[Detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA sequence in biopsy samples of cervical cancer]

Biopsy samples of the cervical cancer and cervicitis were analysed by HCMV-DNA hybridization method. The results indicated that HCMV-DNA was detected in 21 (36%) of 59 cervical cancer and 6 (21%) of 28 cervicitis specimens, using 32P-DNA probe containing transformation gene (14% of total genome) to hybridize. None of 25 cervical cancer and 19 cervicitis samples showed positive HCMV-DNA, using 32P-DNA probe without transformation gene (76% of total genome). The preliminary results show that the sequence of CMV transformation gene is present in about one third of cervical cancer and one fifth of cervicitis biopsy samples tested. This detection rate is lower than that of Taiwan Province and Africa, and slightly higher than that of the USA and Finland. The relation between the HCMV and cervical cancer is being further studied.

[Evaluation of combined chemotherapy including high-dose cisplatin in the treatment of malignant tumors]

The results of 63 patients with advanced malignant tumors treated by combined chemotherapy including high-dose cisplatin (HD-DDP) (single dose 50-100 mg/m2) are reported. The remission rates and duration of the remission for various malignant tumors were: 40% (10 PR out of 25 patients) and 3-8 months for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated by PMFV (DDP, MMC, 5FU and VCR) regimen; 87% (4 CR and 9 PR out of 15) and 3-14 months for breast cancer treated by PCMF (DDP, CTX, MTX and 5FU) regimen; 100% (1 CR and 3 PR out of 4) and 3-10 months for testicular cancer treated by PPV (DDP, Pingyangmycin and VCR) regimen; 57% (1CR and 3 PR out of 7) and 5-12 months for malignant melanoma treated by PBDV (DDP, BCNU, DTIC and VCR) regimen; 33% (2 PR out of 6) and 5 months for esophageal cancer treated by PPV regimen. In 6 patients with other malignant tumors, the remission rate was 50% (3 PR). The results show that the combined regimens including HD-DDP in the treatment of breast cancer and NSCLC (remission rate 87% and 40%, respectively) are better than that including low-dose DDP (17% and 7%) (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.01) and that including adriamycin (30% and 13%) (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.05). In the treatment, obvious gastrointestinal reaction, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and mild functional damage of the liver and kidney were observed.

A pilot vitamin intervention trial in Linxian, People's Republic of China

A 24-week pilot study of daily or weekly multiple vitamin supplementation among 852 adults in Linxian, where the rate of esophageal cancer is exceptionally high, demonstrated the feasibility of an intervention trial in this population. Compliance, when judged by pill count, was high for both frequencies of pill use. Only 2% of the subjects refused to take any pills, and, among pill takers, over 95% were reported to be taking most of their pills at the end of the study. Biochemical confirmation of high compliance was demonstrated in urine and blood tests, which showed markedly improved vitamin levels after supplementation. Results of the pilot study indicated that a system in which barefoot doctors were used in pill distribution was effective and that established field operating procedures for a full-scale intervention trial in this area were acceptable.

[Computed gamma-tomographic estimation of a hepatic weight index during liver regeneration]

Single photon emission computed tomography was used to evaluate the total functioning liver mass and the regeneration process after partial hepatectomy. Serial tomographic sections were performed after infusion of 99m Technetium. In studies on dogs and in human beings, computed gammatomography enabled to calculate the liver mass with less than 10 p. 100 error. Hepatic regeneration was studied in 10 patients following resection of 46 to 84 p. 100 of the initial liver mass. The remaining liver mass increased rapidly postoperatively and doubled within 13 to 18 days. The regeneration process followed an exponential curve. Assessment of liver regeneration by this non-invasive technique should be of great help following partial hepatectomy.

Cytosolic and nuclear estrogen receptors in the isolated perfused rat liver

The isolated perfused rat liver was investigated as a potential model to analyze binding of 17 beta-[3H]estradiol (E2) to cytosolic and nuclear estrogen receptors. Viability of the isolated perfused liver was monitored by measuring leakage of cytosolic enzymes into the perfusate. These studies indicated that the liver remained viable for at least a 90-min perfusion period although significant decreases in cytosolic estrogen receptor concentrations occurred during this perfusion period. Estrogen receptor loss was minimized by supplementing the red blood cell-free perfusion medium with 5 micrograms of insulin per ml. Uptake of [3H]E2 by hepatic cytosolic estrogen receptors of the isolated perfused liver was rapid as measured by partial purification of radiolabeled ligand receptor complexes after varying times of perfusion. Peak liver concentrations of receptor-bound E2 were achieved 15 min after the onset of perfusion when using livers from either male or female rats. After 15 min, radiolabeled cytosolic ligand receptor complexes decreased rapidly, reaching lowest concentrations at 60 min. Radiolabeled salt-extractable nuclear-binding sites increased up to 30 min and then decreased slightly between 30 and 90 min. Both 4S and 5S forms of nuclear binding sites were detected in the isolated perfused livers as evaluated by sedimentation analysis on 5 to 20% sucrose density gradients. Concentrations of radiolabeled cytosolic and nuclear receptors were greater in females than males at all perfusion periods examined when the initial concentration of [3H]E2 was 4 nm. Sex differences in receptor uptake were not as great when higher concentrations of [3H]E2 were added to the perfusion medium. These studies suggest that the isolated perfused liver is a suitable model to investigate short-term uptake of estrogens by cytosolic and nuclear receptors.

