Characterisation of high affinity binding sites of androgens in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

The reported presence of androgen receptors (AR) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and foetal liver, but not in normal adult human liver, has been followed by further study of AR employing a new microassay. Tissues examined were: 5 samples of HCC with surrounding normal liver in 3 cases; 5 samples of cirrhotic liver and a single specimen of HCC in a child. High affinity binding of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was detected in cytosol (11.5-21 fmol/mg, Kd 1.5 X 10(-10)-3.1 X 10(-11) mol/l) and in nucleosol (8.7-11.4 fmol/mg, 6.7-1.4 X 10(-11) mol/l) of the 5 HCC samples. All other liver samples exhibited non-specific binding only. Competition studies indicated that DHT, testosterone, androstenedione, 5 alpha-androstan-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, androst-5-ene-3 beta,17 beta-diol and cyproterone acetate were acting at the same receptor binding site, relative displacement of 3H-DHT being 100, 85.7, 77.4, 67.8, 34.5 and 60.2 per cent respectively. Presence of 3.5S cytosolic and both 2.8S and 4S nucleosolic receptor patterns were demonstrated in both prostatic and HCC tissue. These studies confirm the presence of a cytosolic and nucleosolic androgen receptor in HCC which possesses similar characteristics to the AR of human prostate.     

Some Important Factors in Cadaver-Donor Kidney Transplantation

The results of 88 cadaver-donor renal first transplants from the Newcastle Transplantation Centre have been reviewed after a minimum period of 6 months post transplant. They show the significant benefit of two antigen identity at the second HL-A locus between kidney donor and recipient. Pretransplant blood transfusion showed a beneficial effect on kidney survival. Cases with preformed cytotoxic antibodies showed a favourable outcome compared to cases without antibody, provided the crossmatch was negative. Rh(D) positive recipients showed a significant association with satisfactory outcome when compared to the Rh(D) negative recipients.     

Changes in myocardial oxygen consumption,efficiency and haemodynamics when systemic pressure is increased during morphine and added halothane anaesthesia in dogs

Depression of left ventricular function by the combination of halothane anaesthesia and increased ventricular afterload may undesirably reduce stroke volume and increase myocardial oxygen consumption by increasing ventricular wall stress. To investigate this possibility we studied six dogs instrumented to measure systemic and left ventricular pressures, ascending aortic and left anterior descending coronary artery flows and external left ventricular diameters. We sampled arterial and coronary sinus blood gases and oxygen contents. During morphine anaesthesia (4mg·kg^-1 intravenously with hourly supplements of 0.1 mg·kg^-1) and during added halothane anaesthesia (1.5 per cent end tidal) we measured systemic pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, stroke work, cardiac output, left ventricular end diastolic pressure and diameter and myocardial oxygen consumption. After infusing phenylephrine (0.02 mg/ml) to increase systolic pressure to 23.28 kPa (175 torr) we repeated measurements in both groups. We found that added halothane depressed systemic pressures (52 per cent), stroke volume (30 per cent), and myocardial oxygen consumption (46 per cent) compared to morphine alone. When afterload was increased with phenylephrine, stroke volume (20 per cent), cardiac output (25 per cent) and myocardial efficiency (47 per cent) were further depressed during added halothane anaesthesia compared to control halothane anaesthesia. Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (5 per cent) and pressure (320 per cent) were significantly increased by added afterload, compared to the control added halothane state. Conversely, increased afterload produced few changes during morphine anaesthesia alone. However, at comparable systemic pressures, myocardial oxygen consumption was similar during both anaesthetic states. We conclude that during added halothane anaesthesia increased afterload decreases stroke volume and myocardial efficiency. Cardiac output is reduced without increased myocardial oxygen consumption compared to morphine anaesthesia at comparable afterload states. In patients with already compromised cardiac output, further depression of stroke volume by increased ventricular afterload during halothane anaesthesia may be deleterious.     

Mortality among workers at the Pantex weapons facility

We compared total and cause-specific mortality for workers at the Pantex nuclear weapons assembly facility employed between 1951 and 31 December 1978 with expected mortality based on U.S. death rates. We observed significantly fewer deaths than expected from all causes of death, all cancers, digestive cancers, lung cancer, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and digestive diseases. There were no causes of death which occurred significantly more frequently than expected. Analyses of worker mortality by duration of employment, time since first employment, and radiation exposure greater than 1.00 rem produced similar results. We found no evidence that mortality from any cause of death was increased as a result of employment at Pantex.     

Involvement of metal particles in loosening of metal-plastic total hip prostheses

Four loosened metal-on-plastic total hip prostheses and associated tissues were examined. Each implant showed an uncommonly high formation of metal particles produced by wear or corrosion of the femoral stem. The granulation tissue between bone and cement was characterized by macrophages containing metal particles. Histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural investigations have been performed to assess cellular reactions to ingested metal particles. Pathogenesis of loosening in these cases is discussed in relation to the role of macrophages in bone resorption.