A comparison of cellular proliferation markers in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has a relatively good prognosis but treatment may be at the expense of function and quality of life. Various host and tumour parameters have been studied in an attempt to predict the course of the disease but without success. It has been hoped that laboratory based methods, particularly those based on molecular biology, may prove more useful.

Prospective evaluation of cell kinetics in head and neck squamous carcinoma: the relationship to tumour factors and survival.

Tumour growth rates were measured in 105 patients using in vivo incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and investigated for any relationship to tumour factors or survival. The median labelling index (LI) was 8.7%, the duration of S-phase (Ts) was 14 h and the potential doubling time (Tpot) was 5.

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content in squamous carcinoma of the tongue: the relationship to host and tumour factors and survival.

Cellular DNA content has been found to be an important prognostic factor in many human tumours, yet within the head and neck region few studies have examined its effect on survival and in those that have, findings differ. Eighty-one consecutive patients with squamous carcinoma of the tongue mainly treated by surgery and post-operative radiotherapy were studied. The DNA content of archival paraffin embedded tumours was measured by flow cytometry.

Differences in beta adrenergic receptor agonist affinity between cardiac myocytes and coronary arterioles in canine heart.

Beta adrenergic receptors (beta AR) are localized in several tissue compartments of the heart, including cardiac myocytes, coronary arteries and coronary arterioles, but it is unclear whether there are differences between tissues in beta AR coupling to G protein. The goal of these studies was to use receptor autoradiography to analyze beta receptor agonist binding characteristics in different tissue compartments of dog heart, including ventricular myocytes (predominantly beta-1) and coronary arterioles (predominantly beta-2). Frozen sections were incubated in [125I]-pindolol with the beta agonist isoproterenol in the absence and presence of 0.

Accidental impaction of partial dental prostheses in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Three accidental cases of accidental ingestion of radiolucent upper partial dentures are presented. As impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract has a serious morbidity and even mortality, we recommend that dental surgeons consider this possibility when designing a prosthesis to replace anterior teeth.

Tumour growth rates in squamous carcinoma of the head and neck measured by in vivo bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and flow cytometry.

The cell kinetics of 82 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck were studied by in vivo administration of the thymidine analogue, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd). Ploidy, BrdUrd labelling index (LI), duration of S-phase (Ts), potential doubling time (Tpot) and S-phase fraction (SPF) were measured by flow cytometry on 50 microns paraffin embedded sections. The range of values obtained compared well with other in vivo cell kinetic studies of head and neck cancer.

A cell autonomous function of Brachyury in T/T embryonic stem cell chimaeras.

Developmental genetics has shown that the Brachyury (T) gene has a key role in mesoderm formation during gastrulation in the mouse. Homozygous embryos have a defective allantois, degenerate or absent notochord and disrupted primitive streak and node. The neural tube is kinked and somite formation interrupted.

MRI of the paranasal sinuses: incidental abnormalities and their relationship to symptoms.

Magnetic resonance imaging is able to demonstrate a wide range of sinus abnormalities. Incidental findings in patients referred for neuroradiology because of suspected intracranial pathology are surprisingly common and were present in 37.5 per cent of 483 images examined.

Atlanto-axial instability in adults with Down's syndrome--a survey of a long-stay hospital population.

A survey was performed on the patients with Down's syndrome living in three long-stay hospitals for the mentally handicapped in Bristol. Each patient had a chromosomal analysis, lateral X-rays of the cervical spine in flexion and extension and subsequent measurement of the atlanto-odontoid distance, and a neurological examination. Out of a total of 59 patients, with ages ranging from 23 to 65 years (average age 48.

Ploidy as a prognostic indicator in end stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region treated with cisplatinum.

We measured tumour cellular DNA in 102 patients entered into two phase III trials of chemotherapy for end stage squamous carcinoma of the head and neck. The median survival of untreated patients with aneuploid tumours was 55 days compared with 224 days for patients treated with cisplatinum. This difference was highly significant.

Morphometric analysis, ploidy and response to chemotherapy in squamous carcinomas of the head and neck.

The histopathology of 54 squamous carcinomas of the head and neck was evaluated by qualitative grading and morphometry in order to identify those features which predicted a good response to cisplatinum chemotherapy. The histopathology of 66 cases was correlated with tumour ploidy, determined by flow cytometry of paraffin-embedded material, since a separate study has shown that aneuploid carcinomas respond better to chemotherapy. The degree of differentiation was a poor predictor of ploidy, although diploid carcinomas did show more keratin and less nuclear pleomorphism than aneuploid carcinomas.

Kinetic analysis of cloning patterns by human marrow cells in leukemia.

In leukemia and preleukemic disorders the progeny of a single cell proliferate and ultimately come to occupy the hemopoietic system. In the process normal stem cells are suppressed and in time may become extinct. This implies that neoplastic clones have a biological advantage.

Elastase activity in serum and synovial fluid of patients with connective tissue disorders.

Sera and synovial fluids (SF) from patients with connective tissue disorders had significantly lower levels of elastase than sera from healthy controls. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had significantly lower elastase activity in SF compared with serum. Elastase activity in serial serum samples from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus undergoing plasmapheresis showed some relationship with the clinical condition but little correlation with levels of circulating immune complexes.

Biliary and urinary excretion of tyropanoic acid and its Metabolites in the dog.

The biliary and urinary excretion of tyropanoate-derived material was studied in the anesthetized dog with various plasma levels of tyropanoate. Bile, plasma, urine, and hepatic tissue were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography for the presence of tyropanoate, enantiomers of tyropanoate glucuronide, and other typropanoate metabolites. Approximately 90% of the material secreted in the bile was in the form of tyropanoate glucuronide, equally distributed between (+)- and(-)-tyropanoate glucuronide, and approximately 10% was excreted as other tyropanoate-derived metabolites.