Fluorescent brighteners: novel stains for the flow cytometric analysis of microorganisms

Genetic damages are frequently found in both tumor and normal cells at carcinogen exposed areas in the patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer. These phenomena are explained by the multistage process and/or field cancerization theories. The c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene has been amplified in many human tumors including breast, stomach, kidney and lung cancers. To study the possible evidence of multistage process and/or field cancerization in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma, the amplification statuses of c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene using the Southern hybridization technique were evaluated at the 45 gastric adenocarcinoma specimen sets consisting of tumor tissue, adjacent normal tissue (within 2 cm of the primary tumor), metastatic tissue and normal stomach tissue (at least 5 cm away from primary tumor). As a result, c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene at 2 specimen sets (4.4%) was amplified 2- to 4-fold to normal control status. In these 2 cases, c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene at histologically normal tissue adjacent to tumor tissue was amplified. And, the metastatic tissue of 1 case also exhibited c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene amplification of which the degree was less than that of tumor tissue. From these results, we were able to suspect that c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene amplification in the normal tissue adjacent to tumor tissue could be a biomarker of premalignant changes in a small proportion of gastric adenocarcinoma patients. And, this result might suggest the possible role of multistage process and/or field cancerization in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma.     

Coronary artery perforation and delayed cardiac tamponade following balloon coronary angioplasty

A 62-year-old woman who had coronary artery disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy received percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and endomyocardial biopsy. She withstood the procedure well. However, delayed pericardial tamponade occurred 2 hours after discharge from the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Despite pericardial drainage with a pigtail catheter and blood transfusion, the patient required emergency surgery. An oozing diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery was found. Ligation of this small branch stabilized the hemodynamics. Avoidance of improper positioning of the guide wire in the small coronary artery branch is important in preventing arterial wall trauma and subsequent perforation.     

Canine testicular tumors: epidemiologic features of 410 dogs

Histologically confirmed testicular tumors were diagnosed in 410 dogs from 12 North American veterinary university hospitals and clinics. Three tumor-cell types, Sertoli cell tumor, interstitial cell tumor and seminoma, were about equally represented. Several breeds were identified with high risk for different testicular tumor-cell types. Cytogenetic and immunogenetic studies of these dog families could offer leads applicable to familial testicular cancer in man. The multiplicity of breeds within the series suggests that, as in man, other factors, in addition to hereditary, play a role in etiology. Cryptorchid dogs appear to have a 13.6 times higher risk of testicular tumor than normal dogs. Additionally, male dogs with an inguinal hernia have an increased risk (4.7) of testis tumors. There were no detectable excesses of other urogenital anomalies or urogenital tumors among the series. The Shetland Sheepdog is suggested as an appropriate model for research into the mechanisms responsible for testicular maldescent and tumorigenesis.     

Generalized polynomial programming

Conventional design procedures use physical reasoning to construct equations describing the system. To find the optimal design for some specified performance criterion, it is desirable to change these equations into inequalities so that generalized polynominal programming, a highly nonlinear optimization technique, can be used. For illustration, a chemical reactor system optimal design problem with 11 variables and 8 constraints is formulated as an equality constrained optimization problem, then transformed into an inequality constrained generalized polynominal program and finally solved on the computer.     

Intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma in the vaginal vault

An 11-year biopsy material from the vagina is presented. The indication for taking the 370 vaginal biopsies was abnormal cytology, polyps, or suspicion of tumor tissue. The material was found to include 10 cases of intraepithelial neoplasia, viz. 4 primary, 6 secondary, and 2 late cases of secondary invasive carcinoma. The interval between the primary and secondary diagnosis ranged from 7 months to 19 years. It is concluded that the risk of secondary changes in the vaginal mucosa is slight, but cytological follow-up is recommended.     

Angiosarcoma (angioendothelioma) of the scalp. An unusual case of scarring alopecia

Angiosarcoma with initial involvement of the scalp is a rare, malignant neoplasm. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman in whom extensive scarring alopecia developed that was proved histologically to be due to angiosarcoma. She had a good initial response to treatment with electron-beam therapy, but after seven months, extensive nodules and indurated areas on the face beyond the borders of the radiation field developed. Subsequently, massive cervical adenopathy and metastases to the lungs, liver, and spleen developed. Angiosarcoma must be differentiated from other malignant blood vessel tumors and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scarring alopecia of the scalp in elderly patients.     

The use of statistical methods to build mathematical models of chemical reacting systems

This paper describes a selection of the statistical methods which are available for designing and analyzing experiments for the purpose of choosing between rival mathematical models and for estimating their parameters. To exemplify how rival models might arise an approach to the writing of reaction rate expressions for chemical kinetic situations is given.