[Cases of multiple tumors in our clinic].

Between 1989 and 1994, 719 patients had been treated with tumours at the Department of Surgery, Teaching Hospital of Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Multiple tumours were found in 53 cases (7.37%), 49 of these being duplex and four triplex form. In men colorectal carcinoma was the most frequent while in women synchrone and metachrone breast cancers.

[Comparative study of superoxide production of monocytes in primary biliary cirrhosis].

Monocytes appear to play a role in immunological abnormalities observed in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Monocytes not only produce fibroproliferative factors, such as IL-1, TNF, and PDGF but also produce superoxide anion which can directly damage tissues, and thus may lead to fibrosis. The aim of this study was to compare the superoxide production in monocytes obtained from 12 control persons, 9 patients with non biliary cirrhosis, 6 untreated PBC patients, 6 patients with gallstones under urso- and chenodeoxycholicacid (Lithofalk) treatment and 32 PBC patients under ursodeoxycholicacid (UDCA) therapy.

[A case of adult Gaucher disease].

The authors describe a case of an adult patient having Gaucher's disease, who had hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. The diagnosis was established by the low level of leukocyte beta-glucosidase and by histology of bone marrow, liver and spleen. The patient had no bone pain, but MRI described characteristic lesions of the femur.

Immunohistochemical distribution of neuropeptide Y and catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in nerve fibers of the human liver.

The course and distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive (ir) nerves in the human liver was studied using immunohistochemistry. The distribution and density of NPY-ir fibers was compared with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) immunoreactivity, two enzymes which are markers for dopamine- and noradrenaline-synthetizing neurones. NPY-immunopositive nerve fibers were densely distributed in the perivascular plexus of the portal trials, along the vena centralis, as well as close to the sinusoids and hepatocytes.

[Familial occurrence of carcinoid of the small intestine].

The case of a 41 year old woman has been reported, whose "flush" syndrome was caused by a carcinoid tumor originated from the jejunum. The patient's father had to be operated for intestinal carcinoid tumor several times. The occurrence of different forms of carcinoid tumors, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, has been discussed in connection with the diagnostic approaches and therapeutical possibilities.

[Diffuse intestinal malignant lymphoma].

The authors describe a patient with malignant lymphoma presenting with clinically severe malabsorption due to diffuse involvement of the small intestine and with intestinal obstruction. The histologic diagnosis was based on the association of (1) diffuse involvement of the small intestine showing lymphoid tissue expansion and (2) a non-classified form of highly malignant lymphoma. After surgical resection of a stenotic part of the small intestine, abdominal irradiation therapy was done, and the patient improved.

Effect of lentinan on superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in vitro.

The effects of lentinan on enzyme induced lipid peroxidation, xanthine-xanthine oxidase-induced cytochrome c reduction, and on the superoxide-dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and expression of human lymphocytes and erythrtocytes were studied. Lentinan in low concentration decreased SOD activity of lymphocytes and erythrocytes from healthy subjects. In higher concentration (10 micrograms/ml) lentinan increased the pathologically low SOD activity of erythrocytes and lymphocytes of patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Comparison of histochemical and biochemical methods in the evaluation of estrogen and progesterone receptor level in human breast cancer. A study of 118 cases.

Unselected surgical specimens from 118 cancerous breasts of female patients were studied by histochemistry for the presence of cellular estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors. The receptor tracers used were 17 beta-estradiol-6-carboxymethyl-oxim-bovine serum albumin - fluorescein isothiocyanate and 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin-tetramethylrodamine isothiocyanate conjugate (Fluoro-CepTM). Out of 118 carcinomas 77 (67%) proved to be positive in the ER and 79 (66%) in the PR test.

[Experience with intravenous metronidazole administration in the preoperative care of surgery of the large intestine].

Peroperative intravenous administration of Metronidazole reduces significantly septic complications in surgery of the colon, especially in combination with intravenous Gentamycin. Intravenous Metronidazole was also successful in cases of septic shock.

Role of human adipose tissue in the production and metabolism of steroid hormones.

Radioimmunological methods have been employed for the simultaneous determination of dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, oestrogens (oestradiol + oestrone), progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol in human adipose tissue and peripheral blood to compare the hormone pool of adipose tissue with that in the general circulation. Extremely high steroid concentrations in the adipose tissue and hormone pool in the fat of obese subjects were observed. For adipose tissue/serum steroid ratios, the highest values were obtained for dehydroepiandrosterone and the lowest ones for cortisol.

[A case of congenital cystic intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (Caroli syndrome) treated with hepato-lobectomy].

The authors report a successful hepatolobectomy of Caroli's disease (segmentally dilatated intrahepatic bile ducts). They also give a survey of congenital and acquired bile duct dilatations, with a view to differential diagnosis and medical treatment. When Caroli's disease is suspected, echography and ERCP can be a valuable diagnostic aid.

Quantitative and qualitative changes in serum oligopeptide components of patients with end stage malignant tumour disease.

A number of changes in peptide components could be demonstrated in sera of patients with end stage malignant diseases. Total and free alfa amino-N content of such sera was shown to be significantly higher than those in sera of patients with no sign of malignancy. In addition, a significant increase was found in one of the serum fraction obtained by Sephadex G-25 chromatography.

[Angioneurotic edema and hypocomplementemia in patients with thyroid cancer].

The combination with a malignant tumour of angioneurotic oedema (ANO) elicited by a disturbance of the complement system was studied. After surgical removal of the tumour the pathologic complement component level may become normal and the angioneurotic oedema may disappear. In the reported case an angioneurotic oedema, the disturbance of the complement component and scintigraphic deviations of the thyroid suggested the presence of a thyroid carcinoma.

[Perineal neoplasms].

The literature on perineal neoplasms is reviewed and their incidence, the method and effectiveness of their surgical treatment analyzed. The prognosis of perineal neoplasms is tragic: according to published data 50% of the patients die within two, 92% within four years. The benign or malignant nature of perineal tumours can be judged only on the basis of histological tests.