Prognostic role of immunosuppressive acidic protein in advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate immunosuppressive acidic protein in the prognostic characterization of advanced ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Serum levels of immunosuppressive protein were prospectively measured in 80 patients with untreated ovarian carcinoma. To evaluate the prognostic significance of immunosuppressive acidic protein levels, cutoff points were studied every 50 μg/ml between 450 and 1350 μg/ml. RESULTS: Pretreatment immunosuppressive acidic protein levels were not significantly associated with stage, histotype, grade of differentiation, postoperative residual tumor, and response to chemotherapy. The most significant association with survival was observed at a cutoff value of 1100 μg/ml (p = 0.0089). In the univariate analysis for overall survival, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and immunosuppressive acidic protein status were found to have a role in predicting ovarian cancer prognosis. In the multivariate analysis only immunosuppressive acidic protein status was significantly associated with survival. A statistical correlation was found between serum levels and overall survival (p = 0.0104, χ² 6.56), including immunosuppressive acidic protein as a continuous variable. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that immunosuppressive acidic protein assay is a potentially useful tool in the prognostic characterization of advanced ovarian cancer. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;175:1606-10.)     

Mortality among female registered nurses and school teachers in British Columbia

The mortality profile of female nurses and teachers in British Columbia (BC) was examined using age-standardized proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) calculated for the period 1950–1984. Lowered overall mortality among nurses was seen for degenerative heart disease and for cerebrovascular accidents. Significantly elevated PMR values were observed for cancer of the breast and ovary in nurses of age 20–65 years. PMRs were significantly elevated for cancer of the pancreas and leukemia among those age 20 years and older. Elevated values were also observed for motor vehicle accidents and suicide among nurses in both age groups. Lower than expected mortality from degenerative heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents was seen in working age teachers (age 20–65 years). However, elevated PMRs were detected for carcinoma of the colon, breast, endometrium, brain, and melanoma. Among those 20 years and over, significantly elevated PMRs were also observed for cancers of the ovary and other digestive organs. Elevated PMRs were found for motor vehicle and aircraft accidents. Mortality from cirrhosis of the liver was lower than anticipated in both teachers and nurses. A number of significant PMRs declined when deaths of “homemakers” were withdrawn from the comparison group used to generate PMR values, suggesting that risk of death from various causes among women working outside the home differ from those seen in women who are predominantly in the home.     

拓扑替康在卵巢癌治疗中的新进展

拓扑替康是一种新的半合成喜树碱衍生物 ,通过抑制拓扑异构酶Ⅰ而产生抗肿瘤作用。大量研究表明拓扑替康对卵巢癌尤其是经铂类药物化疗失败 ,复发的卵巢癌患者有较好疗效。本文就拓扑替康在卵巢癌临床应用中的新进展进行综述。     

EndocrinologyHormonal profile during the follicular phase in cycles stimulated with a combination of human menopausal gonadotrophin and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist (Cetrorelix)

A third-generation gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist(Cetrorelix) was used during ovarian stimulation in 32 patientsundergoing assisted reproduction, in order to prevent the prematureluteinizing hormone (LH) surge. In all patients, ovarian stimulationwas carried out with two or three ampoules of human menopausalgonadotrophin (HMG), starting on day 2 of the menstrual cycle.In addition, 0.5 mg of Cetrorelix was administered daily fromday 6 of HMG treatment until the day of ovulation inductionby human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). A significant drop inplasma LH concentration was observed within a few hours of thefirst administration of Cetrorelix (P<0.005). Moreover, noLH surge was detected at any point in the treatment period inany of the 32 patients. A mean oestradiol concentration of 2122±935ng/1 was observed on the day of the HCG administration, indicatingnormal folliculogenesis. Like LH, progesterone concentrationalso dropped within a few hours of the first administrationof Cetrorelix (P< 0.005). A 0.5 mg daily dose of Cetrorelixprevented a premature LH surge in all the 32 patients treated.     

