Volume 100  ·   Issue 02  ·  1987

Secondary hematologic changes seen in 192 cases of small cell lung cancer and 3,620 cases of malignant lymphoma were analyzed. In the former anemia was encountered in 12% and leucocytosis in 10% ; and in the latter the corresponding figures were 20% and 17% respectively. Of 127 cases of small cell lung cancer, 11.7% had infiltration of tumor cells into the bone marrow in the localized stage, and 33.3% in the extensive stage. Leukemia develop ed in 3.7% of the 3,620 malignant lymphoma cases in the years 1958-1983, and in 7.3% of 751 malignant lymphoma cases seen in the years 1976-1983. Its incidence in lymphosarcoma was 9.3% and 17.9% and in reticulum cell sarcoma 2.3% and 9.9% respectively in the 2 periods. The total number of acute lymphoid leukemia was 102 and that of chronic lymphoid leukemia 28. The clinical importance of bone marrow examination in small cell lung cancer and the mechanism of leukemic conversion in various types of malignant lymphoma are discussed.

850 male Wistar rats were given intraperitoneal injections of 131I, 132I and 125I of different radioactivity for two years. Thyroid dose distribution per µCi of 131I, 132I and 125I was 313.0, 21.1 and 98.5 rads respectively. When the absorbed dosage was over 39 × 102 rads in the 131I group, benign tumors and thyroid gland degeneration occurred. Malignant thyroid gland tumor incidence was 45.8% when the absorbed dose was 7.8×l02 rads. Optimal carcinogenic doses of 132I and 125I were (6.1-8.4)×l02 rads and (18-94)×102 rads. When 132I is below 2.6×102 rads and 125I below 18.8×l02 rads, they probably can not induce cancer. 131I mainly induced papillary and mixed type carcinoma. 132I chiefly caused follicular and undifferentiated carcinoma; and 125I produced follicular and medullary carcinoma. The toxicity of the three iodine nuclides were 132I>131I>125I. 125I was the least toxic. Knowledge of this is important to radiation protection and clinical practice.

Of 108 cases of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) treated by microsurgery, there were 5 cases (4.6%) of AVM of the corpus callosum, 2 in the anterior, 2 in the middle and 1 in the posterior portions. All of them were subjected to direct surgery, 3 having total excision, 1 partial excision supplemented by ligation of feeding artery, and 1 ligation of feeding arteries alone. Postoperative angiography showed complete disappearance of the AVMs in all cases. Follow-up for 3-5 years found all of the patients were living and well, 4 had resumed their original work and 1 could take care of himself. Judging from the low morbidity and mortality with it, we consider that surgical treatment warrants popularization.

In 1979, the Pediatric Department of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, in collaboration with the SINE Laboratory, succeeded for the first time in producing a human leukocyte interferon aerosol (IFN-α aerosol). The biological value of the interferon used in the aerosol was not adversely affected. Over 80% of its particles have diameters under 5 μm. In animal experiments no irritative reactions were observed. Clinical trials showed the preparation was effective in children's respiratory viral disease including influenza, bronchiolitis caused by RSV, mumps, asthma (infectious), asthmatic bronchitis and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. Based on our animal experiments and clinical trials lasting more than 7 years, IFN a aerosol is proved effective, safe and non-traumatic. It has no side effects and is economical and easy to use.

This article reports observations of long-term clinical and chromosomal changes in a patient with chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL), who fell ill in August 1979 and died of blastic crisis in July 1982. At the onset of the disease the bone marrow chromosome examination showed that the Ph' chromosome frequency was 81.8%. In the remission stage this was drastically reduced to 18-12%. During the re. lapse stage it elevated markedly t0 52-76%. Thus, chromosome Ph'Ievel can be considered an important indication in evaluating the course of CGL. When acute CGL transformation progresses, there will appear 62% karyotype with 47 chromosomes (double Ph'). This alteration is correlated with acute acceleration of the disease and is usually regarded as a poor prognosis factor. Sister Chromatid exchange (SCE) study in our patient demonstrates that this value increased to 9.65±2.90/cell (normal level 5.134±1.720/cell). So marked rise in SCE level has great diagnostic significance in CGL acute transformation.

A comparative study was carried out on the treatment of schizophrenics with electroacupuncture, herbs and chlorpromazine. The patients responded to electroacupuncture combined with herbs better than to any other therapy, thus verifying the clinical value of this ancient treatment.

From October 1978 to September 1982, 118 cases of malignant gynecologic tumors were treated by intra-arterial chemotherapy. Of these, 100 were cervical carcinoma; 13 ovarian carcinoma; 1 primary vaginal carcinoma and 2 cervical, 1 endometrial and 1 fallopian tube recurrent carcinomas. Following chemotherapy, sequential irradiation was given 99 cases of cervical carcinoma. The treatment and results are presented in this article.

Serum enzyme analysis has been used in the diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases for many years. In order to enhance the diagnostic value of enzymology, attention has been directed to the different molecular forms (isozymes) of a given enzyme. Since 1977, we have studied the clinical application of isozymes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase (GOT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase and adenosine diaminase. The results of our study of LDH isozyme and GOT isozyme are reported in this paper. All cases were hospitalized and evaluated carefully. The diagnosis was made according to the widely accepted clinical criteria and in about half of the cases the diagnoses were proven by pathological examination through biopsy and/or operation. Normal sera were obtained from blood bank donors in our hospital.

Experimental raising of shellfish, amphibians and other fish in water artificially polluted with Vibrio el-tor was started in 1979. The results show that Vibrio el-tor can live in vat water in which both loaches and finless eels are raised 25 weeks despite water renewal every week. Autopsies of all fish showed that 12 of 47 loaches and 7 of 39 eels contained large numbers of Vibrio el-tor in their gall-bladders and intestines, which had caused no pathologic changes. This indicates that loaches and eels ingest the vibrios which then enter the gallbladders and intestines where they multiply and are then excreted into the water. The authors believe that both the loach and finless eel may be reservoirs of Vibrio el-tor, playing a role as a source of cholera infection. Even though our results are from a laboratory situation, they cast new light on the breeding ecology of V. el-tor, and aquatic reservoir transmission of cholera epidemiologically.

The roles of some inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of early pulmonary edema by steam inhalation were studied. The experiments were carried out on 36 healthy dogs. The results showed that the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema in severe steam respiratory burns is mainly as follows: direct action by heat leads to organic lesions of pulmonary capillaries and the changes of some inflammatory mediators, i.e., complements, anaphylatoxin, histamine, PGF1 and cAMP, in the left ventricular blood and the lung tissues resulting in increase of permeability of pulmonary capillaries.