Promoting effect of the Chinese medicinal herb, wikstroemia chamaedaphne and tung oil extracts on carcinoma of the uterine cervix induced by HSV-2 or methylcholanthrene (MCA) in mice

The promoting effect of the Chinese medicinal herb, Wikstroemia chamaedaphne and Tung oil extracts (WC and HHPA) on carcinoma of uterine cervix induced by HSV-2 or MCA in mice was studied. The results showed that WC and HHPA extracts were not carcinogenic themselves. After carcinogen HSV-2 and MCA treatment, WC and HHPA were added separately. The inducing rates by HSV-2 increased from 7.4% to 21.1% and 26.3%, those by MCA increased from 56.5% to 82.8% and 84.4%. There was a significant difference between the combined groups and groups with HSV-2 or MCA only. The experimental results suggest that these two kinds of extracts play a promoting effect on carcinogenesis. The relation between the carcinogenesis of uterine cervix or nasopharynx and WC or HHPA extracts is discussed.     

Rebound elevation of cortisol following cyproheptadine withdrawal in Cushing's disease from a pituitary macroadenoma

A 44-year-old female with Cushing's disease associated with a pituitary macroadenoma was treated with cyproheptadine, 24 mg per day, after partial surgical resection of the tumor. A large residual tumor remained. There was no clear suppression of serum and urinary cortisol during therapy, but both levels rose markedly to beyond pre cyproheptadine levels, on withdrawal of the drug. This is the first report on the use of cyproheptadine in Cushing's disease associated with a pituitary macroadenoma. The response in this patient indicates an influence of cyproheptadine on ACTH secretion by the macroadenoma.     

Cytologic findings in stage I adenocarcinoma of the lung: Implications for the detection of early lung cancer

Preoperative cytologic examinations were performed on bronchial material from 92 patients with postsurgical (pathologic) stage I (American Joint Committee) adenocarcinoma of the lung. All patients were followed up for at least 5 years or until death; thus, cases of adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lungs were virtually excluded. Only 22 patients (24%) had abnormal preoperative cytologic findings. This low cytologic sensitivity is ascribed to the small size and peripheral location of the tumors. Large lesions of high histologic grades were more likely to have positive preoperative cytologic findings than small, well-differentiated ones.     

The effect of estradiol valerate and allylestrenol on endometrial transformation in hypergonadotropic hypogonadic women

The effect of estradiol valerate and allylestrenol on the endometrial transformation of five hypergonadotropic hypogonadic women was evaluated. Estradiol valerate was administered throughout the whole induced cycle (28 days), while allylestrenol was added during the second half of the cycle. Endometrial biopsies were performed during allylestrenol treatment and were evaluated histologically. Samples of endometrium were also subjected to one-dimensional SDS electrophoresis. Of ten biopsies performed, only one was interpreted to be in-phase, while the others were dated proliferative (4 biopsies) or showed abortive or out-of-phase secretory transformation. The highest mean serum progesterone level, detected under allylestrenol treatment, was 1.5 ng/ml. Protein electrophoresis demonstrated relative sequential changes in the protein patterns of the 115 kDa and 150 kDa protein bands. It is concluded that allylestrenol, although having gestagen properties, may not be efficient for the induction of an adequate secretory transformation of human endometrium in the absence of ovaries.     

4-Aminopyridine induces the release of neuropeptide Y (NPY) to produce an atropine- and tetrodotoxin-resistant contraction in rabbit isolated jejunum

4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) induced an atropine- and tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive contraction (resistant contraction), in a concentration-dependent manner, in the isolated jejunum of rabbits. The failure of specific antagonists of histamine, serotonin and substance P to affect this resistant contraction ruled out the participation of histamine, serotonin and/or substance P. Antiserum against neuropeptide Y (NPY) reduced this resistant contraction in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited the action of 4-AP totally at a high concentration (1.25% dilution) whereas normal serum lacked this ability. This suggested that the release of NPY was involved in this 4-AP-induced resistant contraction. Radioimmunoassay of NPY-like immunoreactivity in isolated synaptosomal preparations indicated that 4-AP possessed the ability to induce the release of NPY. However, guanethidine did not affect the actions of 4-AP, indicating that NPY is released mainly from non-adrenergic nerves. Our results indicate that 4-AP induces the release of NPY from non-adrenergic nerves to produce an atropine- and TTX-resistant contraction in the isolated jejunum of rabbits.