Taurodontism, short roots, and external resorption, associated with short stature and a small head.

This article describes a patient who exhibited taurodontism, relatively short roots, external resorption of the roots of the anterior teeth, and a marked tendency toward microcephalic dwarfism. This case is similar to that reported previously by Sauk and Delaney.

The ectopic secretion of calcitonin by lung and breast carcinomas.

Many patients with advanced non-thyroid malignancies have elevated plasma immunoreactive calcitonin concentrations. Breast and bronchial carcinomas contain immunoreactive calcitonin and an epidermoid bronchial carcinoma has been shown to produce immunoreactive calcitonin in vitro. We have established monolayer cultures of breast carcinomas and eight out of fifteen consecutive carcinomas released immunoreactive calcitonin; some released HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) or CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen).

Secretion of immunoreactive calcitonin by human breast carcinomas.

Twenty-three out of 28 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma and one out of 13 patients with localised disease had raised levels of plasma immunoreactive calcitonin. Monolayer cultures of breast carcinomas maintained for up to 10 weeks released immunoreactive calcitonin, and a primary breast carcinoma passaged in "nude" mice for over a year contained material immunologically and chromatographically resembling the monomeric form of human calcitonin. These studies indicate that breast carcinomas can produce calcitonin and that plasma calcitonin measurements may be useful in staging patients with breast carcinomas.

Diphenylhydantoin-induced gingival hyperplasia: its response to changes in drug dosage.

Changes in gingival hyperplasia were studied in 48 patients treated for epilepsy with diphenylhydantoin (DPH) over a two-year period. During this time changes in the dose of DPH were made in some patients in order to increase control of seizures or decrease side-effects: in 27 patients the dose was increased, in nine it was decreased and in 12 the dose remained unchanged. It was found that the severity of gingival hyperplasia varied directly with both the dose and serum level of the drug.

Spontaneous reanastomosis of the vas deferens after surgery: a case report.

Spontaneous reanastomosis of the vas on one side in a 40-year-old man was caused by a sperm granuloma. Leaking spermatozoa bridged the gap between the cut ends; this was followed by epithelial canalization. From review of the literature it was concluded that the best preventive measure is light fulguration of the cut ends and then their separation by covering one cut end by its faschial sheath.