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The authors have presented the results of studies concerning the changes of chemical composition and ultrastructure of tissue microregions at patients with laryngeal precancerous states. Microanalytical studies were made using X-ray JEOL JSM 35 microprobe analyser. The chemical composition of laryngeal precancerous tissue taken from the patients and a control group was estimated. The results of studies were verified using X-ray PHILIPS XL-30 microanalyser. Studies of tissue ultrastructure changes were conducted using JOEL JEM 100 XC transmission microscope. Some heavy metals like, lead, cadmium, nickel, iron, copper and caesium were found in the tissue from larynx precancerous state. Further more, in analysed biologic material there were noticed various degenerative changes within stratified squamous epithelium.

Activity of beta-glucuronidase (GR) and acid phosphatase (AP) has been determined in peripheral blood neutrophils from 24 men with precancerous states of the larynx that is leukoplakia papillomas and pachydermia by means cytochemical methods described by Hayashi et al., and Barka and Anderson, respectively. The results obtained were expressed in terms of absolute counts of enzyme-positive and enzyme-negative cells with regard to enzyme activity variation within the enzyme-positive neutrophil population; the enzyme activity index score has been calculated. The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects of the same sex. No significant alterations were found so far as AP activity is concerned between the group studied. In contrast, activity of GR in patients with precancerous states exhibited significant lowering. The most striking feature was in almost complete absence from the blood of GR-positive neutrophils with high activity of the enzyme. Majority of these cells showed only traces of the GR activity. According to authors opinion the deficiency of GR in neutrophils of patients with precancerous lesions pertains to problem of neutrophil-mediated cytotoxic effect against mammalian tumour cells.

Cytochemical investigations performed in 24 men with precancerous states of the larynx, i.e. leukoplakia, papillomas and pachydermia, indicated that the peripheral blood neutrophils from these patients exhibit a significant intracellular deficiency of beta-glucuronidase activity and of total lipids, as well as an increased alkaline phosphatase activity. Acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities did not differ significantly between patients and normal controls. In the authors' opinion, the neutrophil beta-glucuronidase deficiency might be a specific disturbance of neutrophils in the precancerous states and the cancer of the larynx. The possible significance of this disturbance and the subsequent decrease of antitumor immune reactivity are discussed.

In patients with precancerous states and cancer of the larynx prior to and after radiotherapy exhibit the decreased activity of neutrophil beta-glucuronidase. Moreover patients treated by radiotherapy before the age of 6 to 9 years demonstrate deficiency of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in the above cells. The main finding in lymphocytes of the patients studied was in the appearance by diffusion of the above enzymes and of acid phosphatase in the cytoplasm, reflecting their release from lysosomes and immunological mobilization of these cells. The authors discuss the possible role of neutrophil enzymatic deficiency in lowering the antitumour cytotoxic effect of these cells.

In 24 men aged 32 to 58 years with precancerous states of the larynx, i.e., leukoplakia, papillomas and pachydermia the peripheral blood lymphocytes were cytochemically stained for N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and glycogen; and the neutrophils were stained for alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase and lipids. The results were expressed in terms of the absolute counts of reaction-positive cells and of the activity index score. The serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM were also determined by Mancini's method. The results obtained were compared with those in 20 healthy men aged 20 to 30 years. The patients exhibited elevated numbers of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase-positive lymphocytes. A characteristic feature was an increase in the absolute counts of lymphocytes with diffuse and granular-diffuse types of cytochemical reaction for all enzymes studied. The number of cells with the granular type of enzymatic reaction (intact enzyme-positive lysosomes) was significantly diminished. These cytochemical alterations were accompanied by a significant increase in the serum IgA level. These results are discussed with reference to the lymphoid system response to tissues of precancerous lesions of the larynx. So far as the neutrophils are concerned the patients exhibited significant intracellular deficiency of beta-glucuronidase and decrease in the lipid content as well as an elevated alkaline phosphatase activity. The possible significance of the beta-glucuronidase deficiency in neutrophils for the diminished cytotoxic response of these cells against the tumor and precancerous lesion cells is discussed.

In 24 men with precancerous states of the larynx, i.e. leukoplakia, papillomas and pachydermia, the peripheral blood lymphocytes were cytochemically stained for N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and glycogen (PAS reaction). The results were expressed in terms of the absolute counts of enzyme- (or compound-) positive cells. The serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA and IgM levels were also determined by Mancini's method. The results obtained were compared with those in 20 healthy men aged 20 to 30 years. It was found that the patients exhibited elevated numbers of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase- and beta-glucuronidase-positive lymphocytes. A characteristic feature was an increase in the absolute counts of lymphocytes with diffuse and granular-diffuse types of cytochemical reaction for all enzymes studied. The number of cells with the granular type of enzymatic reaction (intact enzyme-positive lysosomes) was significantly diminished. These cytochemical alterations were accompanied by a significant increase in the serum IgA level. These results are discussed with reference to the lymphoid system response to tissues with precancerous lesions of the larynx.