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    Oral Dis. 2005 Nov;11(6):338-49.

    Number V Oral lichen planus: clinical features and management.

    Eisen D, Carrozzo M, Bagan Sebastian JV, Thongprasom K.

    Source

    Dermatology Research Associates, Cincinnati, OH 45230, USA. drore@eos.net

    Abstract

    Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disorder affecting stratified squamous epithelia. Whereas in the majority of instances, cutaneous lesions of lichen planus (LP) are self-limiting and cause itching, oral lesions in OLP are chronic, rarely undergo spontaneous remission, are potentially premalignant and are often a source of morbidity. Current data suggest that OLP is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease in which auto-cytotoxic CD8+ T cells trigger apoptosis of oral epithelial cells. The characteristic clinical aspects of OLP may be sufficient to make a correct diagnosis if there are classic skin lesions present. An oral biopsy with histopathologic study is recommended to confirm the clinical diagnosis and mainly to exclude dysplasia and malignancy. The most commonly employed and useful agents for the treatment of lichen planus (LP) are topical corticosteroids but other newer agents are available.

    www.entindia.net


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    Cancer research and development is an ongoing process. In the field of mesothelioma treatment, researchers are focusing on improving traditional treatments as well as developing new techniques to ease the pain of patients. New chemotherapy agents and combination’s are now giving new hope to mesothelioma patients and are increasing the survival rate amongst them. Several recent advances have improved diagnosis and treatment of this incurable disease. Hoping for a cure in the near future is therefore not something surreal. CT Scans Treatment Mesothelioma Computer tomography scans are not only a diagnostic tool in mesothelioma treatment. CT Scans now enable the surgical team to accurately determine the position of tumors in the anatomy of the patient. This enables cytoreduction to be more effective. Adequate cytoreduction is an essential prerequisite to improving the survival chances of the patient. The greater the number of tumor cells that are removed, the less is the chances that the cancer grows and propagates. New Developments in Mesothelioma Research and Treatments Textbook of Pleural Diseases (Hodder Arnold Publication) Review. Textbook of Pleural Diseases (Hodder Arnold Publication) Overviews This is an internationally respected and authoritative work, providing in-depth coverage of all aspects of pleural disease. Building on the strengths of the well-received first edition, the book includes a thorough basic science section, aiding understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie diseases of the pleura. This is followed by a series of chapters discussing clinical aspects of the common (and less common) pleural diseases. Chapters in the clinical section–with authors from 10 countries–are written in an accessible and uniform style, making extensive use of illustrative material and covering definition, incidence and epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, clinical presentation, investigations, treatments, possible complications and directions for future developmetn. Chapters present ’state-of-the-art’ scientific knowledge, but are written with sufficient clarity as to be understood by clinicians with only a limited science background. All published managment guidelines are included, each chapter concludes with a summary of the ‘key points,’ highlighting practical messages regarding patient management for the reader, and a comprehensive reference list is provided. In a final chapter, the editors endeavour to rpedict how the area of pleural disease may develop in forthcoming decades. The book is an indispensable reference for pulmonologists with an interest in pleural disease, and is a useful reference for other pulmonary physicians and trainees in respiratory medicine.    Today! You will not be disappointed with Textbook of Pleural Diseases (Hodder Arnold Publication) You can compare the price and shipping detail of many suppliers here Check >Compare Prices Textbook of Pleural Diseases (Hodder Arnold Publication) Customer Review You can read the last customer review from users of Textbook of Pleural Diseases (Hodder Arnold Publication) at … Read Customer Reviews Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photodynamic Therapy is one of the latest mesothelioma treatments being researched. PDT makes use of a photosensitizer. This is a drug that produces active oxygen when exposed to a certain wavelength of light. Active oxygen destroys all nearby cells. When the patient is treated with the photosensitizer (e.g. with porfimer sodium), the drug invades the whole body. However, by the very nature of the molecule, it remains attached to cancer cells for a longer period. Hence, after a period of 24-72 hours, when the agent has been removed from the normal cells, the tumor is exposed to light (usually a laser transmitted to the tissue by a fiber optic cable carried by an endoscope). Active oxygen destroys the tumor cells directly with minimal damage to normal cells. PDT also helps to shrink tumors indirectly by destroying the blood vessels that supply tumors and activating the immune system to fight the tumor. The advantage of PDT is that it can be used repetitively with much less side effects than other treatments. The main drawback is that the light usually cannot reach tumor cells that are more than 1 cm deep. Hence, PDT is most effective in skin cancers and cancers found in the lining of internal organs or cavities. Fortunately, mesothelioma falls in this category. Angiogenesis Inhibitors Angiogenesis refers to the development of new blood vessels. Blood vessels are a critical factor in the growth of tumors. All malignant tumors develop their own vascular system that carries nutrients from the bloodstream to the tumor, fuelling its growth. Controlling the development of these vascular systems has been an important strategy in the fight against mesothelioma cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs that block angiogenesis. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor whose growth immediately halts. The advantage of angiogenesis inhibitors is that they are not as toxic as most other chemotherapy drugs. They can thus be given continuously to the patient and are thus more effective in fighting the cancer. An example of an anti-angiogenesis drug under clinical trial for mesothelioma is bevacizumab (Avastin). New Developments in Mesothelioma Research and Treatments Mesothelioma Lung Cancer San Francisco: California Law Firm Video Clips. Duration : 1.12 Mins. www.kazanvideo.com Mesothelioma lung cancer victims in San Francisco shouldnt be limited in treatment options because they cannot afford them. Kazan Law has represented Mesothelioma patients for decades, providing legal counsel and compensation to those who need justice. Let us handle your Mesothelioma lung cancer settlement in San Francisco. Visit www.kazanvideo.com or call 877.622.5246. Tags: legal, help, Mesothelioma, treatment, options, video, medical treatmentofmesothelioma.paktumblog.com


