TA 4-SCC versus CEA sensitivity for lung cancer.

The sensitivity of a new tumor marker, TA 4-SCC, for lung tumors is examined and compared with the performance of the already established CEA. TA 4-SCC sensitivity is only moderate (30%), and it presents no significant differences among the various histologic types of lung cancer. In addition, unlike CEA, TA 4-SCC is present in large amounts in the serum of many stage I and II patients.

Treatment of chronic delta hepatitis with alpha-2 recombinant interferon.

The Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV), a defective ribonucleic acid virus dependent on the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a cause of severe liver disease that often leads to cirrhosis and death. Since the HDV finds in the HBV infection a biological niche in which to thrive indefinitely, the major victims of its infection are the carriers of HBsAg. Spontaneous resolution of chronic HDV hepatitis has been observed rarely and therapeutic attempts with steroids or azathioprine and levamisole have been discouraging.

[Changes in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in polytransfused patients during neurosurgery].

2,3-DPG values following administration of fructose 1,6-diphosphate were followed neurosurgery in 28 polytransfused patients. Intraerythrocyte 2,3-DPG values were already significantly over the baseline 8 hr after administration of the organic phosphate.

[Behavior of serum alpha 1-antitrypsin in chronic hepatopathies and its diagnostic significance].

The behaviour of alpha 1 antitrypsin in 76 subjects with cirrhosis of the liver, 14 subjects with chronic persistent hepatitis, 14 subjects with chronic active hepatitis, 8 subjects with toxic hepatitis, 5 subjects with obstructive jaundice, 5 subjects with liver carcinoma. 4 of these groups (cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, obstructive jaundice, hepatoma) showed alpha 1 antitrypsin blood levels significantly higher than the control group (82 healthy subjects). Very high alpha 1 antitrypsin blood levels, significantly greater than in cirrhosis, were found in the patients with hepatoma.