A model study of fecapentaenes: mutagens of bacterial origin with alkylating properties.

Fecapentaene-14 and -12 are directly acting mutagens that do not require metabolic activation. Their unusual structure suggests a possible mechanism of action. A carbocation that is formed by the addition of an electrophilic species (such as a proton) to the enol ether is most probably the reactive species.

On distribution of different fecapentaenes, the fecal mutagens, in the human population.

It has been shown by an HPLC analysis using a quarternary solvent mixture in an isocratic mode that human excretors of these fecal mutagens excrete both fecapentaene -12 and -14 but the ratios vary greatly between individuals. Since these mutagens are produced by the bacterial flora of the colon, this may indicate differences in the flora between these individuals or differences in the availability of different precursor molecules in their colons. Any relationship of these findings to the etiology of colonic cancer is not clear.

Aneurysm of the coronary sinus.

Two patients, an adult and a baby, with an aneurysm of the coronary sinus are described. This unusual anomaly was detected in the baby during angiographic investigations for congenital heart disease. The aneurysm was an unexpected postmortem finding in the adult.

Giant cell tumour of the first metacarpal bone.

A rare case of giant cell tumour of first metacarpal bone which was aggressive in its clinical behaviour but histologically benign, is reported in a thirty-one year old male. The tumour was excised en-bloc with disarticulation of the thumb and index finger with a gratifying result. The literature on giant-cell-tumour of the metacarpal bone is reviewed.

Hydrocolpos with peritonitis in the newborn.

Two cases of hydrocolpos are described presenting soon after birth. One infant who died on the first day had an intrauterine peritonitis caused by compression of the caecum on the pelvic brim. The other surviving infant developed a caecal perforation secondary to Hirschsprung's disease.

Tyrosyluria in marasmus.

1. Plasma tyrosine and urinary p-hydroxyphenyl lactic acid (PHPLA) and p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid (PHPAA) were studied in thirty patients with marasmus and twenty normal controls in the same age group. 2.

Adenocysitc carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinicopathologic study.

Eight cases of adenocystic carcinoma of the uterine cervix, a rare histologic variant, are presented, with a brief review of 41 cases previously reported in the literature. They represent only 0.27% of 3254 cervical carcinomas that we encountered between 1962 and 1977.