Fine-needle aspiration of metastatic lesions and regional lymph nodes in genitourinary cancer

A percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy of metastatic tumor and/or retroperitoneal, pelvic, or abdominal lymph nodes was accomplished in 101 patients. A diagnosis of metastatic disease was confirmed by this method in 49 patients. In 26 patients, surgical excisional biopsy or exploratory laparotomy was avoided. An unknown pelvic mass causation was diagnosed in 3 patients. In 15 of 57 patients with localized bladder, prostate, or testis cancer, involvement of regional lymph nodes was confirmed by transabdominal find-needle aspiration. All 57 transabdominal aspirations were performed without complications. The method is inexpensive, safe, and can have a high accuracy in diagnosing a local tumor spread or distant metastases.

Chordomas: diagnosis and management

Six patients with chordomas, five in the sacral and one in the craniocervical region, are reported along with review of the literature. Two of the patients treated with radiation for macroscopic tumor had palliation of their symptoms and an apparent prolongation of survival. Two other patients with sacral chordomas had resection of the gross tumor and radiation due to inadequate proximal margins. They both remain free of recurrence at 2.5 and 5 years, respectively, suggesting the potential usefulness of combination of modalities in the management of these tumors.

Poly(U)-agarose affinity chromatography: specific, sensitivity selectivity, and affinity of binding

These studies were done to determine four basic intrinsic properties of poly(U)-agarose affinity columns. Specificity of binding studies demonstrated that binding to these columns is highly specific with greater than 90% complementary binding and less than or equal to 3% noncomplementary binding. Sensitivity of binding studies indicated that a minimum sequence of 10 adenylates is required for detectable complementary binding. Selectivity of binding studies revealed that nonsequential adenylates in native RNAs and randomly distributed adenylates in synthetic poly(A)-poly(C) co-polymers did not bind to poly(U)-agarose affinity columns. Whereas, affinity of binding studies demonstrated that A=U complementary base pairing is independent of chain-lengths of greater than or equal to 25 adenylates and dependent of chain-lengths of less than 25 adenylates. Thus the data demonstrates that poly(U)-agarose affinity chromatography is scientifically sound and expedient for the detection and isolation of poly(A)-containing cellular and viral RNAs.

Leiomyosarcomas of the extremities: angiography as a diagnostic aid

Thirteen cases of leiomyosarcomas of the extremities are reported. Most of the cases were operated on without information concerning benignancy or malignancy. Plain radiographs showed amorphous calcification in two cases. Three cases had angiographic study and all revealed malignant neovascularity. In no literature that we reviewed was angiography mentioned in the cases of leiomyosarcomas of the extremities. Venography alone has been done in many reported cases. The leiomyosarcoma of the extremities looks often benign but is notorious for local recurrences and distant metastases.

Polyriboadenylate sequences at the 3'-termini of ribonucleic acid obtained from mammalian leukemia and sarcoma viruses

The location of poly(A) sequences in the RNA of mammalian RNA-tumor viruses was determined by enzymatic analyses. The 56-64S viral genomic RNAs, the 20-40S viral subunit RNAs, and the 4-5S poly(A) sequences excised from these viral RNAs were subjected to either hydrolysis with a 3'-OH specific exoribonuclease from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells or phosphorolysis from the 3'-termini with polynucleotide phosphorylase from Micrococcus luteus. Purified adenosine-labeled poly(A) fragments, excised from genomic viral RNAs by RNase A and T(1) digestion, were hydrolyzed with the 3'-OH specific exoribonuclease for various periods of time. Poly(U) filter binding studies of the residual poly(A) indicated that 97% of the poly(A) fragments were hydrolyzed. Adenosine-labeled genomic and subunit viral RNAs and excised poly(A) fragments were phosphorolyzed from their 3'-termini for various periods of time with polynucleotide phosphorylase. The degree of phosphorolysis was monitored by poly(U) filter binding studies, and CCl(3)COOH insolubility and solubility determinations. There was an initial preferential rate of phosphorolysis of the poly(A) sequences of genomic and subunit viral RNAs as compared to the total adenosine-labeled viral RNAs. The data from these two different enzymatic mechanisms of action indicated conclusively that the poly(A) sequences were located at the 3'-termini of genomic and subunit viral RNAs.

