Mass screening for hepatocellular carcinoma: experience in Hokkaido, Japan.

Mass screening for liver cancer based mainly on abdominal ultrasound was begun in major cities of Hokkaido, Japan, in November 1981, to enable early detection and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were also measured to minimize false negative studies. Examinees included those who sought liver disease screening as well as high risk individuals: hepatitis B surface antigen carriers and those with a past or current liver disease, history of blood transfusion, family history of liver cancer, and more recently those with positive anti-hepatitis C antibodies.

[Percutaneous subacute toxicity study of 10% nitroglycerin (NT-1 ointment) in rabbits].

NT-1 ointment is a compound containing 10% nitroglycerin which is topically applied to the skin for angina pectoris. The subacute toxicity of this compound was examined by the continuous application for 5 weeks to the shaven skin of rabbit back at dose levels of 240, 120 and 60 mg/kg, and the recovery was examined 3 weeks after withdrawal of the drug. No special skin response to the NT-1 ointment was observed other than an erythema of the grading 2-3 Draize points, while the control ointment, which was the base ointment without nitroglycerin, showed a higher grade of erythema equivalent to 4 Draize point with crusta formation.