Sister chromatid exchanges in peripheral lymphocytes from women with carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) are reciprocal exchanges between sister chromatids. It has been reported that in patients with cervical cancer, the frequency of SCE in peripheral lymphocytes is significantly higher than that in normal individuals; however, other studies have shown no significant difference. The aim of this unmatched case-control study was to compare the mean number of SCE per metaphase in lymphocytes from women with and without carcinoma of the cervix uteri. The SCE specimens were prepared by the fluorescence plus giemsa technique in peripheral lymphocytes from 28 women with carcinoma of cervix uteri and 28 controls. The mean number of SCE per metaphase in women with carcinoma of cervix uteri (7.80 +/- 1.05) was higher than the control group (6.98 +/- 1.13) (P < 0.05; t-test). This study had a statistical power of 0.80 and an alpha value of 0.05. This finding suggests that an increased number of SCE in peripheral lymphocytes is associated with cervical cancer. We consider that the lack of reported association of SCE and cervical cancer might be attributed to the none determination of the statistical power and sample size.     

Increased spontaneous and mitomycin C-induced sister chromatid exchanges in patients with cancer of the cervix uteri, with special reference to stage of cancer

The frequencies of spontaneous and mitomycin C (MMC)-induced sister chromatid exchange (SCE) were examined in 35 patients with cancer of the cervix uteri (stage 0, eight cases; stage I, nine cases; stage II, nine cases, and stage III, nine cases) before they had undergone cancer treatment, as well as in seven patients with uterine myoma and 18 healthy women as controls. The frequency of SCE was analyzed in reference to the stage of cancer in the cancer group and in reference to chromosome group in the cancer and normal groups. The frequencies of spontaneous and MMC-induced SCE in the cancer group were 10.0 +/- 1.8 and 20.7 +/- 2.6, respectively, and both were significantly higher than in the myoma (8.1 +/- 0.8 and 17.6 +/- 1.8) and normal (7.6 +/- 0.8 and 17.6 +/- 2.3) groups. Furthermore, the frequency of SCE in the cancer group increased with cancer stage. All chromosome groups contributed equally to the increase in SCE in the cancer group. These results indicate that an increase in the frequency of SCE in patients with cervical cancer is related to the presence of cancer, but is not related to a predisposition to cancer.     

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukins 2, 4 and 6 (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6) in cervical-uterine cells of intraepithelial neoplasia: a preliminary report

The purpose of this work was to determine the expression of type Th1 cytokines: IL-2 and IFNgamma, and Th2: IL-4 and IL-6, as well as TNF-alpha in patients with precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix and their relationship with the human papiloma virus (HPV). 30 patients with precancerous lesions (NIC 1: 70%, NIC 2: 16.7% and NIC 3: 1.3%) and 9 normal controls were studied. A clinical history, gynecological evaluation, cytology and an uterine biopsy were carried out in each patient and control. PCR was used for the diagnosis of HPV. IFN-gamma expression (positive cells/field) was increased in patients with NIC (5.06 +/- 4.7 vs 0 in the control group; p < 0.05). TNFa was a little higher in pathologycal tissues than in the controls (5.23 +/- 3.63 vs 1.55 +/- 2.65; p < 0.05). IL-2 was higher in pathologycal cases than in the controls (8.73 +/- 5.23 vs 0.33 +/- 1, p < 0.05). IL-4 were expressed in both, patients and controls (6.53 +/- 5.23 vs 5.77 +/- 7.32). IL-6 was also higher in patients (4.63 +/- 3.34 vs 0.77 +/- 2.33; p < 0.05). When the HPV status was considered, only IFN-gamma (p < 0.05) and IL-2 (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in HPV positive patients (n = 4) compared to controls. When HPV+ patients were compared with HPV- patients, only IFNgamma was significant (11.5 +/- 5 vs 4.07 +/- 3.8; p < 0.05). In conclusion, Type Th1 immune response prevails in patients with precancerous lesions, whether they are HPV positive or not.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in the lymphocytes of patients with oral leukoplakia

