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It is difficult to predict the possible development of a malignant trophoblastic tumor after the evacuation of a hydatidiform mole. In order to help resolve this difficulty, a morphometric study has been carried out. The mean nuclear area of the trophoblast in a group of hydatidiform moles, followed by a trophoblastic malignancy, was found to be statistically significantly larger than that of the trophoblast in a group of hydatidiform moles which were not followed by malignant trophoblastic disease. However, the mean trophoblast/nontrophoblast ratio in villi demonstrated no statistically significant difference between those 2 groups of hydatidiform moles. Therefore it is not advisable to grade hydatidiform moles on the basis of trophoblastic proliferation alone.

Haemophilus influenzae andDiplococcus pneumoniae are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic purulent bronchitis by producing type-III allergic reactions in the bronchial tree. It is also known that, depending on the size and form of the antigen, type-III allergic reactions may be produced that differ both at macroscopic and microscopic levels of observation.

Morphological changes are described in pelvic lymph nodes excised 10 days after C. parvum (CP) treatment of patients with cervical carcinoma. Guinea-pig popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes were investigated from Days 1 to 10 after an injection of 70 micrograms CP into the footpad. Eosinophils were detected from the first few hours after stimulation, initially in the marginal sinus, then in the medullary sinuses and subsequently in the efferent lymphatics. From Day 2 to Day 6, histiocyte accumulations with the appearance of epithelioid cells were found mainly in subcapsular and interfollicular areas, and small granulomas were also seen in the paracortex. The granuloma formation in the lymph node was considered as an indication of the activation of histiocytes. Besides small granulomas in the paracortex, activated interdigitating cells, surrounded by scattered lymphoblasts and eosinophils, were also present. We considered this lymphoblastic response and eosinophilic accumulation as likely to be due to blastogenic factor and eosinophil stimulation promotor. Eight to 10 days after CP stimulation, the macrophage lymphoblast eosinophil response was replaced by a B-cell reaction: germinal-centre activation and medullary plasma cells. Such a B-cell reaction was also found in the human pelvic nodes removed at operation, but this reaction could not be attributed to CP treatment alone, since cervical-carcinoma patients not treated with CP also showed such reactions. In contrast, pelvic lymph nodes removed at necropsy from females killed in traffic accidents showed no predominance of either B- or T-cell stimulation.

The effect of adjuvant immunotherapy with a single neighbourhood injection of 2 mg C. parvum (CP) was investigated in a randomized study involving 43 patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri, all of whom were treated by radical surgery. All patients had carcinoma confined to the cervix, the upper part of the vagina or the parametrial region. When the malignancy had spread to the parametrial region, additional postoperative radiotherapy was given. 22 patients received immunotherapy 10 days before surgery, whereas the remaining 21 control patients received no immune stimulation. Only minor side effects of CP were encountered. Follow-up shows a relapse rate of 5% in the CP treated group and of 29% in the controls (P less than 0.05). A further 15 patients with more advanced malignancies were added to our studies. In these, CP stimulation had no effect on relapse rates, but the relapse-free intervals were longer after immune stimulation: control 3.5 months (mean) +/- 1.5 (s.d.), CP 13.0 months +/- 7.0 (P less than 0.05). The number of peripheral T cells and the ability to become sensitized to DNCB were increased after CP stimulation. A decrease was found in the number of blood monocytes and the number of monocytes capable of transforming into active macrophages, indicating a possible sequestration of these cells in the tissues.

In earlier experiments we showed that locally administeredCorynebcicterium parvum (C. parvum)stimulated the T-cell system and had a beneficial effect on the recurrence rate of surgically resected cancers of the uterine cervix. In this paper we report the use of an immunoperoxidase technique to traceC. parvumantigen in the draining lymph nodes. In a guinea pig model the popliteal lymph node was studied after the injection of 70 μg ofC. parvumin the hind footpad. At 6 h, intact bacteria were detected in sinus histiocytes. A transient granuloma formation was apparent between days 2 and 6, originating in the subcapsular and interfollicular areas. Three antigen-positive cell types were observed in these granulomas: a) cytophagocytic macrophages which were weakly positive, the antigen being distributed in clumps; b) dendritic cells with a strong, fine-granular positivity and c) some epithelioid cells with a small positive cytoplasmic rim. The majority of epithelioid cells was negative. Antigen-positive dendritic cells were also observed just beyond the granulomas in the T-dependent paracortical area. These cells are known as interdigitating cells (IDC) and present antigen to T-cells. Ten days followingC. parvuminjection the lymph node follicles became positive and the antigen could be detected in the long cellular protrusions of the dendritic reticulum cells (DRC). DRC probably play a part in immunological memory by trapping antigen in the form of immune complexes.

There are several indications that a considerable flux of gas is constantly flowing into the galactic system, and that intergalactic gas probably makes up a large fraction of the mass of the universe. This discussion of the phenomena involved is a modified version of the Nuffield Lecture given at the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy, Cambridge, on July 7, 1969.

Without Abstract:

Melicow and Koss described field changes of the urothelium in cystectomy specimens. To search for early field changes we started a prospective study in 39 patients when they initially presented with bladder tumors. The pathologist confirmed the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma in 34. Cold-cup biopsies were taken in all 39 patients from both lateral walls, the dome, from normal-appearing mucosa 2 cm adjacent to the tumor, and from the tumor itself. These biopsies were classified according to the presence of cellular and histological characteristics of anaplasia given by the WHO group on bladder tumors [8]. A semiquantitative study based on these criteria revealed three patterns of field changes, called the F-classification.

ENZYME histochemistry is sometimes a valuable aid in differentiating tumours in human pathology1and in studying several other pathological processes2.

SPINRAD et al.1have suggested that the infrared object discovered by Maffei2during a search for T Tauri variables is the nucleus of an exceptionally close giant elliptical galaxy, the main body of which is obscured by absorption in our galaxy. Though the observations point strongly in this direction, the suggestion is nevertheless a considerable extrapolation from the actual observations and it is therefore important to try to get additional information on the properties of the object.

An essential part of the following report is based on new spectrograms taken by Vera C. Rubin, W. Kent Ford, and Charles J. Peterson with the 4-meter Kitt Peak telescope and its RC image-tube spectrograph. These data, which they have kindly made available for the present occasion, will be discussed in detail in a forthcoming article.