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    About two years ago, Dr. Philippe Gros, a McGill University professor in the Department of Biochemistry and a Principal Investigator in thd McGill Life Sciences Complex, described a mouse mutant that was immunodeficient and hypersensitive to the Bacille Calmette-Gu-rin (BCG) vaccine and to tuberculosis (TB). In this model, Gros’s team had found that the immunodeficiency was caused by a mutation in a regulatory protein of the immune system named IRF8.

    A year later, a physician in Newcastle who had heard about Gros’s work, contacted him about a three-month-old patient who was gravely ill and dying. The infant was suffering from an infection following a perinatal BCG vaccination. She had been treated aggressively with antibiotics but relapsed with additional infections. In addition, she showed a complete absence of circulating monocytes and dendritic cells in her blood – two critically important types of immune cells. She was admitted into an ICU and it seemed nothing could be done to save her.

    The clinical aspects of the infant’s immuno-deficiency were so strikingly similar to those of Gros’s earlier mouse model findings, that his research team investigated the human IRF8 gene for the presence of mutations in this infant. Dr. Gros group also examined IRF8 in a number of additional clinical cases of disseminated BCG infection following vaccination.

    What they found were two distinct disease-causing mutations – one that causes the severe reaction seen in the infant (autosomal recessive) and requires stem cell transplantation, and the other that causes a milder form of disease (autosomal dominant).

    These findings, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, point to a critical role for IRF8 in the development and function of monocytes and dendritic cells and in protecting against mycobacterial infections like TB in humans.

    According to Gros, the best part of this story is that the infant received the much needed stem cell transplant that ultimately cured her. Based on the team’s research, her doctors were going to transplant her with one of the parents’ cells as they were found to be a perfect match. However, when the team learned that the father was carrying one copy of the dysfunctional gene, and knowing that such a situation is deleterious in mice, the physicians opted instead to graft her with an unrelated donor.

    “I think this is a great example of the ‘discovery pipeline’ we have tried to set up at the Complex Traits Group lab,” said Gros. “This began as basic research. It evolved from genetic discoveries in mouse models through to validation in humans and knowledge translation to a positive clinical outcome.”

    “This is archetypal translational research,” said Dr. Richard I. Levin, Vice-Principal of Health Affairs and Dean of Medicine at McGill. “When results from lab work conducted in the Life Sciences Complex can be shared across the ocean in context and in time to save a child’s life, we know our objectives are being fulfilled.”

    Source: McGill University

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    Clinical Review: Asbestos-related Disease.

    Intern Med J. 2011 Feb 10;

    Authors: Jamrozik E, de Klerk N, Musk A

    Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres causes several diseases. These include asbestosis, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma as well as pleural effusion, discrete (plaques) or diffuse benign pleural fibrosis and rolled atelectasis. The lag time between exposure and the development of disease may be many decades, thus the health risks of asbestos continue to be relevant despite bans on the use of asbestos and improvements in safety regulations for those who are still exposed. Asbestos was mined and used extensively in Australia for over 100 years and Australia is now experiencing part of a worldwide epidemic of asbestos related disease. This review provides insight into the history and epidemiology of asbestos related disease in Australia and discusses relevant clinical aspects in their diagnosis and management. The past and current medico legal aspects of asbestos as well as currently evolving areas of research and future projections are summarised.

    PMID: 21309996 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


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    Malignant Mesothelioma: A Clinical Study of 238 Cases.

    Ind Health. 2010 Dec 16;

    Authors: Haber SE, Haber JM

    Malignant mesothelioma is a diffuse tumor arising in the pleura, peritoneum, or other serosal surface and is closely associated with asbestos exposure. An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Although there are individual case reports and small series detailing the clinical aspects of mesothelioma, few studies examine a large series of patients with malignant mesothelioma from the clinical perspective. This study reports on the findings of 238 cases of malignant mesothelioma from a private consultative medical practice. Most cases had a history of occupational asbestos exposure. The mean latency was 48.5 yr, with women having a longer latency than men. The mean age at diagnosis was 70. Survival overall was poor (mean 8.8 months), but treatment was beneficial (mean 11.3 versus 6.4 months). Epithelioid histology conferred a survival advantage over sarcomatoid and responded better to treatment. Our data support an inverse relationship between asbestos dose and latency.

    PMID: 21173534 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


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