Trends in public opinion about alcohol policy initiatives in Ontario and the US 1989-91

Trends in public opinion about 11 possible alcohol policy initiatives are analysed in probability surveys of adults in the United States and in Ontario in 1989, 1990 and 1991. In both sites, public opinion is fairly conservative on alcohol policies, with majorities favoring either the status quo or decreased availability on such dimensions as tax levels, opening hours, sale of alcoholic beverages in corner stores and the minimum legal drinking age. Between 1989 and 1991, the most substantial net change in attitudes was in favor of warning labels in Ontario, although it was in the United States and not in Canada that warning labels were introduced after the 1989 surveys. For some other alcohol policies, public support for restrictions tended to decline in Ontario but not in the United States. In logistic regressions predicting attitudes on each policy with gender, age, education, drinking pattern, study site and year of study, the strong and consistent secular trend for support for warning labels held up; the only other significant and consistent secular trend was against increased efforts to prevent drunken customers being served. Since public support for alcohol controls is crucial to their effectiveness and long-term viability, regular tracking of public opinion on them is needed, along with efforts to increase their public understanding and support.     

No. 378-Placentophagy

Consumption of human placenta has recently been highlighted; however, there is no evidence of benefit from its consumption. In addition, there is potential for harm. Therefore the SOGC does not recommend the practice of placentophagy.     

A possible autocrine role for interleukin-6 in two lymphoma cell lines

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a growth factor with diverse biologic activity. Originally described as a T-cell product that enhances immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion in antigen-stimulated B cells, it also affects the growth of T cells, plasmacytomas, hybridomas, and hematopoietic stem cells. We report the expression and secretion of IL-6 by two lymphoma cell lines, OCI-LY3 and OCI-LY12. Addition of recombinant IL-6 stimulated their growth, whereas addition of polyclonal anti- recombinant IL-6 (anti-rIL-6) had a marked inhibitory effect on proliferation. These results suggest an autocrine role for IL-6 in the growth of these lymphoma cells in culture.     

Demonstration of burst-promoting activity of recombinant human GM-CSF on circulating erythroid progenitors using an assay involving the delayed addition of erythropoietin

We demonstrate through the use of an in vitro assay involving the delayed addition of erythropoietin that human recombinant GM-CSF, cloned from a mature T cell line, Mo, clearly has burst-promoting activity (BPA) on peripheral blood erythroid progenitors at picomolar concentrations. Delay for up to 72 hours of the addition of erythropoietin to semi-solid methylcellulose cultures of concentrated peripheral blood progenitors minimizes or eliminates BPA-independent erythroid colony formation with little loss of BPA-dependent erythroid colony formation. This assay will prove useful in accurately detecting sources of BPA.     

The hippurate ratio as an indicator of functional hepatic reserve for resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients

Predicting the ability of the cirrhotic liver to withstand resection remains a challenge for the surgeon. This study evaluates the use of the hippurate ratio, a novel assessment of glycine conjugation of paraaminobenzoic acid by the liver, as a preoperative indicator of functional hepatic reserve. Between 1998 and 2000, sixty-one cirrhotic patients were prospectively assessed for hepatic resection using the hippurate ratio, indocyanine green retention at 15 minutes (ICG R-l5), and other standard measures of liver function. Twenty-six patients were excluded as candidates for resection on the basis of inadequate functional hepatic reserve. Patients excluded from resection had significantly higher ICG R-15 values (29% ±9% vs. 16% ±12%, P = 0.00l), higher Child-Pugh scores (5.9 ± 0.9 vs. 5.3 ± 0.4, P = 0.01), and lower hippurate ratios (30% ±14% vs. 45% ± lS%, P = 0.005). There was a significant correlation between the hippurate ratio and ICG R-l5. Other indicators of liver function such as factor V, factor VII, albumin, bilirubin, protbrombin time, and transaminases were no different between patients who did and those who did not undergo resection. Of the 35 patients resected, there were seven (20%) who developed varying degrees of liver failure with three perioperative deaths (8.5%). Patients who had some degree of liver failure had significantly lower hippurate ratios than patients who had no liver failure (29% ±10% vs. 48% ±14%, P = 0.002). There was no difference in ICG R-15 values between patients who had liver failure and those who did not. The hippurate ratio offers information on hepatocellular reserve that is not provided by other measures of liver function and may allow better selection of cirrhotic patients for liver resection. Supported by a grant from the Physician’s Services Incorporated Foundation, Ontario, Canada. Presented at the Forty-First Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Diego, Calif., May 2l–24, 2000.     

