[Dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy]. / Inmunoterapia genética con células dendríticas para el tratamiento del cáncer.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, biomedical scientists have tried to take advantage of the natural anti-cancer activities of the immune system. However, all the scientific and medical efforts dedicated to this have not resulted in the expected success. In fact, classical antineoplastic treatments such as surgery, radio and chemotherapy are still first line treatments. Even so, there is a quantity of experimental evidence demonstrating that cancer cells are immunogenic. However, the effective activation of anti-cancer T cell responses closely depends on an efficient antigen presentation carried out by professional antigen presenting cells such as DC. Although there are a number of strategies to strengthen antigen presentation by DC, anti-cancer immunotherapy is not as effective as we would expect according to preclinical data accumulated in recent decades. We do not aim to make an exhaustive review of DC immunotherapy here, which is an extensive research subject already dealt with in many specialised reviews. Instead, we present the experimental approaches undertaken by our group over the last decade, by modifying DC to improve their anti-tumour capacities.

Inmunoterapia genética con células dendríticas para el tratamiento del cáncer / Dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy

Desde comienzos del siglo XX, los científicos han intentado aprovechar las actividades naturales del sistema inmunológico para curar el cáncer. Sin embargo, las inmunoterapias no han dado el resultado clínico que podría haberse esperado. De hecho, lo tratamientos anti-neoplásicos clásicos como la cirugía, la radioterapia y la quimioterapia siguen consistiendo en la primera línea de tratamiento. Aun así, existe un gran número de evidencias experimentales sobre la inmunogenicidad de las células cancerosas. Sin embargo, la activación efectiva de las respuestas T anti-cancerosas depende estrechamente de la presentación eficiente de antígenos tumorales por parte de células presentadoras de antígeno profesionales, como las células dendríticas (dendritic cells, DC). Aunque se han desarrollado un gran número de estrategias para reforzar las funciones de presentación de antígeno de las DC, la inmunoterapia como tratamiento anti-neoplásico todavía no es tan efectiva como esperaríamos de acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en modelos preclínicos durante las últimas décadas. En este trabajo no pretendemos revisar exhaustivamente la inmunoterapia con DC, un campo ampliamente extenso y tratado en otras revisiones especializadas. Aquí se exponen la experiencias que nuestro grupo ha llevado a cabo durante la última década modificando genéticamente a las DC para mejorar su eficacia anti-tumoral (AU)

Since the beginning of the 20th century, biomedical scientists have tried to take advantage of the natural anti-cancer activities of the immune system. However, all the scientific and medical efforts dedicated to this have not resulted in the expected success. In fact, classical antineoplastic treatments such as surgery, radio and chemotherapy are still first line treatments. Even so, there is a quantity of experimental evidence demonstrating that cancer cells are immunogenic. However, the effective activation of anti-cancer T cell responses closely depends on an efficient antigen presentation carried out by professional antigen presenting cells such as DC. Although there are a number of strategies to strengthen antigen presentation by DC, anti-cancer immunotherapy is not as effective as we would expect according to preclinical data accumulated in recent decades. We do not aim to make an exhaustive review of DC immunotherapy here, which is an extensive research subject already dealt with in many specialised reviews. Instead, we present the experimental approaches undertaken by our group over the last decade, by modifying DC to improve their antitumour capacities (AU)

[Delay time to arrive at the hospital of 275 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Study form the province of Teruel (1991-1994)]. / Tiempo de demora en acudir al hospital de 275 pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio. Análisis de la provincia de Teruel (1991-1994).

BACKGROUND: To study the delay time to arrive of the hospital and its relation with any variables, of patients with acute myocardial infarction from the province of Teruel (Spain). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out from January 1991 to October 1994. We included patients who were diagnosticated of the acute myocardial infarction (212 men and 63 women). We considered the time between the thoracic pain and their arrive at the urgency service. We based the diagnosis in clinical, electrocardiographic and enzymatic criteria. RESULTS: The mean delay time was 8 h 46 m. The 66.5% arrives before 6 hours. We found no differences between rural or urban patients. The delay time was minor in men than women (7 h 12 m versus 14 h, p = 0.0019), in younger (< 65 years old) than in the older (6 h 3 m versus 10 h 18 m, p = 0.0278), and in those who were admitted to the ICU (7h 16 m versus 20 h 33 m, p = 0.0001). Was longer in patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes. Was minor in patients with dyslipemia and tobacco habit. Many patients to arrive of the hospital by physician order and with own vehicles, it took less time arrive at the hospital than by ambulance (8 h 30 m versus 18 h, p < 0.05). The medium delay in the emergency area was 2 h 35 m. The delay time was longer in patients who died (16 h versus 7h 30 m, p = 0.0018) and in those who present more frequently cardiac failure. CONCLUSIONS: The mean delay time to arrive at the hospital in patients with acute myocardial infarction from the province of Teruel (Spain) in unreasonable and in takes a poor prognosis, so we consider necessary to study the causes of this delay in order to correct them.

[Treatment of pain and anxiety in terminal oncologic patients in the Castilla-La Mancha community]. / Tratamiento del dolor y la ansiedad en el paciente oncológico terminal en la comunidad de Castilla-La Mancha.

OBJECTIVE: To find what palliative treatment, in particular for pain and anxiety, terminal cancer patients in the Community of Castilla La Mancha receive. DESIGN: A descriptive, retrospective study by means of a questionnaire. SETTING: Primary Care. Autonomous Community of Castilla La Mancha. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A survey of 157 doctors with data referring to their last cancer patient deceased in the period from January to August, 1994. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data on 157 patients were received. Of all the tumours, lung cancer was the most common (22.93%). Pain was the symptom most often mentioned (92.91%); anxiety appeared in 70.06%. The most commonly used non-opiate analgesic was Paracetamol (58.22%). Morphine was used in 46.48%, for an average period of 2.35 months (SD = 2.21). Side-effects due to morphine appeared in 22.06%. Complementary drugs to treat pain were used in 13.01% of cases. 12% were referred to specialists for analgesic control. Doctors used pain measurement tables in 5.48% of cases. 19.09% of patients suffering anxiety received no type of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We think that analgesic tables to monitor the treatment should be used. Attention should be paid to the appearance of side-effects of morphine, the circulation of pain graduation tables and the evaluation of anxiety in this category of patient.

Activity on the central nervous system of Himanthalia elongata; Part II.

We report the effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and on analgesic activity of a fraction (F2) obtained from a Himanthalia elongata extract. The fraction was assayed for effects on spontaneous locomotor activity, d-amphetamine-induced hypermotility, motor coordination, muscular relaxation, rectal temperature, sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions. Analgesic activity was evaluated using the hot plate test and the Randall-Selitto test (1). The fraction caused significant reductions in spontaneous locomotor activity, hypermotility, rectal temperature, and motor coordination and postponed pentylenetetrazole-induced death, but no effect was noted on muscle relaxation or the duration of sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep. The fraction exhibited central analgesic effects in the hot plate and Randall-Selitto tests.