A syngeneic orthotopic murine model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the C57/BL6 mouse using the Panc02 and 6606PDA cell lines.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To develop a clinically relevant immunocompetent murine model to study pancreatic cancer using two different syngeneic pancreatic cancer cell lines and to assess MRI for its applicability in this model. METHODS: Two cell lines, 6606PDA and Panc02, were employed for the experiments. Cell proliferation and migration were monitored in vitro. Matrigel™ was tested for its role in tumor induction. Tumor cell growth was assessed after orthotopic injection of tumor cells into the pancreatic head of C57/BL6 mice by MRI and histology. RESULTS: Proliferation and migration of Panc02 were significantly faster than those of 6606PDA. Matrigel did not affect tumor growth/migration but prevented tumor cell spread after injection thus avoiding undesired peritoneal tumor growth. MRI could reliably monitor longitudinal tumor growth in both cell lines: Panc02 had a more irregular finger-like growth, and 6606PDA grew more spherically. Both tumors showed local invasiveness. Histologically, Panc02 showed a sarcoma-like undifferentiated growth pattern, whereas 6606PDA displayed a moderately differentiated glandular tumor growth. Panc02 mice had a significantly shorter (28 days) survival than 6606PDA mice (50 days). CONCLUSION: This model closely mimics human pancreatic cancer. MRI was invaluable for longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth thus reducing the number of mice required. Employing two different cell lines, this model can be used for various treatment and imaging studies.

The implementation of a quality-net as a part of the European project DIABCARE Q-Net.

DIABCARE Q-Net is a European project with a consortium of partners in healthcare, industry, and research, which has the overall target of improvement in diabetes care by aggregation, evaluation, and feedback of anonymized patient data with the tools of modern telematics, resulting from the initiative of the St. Vincent-Declaration, St. Vincent, Italy. Based on standardized tools for quality improvement in diabetes care, i.e., the Basic Information Sheet (BIS) and recently developed data entry and feedback software (DIABCARE Data for Windows), DIABCARE Q-Net as a part of the Telematics Applications Program of the European Commission will improve diabetes care and disease management by the implementation of a quality network. Therefore, the project implements regional, national, and central nodes for processing of diabetes quality indicators. All participating centers (GP's and clinics in Europe) get feedback by standardized benchmarking. The pilot testing and the state of implementation of our network confirm the importance of improving the quality of life of diabetic patients in all participating countries.

Quantitative Gait Analysis Detects Significant Differences in Movement between Osteoarthritic and Nonosteoarthritic Guinea Pig Strains before and after Treatment with Flunixin Meglumine.

A computer-aided gait analysis system was used to contrast two guinea pig strains with differing propensity for osteoarthritis (OA), with/without administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Walking speed and static/dynamic gait parameters were determined at baseline. Flunixin meglumine was given and animals were evaluated 4, 24, and 72 hours after treatment. Body weight was compared using unpaired t-tests. Knee joints were histologically evaluated using species-specific criteria; indices were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons. A generalized linear model followed by Tukey's posttests juxtaposed gait parameters; walking speed was a covariate for other outcome measures. Body weight was not different between strains; OA-prone animals demonstrated more progressive chondropathy. At baseline, OA-prone animals had slower walking speeds, narrower hind limb bases of support, shorter stride lengths, and slower limb swing speeds relative to OA-resistant animals. These differences were not detected 4 or 24 hours after treatment. By 72 hours, OA-prone animals had returned to baseline values. These findings indicate a distinct voluntary gait pattern in a rodent model of bilateral primary OA, modification of which may allow rapid screening of novel therapies. Flunixin meglumine temporarily permitted OA-prone animals to move in a manner that was analogous to OA-resistant animals.

[Evaluation parameters of the glucose-infusion-test (GIT) from the biocybernetic point of view (author's transl)]. / Bewertungsparameter zum Glukoseinfusionstest (GIT) aus biokybernetischer Sicht.

It was attempted to evaluate the usual parameters of the glucose-infusion-test (GIT) from the biocybernetic point of view by considering the blood sugar and insulin-behaviour as a dynamic characteristic according to suddenly elevated glucose level. The insulin response is characterized by biphasic behaviour and could demonstrate a combined proportional, integratuel and differential regulation type (PID-regulation). The usual parameters of the glucose-infusion-test for the blood sugar and insulin behaviour contain essential biocybernetically important informations, certain restrictions and additional suggestions are given.

[Is there a variation of death causes in diabetic patients]. / Gibt es einen Wandel der Todesursachen bei Diabetikern?

On the basis of the post-mortem records of the Institute of Pathology of the University and District Hospital Rostock taking into consideration the clinical records the cause of 355 diabetics who died in the Rostock clinics from 1956 to 1972 were established and analysed. The results were compared with similar examinations of previous years, in which cases among others we established an increase of the mortality of diabetes and an increase of pyogenic infections and sclerosing vascular diseases as causes of death in diabetics. Special attention is paid to the factors of risk for the development of complications dangerous to life in diabetics and it is referred to the prophylactic and therapeutic consequences, respectively, resulting from this.