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A new familial case of paracentric inversion of chromosome 14 inv(14)(q24.1q32.1) ascertained by multiple abortions in a female carrier is presented. A review of the literature revealed 14 cases of paracentric inversion 14 recorded so far. According to the different breakpoints, two major groups of inversions of the long arm of chromosome 14 can be recognized.

By the aid of fractional estimation of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NAN) from gastric juice it is possible to investigate quantitative changes of NAN-proteins on the gastric juice. Patients with active chronic atrophic gastritis of the type B have an increase of orosomucoid, which is precipitated by phosphorwolfram acid, in the gastric juice.

The frequency of the occurrence of cytokeratins analyzed SDS-electrophoretically in 20 leukoplakic lesions and 14 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa has shown a picture of "restlessness" with some quantitative, some qualitative deviations from the locally normal pattern of cytokeratins. In most cases the basic pattern typical for the oral mucosa was still recognizable, except for three highly undifferentiated carcinomas. The variations of the cytokeratin pattern existed independently of the clinical form of leukoplakia and of its histological degree of dysplasia. The striking findings in some, but not all cases were: --the presence of cytokeratin no. 18 as a major component which normally appears rarely and faintly, and of cytokeratin no. 19, which is not normally detectable electrophoretically within the whole oral mucosa; --the absence of cytokeratins no. 1-3 despite of the cornification which was reliably proved by histology; --the appearance of the proteins having molecular mass values of 42 kDa and less which very probably may be the products of partial keratinolysis as evidenced by immunoblotting with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to cytokeratins. Among these proteins a proteolytically modified cytokeratin no. 19 of only 38 kDa was found.

In SDS-electrophoresis the hyperortho- and hyperparakeratoses showed cytokeratin patterns fairly similar to those in the normal masticatory mucosa in cases of reactive hyperkeratosis due to mechanical stimulatory action; however, in Lichen ruber planus they agreed only incompletely. The site-specific, normally stably expressed cytokeratins of the mucosa-type concerned were likewise regularly demonstrable in the pathologically changed tissue specimens under study, except cytokeratin no. 1 which is known to be a reliable indicator of keratinocyte cornification merely in orthological but not in pathological conditions. Deviating from the normal cytokeratin pattern in the oral mucosa, a more frequent and more expressed occurrence of cytokeratins no. 17 and 18 was observed in Lichen ruber planus. In 4 extraordinarily reactive hyperkeratoses, among these 2 papillomas the cytokeratins no. 7/13 were present.

From 1969 to 1980 the authors examined 587 histological specimens of oral leukoplakia obtained from 424 patients. The histological findings were assessed in classification numbers qualitatively and quantitatively characterizing the subepithelial inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia, keratosis, the grade of epithelial dysplasia an the degree of infiltration when carcinoma had already developed. From this histological classification a classification number resulted which allows conclusions on the prognosis of the leukoplakia under study. Besides the grade of dysplasia also the features of the subepithelial inflammation are important for the prognostic assessment of leukoplakia. The classification numbers are suitable for data processing. In the grading system reported, the most important morphological findings are represented with qualitative and quantitative objectiveness. The classification number leads to more reliable comparison and evaluation of the results obtained by different research groups.

A prenatal diagnosis from a chorionic villi biopsy revealed a pericentric inversion of chromosome 20. The child's father also carries the inverted chromosome. The breakpoints p13q11.2 differ for 4 of the 5 published cases of inversion 20.

Cytogenetic findings on the recurrence of a pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland are herein reported. The tumor showed an abnormal chromosome #8, which was very similar to a marker chromosome recently described as the sole abnormality in an endometrial adenocarcinoma.

A new familial case of paracentric inversion of chromosome 11 inv(11)(q21q23.3) ascertained by multiple abortions in a female carrier is presented. A review of the literature shows 19 further cases of paracentric inversion 11. According to the different breakpoints, the inversions of the long arm of chromosome 11 may be classified into three types.