The incidence of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was investigated in lymphocyte chromosomes of 59 patients with oral leukoplakia and 65 age- and sex-matched nonsmoking controls. The frequency of SCE was found to be 8.61 +/- 1.89 in patients with oral leukoplakia, which was significantly higher than the mean SCE value of 5.58 +/- 1.26 observed in normal controls. The frequency of SCE in patients with oral leukoplakia addicted to the single habit of betel with tobacco chewing, bidi/cigarette smoking, and combined habits of chewing and smoking of tobacco were found to be 7.95 +/- 1.63, 8.17 +/- 1.66, and 9.23 +/- 2.14, respectively. These values were also significantly higher as compared to the SCE values observed in normal controls.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in patients with oral submucous fibrosis

The incidence of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was investigated in the lymphocyte chromosomes of 45 patients with oral submucous fibrosis and 56 age- and sex-matched nonsmoking controls. The frequency of SCE was 9.26 +/- 2.15 in patients with oral submucous fibrosis, which was significantly higher than the mean SCE value of 5.49 +/- 1.24 observed in normal controls. The frequency of SCE in patients with oral submucous fibrosis addicted to the habit of betel with tobacco chewing, "bidi"/cigarette smoking and combined habits of chewing and smoking of tobacco were 8.12 +/- 1.69, 9.43 +/- 1.87, and 10.06 +/- 2.28, respectively. These values were also significantly higher as compared with the SCE values observed in normal controls.     

Sister chromatid exchange in malignant lymphomas

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was evaluated in peripheral lymphocytes from 20 untreated patients with malignant lymphomas: 6 with Hodgkin's disease (HD), 14 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and 5 with lymphadenitis. The mean SCE frequency (+/- SE) was: 11.2 +/- 0.6, 11.0 +/- 0.6, and 7.2 +/- 0.3 for HD, NHL, and lymphadenitis patients, respectively, and 8.7 +/- 0.2 for the control group. No differences in SCE score were observed in HD and NHL. These results allowed us to consider both groups (HD and NHL) as a single neoplastic population (mean +/- SE, 11.0 +/- 0.4). No significant differences were found between the lymphadenitis and control groups. On the other hand, significantly higher SCE scores were seen in neoplastic populations than in the control and lymphadenitis groups (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01, respectively). When SCE was compared by chromosome number and group between neoplastic patients and controls, a higher SCE frequency was observed in chromosomes #1, #2, #3, and B, C + X, E, F chromosome groups than in controls. SCE levels were significantly higher in lymphoma patients in all chromosome numbers and groups mentioned than in patients with lymphadenitis. It is suggested that the high SCE rate in the malignant lymphoma population is possibly related to an increased chromosomal instability.     

Sister chromatid exchange analysis in familial groups of malignant melanoma patients

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis was carried out on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 20 familial malignant melanoma (FMM) and 39 sporadic malignant melanoma (SMM) untreated patients, belonging to 10 and 39 families, respectively. The study was extended to 39 unaffected close relatives of FMM patients, to 187 unaffected close relatives of SMM patients, and to 20 unaffected unrelated individuals (control group), all examined under the same conditions. The mean SCE rates/cell were significantly higher in MM families than in the control group, and in melanoma patients than in their close relatives. The mean SCE levels of FMM and SMM patients, (8.4 +/- 0.8 and 8.0 +/- 0.3, respectively) were similar, and so were the distributions of individuals in classes of increasing SCE values (with a modal value at 7-8 SCEs/cell). The mean SCE levels of close relatives of FMM and SMM patients were also similar (5.4 +/- 0.2 and 5.4 +/- 0.1, respectively, with a modal value at 4-5 SCEs/cell), and slightly higher than in the control group (4.7 +/- 0.2 SCEs/cell). More than 7 SCEs/cell were observed in the majority (41 of 59) of FMM or SMM patients, in a smaller fraction (25 of 227) unaffected relatives, and in none of 20 unrelated unaffected individuals. These observations favor the hypothesis that higher SCE levels may be an expression of constitutional lesions predisposing to this neoplastic disease.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in leukemic patients

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was studied in PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from 36 newly diagnosed and untreated leukemic patients: 16 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 10 with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), and 10 with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). The metaphases analyzed show no chromosomal abnormalities. The mean SCE frequency (mean +/- SE) for each group of patients was: 6.8 +/- 0.4, 6.6 +/- 0.3, and 7.0 +/- 0.6 per mitosis, respectively, which was significantly lower than the mean SCE score for 30 controls (8.7 +/- 0.2). No differences in SCE score among ALL, ANLL, and CML and a similar SCE frequency by chromosome number and group allowed consolidation of all the cases into a single group of 36 leukemic patients (6.8 +/- 0.3). When the frequency of SCE was compared by chromosome number and group between the leukemic patients with the control group, a significant decrease in SCE frequency was observed due to a low SCE score in almost all the complements, except chromosome #1. It is suggested that the low SCE rate is related to the leukemic process itself.     

