Survival of patients with untreated liver metastases from colorectal cancer

In 105 patients with colorectal cancer, liver metastases were found at extirpation of the primary tumor. The spontaneous survival was a median of 10 months. The intraoperative clinical diagnosis of liver metastases was subsequently confirmed by autopsy in 77 patients, was uncertain in 26, and was proved wrong in two at subsequent celiotomy. The accumulative experience shows that the median survivals range from 6 to 12 months, which is considerably better than in unselected series of liver metastases.

Distribution of disaccharidases, alkaline phosphatase, and some intracellular enzymes along the human small intestine

The longitudinal distribution of various enzymes along the human small intestine was studied by analysis of biopsies from different parts of the small intestine, obtained from 13 patients during shunt-operation for severe obesity. Alkaline phosphatase and 3 glycolytic enzyme activities studied were rather uniformly distributed along the small intestine. Acid beta-galactosidase and hetero beta-galactosidase activities were highest in the proximal small intestine with a gradual decline throughout the intestine. The activity in the distal ileum was about half of the maximum activity. Maltase, isomaltase, sucrase, and trehalase activity had a broad maximum in the proximal and middle small intestine with a rather sharp decrease in the distal ileum. Lactase activity had a more pronounced maximum in the middle intestine with a pronounced decrease towards the proximal and distal ends. The disaccharidase activities in surgical biopsies taken 5 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz were about 10% higher than in peroral biopsies taken just at the ligament.

Assessors of fetal perinatal mortality in diabetic pregnancy. Analysis of 1,332 pregnancies in the Copenhagen series, 1946-1972

In a series of 1,332 pregnancies in women with diabetes, perinatal fetal mortality varied in a statistically significant degree, with maternal factors and pregnancy complications expressed respectively, by the White and PBSP classifications. Also, mortality declined steadily over the years 1946 to 1972. Fatal congenital malformation was the most important single cause of perinatal death in recent years.

A controlled trial must take into account the year of admission as well as the White and PBSP classifications; with the prevailing low and decreasing mortality, even large centers may be unable to fulfill the requirements as to sample size within a few years. Therefore, criteria other than perinatal mortality may be needed to assess the value of changes in treatment.

Precipitation reactions of an IgA myeloma protein with nitrophenylated proteins

The reactions of a human serum with an IgA monoclonal component which precipitates with dinitrophenyl (DNP) conjugated proteins are described. The IgA existed in polymeric and monomeric forms. Only the polymeric forms precipitated DNP-proteins, but binding of DNP proteins by the monomer was demonstrated by autoradiographic immunoelectrophoresis. The precipitating reactions of the IgA occurred with certain populations of DNP-proteins and were higher with more heavily haptenized preparations. The binding affinity of the strongly precipitating IgA serum for DNP-lysine was low and the precipitation reaction with DNP-proteins was not inhibited by DNP-lysine. The results indicated that precipitation involves the reaction of polymeric forms of IgA with DNP-protein configurations or closely associated DNP-DNP configurations in heavily haptenized conjugates.

Plasticity of Gillraker Number and Length in Oncorhynchus nerka

not available

Studies of divers' performance during the SEALAB II project

Field studies of the three 10 men teams of divers participating in the SEALAB II project were undertaken. During each team's 15 day submergence at 205 feet, psychomotor tests and a vision test were conducted in the water, and a mental arithmetic test in the habitat. Compared to base line performance (dry-land and shallow water conditions), performance on the mental arithmetic test showed no deterioration while performance on the psychomotor tests showed considerable deterioration. Many divers found that their in-water work activities proceeded slowly; among other causes of a more physical nature, concern for one's safety may detract from the amount of attention one gives to the task at hand. The most active divers in the SEALAB group were those who indicated that they were least fearful and least aroused by the conditions and who were helpful, gregarious, and made least telephone contact with the outside world.