In 731 hyperplasiogenic polyps which have been removed by endoscopical polypectomy there were 9 polyps with an early cancer and 8 polyps with severe dysplasias (borderline lesions) as well as 1 polyp, in which an advanced carcinoma has been developed. This is the outstanding greatest number of hyperplasiogenic polyps with a malignant transformation. In addition in 9 patients with hyperplasiogenic polyps carcinomas could be discovered, i.e. a rate for malignant developments of 3.7%. It seems that stomachs with multiple polyps are endangered in particular. The recurrence rate of follow-up examinations covering a period of up to 8 years was 36.1%.

Nine pleomorphic adenomas of the human parotid gland were investigated. Within this series the group of cases having clonal aberrations of chromosome Nr 8 predominates. The occurrence of cases with trisomy-8 and cases with structural rearrangements involving a breakpoint in 8q11-8q13 allows a further subdivision of this group of tumors. Our special interest in this paper is devoted to the latter group. The hypothesis is proposed that in these cases the chromosomal rearrangement is the primary event in tumorigenesis, leading to activation of a so far unknown oncogene located most likely at 8q12. The translocations to different recipient chromosomes may serve as sign posts to transcriptionally active chromosomal domains in the salivary gland.

A critical review of close to 100 published and unpublished but otherwise available epidemiologic reports of petroleum industry employees from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan was conducted. Analyses by duration of employment and latency are discussed, and summary standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) or meta-SMRs are developed for selected cancer sites. Findings indicate that the industry experienced a significantly lower cancer mortality than the general population for all cancer sites combined, digestive system, stomach, and lung. For the industry as a whole, SMRs similar to the general population were observed for skin, brain, pancreatic, prostatic, and kidney cancers. However, some data indicate that certain small groups within the industry might have elevated prostatic and kidney cancer risk. This review supports the conclusion that some refinery employees, particularly those employed before the 1940s, may have been at increased risk of leukemia. There is some indication that cancer of other lymphatic tissue may also be elevated. Unresolved issues affecting these conclusions are discussed, and specific directions for future research are offered.

From August 1976 till the end of February 1979 158 polyp in 83 patients (48 male and 35 female) were removed by means of the rectocoloscopic polypectomy with the high frequency diathermy loop. 66% of the polypi had a diameter of less than 1 cm. Most the polypi were with about 70% in the sigma and in the rectum. With 60.7% the adenomas appeared most frequently, followed by the hyperplastic polypi in 20% and by the inflammatory ones in 13.3% of the cases. With the increase of size of the polypi the proportion of the adenomas clearly increased in comparison to the other kinds of polypi. Severe epithelial atypias (altogether 23.1%) were more frequently in adenomas larger than 2 cm than in smaller ones. An invasive carcinoma was found in no polypus. Thus the endoscopic polypectomy in every case meant a curative therapy with great economic use. In patients a haemorrhage appeared as a complication of the coloscopic polypectomy. Only the removal of the polypi in toto allows an exact histological classification and the answer of the decisive question, whether in one adenoma only severe epithelial atypias are present and thus the polypectomy is therapeutically sufficient or whether there exists an adenocarcinoma, for the removal of which an operation according to the principles of the carcinoma surgery must be carried out. The endoscopic ablation of the adenomas thus means a genuine prophylaxis of cancer.

By single intraarticular injection of lectin from Lens culinaris in nosenitized rabbits acute and chronic arthritis was produced. By use of fluoresceinisothiocyanate-labelled lectin binding of lectin could be demonstrated in the connective tissue of joint capsule for 4 weeks. The morphological features of lectin-arthritis were described. The results are discussed with respect to the pathogenesis of the arthritis.

The commonest type of polyps in the large intestine in our series of 506 polypectomies in 262 patients were adenomas (64%) especially tubular adenomas. Severe epithelial atypia being present in 11% of all adenomas and it was three times more discovered in villous adenomas than in tubular forms and with increasing adenomas size. Because severe epithelial atypia could be observed in polyps with diameters less than 5 mm it should be demanded to remove each polyp for an exact histological examination independent of his size. Single forceps biopsies of polyps do not allow the estimation of their further development in view of malignancy.