Lancet
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Prediction of tumour response before onset of treatment could have considerable clinical benefit. Since the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of a tumour's water content can show the extent of necrosis, we looked for a possible correlation of ADC with response to treatment. ⋯ We found a strong negative correlation between mean pretreatment tumour water ADC and percentage size change of tumours after chemotherapy (r=-0.67, p=0.01) and chemoradiation (r=-0.83, p=0.001). Persistence of low ADC in responders after chemotherapy could represent loss of a non-viable fraction of the treated tumour.
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Exosomes derived from tumours are small vesicles released in vitro by tumour cell lines in culture supernatants. To assess the role of these exosomes in vivo, we examined malignant effusions for their presence. We also investigated whether these exosomes could induce production of tumour-specific T cells when pulsed with dendritic cells. ⋯ Exosomes derived from tumours accumulate in ascites from patients with cancer. Ascitis exosomes are a natural and new source of tumour-rejection antigens, opening up new avenues for immunisation against cancers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and safety of intravenous levosimendan compared with dobutamine in severe low-output heart failure (the LIDO study): a randomised double-blind trial.
Levosimendan, a novel calcium sensitiser, improves myocardial contractility without causing an increase in myocardial oxygen demand. We compared the effects of levosimendan and dobutamine on haemodynamic performance and clinical outcome in patients with low-output heart failure. ⋯ In patients with severe, low-output heart failure, levosimendan improved haemodynamic performance more effectively than dobutamine. This benefit was accompanied by lower mortality in the levosimendan group than in the dobutamine group for up to 180 days.