Relationships of prostaglandin E and natural killer sensitivity to metastatic potential in murine mammary adenocarcinomas

The levels of two prostaglandins (prostaglandins E and F) have been determined in a series of murine mammary lesions ranging from preneoplastic, hyperplastic alveolar nodules to highly metastatic adenocarcinomas. A highly positive correlation was seen between high levels of prostaglandin E and high tumorigenicity and metastatic potential. In addition, spontaneous metastasis of two highly metastatic tumors was partially inhibited by p.o. administration of indomethacin from the time of s.c. tumor transplantation until removal of the primary tumor at a limited size. Further, mammary tumor cells of differing metastatic potential were susceptible to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid activated spleen lymphocytes in vitro. Cells of metastatic tumor lines (410.4 and 66) were more resistant to killing than were cells of two non-metastatic tumor lines (168 and 410). The sensitivity of all target cells was increased when endogenous prostaglandin synthesis was prevented by the addition of indomethacin (1 microM) but was not affected by the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid.     

Zur Frage der Blutstillung bei Hirnoperationen

Zusammenfassung Die bisher gebräuchlichen Methoden der Blutstillung im ZNS haben durch die Einführung therapeutisch verwendbarer, physiologischer Gerinnungsfaktoren eine Bereicherung erfahren. Thrombinschaum in Hirnwunden verbindet die mikro-mechanische Wirkung des Wasserstoffsuperoxydes mit der biologischen der Fibrinbildung, die bis in schwer zugängliche und unübersichtliche Wundtaschen reicht. Eine besonders nachhaltige Abdichtung von Hirnwunden und auch extraduralen Wundschichten wird durch das Versprühen vom Thrombinplasma erzielt, was nicht nur für die Hämostase als solcher, sondern im erstgenannten Bereich auch für die Prophylaxe genen Hirnödem, aseptische Meningitis und Cortexadhärenz bedeutend ist. Der aufgenebelte Gerinnungsfilm ermöglicht weiter, Antibiotica an die Wundflächen nicht nur heranzuführen, sondern auch zu binden.Als Thrombinstäbchen verwendeten wirTopostasin Roche 1-3496/350 und für den Spray Topostasin Ro 1-349(/360, letzteres mit 500 NIH-Einheiten und Plasma aus gruppengleichen, für den Patienten ausgekreuzten Blutkonserven. Da eine Sättigung des Fibrinogenmoleküls mit einem Antibioticum Verlust seiner Gerinnbarkeit mit Thrombin zur Folge hat (Mlczoch u.Vinazzer), sollen die antibiotischen Zusätze nicht zu hoch sein. In der Neurochirurgie spielt diese Überlegung keine Rolle, da die intrameningeal applizierten Dosen von Antibioticis eo ipso geringer sind als im übrigen Organismus. (Wir selbst verwenden nicht mehr als 10000 OE Penicillin, 200 mg Streptound 100 mg Aureomycin.)Mit 2 Textabbildungen     

Spacing of cytochrome oxidase blobs in visual cortex of normal and strabismic monkeys

Some models of visual cortical development are based on the assumption that the tangential organization of V1 is not determined prior to visual experience. In these models, correlated binocular activity is a key element in the formation of visual cortical columns, and when the degree of interocular correlation is reduced the models predict an increase in column spacing. To examine this prediction we measured the spacing of columns, as defined by cytochrome oxidase (CO) blobs, in the visual cortex of monkeys whose binocular vision was either normal or disrupted by a strabismus. The spatial distribution of blobs was examined in seven normal and five strabismic macaques. Tangential sections through the upper layers of the visual cortex were stained to reveal the two-dimensional (2D) pattern of CO blobs. Each blob was localized and their center-to-center spacing, packing arrangement and density were calculated using 2D nearest-neighbor spatial analyses. The mean center-to-center spacing of blobs (590 microm for normally reared and 598 microm for strabismic macaques) and the mean density of blobs (3.67 blobs/mm2 for normally reared and 3.45 blobs/mm2 for strabismic macaques) were not significantly different. In addition, the 2D packing arrangement of the blobs was not affected by strabismus. While it is clear that neural activity plays a key role in the elaboration and refinement of ocular dominance cortical modules, we conclude that it does not determine the spatial period of the pattern of CO blobs. This suggests that aspects of the neural circuitry underlying the columnar architecture of the visual cortex are established prenatally and its fundamental periodicity is not modifiable by experience.      

Prognostic significance of serum IgE levels in primary breast cancer

Summary Serum IgE was measured in presurgical sera from 166 nonallergic women admitted to a comprehensive, multidisciplinary study of primary, operable breast cancer. During the follow-up period, which averaged 48 months, there were 71 recurrences. Patients were divided into two groups: those with IgE levels greater than the geometric mean value of 24 I.U. and those with levels less than the mean. The rate of tumor recurrence was significantly greater for the IgE > 24 group (p<0.03). IgE remained a significant prognostic indicator when evaluated by Cox regression analysis in conjunction with other known prognostic factors including: number of positive lymph nodes, clinical stage, menopausal status, estrogen receptor status, mitotic grade, tumor diameter, breast feeding history, and age of patient (p<0.015). IgE was not correlated with any of these known prognostic factors in individual analyses. We conclude that serum IgE level is a significant, independent prognostic indicator in primary breast cancer. Address for reprints: Dr H. Ownby, Michigan Cancer Foundation, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.