Increased sister chromatid exchange frequency in young women with breast cancer and in their first-degree relatives

The well-known increased risk of breast cancer (BC) in first-degree relatives of patients with BC has been related to shared genetic factors including defective DNA repair, with loss of genomic integrity. On the other hand, it can be hypothesized that early-onset breast cancer is also associated with overburden of heritable factors leading to increased DNA injury. In this respect, we analyzed sister chromatid exchange frequency (SCE) in 20 women with breast cancer (all < or =40 years old), in their first-degree female relatives, and in 20 age-matched healthy females without a personal or family history of cancer. SCE was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in patients (7.17 +/- 1.81 per metaphase) and in their first-degree relatives (6.44 +/- 0.98), compared with controls (5.85 +/- 0.72). There was no difference in SCE frequency between patients and their first-degree relatives. We suggest that the increased SCE in patients reflects a genomic instability that may be operative in carcinogenesis. Further, genomic instability is shared also by first-degree relatives, although none of them had a history of breast cancer at the time of the study.     

Sister chromatid exchange analysis in the Prader-Labhart-Willi syndrome

The number of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and cell kinetics in lymphocytes were investigated from 16 Prader-Labhart-Willi syndrome (PLWS) patients [8 with 15q12 deletion (4 females, 4 males; mean age = 12.9y with age range of 0.3 to 24y), and 8 non-deletion (2 females, 6 males; means age = 16.8y with age range of 5 to 26y)], 18 parents of PLWS patients and age-matched control individuals. The average SCE frequency and standard deviation in PLWS patients with and without the chromosome 15 deletion was 6.6 +/- 1.3 and 6.2 +/- 0.8, respectively. Therefore no significant difference in SCE frequency or replicative index was found between the two PLWS subgroups. There was also no significant difference in SCE frequency or replicative index between the 16 PLWS patients and age-matched control subjects. The average SCE frequency and standard deviation in 8 fathers who were previously identified to have donated the chromosome 15 with the deletion in the child was 7.5 +/- 1.2, which was not significantly different from 8.5 +/- 2.0 seen in age-matched control subjects. There was also no significant difference in the SCE frequency or replicative index of 18 parents of PLWS patients with and without the chromosome 15 deletion when compared with age-matched control subjects.     

Sister chromatid exchanges and ion release in patients wearing fracture fixation devices

The quantification of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) during mitosis is a useful index for evaluating genotoxic effects in subjects occupationally or incidentally exposed to potentially toxic substances. The authors investigated the hypothesis that ions released by corrosion from prosthetic components of fracture fixation devices are associated with change in SCE incidence. In the present study, ten patients with implants were examined, and fifteen subjects with no implants were used as controls. SCE and high frequency cell (HFC) numbers were evaluated in circulating lymphocytes. In addition, nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) ion values in the serum were measured because, after iron, these metals are major components of stainless steel. A significant increase in SCE numbers was observed in patients compared to the control population (4.9 +/- 1.3 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.4). Ni concentration was 1.71 +/- 1.49 ng/mL in patients and 0.72 +/- 0.52 ng/mL in control subjects; Cr concentration was, respectively, 1.01 +/- 0.77 ng/mL and 0.19 +/- 0. 27 ng/mL. The increase of serum Cr and Ni was statistically significant. No correlation was found between the increased Cr concentrations and SCE number while Cr ion levels were found to be significantly correlated to HFC. An inverse correlation between Ni level and SCE numbers was observed. Our findings suggest that Cr release by stainless steel implants could have a genotoxic effect; thus it would be useful to carefully monitor implanted subjects with regard to serum ion dosage, SCE analysis, and HFC evaluation. In any case, it would be appropriate to remove the implant when fracture fixation is reached.     

