[Primary malignant tumor of uvula: report of 3 cases and review of the literature].

We retrospectively analyzed 3 middle-aged male patients of primary malignant tumor of uvula. There was a long history of smoking and drinking for the patients. All of them came to the hospital with the syptoms of pharyngeal foreign body sensation and two of them had pharyngeal sore. The patients appeared well, new neoplasm at the apex of the uvula. Diameter of 2 cases were less than 1 cm without invading the midline of the soft palate. Another patient's diameter was more than 1 cm with invading the midline of the soft palate. Preoperative pathology diagnosis of 3 patients was squamous cell carcinoma of uvula. The pharyngeal CT of the patient with invading the midline of the soft palate showed nodules at the end of the soft palate, obviously enhancement and small lymph node in left neck.

[Studies on kinetics of somatic embryo suspension culture in Picea meyeri Rehd. et Wils].

Embryogenic calli were produced from mature zygotic embryos of Picea meyeri Rehd. et Wils. which were cultured on modified LP medium containing 30 g/L sucrose, 2 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L 6-BA. The growth rate of embryogenic calli could be improved by way of suspension culture in medium MS containing 20 g/L sucrose, 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L KT. The optimum values of initial cell density and shake rate of flask in suspension culture were 3.0% (fresh weight) and 150 r/min respectively. Several parameters which might be correlated with growth were determined over a 10 day period. Maximum growth in terms of fresh weight, dry weight and number of ESM occurred during 6-10 day. pH and conductivity attained the lowest point during 6-8 day. A lot of somatic embryos were obtained following transfer of the suspension cultures to medium MS containing 5 mg/L ABA. Mature somatic embryos grew into plantlets with well developed cotyledons after being cultured on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5% activated charcoal but without hormone.

Effects of different doses of norethisterone on ovarian function, serum sex hormone binding globulin and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

The ovarian effects of different doses of norethisterone (NET) were compared in 45 normally menstruating women in order to find the lowest effective dose of the Chinese NET "visiting pill". Subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups. Each subject in each group was taking 0.5, 1.5 or 3.0 mg per day from days 5 to day 18 of the cycle. Blood samples were taken on days 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26 and 29 of the cycle. Serum oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), high density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and NET concentrations were measured. Ovulation, delayed ovulation, ovulation inhibition and follicular activity were classified by the analysis of the peripheral serum levels of sex hormones. Ovulation occurred in 7 women in the 0.5 mg group, in 2 women in the 1.5 mg group and in none of the 3.0 mg group. Mean serum SHBG levels were reduced progressively by 6.6% (Group 0.5), 15.5% (Group 1.5) and 23.4% (Group 3.0). There were no significant changes in HDL-C levels in any group. There was a significant correlation of mean serum NET concentrations with dose. The lack of complete inhibition of ovulation in most women in the 1.5 mg and 0.5 mg groups might suggest that the dose of NET required when used as a visiting pill could not be reduced below 3.0 mg.

PIP: In Shanghai, China, 45 25-35 year old women took a daily norethisterone (NET) "visiting pill" (vacation pills) on menstrual cycle days 5-18 as part of a clinical study comparing various doses of NET on ovarian function, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). The aim of the study was to determine the lowest effective dose of the NET visiting pill. Even though some ovarian activity occurred at all 3 doses (0.5, 1.5, and 3 mg), no woman experienced ovulation at 3 mg NET/day during days 5-18 of the cycle. It suppressed ovulation in 11 (73.3%) of the 15 women. Follicular activity occurred in the remaining 4 women. Ovulation occurred in 33% of women taking the 1.5 mg dose and in 66% of those taking the 0.5 mg dose. The higher the NET dose, the greater was the fall in mean serum SHBG levels from control levels (3 mg, 23.4%; 1.5 mg, 15.5%; and 0.5 mg, 6.6%). Both the regression equation and log dose regression equation showed a significant correlation between mean serum NET levels and dose (p .001). HDL-C levels remained basically the same as control levels. Since, at the 1.5 mg dose, ovulation occurred in 5 women and only 5 women experienced complete inhibition, a dose no lower than 3 mg should be used for the NET visiting pill.

