Concentrations of serum proteins and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with different histological types of gastric carcinoma

ESR and serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, C1-INH and CEA were quantified preoperatively in 195 patients with gastric carcinoma. The values were grouped according to the extent of disease (T1-3N0M0, T2-3N + M0, T4AnyNM0, AnyTAnyNM1) and according to the histological type of tumor (intestinal-type, diffuse and unclassifiable). The data were analysed using a two-way analysis of variance with unequal cell sizes. ESR, C4, C1-INH, IgG and CEA varied with the extent of disease. When the data were adjusted for this variation, we found that the values of ESR, C4 and CEA were different between the various histological types. The values were highest in patients with the intestinal-type tumor and lowest in those with diffuse tumor. The concentrations of IgG and C1-INH were not different between the histological types. Our results are relevant when ESR, C4 and CEA are used in the evaluation of patients with gastric carcinoma.     

Preoperative prediction of extent and prognosis of gastric carcinoma by four serum proteins and erythrocyte sedimentation rate

In 195 patients with gastric carcinoma the preoperative ESR and serum concentrations of IgG, C4, C1-INH and CEA varied significantly with the extent of disease. Extent of disease and prognosis were predicted from these variables by discriminant analysis. The discriminant rules were tested on the same patients in an unbiased way. Metastases or no metastases were correctly predicted in 75% of the patients. By an appropriate prior distribution 93% of the patients without metastases were identified. The disease extent was also predicted in subgroups of patients with and without metastases. Survival was correctly predicted preoperatively in 66% of the patients and 83% of the patients with a fair prognosis were identified. Of the patients preoperatively allocated to the non-survival group 94% did actually die during follow-up. When used in addition to other available information, our discriminant rules will contribute to the quality of the preoperative evaluation of patients with gastric carcinoma.     

The prognostic value of Laurén's histopathological classification system and ABO blood groups in patients with stomach carcinoma

The prognostic value of Laurén's histopathological classification system and the ABO blood group system has been studied in 275 patients with cancer of the stomach. The study disclosed a higher rate of tumours of intestinal type in females aged 70 years or more compared with those under 70 years, but no such relation for males. We found no relation between histopathological classification and blood groups. For patients with blood group A the 5-year survival was 17.5%, compared to 8.4% for blood group O (P less than 0.05). Survival for patients with intestinal and diffuse tumours was 17.7% and 4.8% respectively (P less than 0.01). A multivariate analysis showed that the histopathological classification system, independently, was an important factor with respect to survival (all other factors constant). Blood group might also be of importance as a prognostic factor, but further studies are necessary to confirm this.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive group B streptococcal isolates from south-west Sweden 1988-2001

The antibiotic susceptibility of 297 invasive isolates of group B streptococci (GBS) to a panel of 12 antibiotics was analysed using the E-test. The isolates (from 123 neonates and 174 adults) were collected from south-west Sweden during the 2 periods 1988-1997 and 1998-2001. The breakpoints of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute were used. All isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime, meropenem, linezolid, vancomycin, moxifloxacin and quinupristin-dalfopristin. Two strains displayed a slightly decreased susceptibility to penicillin G (MIC 0.25 microg/ml) also when tested by the broth dilution method. Two per cent were resistant to erythromycin and 1% to clindamycin. Strains with intermediate sensitivity to erythromycin and clindamycin increased over the 2 study periods. 68% were resistant to doxycycline, and the resistance rate for doxycycline increased over the 2 study periods. No strain was resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Serotype V dominated among strains with intermediate susceptibility to erythromycin and clindamycin. There were no other relationships between serotypes and decreased sensitivity to any agent. There were no significant differences in susceptibility to any agent tested between strains isolated from neonates and adults. In conclusion, penicillins remain the drug of choice in the region but with the increasing rates of intermediate susceptibility to both erythromycin and clindamycin, antibiotic sensitivity analysis should be performed on the GBS isolates from penicillin-allergic patients.     

