Imidazolium trans-imidazoledimethylsulphoxidetetrachlororuthenate ImH[trans-RuCl4(DMSO)Im] (NAMI-A), a ruthenium compound that replaces Na+ with ImH+ in the molecule of Na[trans-RuCl4(DMSO)Im] (NAMI), was studied for the anti-metastasis effects in models of solid metastasizing tumours of the mouse. NAMI-A, given i.p. at 35 mg/kg/day for six consecutive days, a dose equimolar to that of NAMI, to mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma and MCa mammary carcinoma, markedly reduces lung metastasis weight by 80-90%, with an effect equal or even superior to that of NAMI, depending on the experimental system adopted. Correspondingly, NAMI-A increases the content of connective tissue in the tumour matrix, around blood vessels, and in the tumour capsule, augments the percentage of tumour cells in G2/M phase and reduces the amount of CD45+ cells infiltrating the tumour parenchyma. The effects of the same doses on spleen lymphocytes correspond to an increase of CD8+ subset without any change of the distribution of cells in G0/G1, S and G2/M phases. The study shows that NAMI-A behaves similarly to NAMI on the several parameters examined in comparison experiments and therefore we suggest to credit NAMI-A with all the biological actions already described for NAMI during the last 3 years. The replacement of Na+ with ImH+ therefore, besides the better chemical stability of the molecule, confers to [trans-RuCl4(DMSO)Im]- a closer similarity with a true drug to be used in humans, and suggests this molecule for future studies of preclinical toxicology and phase I and II clinical trials.

Table of contentsP001 - Sepsis impairs the capillary response within hypoxic capillaries and decreases erythrocyte oxygen-dependent ATP effluxR. M. Bateman, M. D. Sharpe, J. E. Jagger, C. G. EllisP002 - Lower serum immunoglobulin G2 level does not predispose to severe flu.J. Solé-Violán, M. López-Rodríguez, E. Herrera-Ramos, J. Ruíz-Hernández, L. Borderías, J. Horcajada, N. González-Quevedo, O. Rajas, M. Briones, F. Rodríguez de Castro, C. Rodríguez GallegoP003 - Brain protective effects of intravenous immunoglobulin through inhibition of complement activation and apoptosis in a rat model of sepsisF. Esen, G. Orhun, P. Ergin Ozcan, E. Senturk, C. Ugur Yilmaz, N. Orhan, N. Arican, M. Kaya, M. Kucukerden, M. Giris, U. Akcan, S. Bilgic Gazioglu, E. TuzunP004 - Adenosine a1 receptor dysfunction is associated with leukopenia: A possible mechanism for sepsis-induced leukopeniaR. Riff, O. Naamani, A. DouvdevaniP005 - Analysis of neutrophil by hyper spectral imaging - A preliminary reportR. Takegawa, H. Yoshida, T. Hirose, N. Yamamoto, H. Hagiya, M. Ojima, Y. Akeda, O. Tasaki, K. Tomono, T. ShimazuP006 - Chemiluminescent intensity assessed by eaa predicts the incidence of postoperative infectious complications following gastrointestinal surgeryS. Ono, T. Kubo, S. Suda, T. Ueno, T. IkedaP007 - Serial change of c1 inhibitor in patients with sepsis – A prospective observational studyT. Hirose, H. Ogura, H. Takahashi, M. Ojima, J. Kang, Y. Nakamura, T. Kojima, T. ShimazuP008 - Comparison of bacteremia and sepsis on sepsis related biomarkersT. Ikeda, S. Suda, Y. Izutani, T. Ueno, S. OnoP009 - The changes of procalcitonin levels in critical patients with abdominal septic shock during blood purificationT. Taniguchi, M. OP010 - Validation of a new sensitive point of care device for rapid measurement of procalcitoninC. Dinter, J. Lotz, B. Eilers, C. Wissmann, R. LottP011 - Infection biomarkers in primary care patients with acute respiratory tract infections – Comparison of procalcitonin and C-reactive proteinM. M. Meili, P. S. SchuetzP012 - Do we need a lower procalcitonin cut off?H. Hawa, M. Sharshir, M. Aburageila, N. SalahuddinP013 - The predictive role of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin biomarkers in central nervous system infections with extensively drug resistant bacteriaV. Chantziara, S. Georgiou, A. Tsimogianni, P. Alexandropoulos, A. Vassi, F. Lagiou, M. Valta, G. Micha, E. Chinou, G. MichaloudisP014 - Changes in endotoxin activity assay and procalcitonin levels after direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin-b immobilized fiberA. Kodaira, T. Ikeda, S. Ono, T. Ueno, S. Suda, Y. Izutani, H. ImaizumiP015 - Diagnostic usefullness of combination biomarkers on ICU admissionM. V. De la Torre-Prados, A. Garcia-De la Torre, A. Enguix-Armada, A. Puerto-Morlan, V. Perez-Valero, A. Garcia-AlcantaraP016 - Platelet function analysis utilising the PFA-100 does not predict infection, bacteraemia, sepsis or outcome in critically ill patientsN. Bolton, J. Dudziak, S. Bonney, A. Tridente, P. NeeP017 - Extracellular histone H3 levels are in...

Chromosome 18q allelic loss is a prognostic marker in colorectal cancers. Chromosome 18 LOH studies may be useful in identifying patients with stage II disease who are at high risk for recurrence, and as such might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Fifty-five patients had resection of locally recurrent rectal cancer. Fourteen patients (25 per cent) had distant metastases, which were resected concurrently in six (11 per cent). Thirty-three patients (60 per cent) had preoperative (one patient) or postoperative (32) external beam radiotherapy (45-60 Gy). The 5-year survival rate was 18 per cent with a median survival of 24 months. The median symptom-free interval was 24 months. At a median follow-up of 28 months 53 per cent of patients had a second local recurrence and 24 per cent metastases only. Treatment complications occurred in 12 patients (22 per cent), three (5 per cent) of whom died 3-10 months after operation. Variables that were significantly related with longer survival and palliation were the radical nature of the operation, the absence of severe symptoms (such as pain, obstruction or sepsis), a recurrent tumour diameter of less than 5 cm measured on the resected specimen and a normal carcinoembryonic antigen level after reoperation. A Cox regression model showed that recurrent tumour diameter was the only independent prognostic variable. Surgery for local recurrence achieved local control in 47 per cent of patients with a low morbidity and mortality rate.

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