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Beta-2-Microglobulin (b2m) and or Ca-125 levels were measured in 367 serum samples of 66 ovarian cancer patients. CA-125 was found to be a suitable tool, even in single use, to monitorise the clinical course of the disease with acceptable sensitivity (o. 89) and specificity (o. 94). B2m showed a sensitivity of the same level (o. 87) the specificity of it however proved to be low (o. 48). In consequence of its low specificity the b2m as a single marker is not applicable in ovarian cancer. However, the addition of b2m to CA-125 resulted in higher specificity and sensitivity, as b2m probably has a different spectrum and yielded correct results at that points of the follow-up where CA-125 produced pseudo-positive or pseudo-negative results. The combination of b2m and CA-125 tumormarkers seems to be a suitable tool for follow-up ovarian cancer patients under and after treatment.

Male rats weighing 100 g were used in a 19-day trial. The rats received diets containing varying proportions of methionine. Their absolute liver weight was lower, due to the high methionine levels, than that of the animals fed optimum rations, whereas the relative liver weight was found to be lower only in the pair-fed group. No essential differences were observed between the levels of dry matter, protein, and fat. Glycogen levels were found to be lowered only in cases when high methionine doses were administered. Pathologically low levels of glycogen were found in animals of the pair-fed group. High methionine consumption reduced the percentages of 12 glucogenetic amino acids in the liver. This, in turn, suggests an increased rate of glucose formation from amino acids, a process which was not observed in animals of the pair-fed group. High methionine doses produced a condition of hyperglycaemia, while in the pair-fed group hypoglycaemia was observed. The highest rate of secretion of thyroid hormones was found in animals receiving the optimum ration; a lower rate of secretion was observed in the animals consuming less or more methionine. In animals receiving high methionine levels the rate of hormone secretion decreased in a stepwise manner with increasing methionine supplementation. Only the highest methionine doses (5,3%) were found to have a negative effect on the maximum rate of iodine incorporation into the thyroid gland. These findings were also substantiated by histological investigations because a true pathological picture was only found in histological sections of thyroid tissue from animals fed the highest methionine doses (5,3%) The thyroid tissue of these animals consisted predominantly of small glandular alveoli whose colloid was slightly coloured. The epithelial cells of these alveoli were degenerated; some cases of liver cell disintegration and, more rarely, cellular necrosis were noted.

Cases reported here as well as the literary date tell attention to the vascular complications following contraceptive therapy. Shift of clotting-fibrinolysis system towards hypercoagulobolity is remarkable because of its role as a risk factor. If contraceptive therapy is accompanied by a condition or a disease altering clotting factors, vessel walls or circulation so that it presents an enhanced thrombosis capacity the risk may increase. In such cases indication of oral contraceptive therapy should be considered cautiously and the patients should be controlled with more intention.

The authors report on the stage distribution and 5-years survival rate of 1158 cervical cancer cases treated from 1970 to 1980 at their center. Comparing these data to those of other institutions according to the 17th volume of Annual Report on the results of treatment in gynecological cancer they found that the stage distribution of their cases is not so favourable as that of other institutions. This unfavourable stage distribution is the consequence of the insufficiency of the mass screening of cervical cancer. Their treatment results characterized by the five year survival rate correspond to the international average.

Authors report on their experiences concerning in vitro clonogenic assay performed according to Hamburger and Salmon on solid tumor tissue samples (13 cases) and ascites cells (5 cases) obtained from 16 ovarian cancer patient. Out of the 13 solid tumors they got single cell suspension with sufficient number of cells in each case. Colony formation was observed in 10 out of 18 specimens. Dose-response curves were determined after incubation of cells with different concentrations of the following drugs: cis-platin, adriamycin and melphalan. Patients were treated with the CAP combination chemotherapy. The correlation between clinical responses and in vitro sensitivity was evaluated retrospectively. The analysis of the in vitro-in vivo correlation showed that in case of in vitro resistance against two components of the CAP combination the tumor progressed during CAP treatment. In case of in vitro resistance against one component except cis-platin CAP therapy could cause even complete response. By in vitro cis-platin resistance the maximum response with CAP treatment was partial remission.

In order to find out how short-time denutrition changes the concentration of some substances in the rumen fluid and the blood, tests with full-grown sheep were carried out. Fodder was withheld from sheep with inserted Jarrett fistulae for 48 hours after normal feeding. After 48 hours the animals were given concentrated fodder, after 52 hours exclusively hay. From the 72nd hour onwards the animals were provided with fodder as usual. Samples of the rumen fluid and blood samples were taken at the beginning of the test, after the last normal feeding and then in the 24th, 32nd, 48th, 52nd, 56th, 72nd and 96th hour. We could find out that, during the 48-hour denutrition, the pH-value of the rumen fluid turned alkaline and the concentrations of ammonia, volatile fatty acids and lactic acid decreased. The protein metabolism underwent a rapid change in the organism. The protein content of the blood plasma decreased, above all the albumin content, as well as the concentration of glycoproteins and volatile amino acids. Among the various amino acids, the concentration of glycine increased highly, that of alanine and valine just slightly. The concentration of most amino acids decreased or--of some of them remained the same. Among the paramters that are characteristic of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, the total content of lipids and cholesterin decreased, and so did the concentration of blood sugar, lactic acid and pyruvic acid in the blood plasma. The results indicate that short-time denutrition has a considerable influence on the rumen fermentation and the intermediary metabolism of ruminants. The quickly arising lack of energy of ruminants slows down the protein synthesis and increases the glyconeogenesis from amino acids. The tissue is supplied with energy by the mobilisation of lipids.