Volume 101  ·   Issue 08  ·  1988

The ultrastructural morphology of hydatidiform mole is characterized by increased thickness of the trophoblastic layer from cytotrophoblastic hyperplasia in which the intermediate type of trophoblast at different stages can be discerned. The degree of hyperplasia of intermediate type of trophoblastic cells and differentiation of syncytiotrophoblast suggested that the possible correlation with persistent trophoblastic disease demands further observations.

Twenty-five cases of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia were analyzed and the therapeutic regimens discussed. The new antileukemic drug, harringtonine, synthesized in China recently was used to treat these patients with a 76% remission rate. Side effects were negligible. We propose a "two step" therapeutic regimen discussed in detail. Since harringtonine (H) was synthesized in this country exhaustive clinical studies have been reported with universally excellent therapeutic results. Its side effect are relatively mild, making it a valuable antileukemic drug. Recently, we tested several regimens using H combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs in acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) in accordance with the patient condition and type of acute leaukemia.

A strain of Aspergillus oryzae with proliferating heads causing pulmonary aspergilloma is reported. Its cultural and morphological characteristics are described. More than 7% of the conidial heads of the strain, CB8464 (F2), proliferated into secondary heads. Colonies grew well in anerobic broth at 28 C. It is an opportunistic fungus for man and mice.

Insertive esophagogastrostomy is insertion of the esophageal stump into the stomach and suture of the external esophageal wall to the edge of gastric incision. The esophageal stump is incised longitudinally for a distance of 2.5 cm and the tips of 2 triangular flaps are everted and fixed to wrap around the esophagus, thus creating a pyramidal-shaped stump lined by mucosa both in and out. This technic has the following advantages: prevention of anastomotic stricture, leakage and reflux esophagitis. With the use of this technic, good results were obtained in 57 cases of esophageal and cardiac carcinoma.

Since 1970, a cancer registration system has been in operation in Zhongshan City, Guangdong. From 1974 to 1983, 1 428 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were diagnosed and their courses of disease investigated. The prognostic factors for NPC were analysed by Cox model and compared with the conventional methods. The results showed that Cox model is more effective in fitting the survival data and is more sensible in analysing prognostic factors for NPC than the single variable methods.

The changes of pituitary-adrenal function in diabetics and the reserving ability of pituitary ACTH-secreting cells were studied. 33 normal subjects served as controls. The diabetics were divided into two groups: insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) group (20 cases) and noninsulin-dependent-diabetes (NIDD) group (31 cases). Aminoglutethimide (AG) test (0.25, q6h×2 days) was done in 13 normal controls, 15 IDD and 18 NIDD patients.

The prevalence and pattern of cardiovascular problems in Hong Kong are basically those of an ageing subtropical Chinese community, influenced by the impact of westernization and urbanization. Their trends over the past decades have been hall-marked by a decreasing prevalence of rheumatic and congenital heart disease, and a plunging incidence of rheumatic fever, associated with a rapidly increasing prevalence of ischemic and degenerative type of cardiovascular diseases. In the 1990s, rheumatic heart disease will be less prevalent but may still account for 10% of the problem. Ischemic heart disease and degenerative type of lesions will certainly be more commonly seen and account for 40% and 25% respectively, while the prevalence of hypertensive diseases and congenital heart disease may hope fully stays at 10% and 5% levels, respectively.

The protective effect of preopcrative high-dose insulin on ischemic myocardium was studied in dogs. Histochemical reaction, ultrastructure and water content of the heart muscle, hemodynamic condition before and after restoration of the circulation were observed. Dogs were divided into two groups and 5 mEq/L potassium cardioplegic solution was infused. In the insulin group, insulin 10 U/kg/h, glucose 1 g/kg/h and potassium chloride 0.25 mEq/kg/h were infused from the onset of anesthesia till aortic cross clamping. The control group received the same infusion but without insulin. All parameters suggested moderate damage of heart muscle after 90 minutes of ischemia in insulin group, which recovered to the preischemic level completely 30 minutes after restoration of circulation, while in the control group, the ischemic damage was severe after 90 minutes of cross-clamping, with delayed recovery even after 30 minutes of reperfusion of the heart. The difference between the two groups was statistically highly significanL The experiment indicates that myocardial protection is improved with high-dose insulin.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome is a rare autosomal resessive disease. It was first reported by Cesar in 1943. Since then, similar cases were observed in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Only three cases have been reported in our country. We report a case herein.