Histochemical demonstration of endogenous estrogen in breast carcinomas: Biochemical and clinical correlation

Summary In a study of 277 patients with breast carcinomas, the PAP immunoperoxidase method for demonstrating endogenous estrogen was correlated with the sucrose density gradient (SDG) assay and with histologic and clinical features. The results from the PAP method and SDG assay agreed in 59 of 84 patients (82.1%) on whom both methods were performed. Histologically, the PAP method was positive in 7 of 7 patients with non-invasive carcinomas, in 164 of 233 patients (70.4%) with common invasive ductal carcinoma, and in 21 of 22 of those with special histological types of invasive carcinomas not including Paget's disease, medullary or apocrine carcinoma, where only 5 of 14 were positive. Clinically, 15 of 18 patients with positive endogenous estrogen showed a response to endocrine therapy as opposed to 1 of 9 patients with a negative endogenous estrogen. The mean survival was 31.2 and 15.6 months, respectively for patients with positive and negative endogenous estrogen. Remission for longer than 2 years was seen more often in patients with positive endogenous estrogen. These results suggest a clinical utility of the present PAP method which, therefore, deserves a further trial as an alternative to histochemical methods aiming at the estrogen receptors.This work was supported by Grants-in Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan (No. 56480119).This paper was presented at the 72nd Annual Meeding of International Academy of Pathology (United States-Canadian Division), Atlanta, Georgia, March 1, 1983.     

Aspirin-Interleukin-3 Interrelationships in Patients With Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome

PROBLEM: Previously we reported on the generation of experimental anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) in mice. These models were employed to evaluate the efficacy of various novel therapeutic modalities including interleukin-3 (IL-3) and low dose aspirin. The efficacy of the latter was found to be interrelated. Low dose aspirin is capable of inhibiting the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase which is responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid towards the production of prostaglandins. This shifts the metabolism of arachidonic acid to the other pathway and leads to an overproduction of leukotrienes. The leukotrienes act as stimulators of IL-3 production, a positive cytokine in pregnancy which enhances placental and fetal development. In the current study we evaluated the IL-3 levels in pregnant women with APS and expanded our knowledge on the interrelationships between aspirin, arachidonic acid metabolites and IL-3 in the human system. METHODS: IL-3 levels were recorded in the serum of pregnant women with APS and compared to a control pregnant group. In addition peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects were incubated with different concentrations of aspirin or with arachidonic acid metabolites (Leukotriene B4, C4 or PGE₂), and IL-3 production in the culture fluids was evaluated. RESULTS: Serum level of IL-3 in pregnant patients with primary APS, APS secondary to SLE and SLE was lower in comparison to the control group. The in vitro studies revealed that only low dose aspirin (10 mg/μl) stimulated IL-3 production while higher doses of the drug failed to induce the cytokine generation. Leukotriene B4 and C4 were stimulatory whereas PGE₂ acted as inhibitor of IL-3 production. CONCLUSIONS: The serum level of IL-3 is decreased to pregnant women with primary or secondary APS. Low dose aspirin is capable of stimulating EL-3 production in vitro most probably through an elevation of leukotriene production, which may explain its beneficial activity in preventing the manifestations of APS.     

Eccentric visual acuity in patients with macular disease

A series of cards each containing a two dimensional array of identical Snellen "E's" was used to determine best eccentric visual acuity in patients with macular disease having Snellen visual acuity of 20/70 or worse. Each "full field E" card simultaneously presents the same letter to foveal and parafoveal areas. This test can therefore determine quickly if potentially useful vision is present in any area of the central visual field. In our study of 37 eyes, 70% demonstrated potential visual acuity at least two times better than visual acuity measured by conventional methods, and 20% demonstrated at least a fourfold improvement. This suggests that most patients with macular disease do not spontaneously employ their best remaining area of retina for fixation.     

维生素D缺乏性晚发性佝偻病的骨密度研究

目的：探讨维生素D缺乏性晚发性佝偻病的骨密度变化;方法：采用病例对照研究方法。对640名学生进行问诊及体验,测定非优势侧尺挠骨中1／3交界处骨密度（BMD）,病例组检测骨碱性磷酸酶,拍摄腕部X光片,病例组与对照组同测血250HD3;结果：病例组骨密度显著低于对照组,病例组250HD3异常者显著低于对照组;结论：晚佝病是由于维生素D缺乏所至的骨量减少性疾病,日后影响峰值骨量的形成,并与成人期骨质疏松有密切的关系,骨密度检查对晚佝病有重要诊断价值。     

Site of bone density measurement may affect therapy decision

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine whether bone mineral density (BMD) measurements at the lumbar spine and femoral neck provided comparable information to women planning to use that knowledge to help them make a decision about hormone replacement therapy. Eighty-eight healthy Caucasian women, aged 44–59 and within 0 to 5 years of menopause, participated in the study. BMD measurements were performed at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the femoral neck by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Criteria suggested by the National Osteoporosis Foundation were used to categorize women as at risk for osteoporosis, bone density more than one standard deviation (SD) below the young adult mean, or as low risk, bone density at or above this level. The re that 46 women would be classified into the low risk category on the basis of spinal BMD alone. However, 28 of these 46 women would fall into the at risk category when the femoral neck BMD was measured. Sixty-one percent of women informed they were at low risk on the basis of spinal BMD would be considered at risk based on femoral neck BMD. When femoral neck BMD was used as the primary risk indicator, 14% of the women classified as low risk would be at risk if spinal BMD were added. These results suggest that both lumbar spine and proximal femur measurements should be made when women are using bone density measurements as an aid in deciding whether or not to use hormone therapy in their postmenopausal years.     

