Hepatocellular carcinoma combined with hepatic sarcoma

An autopsy case of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with hepatic sarcoma was presented. There were three main tumor nodes in the liver. They showed necrosis due to therapeutic embolization of the hepatic artery. Histologically, one of the three was a hepatocellular carcinoma, and the other two were of spindle cell sarcomas. Extrahepatic metastases all showed characteristics of sarcoma. In the present case report, some problems concerning hepatic sarcoma and sarcomatous representation of hepatocellular carcinoma were proposed in reviewing the literatures.     

Acceleration of the initiation reaction of the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran by stable cationic salts

The initiation reaction of the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran by acetyl hexafluoroantimonate and 2-methyl-1.3-dioxolenium perchlorate is slower than the propagation reaction, due to the great stability of the cationic salts. Addition of 4 moles of epichlorohydrin or 10 moles of trimethylene oxide to 1 mole of the initiator as a promotor accelerated the initiation reaction comparable to the propagation reaction and several fold increase of the rate of polymerization was observed. Some promotors remain unconsumed at the initiation reaction and cause some chain transfer at the initial stage.     

Bronchial response to methacholine and histamine in monkeys with beta adrenergic blockade

The possibility has been investigated that propranolol administration could alter bronchial reactivity to methacholine and histamine in monkeys (Macaca fuscata and Macaca fascicularis). The impedance of the total respiratory system was measured by the forced 3-HZ oscillation method through an endotracheal tube. Methacholine and histamine dose-dependently increased the impedance in monkeys irrespective of the route of administration (inhalation of aerosol or intravenous injection). Propranolol treatment increased the bronchial response to intravenously injected methacholine and caused no significant change in the bronchial response to aerosolized methacholine. No marked difference was observed in the bronchial response to histamine due to treatment with propranolol regardless of whether administered by intravenous injection or aerosol challenge.     

Therapeutic efficacy of latoconazole in formulations of clinical use on experimental dermatophytosis in guinea pigs.

Therapeutic efficacy of clinical dosage forms of latoconazole (NND-318, CAS 101530-10-3), related compound of ketene dithioacetals with an imidazole ring, was examined on two experimental tinea models: a recently developed tinea pedis model and a conventional tinea corporis model in guinea pigs. The efficacy of the dosage forms was estimated on the basis of the rate of fungus-positive skin cultures and/or the score of skin lesions, and was compared to the other antifungal agents, bifonazole, clotrimazole and tolnaftate. While these reference agents exhibited curative effect on the tinea corporis model, the tinea pedis model was considerably resistant to the therapeutic treatment of the agents. The cream preparation and solution of lactoconazole at concentrations of more than 0.25% were highly effective in either tinea models, and at concentrations of more than 1%, lactoconazole achieved complete mycological cure. These results suggest that 1% of lactonazole is an optimal concentration for clinical use.     

Prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial carcinoma confined to the uterus

A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of peritoneal cytology in patients with endometrial carcinoma limited to the uterus. A total of 280 patients with surgically staged endometrial carcinoma that was histologically confined to the uterus were examined clinicopathologically. The median length of follow-up was 62 (range, 12-135) months. All patients underwent hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy with selective lymphadenectomy, and only three patients received adjuvant postoperative therapy. No preoperative adjuvant therapy was employed. In all, 48 patients (17%) had positive peritoneal cytology. The 5-year survival rate among patients with positive or negative peritoneal cytology was 91 or 95%, respectively, showing no significant difference (log-rank, P=0.42). The disease-free survival rate at 36 months was 90% among patients with positive cytology, compared with that of 94% among patients with negative cytology, and the difference was not significant (log-rank, P=0.52). Multivariate proportional hazards model revealed only histologic grade to be an independent prognostic factor of survival (P=0.0003, 95% CI 3.02 - 40.27) among the factors analysed (age, peritoneal cytology, and depth of myometrial invasion). Multivariate analysis revealed that histologic grade (P=0.02, 95% CI 1.21-9.92) was also the only independent prognostic factor of disease-free survival. We concluded that the presence of positive peritoneal cytology is not an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial carcinoma confined to the uterus, and adjuvant therapy does not appear to be beneficial in these patients.     

Evaluation of alpha-fetoprotein in early infancy.

Serum AFP concentrations of normal subjects were statistically analyzed in order to obtain the normal ranges in early infancy. The 95% prediction band would seem to offer a convenient means of evaluating serum AFP in the age range 0-300 days of life. Some illustrative cases, whose AFP values were formerly considered to be abnormally high but later proved to be within normal range, are presented.