Radiotherapy in the treatment of low-grade astrocytomas

Between 1954 and 1986 inclusive, 160 children in the North West Region of England were registered with histologically proven lowgrade astrocytomas (grade 1 or 2). Ten died before receiving any treatment, and a further seven died within 28 days of surgery, leaving 143 children whose survival in relation to treatment modality is the subject of this paper. Low-grade astrocytomas are responsive to radiation therapy. This treatment has no clear benefit to offer children with superficial tumours that can be resected completely or nearly so, but significantly improves survival rates when tumours are deep-seated and not amenable to excision.     

Axial rotation in the lumbar spine and gaping of the zygapophyseal joints

Axial rotation and zygapophyseal joint gaping was studied using 12 human lumbar spines from individuals ranging in age from 14 to 75 years. Using weight and pulley tests and manipulative testing in a torque apparatus, the movement produced by twisting the spine was found not to be pure axial rotation, but rather movement coupled with various combinations of lateral bending and flexion or extension. This motion may not be possible in testing an individual mobile segment. The twisting movements of the spine do not normally produce gaping of the zygapophyseal joints. These joints adapt to the axial rotation by the compliance of their articular cartilages and the movement of fat pads in and out of the joint capsule. Hypermobility appears to be associated with evidence of damage to part of the mobile segment, suggesting that the hypermobility (gaping) at a joint could be due to instability caused by injury.     

Bile acid receptors in colorectal cancer

Bile acids are thought to be involved in both the aetiology and development of colorectal cancer. In this study the existence of specific bile acid receptor proteins has been postulated. A receptor assay which involved labelling with 14C-deoxycholic acid was performed as well as autoradiography using 3H-deoxycholic acid. In an initial study resected colorectal cancer and adjacent histologically normal colorectal mucosa from 39 patients were studied, as were samples of normal gastric mucosa, cancers and benign colorectal tumours. Specific receptors to deoxycholic acid were detected in 12 (30.8 per cent) of the colorectal cancers, but in only 1 (2.6 per cent) of the samples from normal colorectal mucosa (X2 = 11.16, P less than 0.005). No deoxycholic acid receptors were detected in any other tissue studied. Autoradiographs of colorectal cancers showed binding of 3H-deoxycholic acid in receptor-positive tumour tissue. These findings might provide some explanation for the evidence linking bile acids with the disease.     

Ivermectin treatment of onchocerciasis

Ivermectin is a recently developed macrocyclic lactone that has widespread antiparasitic activity. A series of clinical trials has shown that ivermectin is safe and effective in the treatment of human infection with Onchocerca volvulus. Although it is rapidly microfilaricidal, it does not cause a severe reaction as is seen with diethylcarbamazine treatment. The drug also temporarily interrupts production of microfilaria but has no known long-lasting effects on the adult worms. In patients with onchocerciasis, a single oral dose of ivermectin (150 micrograms/kg) repeated once a year leads to a marked reduction in skin microfilaria counts and ocular involvement. At this dose, ivermectin causes minimal side effects and appears to be sufficiently free of severe adverse reactions to be used on a mass scale. Its use promises to revolutionise the treatment of onchocerciasis.     

Immunohistochemical study of the local inflammatory response to chlamydial ocular infection

Immunohistochemical staining of conjunctival biopsies from cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) was performed after they received a single primary ocular infection, a single secondary challenge infection, or repeated ocular inoculations with Chlamydia trachomatis. T cells of the suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8F) phenotype predominated regardless of the infection protocol, and perifollicular T lymphocytes of both the suppressor/cytotoxic and helper (OKT4A) phenotypes appeared in large numbers during the peak inflammatory reaction. In repeatedly inoculated monkeys, T cells and follicles persisted until cessation of reinfection. IgM-bearing B lymphocytes comprised the majority of cells within follicles, with smaller numbers of IgG- or IgA-positive B cells. The major difference in the response to the various infection protocols was the increased number and persistence of follicles with repeated reinoculation. The finding of large numbers of T-suppressor/cytotoxic and T-helper cells in the infected conjunctiva supports a role for cell-mediated immunity in the local response to C. trachomatis ocular infection.