Mutagen sensitivity in patients with familial and non-familial urothelial cell carcinoma

Due to variation in individual susceptibility, only a fraction of all individuals exposed to environmental carcinogens will develop cancer. Our aim was to assess whether mutagen sensitivity plays a role in developing urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) and whether this sensitivity is different in familial and non-familial cases. Intrinsic susceptibility was quantified by a mutagen sensitivity assay (mean number of chromatid breaks per cell after damage induction with bleomycin in the late S-G2 phase of the cell cycle). Patients were classified as sporadic (n = 25), familial (2 patients in 1 nuclear family, n = 23) or hereditary (2 patients <60 years or 3 patients in 1 nuclear family, n = 13) and compared with control subjects without a history of cancer. Information on demographic factors, smoking history and family history of UCC was collected by postal questionnaires. Differences in mutagen sensitivity were assessed by ANOVA and logistic regression analysis. Overall, UCC patients showed a higher mutagen sensitivity score compared with control subjects [mean number of chromatid breaks per cell 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.97, and 0.74, 95% CI 0.69-0.79, respectively; p = 0.001). Sporadic and familial patients exhibited the highest susceptibility (0.94, 95% CI 0.82-1.06, and 0.93, 95% CI 0.83-1.03, respectively). Hereditary patients (0.79, 95% CI 0.72-0.86) showed a susceptibility similar to controls. Mutagen sensitivity increases the risk of non-hereditary UCC. The relatively low mutagen sensitivity score among hereditary patients points to a different carcinogenic pathway.     

Suspected poisoning in children. Study of the incidence of true poisoning and poisoning scare in a defined population in North East Bristol

The distinction between true and suspected poisoning in children has not been made clear in previous work on childhood poisoning. A study of suspected poisoning in children under 15 years of age in a defined population of North East Bristol from November 1970 to July 1973 carried out by the Health Education Council Medical Research Division included 53,000 child-years at risk. The number of suspected poisonings was 3-4/1000 population aged under 15 years per year, with a higher incidence in younger age groups. Detailed investigation of the circumstances of the accidents carried out by a multidisciplinary team showed that at least 65%, and possibly as many as 78% were poisoning scares and not true poisoning. The evidence used by the casualty doctor and by the parents to diagnose poisoning was explored, and in many cases was circumstantial. Children with fathers in nonmanual occupations were over-represented. This may reflect differences in patterns of utilization behaviour rather than true differences in incidence.     

Exogenous lung surfactant: effect on radiographic appearance in premature infants

At birth, premature infants of 25-29 weeks gestation, at high risk for development of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), were given a single dose (90 mg) of calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE) by intratracheal instillation. The frequency and severity of RDS were assessed with use of a simple radiographic scoring system in which pulmonary parenchymal densities and the prominence of the air-bronchogram effect were used as indicators of widespread atelectasis. Radiographs were obtained in surfactant-treated and control infants within the first 90 minutes of life as part of an initial evaluation of their pulmonary status. Subsequent examinations were performed at less than 24 hours and less than 48 hours of age. Radiographic assessment of lung disease compared consistently with coordinated data on oxygen and mean airway pressure requirements of the infants. Both indicated a significantly decreased frequency and severity of RDS in the infants treated with surfactant. The results provide supporting evidence of the effectiveness of exogenous lung surfactant replacement in mitigating RDS in very premature infants.     

Interpeduncular fossa sign: CT criterion of subarachnoid hemorrhage

A retrospective study of 100 cerebral computed tomography scans interpreted as displaying subarachnoid hemorrhage was undertaken to determine the frequency of blood in the interpeduncular fossa as a useful radiographic sign. The results indicate that the interpeduncular fossa sign is second only to blood in the Sylvian fissure-circular sulcus area as a reliable indicator of subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT scans.     

Myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma: sonographic assessment

The depth of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma was evaluated using real-time sonography (US) in 20 patients with histologically proved adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. In 14 of 20 (70%) cases, US-based estimation of the depth of myometrial invasion was within 10% of the actual measurement in the gross specimen. The US-based estimation of tumor invasion was low in seven patients, high in four patients, and agreed with pathologic findings (+/- 5%) in nine patients. In four patients with polypoid intraluminal extension of tumor, a deeply invasive tumor was suspected on US but was not found on pathologic examination. In 12 superficially invasive tumors, the continuity of the demarcating subendometrial halo was intact in nine and incomplete in three. In six patients with deeply invasive tumors, this zone was partially disrupted in four, totally disrupted in one, and intact in one. Errors of estimation of the depth of myometrial invasion on US most frequently occurred when a tumor had a significant intraluminal polypoid extension. Demonstration of a subendometrial halo usually indicated superficial invasion, whereas the absence of a halo was frequently associated with deep invasion.     

US-guided percutaneous biopsy: use of a screw biopsy stylet to aid needle detection

Insertion of a screw biopsy stylet into a thin-walled biopsy needle greatly enhances detection of the needle during ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy. This technique is helpful when precise needle-tip localization is needed for biopsies of small lesions.     

In vivo use of a radioiodinated somatostatin analogue: dynamics, metabolism, and binding to somatostatin receptor-positive tumors in man.

Somatostatin analogues, labeled with gamma-emitting radionuclides, are of potential value in the localization of somatostatin receptor-positive tumors with gamma camera imaging. We investigated the application in man of a radioiodinated analogue of somatostatin, 123I-Tyr-3-octreotide, which has similar biologic characteristics as the native peptide. The radiopharmaceutical is cleared rapidly from the circulation (up to 85% of the dose after 10 min) mainly by the liver. Liver radioactivity is rapidly excreted into the biliary system. Until 3 hr after injection, radioactivity in the circulation is mainly in the form of 123I-Tyr-3-octreotide. Thereafter, plasma samples contain increasing proportions of free iodide. Similarly, during the first hours after injection, radioactivity in the urine exists mainly in the form of the unchanged peptide. Thereafter, a progressive increase in radioiodide excretion is observed, indicating degradation of the radiopharmaceutical in vivo. Fecal excretion of radioactivity amounts to only a few percent of the dose. The calculated median effective dose equivalent is comparable with values for applications of other 123I-radiopharmaceuticals (0.019 mSv/MBq).     

Pulmonary cystic disease: comparison of Pneumocystis carinii pneumatoceles and bullous emphysema due to intravenous drug abuse

A rare pulmonary manifestation of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or intravenous (IV) drug abuse is upper lobe cystic disease--pneumatoceles in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and bullous emphysema in IV drug abuse. Because these disorders overlap, the radiographic findings in 56 patients were compared. During a 12-month period, 16 patients less than 40 years of age were found to have bullous emphysema; the 10 who were IV drug abusers constituted group 1. In the same time period, 40 patients with PCP were encountered; the eight (20%) who had or developed pneumatoceles constituted group 2. In both groups, the conventional radiographic manifestations of upper lobe cystic disease were similar. Eight patients underwent computed tomography of the chest. In five patients with bullous disease, the distribution of the bullous lesions was peripheral, with sparing of the central portions of the lungs. In contrast, PCP pneumatoceles in three patients were dispersed throughout the lung parenchyma.