T cell antigens and MHC determinants on rabbit granulocytes

A cell preparation, consisting of 90% granulocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes), can be obtained from the rabbit peritoneal cavity. These cells have some membrane antigens, similar to those characteristic of thymus cells (T1, T2), but they do not have the thymus antigen, RTLA. Unlike thymus cells, many polymorphonuclear leukocytes have Ia antigen, in their membranes. Heterogeneity of the cell population is indicated by differences in the number of cells affected by complement-mediated cytotoxic cell-kill with monoclonal antibodies, directed against T1 and T2 and with polyclonal antibodies directed against Ia.

Serologic diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A double-blind study of four EB virus antibodies with evaluation by sequential discrimination

It is generally known that a close relationship exists between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recently, patients with early lesions of NPC have been detected in the general population by use of serologic mass survey. Using the double-blind method, we have studied the diagnostic value of the four EBV antibody titers, VCA-IgA, VCA-IgG, EA-IgA and EA-IgG, in four groups of subjects, each consisting of 50 persons: patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC group), patients with cancers other than NPC in the head and neck regions (HNC group), patients with cancers outside of head and neck regions (OC group) and normal individuals (NS group). The results of these four antibodies were evaluated both singularly and together by multivariate sequential discrimination. Taking 1:10 as the criterion of being positive, in the NPC group, the positive rate of VCA-IgA is 88%, the VCA-IgG rate is 100%, the EA-IgA rate is 48% and the EA-IgG rate is 74%. In the non-NPC group, the positive rates of VCA-IgA are as high as 86%-92%, but those of the other antibodies are as low as 0-42%. The positive rates and the geometric mean titers of these four antibodies were all elevated as compared with those in the three non-NPC groups. These differences are statistically significant. VCA-IgG is unimportant in the diagnosis of NPC because of its low specificity. By treating the antibody titers of VCA-IgA, VCA-IgG, EA-IgA and EA-IgG with sequential discrimination, the correlation rate between the serology and pathology of NPC is 88% and the false positive rate is 7.3%.

Relation between geographical distribution of liver cancer and climate-aflatoxin B1 in China

This paper analyses, for the first time in China, the relationship between the data on climate (temperature and humidity) in the country, aflatoxin, hepatitis B and primary liver cancer mortality, by using the methods of geographical epidemiology and generalized factor analysis, and also approaches the characteristics of the geographical distribution of liver cancer in China from a climate-mould viewpoint. The authors come to the conclusion that climate is an important environmental condition that determines the differences in the distributions of liver cancer in different areas, and that aflatoxin B1 is one of the main carcinogenic factors of liver cancer.

[Comparative study of 3 portasystemic shunts following 65% hepatectomy in the dog. Evaluation of 2 specific functions of the liver]

Three types of porto-systemic shunt were performed in the dog following 65% hepatectomy with the aim of determining the best porto-systemic shunt for the maintenance of hepatic function during regeneration of the liver: terminolateral portocaval shunt, mesenterico-caval shunt and spleno-pancreatico-caval shunt. The hepatic functions studied were the hydroxylation of vitamin D and proaccelerin synthesis. These functions were unaffected by the mesenterico-caval shunt whilst they were depressed to the same extent by both other types of shunt.

Work in progress: treatment planning system for conformation radiotherapy

Conformation radiotherapy is a treatment technique that allows the high-dose region in the treatment field to be shaped to the prescribed treatment volume. The algorithms and software for obtaining a complete dose distribution needed to plan conformation radiotherapy for patients have been developed and implemented on the Modulex RTP system, manufactured by Computerized Medical Systems, Inc. Standard beam data, i.e., tissue-phantom ratios and off-center ratios, were used to calculate asymmetric dose profiles for the irregular field at any gantry angle. Computed dose distributions were compared with measured dose distributions and agreement was within 5% in the high-dose region.