[Epidemiologic study of cancer of the colon and rectum in the health area of the Nalón valley (Asturias, 1978-1986)]

An epidemiological study was made of malignant tumors of the colon and rectum in the Nalon valley health district (Asturias, Spain). The study period comprehend from 1978 to 1986, inclusive. The population studied, 103,000 hab., has been stable over the last 10 years, and is grouped into well defined sectors: industrial-mining activities and agricultural-livestock raising. The total number of cases was 275 patients, for a mean annual incidence (IMA) of 29.7/10(5) hab., making this a zone of high risk of the disease. Also analyzed are the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods ant therapeutic measures, as well as the epidemiological distribution, a higher incidence being found in the industrialized zone than in the agricultural zone (p less than 0.05).

[Induction of cellulases and xylanases in Aureobasidium pullulans]

The specificity or induction of wood-degrading enzymes using series of mono, di or polysaccharides as carbon source for the yeasts Geotrichum candidum and Trychosporon penicillatum and the yeast-like organism Aureobadidium pullulans were studied. The strain A. pullulans was the only one that when xylan or "steam exploded wood" were used as carbon source all the enzymes tested were found. This strain was unable to grow on carboxymethyl or Avicel cellulose. D-xylose was the nutritional inducer of beta-xylosidase and beta-xylanase but D-glucuronic acid induced CMCase activity and beta-glucosidase was produced with every carbon source. The 1,4 beta-xylobiose was not an inducer of beta-xylanase but with the structural 1,2-beta- and 1,3-beta-xylobiose isomers high levels of this enzyme were obtained.

Acetylator polymorphism in discoid lupus erythematosus

Acetylator phenotype was determined, using sulphamethazine, in 37 patients with histologically confirmed discoid lupus erythematosus, who were free from visceral damage, and in 157 normal control subjects. Twenty patients (54%) and 90 control subjects (57.4%) were slow acetylators (p not significant). Acetylator polymorphism appears not to be related to the risk of developing pure cutaneous discoid lupus erythematosus.

Hepatic acetylator polymorphism in breast cancer patients

Hepatic acetylator phenotype has been determined, using sulfamethazine, in 81 white Spanish women with histologically proven breast cancer and in 75 adequate female controls. No differences were detected in the distribution of acetylator phenotype between the two groups of slow acetylators, 49 patients (60.5%) and 45 controls (60%). The percentage of acetylated sulfamethazine in plasma for each phenotype was not different either. Our results suggest that there is no relationship between the hepatic acetylator polymorphism and the risk of developing breast cancer in women.

[Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemias in children]

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), besides distinctive cytological characteristics has a high incidence of haemorrhagic complications due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Nine patients with APL, between a day and 12 years old, were studied. Diagnosis was based on cytomorphological classification FAB. Eight presented with haemorrhages and DIC were found. Five received Daunorubicin and 4 DATOP. Patients with DIC also were given substitution therapy with platelets and heparin.

RESULTS

two died during the first two weeks, of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) and sepsis respectively. Three in initial remission relapsed after 3 to 21 months and two died of ICH; the third one attained a new remission but presented a new relapse and finally died 61 months after onset. The other 4 patients are at present in their first remission of 1 to 12 months.

IN CONCLUSION

APL must receive, besides specific chemotherapy, early DIC therapy; with present polychemotherapy a high remission rate and prolonged disease-free survivals can be obtained.

[Ventricular tachycardia in a healthy child. Electrophysiological study and review of the literature]

Report of a healthy child with ventricular tachycardia is the reason for a review on the literature on this subject. Diagnosis can be made with usual electrocardiographic criteria and surely by electrophysiologic studies. Latter technique allows to study the origin, mechanism, efficiency of drugs and the type of pace-maker in case of drug treatment failure. Case report exemplifies all these aspects, and the essentials about etiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment are mentioned in the literature review.