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Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy and transmission of the viruses to the fetus were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology. In all, 104 blood samples were obtained 3 times during pregnancy and once at delivery. In another 107 women, samples were obtained only at delivery. Cord blood samples were obtained from both groups of women. HHV-6 DNA was detected in 41%-44% of the samples during months 3-8 of pregnancy, in 25% at delivery, and in 24% of age-matched controls. HHV-6 DNA was found in 1.0% of the cord blood samples. CMV DNA was detected in 1.7% of leukocytes from 104 pregnant women but in no cord blood sample. IgG antibodies to HHV-6 were found in 96% and CMV IgG in 62.5% of the women. HHV-6 IgG titers were significantly higher in HHV-6 PCR-positive women. Thus, HHV-6 reactivation seems common during pregnancy, and transfer of HHV-6 to the fetus may occur in approximately 1% of pregnancies.

Background: To assess the sensitivity for detection of fetal anomalies by a second trimester ultrasound screening program performed in a way representative of a majority of Swedish obstetrical departments. The examinations were performed at the ultrasound division of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Hospital of Uppsala, Sweden., Method: A prospective study covering a two-year period. Eight thousand two hundred and twenty-eight unselected, consecutive pregnant women (8345 fetuses) were examined. The ultrasound scans were performed at a gestational age of 15-22 weeks by specially trained midwives. All fetal anomalies suspected at the ultrasound screening were recorded. Follow-up of all scanned fetuses was done through neonatal reports, records from the pediatric department, a national malformation registry and autopsies. All live-born infants were followed one year after birth. Main outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for detection of fetal anomalies and prevalence of fetal anomalies., Results: In all 145 fetuses/infants with confirmed anomalies were identified (prevalence 1.7%). Thirty-two were detected by second trimester ultrasound screening (sensitivity 22.1%). Twenty false positive cases were identified, of which fifteen were ruled out on the same day the suspicion arose and five were transient findings. The specificity was 99.8% and the positive predictive value 61.5%, Conclusions: When performing a second trimester ultrasound screening program, prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies will be part of the procedure whether this is a primary aim or not. It is therefore of great importance that the pregnant women receive adequate information and that the voluntariness of participation is stressed. In this study the sensitivity was low. Standardizing the scanning procedure (check-list for fetal anatomy) and improving the education of the operators are feasible ways to increase the sensitivity.

This study was undertaken to determine whether oscillations superimposed on a regular ventilatory pattern influence the arterial blood gases and pH and the airway pressures at adequate alveolar ventilation at the onset of inhibition of inspiratory activity. The peak, mean and end-expiratory airway pressures were therefore measured at inhibition of this activity with and without superimposition of oscillations on the ventilatory pattern. It was found that superimposed oscillations lowered the airway pressure only at a low ventilatory frequency, whereas inhibition occurred at almost equal arterial PCO2 and pH values with and without superimposed oscillations on the ventilatory pattern.

One hundred fifty-nine 3-year survivors of childhood soft tissue sarcoma and their relatives were surveyed to determine the frequency of second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) in patients and cancer in their relatives. The cancer experience of the patients, their offspring, siblings, parents, parental siblings, and grandparents was compared to that expected of the general population based on age-, sex- and calendar year-specific rates from the Connecticut Tumor Registry. A significant excess of SMNs was observed in the patients (observed expected = 8:0.38). Among 758 first-degree relatives, a significant cancer excess was observed (34:20.68), attributable largely to cancer of soft tissue and bone (6:0.44) and breast (9:3.39) and to cancers occurring before age 35 years (12:4.14). Overall, a significantly lower than expected cancer incidence was confirmed in the 1,693 second-degree relatives (142:178). To identify patient characteristics associated with higher than expected familial cancer risk, kindreds were partitioned by patient age at diagnosis tumor type, tumor site SMN and other factors. A highly significant cancer excess was observed in the relatives of SMN patients (26:12.78). The tumor types occurring in excess in close relatives were also observed as SMNs in the patients. The findings confirm an association among childhood soft tissue sarcoma and cancers of the breast, bone, joint, or soft tissue as SMN in patients and in close relatives and suggest that the risk of a second tumor is associated with a familial predisposition to cancer.

The incidence of cancer among Native Americans in Alaska, Canada, and the south western United States has been reportedly low relative to the Caucasian populations in these areas. We investigated the incidence of cancer among the Native Americans of Western Washington for the time period 1974-1983 and compared it to that of the Caucasian population using two types of analyses, age-standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and proportional cancer incidence ratios (PIR). Native Americans of this area were found to be at lower risk of cancer than Caucasians at almost all ages. The age-standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for all cancer sites was 0.4 (p less than 0.01) for males and 0.6 (p less than 0.01) for females. A relative excess of cancer of the cervix (SIR = 1.6, PIR = 2.1, p less than 0.05) was found among Native American females. Significant deficits were found for corpus uterine cancer among females (SIR = 0.2, PIR = 0.5, p less than 0.05) and cancer of the prostate among males (SIR = 0.2, PIR = 0.5, p less than 0.05). A suggestive increase in the risk of cancer of the gallbladder was discovered for males and females. This is the first report on cancer incidence among Native Americans in Western Washington.

The prevalence of several known or suspected risk factors for breast cancer is changing among young women. The time trend in incidence of breast cancer among young women in western Washington was analyzed as a possible predictor of trends in future incidence rates. Data were from the Seattle-Puget Sound Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry. For women age 25-44 years (n = 1,869 cases), the incidence of breast cancer increased by 22% (P less than .001) between the time periods 1974-77 and 1982-84. The estimated annual increase was 2.5% (P less than .001). The increase in incidence over time appeared to be greater among those residing in low-income census tracts of urban counties and among black women. Possible relationships between the observed increase in rates and trends of risk factors for breast cancer are discussed.

The effects of intra-arterial and intravenous injections of adenosine and hypoxanthine were investigated with special reference to respiratory variables in anesthetized young cats. Studies were made of the effects on inspiratory activity (phrenic nerve activity), heart rate, blood pressure and central venous pressure. To assess the risk of accumulation of adenosine degeneration products after several injections measurements were also made of hypoxanthine, xanthine and urate in plasma at intervals after the injections. It was found that intra-arterial and intravenous injections of adenosine increased central inspiratory activity during the first few breaths after the injection. The blood pressure and heart rate decreased slightly and central venous pressure increased slightly after the injection. Degradation of adenosine and its metabolites takes place rapidly and it is therefore unlikely that metabolites influence the results. It is concluded that adenosine causes brief stimulation of inspiratory activity.