Epstein-Barr virus reactivation associated with diminished cell-mediated immunity in antarctic expeditioners.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses were followed in 16 Antarctic expeditioners during winter-over isolation at 2 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition stations. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing was used as an indicator of the CMI response, that was evaluated 2 times before winter isolation and 3 times during isolation. At all 5 evaluation times, 8 or more of the 16 subjects had a diminished CMI response.

Issues related to the experimental design and subsequent statistical analysis of in vivo and in vitro comet studies.

A wide range of experimental designs are used in investigations using the Comet assay. The statistical issues associated with this assay are however not particularly unusual or difficult. It is important however to recognize that the sample rather than the cell is the experimental unit.

Laparoscopically directed fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a safe and accurate technique.

Although ultrasonography and computerized tomography have been useful in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the extent of metastases and the presence of cirrhosis are not identified by these techniques before surgery. We studied 27 cases of presumptive hepatocellular carcinoma by means of laparoscopy and fine needle aspiration. Fine needle aspirates provided positive diagnoses of hepatocellular carcinoma in all patients.

Hepatic encephalopathy and orotic aciduria associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in a noncirrhotic liver.

A 40-yr-old man presented with encephalopathy and was found to have hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis. A large vascular hepatic mass was defined by CT scan and angiography; laparoscopy with biopsy confirmed the absence of chronic liver disease. A definitive tissue diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made at laparotomy; the tumor was unresectable.

Short (35-cm) versus long (60-cm) flexible sigmoidoscopy: a comparison of findings and tolerance in asymptomatic patients screened for colorectal neoplasia.

The purpose of this study was to compare the utility of the 35-cm versus the 60-cm flexible sigmoidoscope in screening asymptomatic patients for colorectal neoplasia. Two hundred fifty-eight patients 45 years of age or older were examined in a randomized fashion with both the 35-cm and 60-cm instruments. Fifteen percent (39/258) of patients had a total of 50 polypoid lesions 3 mm or greater in diameter (including one carcinoma).