Use of Harvard Graphics program in processing of the results obtained from investigations on involvement of some viruses in malignant human diseases

Different possibilities of graphic representation of the results obtained from investigations on the involvement of some viruses in the malignant and nonmalignant human pathology are analysed. The Harvard Graphics package available in many IBM compatible computers was used. Owing to its several graphic options and access to the drawing area it was preferred to the Epi Info-program specialized in recording and numerical processing of epidemiology data and lesser in their graphic representation.

[Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus among the multiply transfused]

A study was conducted on 61 polytransfused patients, 24 patients submitted to long lasting parenteral treatments, 116 blood donors and 132 controls. Immuno-enzymatic tests were used for detection of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV). They were found in 56 (91.8%) out of the 61 polytransfused patients, in 5 (4.3%) of the donors, in 5 (20.8%) of the patients with multiple treatments and in 5 (3.7%) controls. The VHB markers were detected at variable rates in all investigated groups. The high rate of seropositivity indicates that hepatitis C is becoming an important public health problem in Romania.

[A seroprevalence study of the hepatitis C virus among multiply transfused patients]

A study was conducted on 61 polytransfused patients, 24 patients submitted to long lasting parenteral treatments, 116 blood donors and 132 controls. Immuno-enzymatic tests were used for detection of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV). They were found in 56 (91.8%) out of the 61 polytransfused patients, in 5 (4.3%) of the donors, in 5 (20.8%) of the patients with multiple treatments and in 5 (3.7%) controls. The VHB markers were detected at variable rates in all investigated groups. The high rate of seropositivity indicates that hepatitis C is becoming an important public health problem in Romania.

[Early anti-HPV 16 protein antibodies in patients with anogenital tumors]

A study was worked out in female patients with anogenital tumors and in apparently healthy women, aimed at the detection of antibodies against E4 and E7 HPV 16 proteins. As regards the detection of HPV 16 infection, the DNA hybridization and Western-blot results were in good agreement. The HPV 16 infection was detected in a relatively high number of the patients (17 out of 24) and of the apparently healthy women using Western blot.

[The detection of human papillomaviruses in histological preparations by using dot-blot hybridization]

The 56 tissue samples were obtained from female patients with anogenital tumors, benign or malign, subsequently confirmed through pathomorphological analysis. The investigations were aimed at the discovering of HPV presence using hybridization techniques with biotinylated molecular probes and monitorisation through enzymatic reaction. The presence of ADN types 11, 16 and 18 was detected on about 52% of all the cases; the ADN HPV incidence was 57% among the patients with a neoplasm and/or cervix uteri papillomatosis diagnosis.

[The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics in antral gastric cancer]

This paper is part of a comprehensive study on subphrenic digestive cancer carried out between 1984 and 1988, representing the experience of the III-rd, I-st, IV-th and emergency surgical clinics of Iaşi (1530 cases). The peculiarities of gastric cancer with antral site in 231 out of a total of 612 cases, representing the experience of the III-rd Surgical Clinic, are presented. Clinically, the relative early occurrence of the symptoms, the need for an endoscopic examination and biopsy for all gastric ulcer lesions, for the antral ones particularly, are mentioned. The treatment is surgical, but it has to be associated with adjuvant therapy. For the antral site, the oncological subtotal gastrectomy was the surgery of choice (157 cases), the need of restoring the transit in a gastrojejunal manner being underlined. Total gastrectomy was performed in 12 cases.

[The diagnosis and treatment of benign tumors of the subdiaphragmatic digestive tract]

One hundred twenty-two benign tumors of subdiaphragmatic digestive tract admitted in the interval 1975-1988 at the III-rd Surgical Clinic of Iaşi are reported. Out of these patients 120 required surgical treatment, the remainder of 2 being treated conservatively (diffuse intestinal angiomatosis, Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome). The clinical evolution being atypical, the surgical intervention was required, in most of the cases, due to hemorrhagic and occlusive complications. Histologically, the polyps and schwannomas were prevalent. The diagnostic difficulties, especially in the cases with jejuno-ileal localization, are mentioned.

[Antireflux surgery in the treatment of peptic esophagitis]

This paper deals with the outcome of the various "antireflux" surgical procedures performed in 21 patients having esophagitis. Immediate and long-lasting results are better for those methods which restore the gastroesophageal competence: Hill's operation (4) and Nissen's fundoplication (3). The participation of the stomach in producing reflux is stressed and is emphasized the necessity to treat the gastric lesions simultaneously. The duodenal diversion following Harrington procedure offers good results with minimal surgical risk in some particular cases.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). III. Incidence of EBV antibodies in patients with various tumors

Serum samples from 553 patients with various tumors, from 26 patients with different viral infections and from 78 clinically healthy subjects were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) reaction for the presence of specific antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus. The test revealed antibodies to EBV in 127 patients with tumors, in 14 patients with viral infections and in 8 healthy persons.

