Quantitative studies of the interaction of polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine and spermatozoa

27 ejaculates were incubated together with polyvidone iodine diluted with physiological saline solution in various proportions. 10 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, and 20 hours later, we determined the percentages of mobile and viable spermatozoa in both the native and the incubated seminal fluid. 1% polyvidone iodine solution was totally spermicidal already after 10 minutes of incubation. 0.1% solution only slightly reduced the sperm motility and viability. 0.01% polyvidone iodine solution even resulted in a temporary increase of motility.     

Histological margin assessment for breast ductal carcinoma in situ: precision and implications.

Local recurrence after lumpectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a major concern and is related to residual disease in the breast. We studied the predictive value of lumpectomy margins for residual DCIS and compared our results and pathological processing techniques with those published in the literature. Margin status was determined for 89 patients with screen-detected DCIS who had lumpectomy and re-excision, for the presence and extent of residual disease. Margin width was defined as the narrowest distance between tumor and any inked margin or, where margins were positive, classified into focal involvement (<1 mm of the inked surface involved), minimal (>or=1<15 mm) and extensive (>or=15 mm). The amount of residual tumor was quantified according to the number of ducts involved with tumor: small (fewer than 10 ducts) or large (10 or more ducts) residuum. The initial margin status was a significant predictor for the presence of residual tumor in re-excision specimens (P=0.006). There was residual tumor in 44 and 45% of close non-involved (>1 and 25 mm,respectively, showing residual disease. The presence of residual tumor was not significantly related to age, mammographic appearance, nuclear grade or intraductal necrosis. The initial margin status was found to predict for the amount of residual tumor. With careful margin assessment, margin status after lumpectomy for DCIS can be used to predict for the presence and amount of residual tumor in the breast and is a guide to further management decisions. A standard for margin status reporting and pathological processing of screen-detected DCIS in situ lesions will help in the interpretation of data from different institutions.     

Radionuclide studies in hemangioendotheliomatosis: case report.

Multiple abnormal radionuclide studies of brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, and spleen were observed in a patient with hemangioendotheliomatosis.     

Phase I trial of a new form of an oral administration of VP-16-213.

A new oral form of VP-16-213 consisting of a hydrophilic soft gelatin capsule containing a VP-16-213 solution was tested for toxicity in 26 patients. The drug was administered at four different dose levels, 350, 500, 650, and 750 mg/m2, in 5-day courses every 21-28 days. A dose-dependent effect was observed with regard to hematologic toxicity and alopecia. It is concluded that the drinking ampules of VP-16-213 can be replaced with the new oral capsules with a recommended initial dose of 100-130 mg/m2 given in 5-day courses every 21-28 days.     

Ant-egg cataract. An electron microscopic study.

The ultrastructure of the ant-egg cataractous lens has been studied. Comparison of tissue demineralized by means of EDTA with untreated tissue showed the calcium salts in the ant-eggs to be mostly crystalline. A laminar appearance of the ant-egg seen in EDTA treated material suggested an intermittent growth of the structure. In the ant-eggs, as well as in some areas separate from these, membrane limited cytoplasmic bodies could be seen in many cases, the membranes of which were partly joint and partly separated by an electron dense material. It is suggested that the calcifications seen as the ant-eggs are secondary phenomena to an abnormal metabolism, morphologically seen as membrane limited cytoplasmic bodies.     

Combination chemotherapy of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A randomized therapeutic trial of three induction regimens for patients with lymphosarcoma and reticulum-cell sarcoma was conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) (formerly Acute Leukemia Group B.) Addition of streptonigrin, but not cyclophosphamide, to the combination of vincristine and prednisone improved the complete remission rate achieved after a 42-day induction program. The duration of the subsequent remission and survival was not influenced by the induction combination assigned. Remission maintenance with cyclophosphamide was superior to maintenance with methotrexate. The results of this study are compared with others in which advantages for three or four drug treatment regimens have been reported.     

KNG1 Ile581Thr and susceptibility to venous thrombosis

Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were recently found to be associated with activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Because shortened aPTT levels have been observed in patients experiencing venous thrombosis (VT), we investigated the effects of these 3 aPTT-associated SNPs, rs2731672, rs9898, and rs710446, on the risk of VT in a sample of 1110 healthy patients and 1542 patients with VT. Among the 3 tested SNPs, only rs710446 was associated with VT risk; the rs710446-C allele was associated with an increased risk of VT (odds ratio 1.196, 95% confidence interval 1.071-1.336, P = .0012). This association also was observed in an independent sample of 590 controls and 596 patients (odds ratio 1.171, 95% confidence interval 0.889-1.541, P = .059). We also confirmed that the rs710446-C allele was associated with decreased aPTT levels, making this nonsynonymous Ile581Thr variant a new genetic risk factor for VT.