[Comparative study of the effects of three different kinds of oral contraceptives on lipoprotein and apolipoprotein metabolism].

PIP: 45 women aged 27-37 participated in a 6-month study of the effects of 3 kinds of oral contraceptives (OC), (DSG, LNG, and NET) on changes in lipoprotein and apolipoprotein metabolism. The women took each of the 3 kinds of OC for 3 cycles sequentially and had blood tests after taking each kind of OC. The results of the blood tests showed that DSG was associated with an increased level of HDL-C, TG, TC, apo AI, and apo AII; and reduced the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C. Compared with DSG, LNG was associated with a reduction in HDL-C level, the changes in other parameters were smaller than DSG. The comparison of LNG and NET was similar to that of DSG and LNG. Comparing NET with DSG, the increase of HDL-C and apo AI induced by NET was not as high as that of DSG; nevertheless, the changes in other parameters induced by DSG and NET were similar. The LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and apo AI/apo B ratio induced by DSG were the most favorable. Using DSG or NET can result in an increase of serum protein levels. LNG reduced the HDL-C level, but its changes in other serum protein levels were not significant. An increase in the HDL-C level is protective of the cardio vascular system and is beneficial to women who have a low level of HDL-C. Alternating the use of different kinds of OCs could reduce the side effects of changing serum lipoprotein metabolism. As the subjects of the study were healthy young women, the association of OCs with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) other studies could not be proved, but the possibility of higher risk of CVD in OC users may be present in view of the increased TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios in OC users.^ieng

[Effects of oral contraceptive norethisterone compound on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism].

PIP: 20 healthy women in their reproductive age were treated orally with norethisterone, beginning with the 5th day of the menstrual cycle. Each patient received 1 pill each day, 22 pills/cycle, for a total of 6 cycles. Lipid levels, including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein AI (apo AI), apolipoprotein AII (apo AII), and apolipoprotein B (apo B), were determined in fasting fresh serum prior to treatment, after treatment for the 1st and for the 6th cycle, as well as in the 3rd cycle after cessation of treatment. Results show that all parameters except LDL-C increased significantly (p0.05-0.01) after treatment for the 1st cycle. All parameters were continuously increasing (p0.01-0.001) after treatment for 6 cycles. After cessation for 3 cycles, TG, TC, and LDL-C levels all returned to normal. Although all others had a tendency to decrease, they were still significantly higher than the levels prior to treatment (p0.05-0.01). During the entire study period, except for the fact that the ratio of apo AI/AII increased significantly (p0.05) after treatment for 1 cycle, the changes of other ratios were all insignificant. The study suggests that norethisterone induces a change in lipid metabolism, but no changes occur in the ratios. Thus it can be concluded that there is no obvious relation between norethisterone and CVD. (author's modified)^ieng

A pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study of the Chinese No. 1 pill.

A pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study of the Chinese No. 1 pill, a combined oral contraceptive containing 35 micrograms ethynyloestradiol (EE) and 600 micrograms norethisterone (NET), was performed in 29 women over a period of six months. Blood samples for analysis were taken during a pretreatment cycle, the first and 6th treatment cycles and post-treatment. Minor changes in carbohydrate metabolism occurred and these were particularly noticeable when the incremental areas under the serum concentration-time curves for both glucose and insulin in response to a glucose tolerance test were calculated. No changes occurred in the serum glycosylated haemoglobin levels. The serum concentrations of all the lipids measured (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C and apolipoproteins AI, AII and B) were significantly increased on treatment as were levels of Factor X, SHBG and caeruloplasmin whereas antithrombin III decreased. In 38 of the 40 treatment cycles, ovulation was suppressed. In one cycle serum oestradiol and progesterone levels showed a typical ovulatory pattern and in another there was evidence of follicular activity without ovulation. Serum EE concentrations showed a similar pattern in both treatment cycles showing that co-administration of NET did not affect EE metabolism. Serum NET levels were higher in the 6th than in the first treatment cycles. On comparing pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters, the only statistically significant correlations were between the percentage change in triglycerides and SHBG and serum NET, but not EE concentrations, and between apolipoproteins AI and serum EE.