The utilization of the carbon dioxide laser in the treatment of recurrent papillomatosis: report of case

The carbon dioxide laser is a relatively new mode of therapy in the treatment of oral lesions. In our experience, when the laser has been used, bleeding, scarring, and edema have been minimal. With the development of hand-held instrumentation, this useful tool can be added to the oral surgeon's armamentarium.     

Decreases in serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol resulting from naturally produced and recombinant DNA-derived leukocyte interferons

A three-phase study was conducted to examine the effect of leukocyte interferon administration on serum high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. In the initial phase, human leukocyte interferon decreased HDL cholesterol (P less than 0.05) and total cholesterol (P less than 0.05) levels in patients with breast carcinoma. Decreases began with initiation of the interferon administration, were sustained throughout the period of treatment, and increased toward pretreatment values with discontinuation of interferon. In the second phase of the study, in neither of two comparison groups of women receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, excluding interferon, did any similar decrease in HDL cholesterol occur. In a third comparison group of women being treated for metastatic breast carcinoma, a predicted and significant (P less than 0.01) drop in HDL cholesterol level without a concomitant lowering of total cholesterol level occurred immediately following the initiation of androgen therapy. To confirm that the observed cholesterol level decreases were associated with interferon rather than a contaminant thereof, analyses were also carried out on samples from a study utilizing interferon rather than a contaminant thereof, analyses were also carried out on samples from a study utilizing interferon produced by recombinant DNA techniques and purified to homogeneity. A similar decrease in HDL cholesterol (P less than 0.05) and total cholesterol (P less than 0.01) was observed. A definite relationship therefore appears to exist between the administration of human leukocyte interferon and decreased plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.