直接法与统计法测试松质骨孔隙率的比较研究

目的 探讨松质骨孔隙率的测试方法。方法 对15根猪胫骨分别采用“直接法”与“统计法”测试松质骨孔隙率或其表观密度和材料密度。结果 （1）孔隙率与表观密度呈非常显著负相关,而与材料密度相关不显著;（2）孔隙率沿轴向靠近密质量骨逐渐减小,而沿横向基本不变;（3）统计法可测出松质骨各个层面的孔隙率大小。结论 直接法和统计法均能检测松质骨孔隙率,但统计法较直接法更能反映孔隙率的分布与变化规律。     

磷脂对HDL3介导大鼠皮肤成纤维细胞内胆固醇流出能力的影响

目的　研讨磷脂对HDL3 介导大鼠皮肤成纤维细胞内胆固醇流出能力的影响。方法　在卵磷脂 (PC)或鞘磷脂 (SPM )存在条件下 ,观察HDL3 介导细胞胆固醇流出量的变化、细胞内磷脂含量变化及游离胆固醇 /胆固醇酯平衡的变化。结果　①BSA组 (对照组 )、HDL3 组、PC组、SPM组、PC HDL3 组和SPM HDL3 组分别介导 4.70 %、31.5 5 %、7.35 %、8.0 6 %、42 .95 %和 46 .98%细胞胆固醇流出 ;②BSA、HDL3 、HDL3 SPM和HDL3 PC组细胞培育后胞内卵磷脂磷含量 (PC p)和鞘磷脂磷含量 (SPM p)分别为 2 0 .0 2、5 .5 6 ,17.5 6、5 .2 8,18.6 2、7.0 0和 2 2 .5 0、5 .5 2 μg/皿 ;③PC和SPM与细胞培育后 ,胞内游离胆固醇 /总胆固醇比值分别为 49.6 5和 5 9.5 7。培育前此比值为 48.6 4。结论　①PC和SPM本身无介导细胞胆固醇流出能力 ,但它们能显著提高HDL3 介导的细胞胆固醇流出能力 ,且后者强于前者 ;②随着细胞胆固醇流出 ,部分胞内PC也流出胞外 ,而胞内SPM无明显变化 ;③SPM促进细胞内胆固醇酯向游离胆固醇转化。     

贵阳地区1?055例骨密度检测分析

采用日本阿洛卡公司双能量骨密测量仪,选择受检者桡骨远端１／３处为测量点,对贵阳地区１０５５例人群成人桡骨的骨密度进行测量,取得不同性别各年龄段的骨密度值,同时计算出贵阳地区成人桡骨各年龄段的骨密度均值及标准偏差。     

Attenuation of diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits with a highly selective 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor lacking significant antioxidant properties

1. 15-Lipoxygenase (15-LO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis because of its localization in lesions and the many biological activities exhibited by its products. To provide further evidence for a role of 15-LO, the effects of PD 146176 on the development of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits were assessed. This novel drug is a specific inhibitor of the enzyme in vitro and lacks significant non specific antioxidant properties.
2. PD 146176 inhibited rabbit reticulocyte 15-LO through a mixed noncompetitive mode with a K_i of 197 nM. The drug had minimal effects on either copper or 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane)hydrochloride (ABAP) induced oxidation of LDL except at concentrations 2 orders higher than the K_i.
3. Control New Zealand rabbits were fed a high-fat diet containing 0.25% wt./wt. cholesterol; treated animals received inhibitor in this diet (175 mg kg⁻¹, b.i.d.). Plasma concentrations of inhibitor were similar to the estimated K_i (197 nM). During the 12 week study, there were no significant differences in weight gain, haematocrit, plasma total cholesterol concentrations, or distribution of lipoprotein cholesterol.
4. The drug plasma concentrations achieved in vivo did not inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in vitro. Furthermore, LDL isolated from PD 146176-treated animals was as susceptible as that from controls to oxidation ex vivo by either copper or ABAP.
5. PD 146176 was very effective in suppressing atherogenesis, especially in the aortic arch where lesion coverage diminished from 15±4 to 0% (P<0.02); esterified cholesterol content was reduced from 2.1±0.7 to 0 μg mg⁻¹ (P<0.02) in this region. Immunostainable lipid-laden macrophages present in aortic intima of control animals were totally absent in the drug-treated group.
6. Results of these studies are consistent with a role for 15-LO in atherogenesis.

     

Low serum cholesterol increases the risk of noncardiovascular events: An antagonist viewpoint

Summary Considerable debate concerning the apparent association of low serum cholesterol levels with enhanced noncardiovascular disease mortality has been aired in both scientific and lay publications within the past year. This debate has resulted in some medical experts calling for a moratorium on efforts to reduce serum cholesterol, particularly with drugs, and for a more conservative approach to screening and modifying cholesterol levels for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). Observational studies, including the Framingham Heart Study, the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, the Whitehall Study, and the International Collaborative Group, have not substantiated a cause and effect relationship between naturally occurring low serum cholesterol and noncardiovascular disease mortality, such as cancer. Intervention trials designed to lower high serum cholesterol levels by diet and drugs have also not been conclusively shown to produce excess harm that offsets the benefit of reduced CHD events. Several primary and secondary CHD prevention trials, with sufficient numbers of subjects to provide the statistical power to detect potential detrimental effects of lowering cholesterol levels, are currently in progress and will be very helpful in resolving the concern about noncardiovascular disease mortality.