[Possible relation between viruses and oromaxillofacial tumors. IV. Presence of the herpes antigen and anti-herpes antibodies in patients with tumors of the parotid gland]

The presence of herpesvirus antigen and of antiherpesvirus antibodies was detected in 46% and in 36.3%, respectively, of the patients bearing parotid gland tumors. Very high titers of antiherpesvirus antibodies were found in 70.6% of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

[Possible relation between viruses and oromaxillofacial tumors. I. Demonstration of herpes antigens and anti-herpes antibodies]

Herpes virus type 1 and 2 antigens were detected in cells originating from malignant tumors with oromaxillofacial localization. A higher incidence of type 1 antigens was noted, as compared to the type 2. Investigated antigens were detected more frequently in the tumors of ectodermal origin. Antiherpesvirus FC antibodies were found in 74.5% of the tumor bearing subjects, but only in 22.3% of the controls.

[Possible relation between viruses and oromaxillofacial tumors. V. Demonstration of hemagglutination-inhibiting anti-BK virus antibodies in patients with tumors of the parotid gland]

Anti-BK-virus hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies were revealed in 81.8% of the patients with parotid gland tumors. Results of the investigations conducted on oromaxillofacial tumors including the parotid gland ones are discussed from the point of view of the presence of viral antigens (herpes-, SV40 and BK-viruses) and of specific antibodies. Possible implication of the papova viruses in the etiopathogenesis of the parotid gland tumors in humans are also discussed.

[Possible relation between viruses and oromaxillofacial tumors. II. Research on the presence of the SV40 antigen and specific antibodies in patients with oromaxillofacial tumors]

SV40 antigen was detected on sections through malignant oromaxillofacial tumors in 47.8% of the cases, with a higher incidence among the epithelium originating tumors. Anti-SV40 CF antibodies were detected in 83.6% of the examined subjects with cancer, but only in 57.9% of the blood donors. The titers were quite low in general. The results are discussed from the point of view of the immunologic status of the patients.

[Possible relation between viruses and oromaxillofacial tumors. III. Demonstration of the SV40 antigen and anti-SV40 antibodies in patients with tumors of the parotid gland]

SV40 antigen was detected in 7 of 13 malignant tumors developed in the head and neck region. Specific complement fixing antibodies were found in all the patients with the SV40 antigen present in the parotid gland tumoral cells. Incidence of the anti-SV40 complement fixing antibodies in parotid gland tumor bearing patients was of 69.6%.

Methods of active immunotherapy and viral oncolysis in some forms of cancer

In some cancers with a high antigenicity (gastric, intestinal, mammary, laryngeal, etc.) the authors associated to the classical treatment an autovaccine prepared by combining the tumoral extract (obtained by trituration, sonication and centrifugation, and stored at -80 degrees C) with some mitogens (phytohemagglutinin) and adjuvants (ovalbumin, tuberculin, lymphocyte promotion factor, etc.) obtaining a greater survival (4-6 years). The association of viruses with an oncolytic action (mumps virus) to the active unspecific immunotherapy in some cancerous structures (peritoneal, pleuropulmonary and synovial malignant mesothelioma, malignant cholangioma of the liver, hepatic metastases of some adenocarcinomas of the colon, gastric cirrhous, clearly differentiated macrocellular carcinomas of the lung, pulmonary mucoid adenocarcinomas, traditional recurrent carcinomas of the urinary bladder), in which all other oncotherapeutic resources have been exhausted, induced slow involution up to disappearance of the tumor and a favourable evolution of the patients without signs-of recurrence after 5-7 years in 73% of cases. To obtain the expected results it is mandatory to comply strictly with certain principles, established by the authors for each of the two original methods, expounded in detail in the text.

Presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in patients with primary liver cancer or hepatic metastases

The presence of HBsAg was detected in the serum of 1 out of 13 patients with chronic hepatitis, in 2 out of the 7 patients with liver metastases, but in none of the 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) investigated. HBsAg could be visualized by orcein staining in the liver cells of 66.6% of the HCC patients, in 50% of the patients with liver metastases and in 40% of the patients with liver cirrhosis. The prevalence of anti-HBs was low both in HCC patients and in the control groups. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.