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In order to study the relationship between daily consumption of mouldy food and the incidence of oesophageal cancer, we examined the mutagenicity of Alternaria alternata and Penicillium cyclopium, which seriously contaminate grain in Linxian county, China. We first examined extracts of cultured strains of A. alternata. In the reverse mutation test, positive results were obtained in 85% of strains; positive results were seen in 84% of 19/20 strains in the rec assay. Eight of ten strains induced sister chromatid exchange, and two of eight strains induced chromatid breaks. Six of seven strains induced unscheduled DNA synthesis and DNA synthesis inhibition. One extract induced a higher frequency of sister chromatid exchange in lymphocytes from normal persons than in those from patients with oesophageal cancer, and the spontaneous break-points in patients were related to fragile sites and neoplasia-associated break-points. The toxins alternariol and its monomethyl ether, produced by A. alternata, were examined in the reverse mutation assay and for unscheduled DNA synthesis. The results were similar to those obtained with extracts of the different strains. Alternariol had a four to eight times greater effect than its monomethyl ether. Of 24 strains of P. cyclopium isolated from cereals in Linxian, four were cultured with rice and 19 in Raulin-Thom medium. Cultures in Raulin-Thorn medium, solution and hyphae were then extracted. The strains cultured with rice induced sister chromatid exchange, unscheduled DNA synthesis and DNA synthesis inhibition. The solution extracts of 14 strains were positive in the rec assay, and five strains were positive in the reverse mutation test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Microsurgical techniques were carried out in reanastomosis of the vas deferens, autotransplantation and replantation of the testis, adrenal autotransplantation with attached blood vessels, anastomosis between the internal spermatic lymphatic vessel and vein, and internal spermatic venous diversion. Double-layer and single-layer anastomosis were adopted in vasovasostomy. It was observed that the former technique seemed a little better but the difference was not statistically significant in regard to the patency and pregnancy rate (P greater than 0.05). Testicular autotransplantations were carried out in two cases, each with bilateral cryptorchism and they were both adults at the time of operation. Postoperative follow-up turned out that spermatogenesis didn't happen. Replantation of a testis was applied to a case with complete traumatic severance of both funiculi within the scrotum. The patient regained his normal endocrine and spermatogenetic functions postoperatively. The techniques of adrenal autotransplantation with attached blood vessels and that of the anastomosis between lymphatic vessel and vein are discussed.

A case of Cushing's disease was treated successfully by staged total adrenalectomy, left adrenal autotransplantation with the attached blood vessels and pituitary irradiation. In the first stage the left adrenal gland was removed with its attached blood vessels intact, and adrenal autotransplantation then was performed. An end-to-end anastomosis was made between the adrenal central vein and the right inferior epigastric artery. The anastomosis between the right saphenous vein and the adrenal middle artery was accomplished by intussuscepting the artery into the vein followed by suturing. The second stage operation was total right adrenalectomy. Steroid replacement therapy was stopped 7 days postoperatively and all laboratory studies were normal. Two months after total right adrenalectomy the patient had a sensation of facial fullness. Plasma cortisol and 24-hour urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels were elevated. Part of the graft was excised with the patient under local anesthesia. The symptoms disappeared and the laboratory studies returned to normal. Pituitary irradiation was administered as supplementary treatment of Cushing's disease. This method for the treatment of Cushing's disease has proved feasible. The inguinal region is the optimal site for adrenal autotransplantation.

To our knowledge there has been no report to date of successful testis replantation after complete traumatic severance of the funiculus within the scrotum. We report a case in which both funiculi were cut completely (one of which was severed 0.8 cm. proximal to the upper pole of the testis, and the other just at the junction of the funiculus and the testis). We successfully rejoined the testis with the funicular stump to the proximal cut end of the right side using a microsurgical technique. The total ischemia period of the replanted testis was 6 hours. The penis was erect 4 days postoperatively and blood testosterone level was within the normal range. At testicular biopsy 120 days postoperatively the germ cells could be seen in various stages of development and the appearance of the Leydig cells was normal.

Crystals in medical plants are classified into organic and inorganic according to their chemical components. This paper gives an account of the types, chemical compositions, appearances structures and existing ways in plant tissue and distribution patterns in plant kingdom of various kinds of crystals.

Thirty-three cases with clinical symptoms and signs suspecting prostatic cancer or other prostatic entities with abnormal ultrasonic reflection were diagnosed by transperineal prostatic biopsy guided by intrarectal ultrasonic probing. This procedure more accurate and safer than the conventional one. It seems quite useful clinically in the differential diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma, particularly the early cases from the other prostatic diseases.