Cancer mortality in chronic typhoid and paratyphoid carriers

It has been shown in vitro that bacteria are able to form or release carcinogens, mutagens, or promoters from intestinal secretions such as bile, or from excretions such as urine. It is, therefore, of interest to find out whether chronic infection of the gallbladder is associated with carcinogens, as in chronic infection of the urinary bladder. A study of cancer risk in chronic typhoid and paratyphoid carriers showed a large excess (observed/expected cases) for cancer of the gallbladder (167.0; 95% confidence interval 54.1-389) and also excess risks of cancer of the pancreas (8.1), colorectum (3.0), lung (2.5), and all neoplasms (2.6). There was no similar excess risk in a group of 386 people with typhoid from the 1964 Aberdeen outbreak. This indicates that it is long-term typhoid carriage, not acute infection, which is the risk factor. This has important implications for cancer prevention. Eradication of chronic carriage, by use of antibiotics or elective cholecystectomy, should be re-emphasised, and the need for good documentation of carriers is, therefore, of great importance.

Oesophageal cancer in gastric surgery patients

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (which has been steadily increasing in incidence during the last 20 years) is thought to be promoted by gastric reflux. In a cohort of 5018 gastric surgery patients, 19 of whom developed oesophageal cancer, there was no increased proportion of adenocarcinomas. We conclude that the hypothesized aetiology was not supported.

Soil moisture and temperature affect condensed tannin concentrations and growth in Lotus corniculatus and Lotus pedunculatus

Maku big trefoil and Dewey birdsfoot trefoil were grown at 14/10, 20/16, 26/22 and 32/28�C (14/10 h) in growth cabinets. Growth rates and condensed tannin (CT) concentrations were measured as soil moisture was changed from field capacity (FC) to 20% FC to FC again in three regrowth cycles. Seasonal dry matter accumulation and CT concentrations were also measured on these cultivars together with Sharnee big trefoil, Monarch cicer milkvetch, Chemung crownvetch and WL605 lucerne at two sites in the field. Condensed tannin concentrations were not greatly affected by temperature alone. However, moisture stress induced proportionately larger reductions in growth rates of big trefoil as temperature increased, and correspondingly larger rises in CT concentrations. Condensed tannin concentrations in birdsfoot trefoil were largely unaffected by these factors. In big trefoil, the responses in CT levels and growth rates continued even when soil moisture was returned to FC. Low temperature did not appear to affect CT concentrations in big trefoil, but caused some slight elevation in concentrations in birdsfoot trefoil. In the field, CT levels in the big trefoil cultivars, and in birdsfoot trefoil, were elevated in summer and autumn, when temperatures were high and periods of soil moisture stress occurred. The potential for elevated CT levels in big trefoil appears to be enhanced when growth rates are reduced by moisture stress and temperaturs are high. Big trefoil should be carefully screened for CT concentrations in the process of cultivar development. High CT levels are not a problem in birdsfoot trefoils such as Dewey.

Malignancy following surgery for benign peptic disease: a review

Since 1986 there have been a number of large studies of cancer risk after surgery for benign disease involving over 20,000 patients followed for at least 20 years. All show that gastric surgery carries an excess risk of gastric cancer after a 15-20 year latency. There is less agreement about the excess risk at other sites. The size of such risks appears to depend on the size of cohort, type of ulcer, type of surgery, length of follow-up and level of analytical detail. Statistically significant excess risks have been reported for cancer of the colon (6/8 studies), biliary tract (4/5), lung (6/6), bladder (3/3), pancreas (4/7) and all sites (2/3). Our own study showed an excess risk of cancer of the gallbladder (14.3 fold), stomach (4.5), breast (4.0), bronchus (3.9), large bowel (1.6), oesophagus (2.3), pancreas (4.0), bladder (2.4) and all sites (3.3).

Supplementation of an adapted formula with bovine lactoferrin: 1. Effect on the infant faecal flora

The development of the infant faecal flora was studied over the first three months of life in infants receiving breast milk, a modern adapted formula and adaptations of this formula. Breast-fed infants developed a flora rich in Bifidobacterium sp. Facultative anaerobes were ubiquitous, but in relatively small numbers within the diet group. Other obligate anaerobes, such as Clostridium sp. and Bacteriodes sp. were rarely isolated. Standard formula produced a flora rich in bifidobacteria, but the growth of facultative organisms was not suppressed by this diet. Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides sp. were more common in this feeding group. After the addition of lactoferrin at 10 mg/100 ml to the formula diet, a flora similar to that of the standard formula-fed babies was achieved. Lactoferrin at 100 mg/100 ml was able to establish a "bifidus flora" in half of the babies given this formula, but only at age three months. Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides sp. were common faecal isolates from babies receiving both the lactoferrin diets.