Two novel missense mutations in the LDL receptor gene causing familial hypercholesterolemia

We have employed analysis of single-strand conformation polymorphisms to identify mutations in the low density lipoprotein receptor gene causing familial hypercholesterolemia. Two familial hypercholesterolemia heterozygotes had abnormal single-strand conformation polymorphism patterns of exons 4 and 8. DNA sequencing revealed that the abnormal pattern of exon 4 was due to heterozygosity (G/T) at nucleotide 502. Nucleotide 502 is the first base of codon 147, and the G→T mutation (D147Y) changes this codon from Asp_GAC to Tyr_UAC. The abnormal pattern of exon 8 was due to heterozygosity (A/G) at nucleotide 1097. Nucleotide 1097 is the second base of codon 345, and the A→G mutation (Q345R) changes this codon from Gln_CAG to Arg_CGG- Based upon screening of 437 unrelated familial hypercholesterolemia heterozygotes, both D147Y and Q345R account for about 0.5% of the mutations causing familial hypercholesterolemia in Norway.     

Serum C1-esterase inhibitor, an essential and independent prognosticator of gastric carcinoma

The preoperative concentrations of IgG were lower (P less than 0.002) and the concentrations of C4 and C1-INH higher (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001) in 29 patients with recurrence after potentially curative resection of gastric carcinoma, than in 31 patients alive and disease-free 5 years after surgery. These differences between the two groups of patients were consistent within each of six groups of disease extent. In each of the two groups of patients, the preoperative concentrations of IgG, C4 and C1-INH had no significant variation with the extent of disease (P greater than 0.05 or greater). Of our variables, C1-INH was the most potent prognosticator and discriminated between patients with and without recurrence with 80% accuracy. Furthermore, the predictive prognostic value of C1-INH at the time of surgery was superior to the prognostic value of the extent of disease (F values 27.00 and 12.69). Apparently, the preoperative C1-INH concentration is an essential and independent prognostic parameter of gastric carcinoma. We assume that C1-INH reflects an additional prognostic feature appropriate to the tumour or the host. Our finding that the interval between surgery and death from recurrence had an inverse relation to the preoperative C1-INH concentration also supports this assumption.     

Effect of vitamin B-6 deficiency on preference for several taste solutions in the rat.

The effect of dietary-induced vitamin B-6 (B-6) deficiency on the intake of the taste solutions, sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium saccharin (NaSacc), quinine sulfate (QS), and hydrochloric acid (HCl) was studied using a 48 hour, two-bottle choice technique. The B-6 deficient group demonstrated increased preference to 1.5 X 10(-1) and 3.0 X 10(-1) M NaCl compared to control ad libitum fed and control pair-fed groups. Total fluid intake on NaCl test days was also elevated in the B-6 deficient rats. There was no significant difference in the mean preference to NaSacc, QS, or HCl among the three groups. Adrenal hypertrophy was observed in the deficient rats. There was no change in the plasma level of Na and Zn but there was a reduction in urinary Na excretion. When the deficient rats were replenished by intraperitoneal injection of pyridoxine.HCl and feeding with the control diet containing adequate B-6, the increased preference for NaCl was extinguished, suggesting that the preference alteration was reversible. Urinary Na excretion also returned to normal.     

Frequency of the ΔF508 and exon 11 mutations in Norwegian cystic fibrosis patients

Eiklid K, Tranebjærg L, Eiken HG, Pedersen JC, Michalsen H, Fluge G, Schwartz M, Nilsen BR, Bolle R, Skyberg D, Boman H, Berg K. Frequency of the ΔF508 and exon 11 mutations in Norwegian cystic fibrosis patients.
Clin Genet 1993: 44: 12–14. © Munksgaard, 1993
We have searched for the ΔF508 mutation in 77 Norwegian cystic fibrosis patients. Of the 154 chromosomes tested, 93 (60%) carried the ΔF508 mutation. Haplotypes at the D7S23 locus (KM19 and XV2C markers) were determined. Of 81 chromosomes with the F508 mutation, the B haplotype was found on 77. We found three patients with the G551D and one patient with the R553X mutation in exon 11 of the CFTR locus.