Lung cancer in Israel, 1962–1982 I. Jews and Arabs

The magnitude and dynamics of lung cancer incidence in Jews and Arabs in Israel between the years 1962 and 1982 were studied. In general, age-standardized incidence rates increased consistently between the years 1962 and 1976 among Jewish (24% increase) and Arab (39%) males, and to a lesser degree among Jewish females (15%). Arab females had the highest (77%) increase. From 1977 to 1982 a general decrease in incidence rates, which was largest among Arab males (19%) and females (15%), was noted. Rates among Jewish males are currently 26% higher than among Arab males, and are 162% higher among Jewish females than in Arab females. Lung cancer rates in both males and females in Istrael (Jews and Arabs) are lower than in most developed countries in the world. Among the possible reasons are differences in the population risk factors profile, availability of health care and the level of diagnosis and ascertainment of cases.     

Visual disturbances, serum glycine levels and transurethral resection of the prostate

Transient visual disturbances have been noted in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. It has been suggested recently that these visual aberrations were secondary to high serum concentrations of glycine from the intravasation of irrigant solutions used during the procedure. We prospectively studied visual acuity, serum electrolytes, glucose, ammonia and glycine concentrations in 18 patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. Of our patient population 22% experienced significant decreases in visual acuity. We found that all patients had significantly elevated serum glycine concentrations but that there was no correlation of visual symptomatology with serum electrolyte or glucose concentrations. Our data further suggest that impeded metabolism of glycine may be more important than the absolute serum concentration in symptomatic patients.     

Omega-3 fatty acid treatment fails to alter alpha 1-adrenergic receptor mediated phosphoinositide turnover in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

1. The effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated phosphoinositide turnover in the hearts of 6-week streptozotocin diabetic rats was studied. 2. The diabetic state was characterized by decreased body weight gain, hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. Omega-3 fatty acid treatment did not have any significant effects on the above parameters. 3. Plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly higher in diabetic rats compared with controls. 4. Omega-3 fatty acid treatment reduced the plasma triglyceride levels in the diabetic rats, whereas plasma cholesterol levels remained unaffected. 5. Norepinephrine (10 and 100 microM) stimulated inositol monophosphate (IP1) formation was significantly decreased in the diabetic rat heart compared with controls. Omega-3 fatty acid treatment had no significant effect on the norepinephrine-mediated IP1 formation in these rats. 6. Inositol bisphosphate (IP2) formation in response to 100 microM of norepinephrine was significantly lower in the diabetic rat heart; which was also not affected by omega-3 fatty acid treatment.     

Fragment length polymorphisms among independent isolates of Epstein-Barr virus from immunocompromised and normal hosts

DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA were used as a molecular epidemiological tool to study multiple isolates of virus from the same and different individuals. We studied 35 EBV isolates: 19 from seven immunocompromised children and 16 from seven college students with mononucleosis. Analysis of the fragment length polymorphisms in this collection of isolates permitted several conclusions. Sites of polymorphism were most often encountered in regions with repetitive DNA. Epidemiologically unrelated patients harbored viruses that could be readily distinguished; by contrast, two infants and their mothers harbored similar viruses. Isolates from different sites in the same patient were similar. Variations between different clinical isolates of EBV mimic those found between different laboratory strains of the virus. Fragment length polymorphisms thus provide a useful marker for studying transmission and pathogenesis of EBV infections.     

Effect of parenterally administered gold therapy on the course of adult rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the course of rheumatoid arthritis over 5 years in adults and to evaluate the effect of parenterally administered gold salts on that course. DESIGN: A prospective observational study of adults with rheumatoid arthritis. Data derived from annual interviews with patients from 1983 to 1988 and from physician surveys in 1983 and 1987. SETTING: Rheumatology practices in the community. PATIENTS: The study began in 1982 with 822 adults who had rheumatoid arthritis and were under the care of rheumatologists. INTERVENTIONS: Those selected by rheumatologists in the management of their patients. MEASUREMENTS: Information describing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, course, and therapy was collected from patients and verified by physician reports. Functional status, measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and the number of painful joints were used as outcome variables. Outcome variables were adjusted for age, sex, disease duration, baseline values of the outcome variable, and the use of four disease-remittive agents other than gold. MAIN RESULTS: Multivariate repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no change in the course of rheumatoid arthritis over 5 years. The use of parenteral gold for at least 2 consecutive years at the start of the observation period produced, on average, no change in the course over 5 years in the two outcome variables. CONCLUSION: In our study of a community-based population of adults with rheumatoid arthritis who were under the care of community rheumatologists, we found that there was, on average, no statistically significant change in function or number of painful joints between 1983 and 1988. Patients receiving parenteral gold therapy for at least 2 consecutive years did not show a statistically significant difference in outcome when compared with those not receiving such therapy.     