彩色多普勒超声检查对卵巢肿瘤的诊断价值

①目的 探讨彩色多普勒超声检查对卵巢肿瘤的诊断价值。②方法 对67例疑诊为卵巢肿瘤的病人术前行彩色多普勒超声检查及血流动力学分析，测其动脉血流收缩期峰值流速(PSV)和阻力指数(RI)，并与手术及病理结果对照。③结果 67例卵巢肿瘤经手术及病理证实良性49例，恶性18例，经彩色多普勒超声诊断为良性41例，恶性15例，超声诊断符合率分别为83．7％和83．3％。④结论 彩色多普勒超声对卵巢肿瘤的良恶性判断具有较高价值。     

人卵泡液中干细胞因子水平及其对卵泡发育的影响

目的 :探讨人卵泡液中是否存在干细胞因子 (SCF)及其与卵泡发育的关系 .方法 :采用夹心ELISA方法检测 3 0例进行体外受精 胚胎移植 (IVF ET)患者超促排卵前、取卵时血清与卵泡液中SCF的水平 .结果 :①取卵时卵泡液中SCF水平 (5 14± 67)ng·L 1,显著高于同期血清水平 (3 95± 4 9)ng·L 1,差别有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;②取卵时血清中SCF水平与超促排卵前血清中SCF水平相比 ,差别无显著性 [(3 95± 4 9)ng·L 1,(3 74± 3 6)ng·L 1,P >0 .0 5 ];③高、中反应型组卵泡中SCF水平 [(5 64± 64)ng·L 1,(5 3 2± 5 5 )ng·L 1]与低反应型 (3 5 2± 78)ng·L 1相比 ,差别有显著性 (P <0 .0 1) ,且与卵泡发育数目之间呈正相关 (r =0 .4 12 ,P <0 .0 5 ) .结论 :卵泡液中SCF可能来自于卵泡本身 ,而非血浆渗透 .SCF参与人卵泡发育的调控     

卵巢癌细胞多种细胞因子基因表达的研究

本文应用RT-PCR方法,检测5例刚分离的晚期上皮性卵巢癌患者肿瘤细胞和3例卵巢痛患者腹水中肿瘤细胞IL-2、IL-2R、TNF-a,IL-6、TGF-p、IL-10等细胞因子基因的表达,用免疫学方法检测卵巢癌细胞上清液中IL-6活性。结果发现:卵巢癌肿瘤细胞表达IL-6mRNA和抑制性细胞因子TGF-p、IL-10。腹水中存在较多量lL-6可能来自肿瘤细胞。     

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation mimicking an ovarian tumour

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a spontaneous singletonpregnancy is exceedingly rare. We report a case of ovarian hyperstimulationpresenting as bilateral ovarian masses in association with spontaneouspregnancy, occurring in a woman with disturbed liver function.A possible mechanism is discussed.     

Percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy of symptomatic hepatic cysts

Nineteen patients with 49 symptomatic non-neoplastic non-parasitic simple hepatic cysts were subjected to ultrasonographically guided percutaneous aspiration and temporary injection of 99% ethanol into the cyst. Small cysts were treated twice, the large ones three times at the same sitting. The volume of alcohol per injection varied from 20 to 100 ml, depending on the size of the cyst. A cure was usually achieved with one ethanol sclerotherapy treatment. Only minor side effects such as transient pain and temperature elevation occurred. Forty-seven of the 49 cysts could be treated adequately, and did not recur during a follow-up period af 12–40 months. The results indicate that aspiration an and ethanol sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with symptomatic non-neoplastic simple hepatic cysts or polycystic liver disease. Correspondence to: A. Leinonen     

Endocrinology: Two cases of ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovarian stimulation attempts

Concerns have been raised recently about the possible associationbetween superovulation and ovarian cancer. In order to contributeto the limited literature on this important issue, two casesof ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovulationinductions are presented. In the first case, the patient hadsecondary anovulatory infertility. She was treated with humanmenopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) alone and in combination withclomiphene citrate or buserelin for six cycles. She then underwentovarian stimulation with buserelin/HMG in the long protocolfor in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer. In preparationfor a new IVF/embryo transfer attempt, 8 months later, the screeningultrasound revealed a cystic formation of the left ovary andan enlargement of the right. During laparotomy, both ovarieswere found to bear large tumours (approximately 6x5x4 cm) whichwere removed. Histological examination showed that they wereepithelial tumours (serous-papillary cystadenomas) of borderlinemalignancy. The patient conceived spontaneously 1.5 years afterthe operation. In the second case, the patient presented withsecondary anovulatory infertility. She underwent ovulation inductionwith clomiphene/HMG and with buserelin/HMG in the long protocol,and intra-uterine insemination with husband's spermatozoa andconceived (singleton pregnancy). She was delivered by Caesareansection, during which a cystic tumour of the left ovary wasremoved. Histological examination revealed a benign mucous cystadenomaof the ovary. In conclusion, the clinical information from thesetwo cases does not support a causal association between ovarianstimulation and ovarian tumours but does potntially supporta facilitating one.