[Mammography or ultrasound in the breast cancer diagnosis]. / Mammografia czy ultrasonografia w diagnostyce raka sutka.

Indications to ultrasound examination and mammography are discussed in this article. Ultrasound is useful in women younger than 35 and mammography on the contrary after this age. As far as screening is concerned obly mammography is a proper tool for recognition.

Alterations of secretory pattern of intestinal lipoproteins by the benzoyl ester derivative of poloxalene surfactant (BEP).

Hydrophobic surfactant BEP was administered intraduodenally as part of lipid emulsion to rats with cannulated mesenteric lymphatic duct. The effect on the size and composition of intestinal triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLp) was assessed by comparing the results with those obtained during infusion of the lipid emulsion alone. Administration of BEP decreased intestinal capacity to transport triglyceride and cholesterol in large TRLp, SF greater than 2000, and resulted in a significant reduction of total triglyceride in lymph. Non-apoB apolipoproteins decreased significantly in large and increased in small TRLp without appreciable change in total content. Contrary to these findings total apoB protein content increased significantly, primarily due to an increase in small TRLp. Changes in lipid and protein content of apolipoproteins produced by BEP resulted in increased ratios of apolipoproteins to lipids in TRLp. It was therefore concluded that inhibition of lipid transport by BEP was not a result of apolipoprotein deficiency. Discontinuation of BEP administration resulted in a prompt recovery of the intestinal lipid transport system.

Poloxalene 2930, a hydrophobic surfactant that prevents atherosclerosis, alters composition of rabbit lipoproteins.

Poloxalene 2930, a hydrophobic surfactant, was incorporated into an atherogenic diet at dose levels, 0.5% and 1% of the diet, and fed to rabbits for 10 weeks. Another group received plain atherogenic diet alone and a control group was fed chow. After this period, serum lipoproteins were separated by centrifugation and analyzed. The composition of lipoproteins from rabbits on atherogenic diet was abnormal. The cholesterol: triglyceride ratio of every lipoprotein fraction was significantly increased as was the cholesterol: protein ratio of very low density lipoproteins. Supplementing the diet with Poloxalene 2930 prevented these alterations. In all groups on the atherogenic diet the percentage of apolipoprotein E in VLDL and HDL increased. In the case of Poloxalene-treated rabbits this developed even though serum cholesterol levels were normal or slightly increased. It is concluded that Poloxalene 2930 has a systemic effect on lipoproteins which may contribute to its antiatherogenic action.

Inhibition of lipid absorption by non-ionic hydrophobic surfactant Pluronic L-81, and its benzoyl esters.

The benzoyl ester of Pluronic L-81 (BEP) has been purified on an aluminium oxide column and fractionated on the basis of its mobility characteristics into three fractions, BEP I, II and III. Absorption studies were made with rats fed by gavage a lipid preparation containing [14C]triolein and [3H]cholesterol (control animals) and one of the fractions or Pluronic L-81, or crude BEP. After 4 h the amount of lipid absorbed and transported was calculated as the difference between the dose fed and the amount of lipid recovered from the gastric and intestinal luminal contents and intestinal mucosa. Pluronic L-81 was the most effective in inhibiting absorption of triolein but it did not inhibit absorption of cholesterol. BEP-II was almost as effective in inhibiting the absorption of triolein and also inhibited absorption of cholesterol. Crude BEP was less effective and BEP-I and III had only limited activity. Inhibition of triolein absorption by Pluronic L-81 may be partly related to its delaying action on gastric emptying. As purified BEP preparations had practically no effect on gastric emptying, their inhibiting activity involved intestinal mechanisms of lipid absorption.

Hydrophobic surfactant treatment prevents atherosclerosis in the rabbit.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of the hydrophobic surfactant, poloxalene 2930, was studied in the rabbit to determine whether this agent prevents experimentally produced atherosclerosis. Male rabbits were divided into four groups and fed a control diet (group A) or an atherogenic diet (groups B, C, and D) for 10 wk. Diets of groups C and D were supplemented with 0.5 and 1% poloxalene 2930, respectively. Animals in group B developed significantly greater levels of cholesterol in the serum and aorta compared with group A. Addition of poloxalene 2930 to the diets of groups C and D prevented significant elevations in cholesterol concentrations of both serum and aorta compared with group B with values for group D being essentially similar to those observed in group A. Groups C and D also had significant increases of fecal excretion of both neutral fat and neutral steroids as compared with either groups A or B. There were no atherosclerotic lesions of the aortas from group D. Aortas from rabbits in group B had numerous atheromatous plaques while one rabbit each from groups A and C had several very small atheromatous lesions. These results demonstrate that poloxalene 2930 reduces the rise of serum cholesterol in rabbits in response to an atherogenic diet and prevents the development of atherosclerosis. This hypocholesterolemic effect is likely mediated by the effect of this surfactant on the small intestine.

Hypolipemic activity of benzoyl ester of polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block copolymer (BEP) in rabbits.

BEP mixed with food was administered to rabbits fed an atherogenic diet at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.5% (w/w) and the results were compared with control animals. After 8 weeks plasma cholesterol in the animals receiving 0.5% BEP was almost 4 times lower and in the rabbits taking 1.5% BEP 8 times lower than in the controls. Plasma triglycerides were practically unaffected by BEP. Hepatic total lipid and cholesterol were significantly decreased in the treated animals but there was little difference between the two experimental groups. The same applies to aortic and heart muscle cholesterol content. At autopsy control rabbits showed fatty changes in their livers and atherosclerosis of the aorta, while in the experimental animals no such lesions were found.