[Tumor antigen TA-4 of squamous cell carcinoma in patients with cervical cancer]

A tumor-marker TA-4 was purified from squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. TA-4 is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 48,000. Although some amounts of TA-4 activity have been found in the non-malignant squamous epithelium, there is a significant difference in TA-4 release between the malignant and non-malignant tissues, resulted in the specific detection of TA-4 in the circulation of patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical studies with the TA-4 RIA have demonstrated that TA-4 assay is useful to evaluate the extent or prognosis of disease and effectiveness of treatments, and to detect early recurrent disease.

Antitumor activity in the culture supernatant fluid of Fusobacterium nucleatum strain KO-31

Antitumor activity of Fusobacterium nucleatum strain KO-31, which had been isolated from the oral cavity, was investigated in Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice. The strain KO-31 was cultured in TF medium for 48 hr. One-half ml of the culture supernatant fluid was injected intraperitoneally during a 7-day period to mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The survival time of the treated mice prolonged remarkably. A significant reduction in size of the solid Ehrlich tumor was also achieved with the supernatant. Antitumor activity was not observed in the cell extract.

A new anatomic classification of capital fragments in femoral neck fractures with the epiphyseal scar as a guide

Seventy femoral neck fractures were examined clinically, radiologically, and histologically to ascertain whether the shape of the capital fragment, irrespective of the nature or age of the fracture, could be a determinant of the biologic condition within the head. Three types of excised capital fragments were defined according to the anatomic location of the fracture surface, with particular reference to the epiphyseal scar. Type I fragments, in which the fracture surface lies along the epiphyseal scar, showed complete capital necrosis, whereas Types II and III fragments, with the fracture surface in the subepiphyseal and subcapital zones, respectively, were found to be histologically viable. Moreover, Type III specimens tended to be more abundant in biologic response than Type II specimens. Thus, the biologic condition of the capital fragment is closely related to its shape. Since the type of capital fragment is, in most cases, judged correctly on the preoperative roentgenogram, this classification can be a helpful clue to the choice of treatment. From the biologic point of view, osteosynthesis should be limited to fractures with Type III capital fragments. The authors also hypothesize that the fractured femoral head, if untreated, may decrease in size and, therefore, in vascularity during the postfracture course.

Prognostic significance of the tumor antigen TA-4 in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Prognostic values of a tumor antigen (TA-4) of squamous cell carcinoma were studied in 135 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. In order to evaluate the host defense responses against cancer, the percentage of lymphocytes (percentages of lymphocytes in total leukocyte counts in the peripheral blood) was also determined simultaneously in each case. All patients were followed up for 2 years. Sixty patients with Stage II disease underwent a radical operative procedure, and all other cases (75 cases) were treated primarily with radiation therapy. In both groups of patients, the survival rate or disease-free rate was significantly worse in those with TA-4 levels of greater than or equal to 15 microunits/ml compared to that of those with lower levels. The prognosis was particularly poor in those patients who had TA-4 levels of greater than or equal to 15 microunits/ml and lymphocyte percentages of less than 30. It was concluded that the simultaneous determinations of serum TA-4 and lymphocyte percentages would be useful in predicting the prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

[Changes of the femoral head in intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck---with special reference to old fracture cases]

Coronal slab sections of 78 femoral heads removed from patients with fractures of the proximal end of the femur were examined by radiographical and histological methods and a classification of fracture types based on the epiphysial scar holding an anatomical landmark was presented. The transepiphysial type (type I) showed total necrosis, and in the subepiphysial type (type II) some new bone formation was found at the "subepiphysial" zone, though no such reactive changes were seen in most parts of the specimens. Although necrosis was observed in different degrees and extent in the subcapital type (type III), some reactive new bone formation was always observed in the vicinity of the fracture surface. In the type III which was most frequent, viabilities of the trabeculae were examined in cases of fresh and old fractures (over one month after fractures), with or without internal fixation in old cases. It was then found that bone viabilities were remarkable in the fresh head than the old, and the head excised for failed internal fixation proved to be more viable than the head for primary insertion of a prosthesis. In about a half to one third of the type III the inferior metaphysial vessels were spared. Considering the types of fractures with post-fracture course, the initial type III may be changed into types I, II or III and the initial type II can remain as it is or be transformed into type I.

Vitamin D resistant hypophosphatemic osteomalacia associated with osteosarcoma of the mandible: report of a case

A case of vitamin D resistant hypophosphatemic osteomalacia associated with osteosarcoma of the mandible is presented. The patient complained of lumbar, knee and foot pain and muscle weakness of two years' duration. Serum phosphorous was 1.0-1.6 mg/dl, tubular reabsorption of phosphorus was 47 to 58%, TmPO4/GFR was o.7-1.2 mg/dl. Aminoaciduria was noted. Bone biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of osteomalacia. He partially responded to the treatment with 1 alpha()H) D3 and sodium phosphate. After removal of sarcoma of the mandible, symptoms remitted and pertinent laboratory data became normal except serum alkaline phosphatase for more than one year without treatment. It is suggested that an impaired response of the tubule and bone to active vitamin D3, caused in some way by the osteosarcoma might be one of the causes of osteomalacia in this case.

A study of chronic pancreatitis by serial endoscopic pancreatography

The pancreatic duct system was studied with repeated endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in 31 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 32 patients with suspected chronic pancreatitis, and 16 controls without pancreatic disease. In chronic alcoholic pancreatitis the pancreatograms showed marked changes during the initial examination with progression even after abstinence or reduction of drinking. In the alcoholics with suspected chronic pancreatitis, progressive lesions in branch ducts with almost intact main ducts were recognized. In contrast, no remarkable alterations on serial pancreatograms were observed in nonalcoholic cases with definite or suspected chronic pancreatitis. These results suggest that pancreatic duct lesions play an important role in the development and progression of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis in contrast to chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis.

Isolation of Clostridium absonum and its cultural and biochemical properties

A new procedure for isolation of Clostridium absonum was devised. Sixtyseven strains of C. absonum were isolated from 135 soil samples, but no strain of C. absonum could be found from human fecal samples. The lecithinase, hemolysin, and lethal toxin in the culture filtrates of this species exhibited low avidity for C. perfringens type A antitoxin. The three activities were inseparable by the present method of purification. A reinvestigation of biochemical properties revealed that incomplete suppression of lecithinase reaction by C. perfringens type A antitoxin and no fermentation of raffinose, melibiose, and starch are useful criteria to differentiate C. absonum from C. perfringens, and that positive, although weak, gelatin liquefaction and fermentation of trehalose are useful to differentiate it from C. paraperfringens.