Screening for glaucomatous visual field loss. The effect of patient reliability

Eighty-eight glaucoma patients and 252 normal subjects underwent C-30-2 testing on the Humphrey Field Analyzer. The effect of fixation losses, high false-positive and false-negative response rates on visual field test results was assessed using the mirror image method of detecting asymmetry across the horizontal meridian, and the Humphrey STATPAC pattern standard deviation (PSD) and mean deviation (MD). Glaucoma patients with poor fixation (greater than or equal to 20%) had less depressed fields and fewer localized defects than those with good fixation. Fixation loss did not affect measures of localized defects or generalized depression among normal subjects. High false-positive rates (greater than or equal to 10%) were associated with less-depressed visual fields among glaucoma patients and normal subjects. Visual fields were depressed by an average of 9 dB for glaucoma patients and 7 dB for normal subjects with high false-negative rates (greater than or equal to 33%), when compared with those with low false-negative rates. Apparent localized defects were observed among normal subjects with high false-negative rates. Most of these defects were located in the superior nasal and adjacent arcuate area.     

Analgesic profile of the sodium salt of pemedolac

Pemedolac Na, 1-ethyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-4-(phenylmethyl)-pyrano [3,4-b] indole-1-acetic acid sodium salt, exhibited equipotent analgesic effects after oral, iv, and im administration, suggesting that it is well absorbed. In mouse writhing models, the ED₅₀ values ranged from 0.3 mg (0.81 μmol)/kg (vs. acetylcholine) to 4.3 mg (11.6 μmol)/kg (vs. paraphenylbenzoquinone [PBQ]). In the rat Randall-Selitto model, the ED₅₀ o the compound was approximately 0.001 mg (2.7 nmol)/kg, with a flat dose response curve. The peak effects lasted for 7–9 h, 10–18 h, and 5 h following oral, im, and iv injections, respectively. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of pemedolac Na inhibited the PBQ-induced writing in mice with an ED₅₀ of 43.5 μg (0.12 μmol)/mouse, and this effect was not antagonized by naloxone. It was inactive in the hot plate and tail flick tests, demonstrating that pemedolac Na does not act via an opiate mechanism. These results indicate that pemedolac Na is a viable parenteral and oral analgesic, typified by high analgesic potency, a rapid onset and long duration of action, and an extremely wide safety index. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Dermatologic changes associated with interleukin 2 administration

We have prospectively evaluated the skin changes that occurred in ten patients who were undergoing immunotherapy with interleukin 2 (IL-2) and autologous lymphokine-activated killer cells to treat cancer. Serial skin biopsy specimens were obtained before therapy (baseline), during IL-2 administration, and during IL-2/lymphokine-activated killer cell infusion. All patients developed an eruption that was characterized by macular erythema, with burning and pruritus of the skin. It began after two or three days of IL-2 infusion and was usually localized to the head and neck; it occasionally became generalized (ie, erythroderma). The eruption resolved with desquamation within 48 to 72 hours after cessation of infusion of IL-2. Histologically, the changes were not specific. The only consistent immunohistological finding noted was the presence of DR+/Leu-4+ lymphoid cells surrounding blood vessels in the papillary dermis, with fewer of these cells in the epidermis. There was no difference between the clinical or histological features of the eruption that occurred with IL-2 alone and that which occurred with IL-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cell infusion, suggesting that the cutaneous effects were mediated by IL-2 alone.