Spermine-directed immunosuppression of cervical carcinoma cell sensitivity to a majority of lymphokine-activated killer lymphocyte cytotoxicity.

The polyamine spermine, naturally present at millimolar levels in seminal plasma, inhibits proliferation of natural killer cells and T lymphocytes, directly binds to DNA and alters cervical cell ploidy indicating its potential ++contribution to the etiology of cervical cancer and its possible role in suppression of the destruction of dysplastic and neoplastic cervical epithelial cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes. This study demonstrates that spermine suppresses sensitivity of cervical carcinoma cells to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) lymphocytes from more than half of normal individuals. Direct treatment of 51Cr-labelled QGU cervical carcinoma cells with < or = 10-11 M spermine for 1 h reduces cytotoxic destruction of QGU cells by human LAK lymphocytes up to 60% (p < or = 0.05) as shown by decreased LAK lymphocyte lytic units 20%. Cervical carcinoma cells are inherently very sensitive to LAK lymphocytes and spermine may be an important immunosuppressive agent in natural immunity against cervical cancer.

Cytokine modulation of immune defenses in cervical cancer.

Human papilloma viruses (HPV) are major factors in the etiology of cervical cancer. Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes, an important defense against viral diseases, are present in most HPV-associated lesions and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. HPV positive cervical cancer cells and HPV-immortalized human cervical epithelial cells which possess properties similar to cervical dysplasia, however, are resistant to NK but are sensitive to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) lymphocyte lysis. Sensitivity can be enhanced by treatment of cervical cells with leukoregulin, a cytokine secreted by lymphocytes. Combination treatment with leukoregulin and a chemotherapeutic drug, e.g. cisplatin, further enhances sensitivity of HPV-infected cells to LAK lymphocyte lysis. In contrast, gamma-interferon treatment of cervical cells can result in decreased sensitivity to LAK lysis illustrating the potential balance cytokines can exert in the immunologic control of cervical cancer.

Prediction of atrial and ventricular fibrillation complicating myocardial infarction from admission data: a prospective study.

This study set out to examine prospectively two logistic formulae based on admission clinical data to predict ventricular or atrial fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction. A prospective study of 87 consecutive patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction was conducted. The formula for predicting ventricular fibrillation from the diastolic blood pressure, degree of ST-segment elevation, and QTc had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 83%, and a predictive value for an abnormal test of 62% (13 of 14 patients who developed ventricular fibrillation were identified). The formula for predicting atrial fibrillation from the age of the patient, a history of heart failure, systolic blood pressure, and four electrocardiographic parameters had a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 85%, and a predictive value of 67% (14 of 18 patients identified). Our study shows that patients with myocardial infarction who are liable to develop ventricular or atrial fibrillation can be identified on admission from simple clinical data.