Evaluation of whole blood catalase estimation for diagnosis of malignancy

Whole blood catalase levels were estimated using a disc flotation method in 209 random patients with a wide variety of malignancies. Fifty patients had received no treatment, and the remainder, although having undergone prior therapy, had recurrent or metastatic disease at the time of the study. No relationship was found between the presence of cancer and catalase levels. A direct relationship was found for catalase with hemoglobin levels in both normal and patients' samples. Whole blood catalase is of no value in diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. The decreased catalase values found here and reported previously by others are the result of low hemoglobin levels found in many patients with cancer.     

Malignant tumors of the nasopharynx

One hundred and twenty patients with malignancy of the nasopharynx were reviewed. The most common presenting symptoms of this disease were cervical mass and hearing loss. Neoplasm occurred three times more frequently in males than in females. Cranial nerve dysfunction was present in 17.5% of patients at the time of initial evaluation. The overall 3- and 5-year determinate survival for the entire series of nasopharyngeal malignancies was 38.9, and 27.0%, respectively. Nonsquamous cell malignancies demonstrated a better 5-year survival (42%) than squamous cell and undifferentiated neoplasms (24%). The presence of cervical metastases offered a poorer prognosis. A 39.6% 5-year survival was recorded for patients without nodal disease. Massive lymphadenopathy or bilateral cervical metastases forecasted an ominous 5-year survival of 13.6%. Control rate was greatest among patients with tumors restricted to one area of the nasopharynx and without regional metastases. The 5-year survival of such patients was 71.4% compared to 13.3% for patients having tumor extension beyond the nasopharynx producing cranial nerve impairment or bone erosion.     

门冬酰胺酶治疗儿童淋巴系统恶性肿瘤的严重并发症

目的观察门冬酰胺酶(L-ASP)在儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)及Ⅲ、Ⅳ期非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)应用中严重并发症，探讨L-ASP化疗顺利完成的有效对策。方法针对L—ASP的各种主要并发症制定相应的检测手段及监测指标，在应用L—ASP期间对患儿进行监测，对出现并发症采取相应的检测。统计各并发症的发生率、发生时间。结果用L—ASP化疗的ALL和NHL患儿总计301例次，其中L-ASP相关严重并发症20例次(6．6％)，高血糖7例次(2．32％)；低血糖1例次(0.33％)；胰腺炎6例次(1．99％)；脑栓塞2例次(0.66％)；弥散性血管内凝血(DIC)6例次(1．99％)；脏器出血4例次(1．32％)；休克7例次(2.3％)；死亡10例(3．3％)。结论L-ASP的细胞毒作用可造成人体各系统的损害，严重者甚至危及生命。严密、合理的监测手段及早期干预可明显降低L-ASP并发症。     

Role of radiology in the treatment of malignant hilar biliary strictures 2: 10 years of single‐institution experience with percutaneous treatment

We reviewed the results of percutaneous intervention of hilar biliary malignancy over a 10‐year period at a single institution: the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Ninety‐nine patients (100 treated in total) were included. Information was retrieved by retrospective examination of patient notes and radiology, combined with interviews with family and relevant physicians. Sixty‐nine patients were treated with insertion of semipermanent stents, 19 had external drain tubes, and 25 received percutaneous access for Iridium brachytherapy. Adequate drainage was achieved in 87% of the patients stented, and percutaneous access was successful in 96% of patients planned for brachytherapy. Of those patients undergoing endoprosthesis insertion, early complications occurred in 39% and late complications in 23%. Average survival for the entire patient population was 227.3 days, with a median of 167 days. Longer survival times (213 vs 142 days) and lower complication rates (44 vs 64%) are observed with metal stents in comparison with plastic stents. Percutaneous intervention is an important treatment option in hilar biliary malignancy, particularly in patients unfit for surgery. Reasonable survival with good palliation is the most common outcome, and most patients do not require further intervention.     

喉癌组织恶性度与颈淋巴结转移关系

采用五因素评点法对４０例喉鳞癌进行组织学和临床方面的研究。结果表明，组织恶性度与Ｔ分期无相关性，浸润方式弥散及恶性度高（评分≥１１）的肿瘤发生颈淋巴结转移率显著高于有完整肿瘤边界者及恶性度低（评分≤１０）者。提示喉癌组织恶性度在预测颈淋巴结转移上有实用价值，可临导临床治疗方案的选择。     

Cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of high-energy pulsed ultrasound (HEPUS) on human squamous cell carcinoma cells as compared to connective tissue fibroblasts

The cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of high-energy pulsed ultrasound (HEPUS) on human squamous cell carcinoma cells cloned from the hypopharynx (FaDu) and benign connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) were investigated in vitro. Sonication was carried out using an experimental piezoelectric, self-focusing burst-signal transducer. To increase the induction of cavitation, the transducer used was specifically designed to produce multiple oscillations with a high negative pressure amplitude. In both cell lines tested, the application of 100, 800 and 2000 pulses resulted in a high reduction of vital cells. After 2000 pulses, 4.0 ± 1.1% of the fibroblasts but only 2.0 ± 0.4% of the FaDu cells survived HEPUS exposure. A postexposure inhibiting effect of HEPUS for 10 days on the proliferation of surviving cells was noted for the FaDu cells exposed to 2000 pulses, but not as much for the fibroblasts. These findings support the hypothesis that human squamous cell carcinoma cells of the hypopharynx might be more sensitive to HEPUS than fibroblasts and that total tumor cell ablation might be possible in vitro given a sufficient number of HEPUS pulses. Received: 18 November 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1998     

Paget''s disease of the vulva: clinicopathologic study of type 1 cases treated at a single institution

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic characteristics of primary cutaneous Paget's disease of the vulva. Between 1986 and 2005, 22 patients with primary cutaneous Paget's disease of the vulva (type 1) were treated at Tohoku University Hospital. Medical records were reviewed for pathologic diagnosis, patient age, associated neoplasms, type(s) of eczema, symptom duration, treatment, surgical procedures, recurrence, and length of follow-up. Patient age ranged from 51 to 85 years (median 71.5 years). Median duration of symptoms was 24 months (range 2-60 months). Type 1a (intraepithelial) Paget's disease accounted for 18 patients, with 3 type 1b (invasive) cases and 1 type 1c (intraepithelial disease with underlying adenocarcinoma) case. Mean length of follow-up was 53.7 months, and median follow-up was 49 months (range 6-199 months). Only two patients had an associated internal malignancy: T-cell leukemia and breast cancer. Mapping biopsy was performed in 14 of the 18 type 1a cases. All patients were free of disease at the surgical margins and are alive without recurrence. The four patients with type 1b or 1c disease had lymph node metastases. Two has died of disease, and two are alive with no recurrence. The rate of secondary malignancy seems to be low in primary cutaneous Paget's disease of the vulva. Mapping biopsy with careful examination of characteristic skin surface may be useful for surgery of type 1a cases. Inguinal lymphadenectomy is recommended in cases with question of invasion or known underlying adenocarcinoma.     

Supravital staining: It's role in detecting early malignancies

The efficacy of supravital staining in the detection of malignancies in oro and oropharyngeal lesions and its role in the detection of malignant changes in premalignant lesions were studied. This prospective study comprises 90 cases of clinically suspicious lesions and it was done over a period of 3 years. Most of the patients had multiple risk factors for the development of malignancy. All underwent staining with a modified solution of 1% toluidine blue (TB). In our study the overall sensitivity was 97.29% and the specificity was 62.5%.