The clinical utility of SPECT/CT hybrid imaging on bleeding Meckel's diverticulum in adults.

Technetium-99m pertechnetate planar scintigraphy is the procedure of choice to localize ectopic gastric mucosa. However, single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) provides precise landmarks and scintigraphic findings. We report a case of an adult patient with Meckel's diverticulum involving an atypical location, within the pelvic region, next to the right margin of the urinary bladder. Imaging characteristics supported the diagnosis of either Meckel's or bladder diverticulum. Single photon emission computed tomography /CT was the key method to obtain definite diagnosis, since the low-dose CT revealed the presence of air within the lesion of radiotracer uptake. This finding was suggestive of an outpouching of the bowel wall.

Interleukin-10 Induces Both Plasma Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis in Multiple Myeloma.

In multiple myeloma the angiogenic process is enhanced by various mediators. Among them interleukin-10 (IL-10), secreted mainly by myeloma-associated macrophages seems to participate in myeloma progression with variable manners. The aim of the study was to measure serum levels of IL-10 in various stages of MM patients and to correlate them with various angiogenic cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2 and with known proliferation parameters, such as serum levels of B-cell activating factor and bone marrow infiltration by myeloma plasma cells, in order to explore their clinical significance. We measured serum levels of the above parameters by ELISA in 54 newly diagnosed MM patients. All of them were higher in MM patients and were increasing in parallel with disease progression. Furthermore, IL-10 correlated positively with both angiogenic cytokines and proliferation markers. This correlation of IL-10 with both angiogenic cytokines and markers of disease activity implicates that they all have an important role in MM pathogenesis and progression.

The significance of non correlation between interleukin-8 serum levels with bone marrow microvascular density in patients with myeloma multiple.

In multiple myeloma (MM), angiogenesis plays a substantial role in disease progression. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine with potent pro-angiogenic properties, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MM. The aim of the study is to measure serum levels of IL-8 in MM patients and to correlate them with markers of angiogenesis, such as circulating levels of platelet derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) and angiogenin (Ang), and bone marrow microvascular density (MVD). Fifty-three newly diagnosed MM patients, 23 of them, who reached plateau phase after effective treatment and 20 healthy controls, were studied. Serum levels of PDGF-AB, Ang and IL-8 were measured by ELISA, whereas bone marrow MVD was estimated by immunohistochemical staining of vessels with anti-CD31. All measured parameters were higher in MM patients compared to controls and in increased disease stages. They all also significantly decreased in plateau phase. IL-8 correlated positively with Ang and PDGF-AB, but not with MVD. The circulating levels of IL-8, PDGF-AB and Ang are elevated in patients with MM. The lack of correlation between IL-8 with MVD suggests that its levels represent the inflammatory element of MM disease and the participation in angiogenesis process is rather complex with multifactorial mechanisms.

Role of platelet-derived growth factor-AB in tumour growth and angiogenesis in relation with other angiogenic cytokines in multiple myeloma.

Angiogenesis is a complex process essential for the growth, invasion, and metastasis of various malignant tumours, including multiple myeloma (MM). Various angiogenic cytokines have been implicated in the angiogenic process. Among them, platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) has been reported to be a potent stimulator of angiogenesis in many solid tumours and haematological malignancies, including MM. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between PDGF-AB, microvascular density (MVD), and various angiogenic cytokines, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), angiogenin (ANG), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in MM patients. Forty-seven MM patients before treatment, 22 of whom were in plateau phase, were studied. We determined the serum levels of the aforementioned cytokines and MVD in bone marrow biopsies before and after treatment. Mean serum values of PDGF-AB, b-FGF, ANG, and MVD were significantly higher in patients compared with controls and with increasing disease stage. Significant positive correlations were observed between serum PDGF-AB, ANG, and IL-6 levels and MVD. Furthermore, we found significant positive correlations between PDGF-AB and b-FGF, IL-6, ANG, and ß2 microglobulin. We also found that patients with high MVD had statistically significantly higher serum levels of PDGF-AB when a median MVD value of 7.7 was used as the cutoff point. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in serum levels of PDGF-AB between pre- and post-treatment patients. Finally, survival time was significantly higher in the low MVD group versus the high MVD group (76 vs 51 months). Our results showed that there is a strong positive correlation between PDGF-AB and the studied angiogenic cytokines and MVD. It seems that PDGF-AB plays a role in the complex network of cytokines inducing bone marrow neovascularization in patients with MM.