Spontaneous chromosomal aberrations in patients with precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix uteri

Chromosomal aberrations were studied in metaphases from peripheral blood cultures of 52 women with cancer of the cervix uteri, 89 cases of various grades of cervical precancerous lesions, and 47 age-matched normal (control) women. The frequency of metaphases with chromosome and chromatid aberrations was 17.24% in cancer patients, 10.41% in those with precancerous lesions, and 6.39% in control women. There was a significant (p less than 0.001) increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrations in patients with cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions, compared with controls. After the exclusion of the treated cases, cancer patients also revealed a highly significant (p less than 0.001) increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrations, compared with controls. The results of the present study indicate the existence of chromosomal instability in the majority of cervical cancer patients and in some cases of precancerous lesions. The increased frequency of spontaneous chromosome aberrations in patients with precancerous lesions may be of importance for the understanding of their biological behavior.     

The spectral component of electrogastrography (EGG): factors of variation in normal subjects, and in patients with cancer and ulcers

A study of the spectral analysis of the electrogastrography has been mad in man in a non-invasive condition: normal subjects in two groups: young and old subjects (n = 72) were compared with gastric cancers (n = 42) and ulcerous (n = 22) subjects. Morning recording (10-11 h a.m.), in fasting conditions, were repeated every three successive days. In normal subjects, the mean frequency of the spectral gastric component is very stable (2.8 +/- 0.2 cycles per min), whatever be the sex, the age of the body weight. In normal subjects, the mean spectral amplitude (y) varied with the derivation: in derivation 3-6 (according to the antro-pyloric axis) is the greatest amplitude (y = 52 +/- 22 microV). In the cancerous condition, the range of the frequencies increases, but the mean frequency does not change (2.8 +/- 0.3 cycles per min). However, in 7 cancerous subjects the frequencies (x) fell beyond the limits of the population with an (x) being either less than or equal to 2.4 or greater than or equal to 3.2 cycles per min. In a great proportion (forty-seven per cent) of the cancerous subjects, an important and significant increase of amplitude is recorded (at least in one derivation). In these cases, the location of the cancer is the cardia, the fundus or the pylorus. The amplitudes fall significantly beyond those observed in ulcerous patients. The possible explanations of these variations and the applications to the future monitoring of patients are discussed.     

Fibroblast cultures of patients with basal cell epithelioma exhibit a normal sensitivity to the genotoxic effect of ultraviolet irradiation.

Fibroblast cultures of 16 basal cell epithelioma (basalioma, BCE) patients with an unusually young age at onset of disease (29-51 years; 42.5 +/- 7.04), and healthy normal controls (27-55 years; 40.73 +/- 9.52) were studied for chromosome instability induced by ultraviolet rays (UV). We used an UV source that emitted predominantly UV-A and UV-B at an intensity of 375 J/m2 and evaluated the induction of micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE). Young basalioma patients and normal controls showed no significant differences in MN and SCE frequencies, neither with respect to spontaneous nor to UV-induced values (MN spontaneous: 10.80 +/- 5.65 vs. 11.32 +/- 8.21; UV-induced increase: 7.36 +/- 4.40 vs. 9.93 +/- 7.55; SCE spontaneous: 10.28 +/- 1.61 vs. 10.72 +/- 1.09; UV-induced increase: 7.30 +/- 2.19 vs. 7.55 +/- 2.14). We conclude from these data that an enhanced UV sensitivity as observed in cells from patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma and xeroderma pigmentosum is not a constitutive risk factor in basalioma patients.     