Public opinion and alcohol policy: comparisons of two Canadian general population surveys

In recent years increasing attention has been devoted to the association between public opinion and alcohol policy. This paper compares public opinion on alcohol policy questions in two national crosssectional surveys of representatives samples of the general population in Canada, with total Ns of 11 634 (1989) and 12 155 (1994). Views on the following topics are analysed: taxation of alcoholic beverages, the legal drinking age, beer and liquor store hours, government advertising against drinking, efforts to prevent drunken patrons from being served, adding warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers, selling alcohol in convenience (corner) stores, alcohol and drug education and treatment programs. Public support for current and potential alcohol policies is compared to actual changes in alcohol policy at the national level and to gradual or dramatic increases in access to alcohol in provincial contexts. Personal views on policies are placed into context by examining associations among support for policies, respondents' demographic characteristics and their drinking volumes and patterns. A decline in support for further or enhanced policy interventions is evident, although support remains high for several measures. In some instances public responses seemed to be a reaction to increased access, in others a confirmation of greater availability. \[Giesbrecht N, Kavanagh L. Public opinion and alcohol policy: comparisons of two Canadian general population surveys. Drug Alcohol Rev 1999;18:7-19]     

Anomalous ABO inheritance explained by ovum transplantation

BACKGROUND: Modern fertilization techniques can lead to unexpected ABO phenotypes in newborn infants and can raise questions as to maternity, paternity, and infant misidentification. Ovum transplantation can result in an infant with an ABO phenotype that is unexpected, given the birth mother's ABO type. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A group AB, Rh- positive female infant was born to a group O, Rh-positive woman as a result of ovum transplantation. The case report is provided. RESULTS: The birth mother typed group O, Rh-positive both before and after delivery. The infant typed group AB, Rh-positive on cord blood and heelstick specimens. CONCLUSION: Ovum transplantation can result in newborns whose ABO phenotypes are unexpected, in relation to the birth mother's ABO type. To ensure patient privacy, such fertilization techniques may not be clearly documented in the delivery room chart. A complete obstetric history helps prevent repeat phlebotomies, expensive and unnecessary typing studies, and concern of the clinical staff with possible sample or infant misidentification.     

Cytokines in inflammatory malignant fibrous histiocytoma presenting with leukemoid reaction

Inflammatory malignant fibrous histiocytomas (IMFH) are rare tumors and are frequently associated with leukocytosis. In rare cases, leukemoid reactions were attributed to tumor production of unidentified hematopoietic factors. In this study, we used immunohistochemical techniques to show cytokine immunoreactivity in the malignant cells of two cases of IMFH presenting with leukemoid reactions and compared them with two malignant fibrous histocytomas, noninflammatory type. All four tumors stained positively for stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), and insulin-like growth factor-I. Other cytokines detected only in the two IMFH included IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IFN- gamma, and keratinocyte growth factor. Granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, IL- 3, and transforming growth factor-beta staining was present in one of the two IMFH tumors and was not present in the noninflammatory tumors. The immunohistochemical staining was localized to the malignant cells, suggesting deregulated cytokine expression consistent with their monocytic/histocytic origin. Expression of certain cytokines in the IMFH may account for the local inflammatory infiltrate, tumor fibrosis, and the aggressive nature of the malignant cells. We also detected elevated serum levels of SCF, G-CSF, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor in one or both of the IMFH patients. These latter observations may explain the bone marrow hypercellularity and other paraneoplastic symptoms, including fever, malaise, and weight loss, observed in both patients. Different cytokines present in the two IMFH tumors appear to be responsible for the eosinophilic leukemoid reaction observed in one case and for the granulocytic leukemoid reaction observed in the other patient. They may also be responsible for expansion of the tumor-cell population, fibroblast proliferation, and enhanced secretion of extracellular collagen.