Differing characteristics of human papillomavirus RNA-positive and RNA-negative anal carcinomas

Article Abstract:

There are over 60 different types of human papillomavirus, a virus that causes warts. Twenty-two types are found in the genital tract and four of these, types 16, 18, 31, and 33, have been associated with genital cancer, predominantly cervical cancer. In both the cervix and the anus there is a transition zone in which two different types of epithelium (a type of cell layer) come together. Therefore, it is not surprising that papillomavirus is implicated in the development of some anal cancers as well. A study was conducted to detect the presence of viral genes in 47 anal cancers and 11 rectal cancers. The technique of in situ hybridization, in which radioactive gene probes bind to cells that contain the target genes, did not localize papillomavirus genes in any of the rectal cancers. The majority of anal cancers may be classified as one of three types, squamous cell carcinoma, basaloid carcinoma (also called cloacogenic), and adenocarcinoma. The six adenocarcinomas contained no indication of papillomavirus. However, papillomavirus genes were found in 30 of the remaining 41 cancers. Adenocarcinomas are defined as cancers in which the cancerous cells have the appearance of glandular cells; the basaloid and squamous cell carcinomas are sometimes classed together as nonglandular anal carcinomas. The results of this study indicate that anal cancers may be divided into distinct groups. The glandular cancers may be unrelated to papillomavirus, while the nonglandular carcinomas may be the result of papillomavirus infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Papillomaviruses, Papillomavirus, Identification and classification, Anal cancer

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Pretreatment with ibuprofen augments circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and elastase during acute endotoxinemia

Article Abstract:

Acute endotoxinemia is an infection that results when poisons are released throughout the body as bacteria break down. It causes several effects on the body, including fever, headache, and an increase in the numbers of white blood cells (which fight infection.) These changes are moderated by the action of a number of cytokines (substances released by cells to regulate other cells), including interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A number of studies have shown that cytokines can be detected in the blood of patients with acute endotoxinemia, and there appears to be a correlation between the level of cytokines and the severity of infection. The highest levels are found in patients with fatal illness. Twenty men aged 20-42 years were assigned to one of three groups. They were administered either Escherichia coli endotoxin alone, ibuprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and then the endotoxin, or saline (a salt and water solution; the control group). It was found that those given ibuprofen had greater cytokine levels in their blood and few or no symptoms of acute endotoxinemia. These results suggest that ibuprofen blunts the clinical response to endotoxin and increases cytokine levels, enabling the body to combat the infection better than it could alone. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Measurement, Drug therapy, Ibuprofen, Septic shock, Cytokines

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