Renal biopsy findings predicting outcome in scleroderma renal crisis

Scleroderma renal crisis is irreversible in some patients despite aggressive treatment. This study was designed to identify pathologic prognostic features in scleroderma renal crisis. We retrospectively reviewed the pathology and the clinical records of 17 patients who underwent kidney biopsies during scleroderma renal crisis (group A, recovered renal function [n = 7]; group B, remained in renal failure or died [n = 10]). Multiple histologic features were assessed semiquantitatively (0-3) or as percentages. C4d staining of peritubular capillaries and small vessels was assessed semiquantitatively (0-3) in patients with scleroderma (n = 11), normotensive (n = 10), and hypertensive (n = 12) nonscleroderma native kidney controls. The percentage of thrombosed vessels (25.1 +/- 21.0 versus 5.6 +/- 12.3, P = .045) and the severity of glomerular ischemic collapse (2.9 +/- 0.3 versus 1.4 +/- 0.8, P = .001) were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Also, group B patients tended to have more severe acute tubular injury and vascular fibrinoid changes. The peritubular capillary C4d score in patients with scleroderma, normotensive controls, and hypertensive controls were 1.1 +/- 0.9, 0.3 +/- 0.7, and 0.3 +/- 0.5, respectively (P = .018, scleroderma versus other controls). Small vessel C4d score was higher in scleroderma compared to normotensive but not hypertensive controls. Within scleroderma samples, a significantly higher peritubular capillary C4d score (1.6 +/- 0.7 versus 0.3 +/- 0.5, P = .024) but not small vessel score was found in group B compared to group A. This tended to be associated with peritubular capillary leukocyte margination. Vascular thrombosis, severe glomerular ischemic collapse, and peritubular capillary C4d deposits in scleroderma renal crisis kidney biopsies correlated with increased risk of failure to recover renal function.     

The antigen-presenting environment in normal and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related premalignant cervical epithelium

The activation of HPV-specific T cells within the cervical microenvironment is likely to play an important part in the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The extent and the type of T cell activation will depend critically on the expression of MHC, costimulatory cell surface molecules and cytokines by keratinocytes and Langerhans cells within the cervical lesion. Expression of MHC class II (HLA-A-DR and -DQ), costimulatory/adhesion molecules (CD11a/18, CD50, CD54, CD58 and CD86) and cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10) was therefore investigated by immunohistochemistry in normal squamous epithelium (n = 12), low-grade (n = 23) and high-grade (n = 18) squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. CIN progression was associated with de novo expression of HLA-DR and CD54, and increased expression of CD58 by keratinocytes. However, significantly, there was no expression of any adhesion/costimulation molecule by epithelial Langerhans cells in any cervical biopsy studied. Furthermore, TNF-alpha, a potent activator of Langerhans cells, was expressed constitutively by basal keratinocytes in normal cervix (12+/12). but expression of this cytokine was absent in a number of CIN samples (20+/23 for low-grade, 12+/18 for high-grade CIN). Conversely, the suppressive cytokine IL-10 was absent in normal epithelium (0+/12), but was up-regulated in a number of CIN lesions (12+/23 for low-grade; 8+/18 for high-grade CIN). The restricted expression of costimulation/adhesion molecules and the nature of the cytokine microenvironment within the epithelium may act to limit effective immune responses in some CIN lesions.     

Atypical immature metaplasia (AIM) of the cervix: is it related to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)?

Atypical immature metaplasia (AIM) is a poorly characterized cervical lesion with uncertain biological and clinical significance. AIM shares some, but not all, morphological features of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs). SILs are characterized by human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity and increased cellular proliferation, but these features have not been fully evaluated in AIM. Genomic DNA was extracted from 27 microdissected cervical biopsy specimens diagnosed as AIM. HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using two different sets of L1 gene consensus primers. HPV types were identified by sequence analysis of PCR products and comparison with published HPV sequences. The cell proliferation index was assessed by immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 (MIB-1) antigen and expressed as the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells. Comparison groups included normal cervix (n = 10) and low-grade (LSILs, n = 19) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs, n = 11). Intermediate- or high-risk HPV DNA was detected in 67% (18 of 27) of AIM cases. Low-risk HPV DNA was not detected in any of the specimens. The Ki-67 index in AIM (mean, 33.0 +/- 20.3; median, 29) was comparable to that of LSILs (mean, 21.4 +/- 4.6; median, 21) and was significantly higher than that of normal cervix (mean, 11.0 +/- 2.1; median, 11) (P< .01) and lower than that of HSILs (mean, 60.4 +/- 13.2; median, 60) (P < .01). Of the cases with available follow-up, HPV-positive AIMs were significantly more likely to have a concurrent or subsequent diagnosis of typical HSIL (12 of 15, 80%) than HPV-negative AIMs (one of six, 45%) (P = .014). The wide range of Ki-67 indices and variable HPV status in AIM suggest that AIM represents a heterogeneous group of lesions including bona fide HSILs (high-risk HPV-positive, high Ki-67 index), antecedents (precursors?) of HSILs (high-risk HPV-positive, low to moderate Ki-67 index), and benign reactive conditions (HPV-negative, variable Ki-67 index). HPV testing may be useful in the assessment of atypical epithelial proliferations of the cervix for which a diagnosis of AIM is considered.     