Reactions of Uranium With the Platinide Elements. I. The Uranium-Ruthenium System

The phase diagram of the uranium-ruthenium system was constructed from data obtained by thermal analysis, metallographic examination, and x-ray diffraction. The system is characterized by five intermetallic compounds: U₂Ru, formed peritectically near 937 °C; "URu," melting congruently near 1158 °C; U₃Ru₄, formed peritectically near 1163 °C; U₃Ru₅, formed peritectically near 1182 °C; and URu₃, formed peritectically at about 1850 °C. "URu" has a solid-state transition at about 795 °C. One eutectic occurs near 886 °C and 18.5 atomic percent (a/o) ruthenium, and a second at about 1148 °C and 49 a/o ruthenium. The maximum solid solubilities are about 7.5 a/o ruthenium in uranium and near 1.3 a/o uranium in ruthenium. Ruthenium lowers the gamma-uranium transformation to near 691 °C and the beta-transformation to near 625 °C.

Reactions of Uranium and the Platinide Elements. III. The Uranium-Iridium System

The phase diagram of the uranium-iridium system was constructed from data obtained by thermal analysis, metallographic examination, and x-ray diffraction. The system is characterized by five intermetallic compounds: U₃Ir, formed peritectically near 945 °C and decomposing eutectoidally near 758 °C; U₃Ir₂, formed peritectically near 1121 °C; UIr, melting congruently at about 1470 °C; UIr₂, formed peritectically above 1850 °C; and UIr₃, having a congruent melting point above 1950 °C. U₃Ir₂ has a solid state transition near 898 °C. One eutectic occurs at 914 °C at about 15 atom percent (a/o) iridium between uranium and U₃Ir; a second occurs between UIr and UIr₂ near 1450 °C; and a third occurs between UIr₃ and iridium at about 1950 °C The solid solubility of iridium in gamma-uranium is about 5.5 a/o and of uranium in iridium is under 3 a/o. Iridium lowers the gamma-beta uranium transformation to about 681 °C and the beta-alpha transformation to about 565 °C.

Reactions of Uranium and the Platinide Elements. II. The Uranium-Rhodium System

The phase diagram of the uranium-rhodium system was constructed from data obtained by thermal analysis, metallographic examination, and x-ray diffraction. The system is characterized by four intermetallic compounds: U4Rh3, formed peritectically near 1155 °C and having a solid state transformation at about 720 °C; U3Rh4, formed peritectically near 1450 °C; U3Rh5, formed peritectically near 1550 °C; and URh3, melting congruently at about 1700 °C. One eutectic occurs near 865 °C and 24.5 atomic percent (a/o) rhodium, and a second near 1393 °C and 87 a/o rhodium. The maximum solid solubility of rhodium in uranium is approximately 8 a/o, and of uranium in rhodium is approximately 3 a/o.

Uranium-Platinum System

The phase diagram of the uranium-platinum system was constructed from data obtained by thermal analysis, metallographic examination, and X-ray diffraction. The system is characterized by four intermetallic compounds: UPt, formed peritectoidally at 961° C; UPt₂, formed peritectically at 1,370° C; UPt₃, melting congruently at 1,700° C; and UPt₅, formed peritectically at 1,460° C. One eutectic occurs at 1,005° C and 12 a/o platinum, and a second at 1,345° C and 87.5 a/o platinum. The maximum solubilities are 4.5 a/o uranium in platinum and 5 a/o platinum in gamma-uranium. Platinum lowers the gamma-beta uranium transformation to 705° C and the beta-alpha transformation to 589° C.