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Passage of benzylpenicillin across the mammary gland epithelium was studied both after systemic administration of benzylpenicillin in four goats and after intramammary infusion in three goats and two cows. The results after benzylpenicillin administration alone were compared with the results after combined administration of benzylpenicillin and probenecid. The studies on passage of benzylpenicillin through the blood-milk barrier showed, when milk to plasma ultrafiltrate ratios of benzylpenicillin were plotted versus time for each half of the udders, that active transport takes place from blood to milk during steady-state plasma concentrations. Active transport was demonstrated by inhibition with probenecid: (1) The entry of benzylpenicillin into milk was slowed down under the influence of probenecid. The AUC (area under the curve)-values during the first 30 min. were reduced by 66 +/- 9% compared with the AUC-values found without coadministration of probenecid. (2) In the presence of probenecid and during equilibrium between blood and milk concentrations, benzylpenicillin reached concentration ratios in the ultrafiltrates of milk and plasma which corresponded to those expected for diffusion alone. Without probenecid these ultrafiltrate concentration ratios were more than two times higher indicating an active transport of benzylpenicillin from blood to milk. After intramammary infusion of benzylpenicillin, active transport was demonstrated from milk into blood. The absorption rate for benzylpenicillin from the mammary gland was reduced by probenecid, as measured by the ratio of benzylpenicillin to urea absorption half-life, which was increased by 40-50% in the presence of probenecid.

A method for hysteroscopy in cattle, using a rigid tube for passage through the cervical canal, is described. Using this method, passage through the cervical canal is possible independent of the stage of the gynaecological cycles. The hysteroscopic findings of 105 examinations in cows are described and discussed.

This study refers to a longitudinal population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden. The prevalences of malignant neoplastic disease in two cross-sectional studies in 1968-1969 and in 1980-1981, respectively, and incidence figures for the 12-year period between these cross-sectional studies are presented. The data on malignant neoplasms were based on interview of the participants in the population study, on information from the Cancer Registry of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and from the Swedish National Bureau of Statistics and were confirmed by death certificates, inpatient and outpatient records and reexaminations of tissue specimens from the tumor tissue. The prevalences of malignant neoplastic disease increased with age from 0.3% at the age of 38 to 9.9% in women aged 60. The incidence rates during the 12-year period increased with age from about 2% in women aged 38 at the beginning of the study to be about 10% in women initially aged 60. Breast cancer was found to be the most common single malignant neoplasm followed by cancer of uterus and cancer of the ovaries.

A series of 30 myxofibrosarcomas is described. These malignant soft tissue tumours are characterized by a mucoid and nodular appearance, a coarse plexiform capillary pattern, and they are mostly seen subcutaneously (26 out of 30) in the extremities (24 out of 30) and trunk (4 out of 30) elderly people. Histochemical studies, comprising staining with Alcian blue and toluidine blue at different pH's with and without preceding digestion with testicular hyaluronidase and with the Scott technique, indicated the presence of hyaluronic acid but not sulphated glycosaminoglycans as chondroitinsulphates. Myxofibrosarcoma is believed to belong to the general category of fibroblastic and histiocytic malignant soft tissue tumours. The median diameter of the tumours was 7 cm. They were divided into 4 grades according to cellularity, cell atypia and mitotic activity. The grade III and IV tumours showed pronounced atypia, often with the bi- and multinucleated giant tumour cells and occasionally with giant cells of Touton's type, suggesting a relationship to malignant fibroxanthoma. All of the patients were treated surgically and one received also pre- and post-operative irradiation. None of the 2 grade I myxofibrosarcomas recurred, while 2 out of 7 grade II tumours, 6 out of 10 grade III tumours, and 7 out of 11 grade IV tumours recurred once and up to 9 times. Metastasis appeared in 7 out of 30 patients; grade I tumours were not seen in any of these cases. By the time of follow-up after intervals ranging from 1 month up to 27 years, 14 patients had died; 6 of these had died post-operatively or of intercurrent disease. The differential diagnosis between myxofibrosarcoma and other myxoid soft tissue tumours is discussed.

A correlative cytologic and histologic study of 13 myxofibrosarcomas is presented. The myxofibrosarcomas were grouped histologically into four grades (I to IV) according to the degree of cellularity, atypica and prevalence of mitotic figures. Cytologically, the neoplasms exhibited two types of malignant cells: an elongated, spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like cell and a larger, histocyte-like cell, often embedded in myxoid material. Some aspirates contained small capillary-like fragments. The degree of cellular and nuclear polymorphism and the quantitative distribution between the two types of cells in the different grades corresponded to the histologic classification. The differential diagnosis between myxofibrosarcoma and other myxoid soft tissue neoplasms is discussed. Staining the aspirated material with Alcian blue at different pHs helps to distinguish between myxomatous mesenchymal neoplasms containing nonsulphated glucosaminoglycans, such as myxofibrosarcoma, and those containing sulphated ones, such as myxoid chondrosarcoma and chordoma.

A longitudinal population study of 1462 women, aged 38-60 years, was carried out in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1968-69. In univariate analysis anthropometric variables indicating centrally localized adipose tissue (waist circumference, the ratio of waist to hip circumference and the subscapular skinfold) showed significant age-standardized positive associations with the occurrence (prevalence + incidence data) of endometrial carcinoma. Incidence data suggested that measurements of centrally localized adipose tissue might be of predictive value for this malignancy as well as for ovarian carcinoma. In contrast, measurements of generalized obesity (body weight or body mass index) or peripherally localized adipose tissue (triceps skinfold) showed no associations to these malignancies. No relationship was observed between the anthropometric variables studied and breast carcinoma. The association observed between endometrial and ovarian carcinomas with central adipose tissue did, however, not remain in multivariate analysis when generalized obesity was taken into account. Centrally localized adipose tissue is known to be associated with endocrine abberations including irregular ovulation and menstruation, re-emphasizing the importance of endocrine factors for the pathogenesis of endometrial and ovarian carcinomas. No positive association was found between development of the carcinomas and initial measurements of blood glucose, serum lipids or blood pressure, found to be elevated in cross-sectional studies. An increase in these variables therefore probably are parallel phenomena rather than predictors. The women with endometrial or breast carcinomas smoked more than the remaining women. Although the number of end-points observed was limited these results suggest that measurements of adipose tissue distribution might be a valuable addition to the predictors of endometrial and ovarian carcinomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The general principles of homeopathic therapy are described together with a number of homeopathic drugs used for the treatment of acute bovine mastitis. Fifty cows with acute mastitis were used in the study. The initial treatment comprised aconitum D 4, phytolacca D 1 and bryonia D 4. In subsequent treatments phytolacca D 1, bryonia D 4 and lachesis D 8 either singly or in combination were used; mercurius solubilis D 4 was also used. Encouraging results, especially in the treatment of cases of E.coli mastitis, were achieved.

The effect of a 3-day course of nalidixic acid was studied in 82 women, presenting with the dysuria-frequency syndrome and significant bacteriuria, mostly Escherichia coli sensitive to nalidixic acid. 62/76 patients (82%) that could be evaluated about 1 week after initiation of therapy were subjectively cured. Negative urinary cultures were found in 64/76 patients (84%). Two patients (2.4%) developed resistance to nalidixic acid. Bacteriological cure rate was 76% of 71 patients that could be controlled 1 month after the initiation of therapy. Nalidixic acid in the used granulate preparation initiated only mild side-effects.