REM sleep behavior disorder in patients with guadeloupean parkinsonism, a tauopathy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe sleep characteristics and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder in patients with Guadeloupean atypical parkinsonism (Gd-PSP), a tauopathy resembling progressive supranuclear palsy that mainly affects the midbrain. It is possibly caused by the ingestion of sour sop (corossol), a tropical fruit containing acetogenins, which are mitochondrial poisons. DESIGN: Sleep interview, motor and cognitive tests, and overnight videopolysomnography. PATIENTS: Thirty-six age-, sex-, disease-duration- and disability-matched patients with Gd-PSP (n = 9), progressive supranuclear palsy (a tauopathy, n = 9), Parkinson disease (a synucleinopathy, n = 9) and controls (n = 9). SETTINGS: Tertiary-care academic hospital. RESULTS: REM sleep behavior disorder was found in 78% patients with Gd-PSP (43% of patients reported having this disorder several years before the onset of parkinsonism), 44% of patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease, 33% of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, and no controls. The percentage of muscle activity during REM sleep was greater in patients with Gd-PSP than in controls (limb muscle activity, 8.3%+/-8.7% vs 0.1%+/- 0.2%; chin muscle activity, 24.3%+/- 23.7% vs 0.7%+/-2.0%) but similar to that of other patient groups. The latency and percentage of REM sleep were similar in patients with Gd-PSP, patients with Parkinson disease, and controls, whereas patients with progressive supranuclear palsy had delayed and shortened REM sleep. CONCLUSION: Although Gd-PSP is a tauopathy, most patients experience REM sleep behavior disorder. This suggests that the location of neuronal loss or dysfunction in the midbrain, rather than the protein comprising the histologic lesions (synuclein versus tau aggregation), is responsible for suppressing muscle atonia during REM sleep. Subjects with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder should avoid eating sour sop.     

Sister chromatid exchanges and dementia of the Alzheimer type

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis was carried out on ten patients with the clinical diagnosis of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 11 cognitively-intact controls of a comparable age. There was no significant difference between patient and control groups in either the mean baseline SCE frequency or the SCE frequency following in vitro exposure to mitomycin-C. The present results, based on the largest sample (n = 21) published to date, fail to confirm the single positive report in the literature of an increased baseline SCE frequency in DAT patients compared to controls.     

Spectral characteristics of electrogastrography in gastric cancer. Possibilities of screening

A standardised application of electrogastrography (EGG) using spectral analysis was used in 182 subjects (72 normals, 74 cancerous and 36 ulcerous) in a large range of the aging (10 to 70 years). The conditions of derivations from the abdominal surface electrodes (n = 6) are following: bipolar distance 14 cm around the pyloric point at 0 degrees (antrum axis), 60 degrees and 120 degrees. In fasting situation in normal subjects the gastric frequency (N) and the spectral amplitude (Y) of the most energetic component of EGG was 2.89 +/- 0.2 c/min for N and 54 +/- 44 microV for Y in antropyloric axis. In the cancerous group a significative increase of mean amplitude is observed (P = 0.01). On the contrary any mean change of frequency was observed (2.89 +/- 0.3 c/min). The individual comparison with normal parameters leads to following selection: neoplasia, n = 42/74 cases (57%); ulcer, n = 13/36 (36%); however 7/72 normal subjects (10%) fall in this abnormal class as false positive. After an ingestion of tea (120 ml) giving a volumetric stimulation, the modifications of frequency are not significative contrary to the amplitude increase. Finally, the association of one or two abnormalities leads to the following percentages: 66% in cancerous, 45% in ulcerous and 23% in normal subjects. Thus a better proportion of abnormalities was observed in cancerous subjects with the stimulation but this procedure may lead to an increase of false abnormality in the non-neoplastic subjects.