.00 versus 0.13±0.40, P =0.03) in the last year. CONCLUSION: The consumption of probiotic and antibiotics in children with RUTI is safe and more effective in reducing the incidence of febrile UTI in comparison to prophylactic antibiotics alone.

Chronic mustard toxicity on the testis: a historical cohort study two decades after exposure.

We aimed to assess the long-term toxic effects of sulphur mustard (SM) on the testis and male fertility two decades after exposure. A historical cohort study was conducted in 2005. Sixty-four SM-exposed and 64 matched SM-unexposed casualties of the Iraq-Iran conflict were enrolled. Fecundity status, semen indices, hormonal assay results and testis histopathology were evaluated. Male factor infertility was diagnosed in 23 and 5% of married exposed and unexposed casualties, respectively (p < 0.01). All semen indices declined over the 15 years since 1990 among the exposed group. Furthermore, all indices with the exception of sperm motility were significantly lower in the exposed than in unexposed men. The follicle-stimulating hormone level was higher in the infertile than in fertile exposed men (p < 0.001). Testis histopathology of the azoospermic men showed complete absence of spermatogenesis with only Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. SM can be gonadotoxic and its chronic toxicity may be permanent. Germ cells are probably the most susceptible gonadal cells to SM.