Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and corticosterone levels in seven polar seabird species.

The role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on exposure-related endocrine effects has been poorly investigated in wild birds. This is the case for stress hormones including corticosterone (CORT). Some studies have suggested that environmental exposure to PCBs and altered CORT secretion might be associated. Here we investigated the relationships between blood PCB concentrations and circulating CORT levels in seven free-ranging polar seabird species occupying different trophic positions, and hence covering a wide range of PCB exposure. Blood ∑7PCB concentrations (range: 61-115,632 ng/g lw) were positively associated to baseline or stress-induced CORT levels in three species and negatively associated to stress-induced CORT levels in one species. Global analysis suggests that in males, baseline CORT levels generally increase with increasing blood ∑7PCB concentrations, whereas stress-induced CORT levels decrease when reaching high blood ∑7PCB concentrations. This study suggests that the nature of the PCB-CORT relationships may depend on the level of PCB exposure.

[Adoptive immunotherapy with interleukin 2. Initial results of a pilot study in 6 cancer patients]. / Immunothérapie adoptive par interleukine-2. Premiers résultats d'une étude pilote chez 6 malades cancéreux.

Adoptive immunotherapy of cancer consists of using interleukin-2 to induce the formation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells which are toxic to tumoral cells. Six patients, 3 with hypernephroma and 3 with melanoma, were treated with interleukin-2. Drug toxicity consisted of capillary leakage syndrome in one case and reversible renal impairment in another. One patient showed an objective response; transient subjective improvement was observed in all patients.

Role of intensive care unit in a medical oncology department.

Over a 4-year period, 912 patients were admitted to the ICU of the medical oncology service at the Institut Jules Bordet: 574 (63%) were admitted for medical emergencies and 338 (37%) for intensive treatment and/or monitoring. In the first group, the main causes of admission were hypercalcemia, thromboembolic disease, cardiac arhythmias, encephalopathies and pneumopathies. Overall mortality during the ICU stay was 23% (133/574). In the second group, patients were admitted primarily in order to receive, under optimal surveillance, anticancer treatment, either because they were at high risk of complications or because the approach was mainly investigational; several investigations, in the fields of supportive care and anticancer treatment, were successfully conducted within the ICU environment.

Multiple organ failure during interleukin-2 administration and LAK cells infusion.

Adoptive immunotherapy is a new promising treatment for cancer but is associated with severe toxicity mainly related to a capillary leak syndrome. We report the case of a patient with metastatic hypernephroma, who had many complications such as coma, renal failure, pulmonary edema, life-threatening acidosis, cardiac arrhythmias and venous thrombosis. Critical care specialists should be aware of this type of cancer therapy because of multiple side effects requiring ICU supportive care.