Screening women aged less than 50 years with a family history of breast cancer.

Family history is an important breast cancer risk factor and is a common reason for referral to specialist breast clinics for consideration of breast screening. The aims of this study were to determine cancer detection rates and prognostic features of breast cancers identified in women aged less than 50 years at increased risk of breast cancer who attend a Family History Breast Screening Clinic (FHC). Between January 1988 and December 1995, 1371 asymptomatic women aged less than 50 years underwent annual clinical breast examination and biennial mammography due to a family history of breast cancer. A total of 29 cancers (23 invasive and 6 in situ) were detected or presented as interval cancer during a mean follow-up of 22 months (range 0-96 months). This gave a relative risk for invasive breast cancer in this high-risk group of 5 when compared with an age-matched female population in the U.K. The cancer screening detection rates were similar to those of women aged 50 years or over undergoing population screening in the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP)--FHC prevalent screen 8 per 1000 screening visits versus NHSBSP 6.5 per 1000, FHC incident screen 3.3 per 1000 screening visits versus NHSBSP 3.8 per 1000. A higher proportion of in situ cancers were detected in the FHC screened group compared with cancers identified in symptomatic patients from an age-matched risk group (21% versus 4%). No differences were demonstrated for invasive tumour size, grade or lymph node stage between symptomatic and screened women. The early results of this study suggests that young women at risk of breast cancer due to a family history may benefit from regular breast screening due to the early detection of in situ lesions.

Inflammatory pseudotumors of the lung.

Two unusual cases of inflammatory pseudotumors in young female patients are described. One presented with massive hemoptysis and a solitary circumscribed mass treated with urgent lobectomy. The second presented initially with cough and a small right lower lobe mass. She presented again, 8 years later, with a lung mass so expanded as to necessitate a pneumonectomy with partial resection of surrounding structures. Both cases indicate the need for early and complete removal of the inflammatory pseudotumors.

Dysphagia due to pancreatic pseudocyst with mediastinal extension.

This case report describes a patient who presented with severe dysphagia, found to be due to a large pancreatic pseudocyst extending into the mediastinum. The patient was successfully treated by cystgastrostomy.

Local immunity in pregnant women.

Immunoglobulins IgA and IgG levels and Lysozyme-activity were examined in the vaginal fluid of 70 pregnant women and 30 non-pregnant women where microbiological examinations did not detect any pathological microorganisms. To confirm the local character of immune factors produced in the female genital tract, these factors were also examined in the sera. An increase of class A immunoglobulins was noted in the vaginal fluid and examined sera. IgA/IgG ratio as well as statistical calculations confirmed the local origin of antibodies within the classes. The lysozyme activity was 10 times greater in the vaginal fluid than in the sera. Both factors are relatively simple to determine and in women with recurrent inflammatory conditions of the vaginal tract can be used as indicators of the local immunity state.

Biological properties and clinical application of propolis. XI. Histophathological analysis after intravenous application of ethanol extract of poprolis (EEP).

Mice were given i.v. injections of water solutions of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) over a varying period of time. Some of the animals were sacrificed immediately following the last injection and some within 2--4 weeks after the last injections. Internal organ samples were taken and underwent a microscopic examination. Insignificant pathological changes in the liver were observed. These changes were transient and regressed within 2--4 weeks after the application of EEP.

Biological properties and clinical application of propolis. VIII. Experimental observation on the influence of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) on the regeneration of bone tissue.

Artificially induced bone tissue losses after the application of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) showed an accelerated rate of ossification. The osteogenetic process was just about half as long as in the control group.

Biological properties and clinical application of propolis. III. Investigation of the sensitivity of Staphylococci isolated from pathological cases to ethanol extract of propolis (EEP). Attempts on inducing resistance in laboratory Staphylococcus strain to EEP.

Staphylococci isolated from pathological material exhibited a reduced sensitivity to ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) in 90% of cases. No cross-resistance of the staphylococci to EEP and to any commonly used antibiotics was found. The induction of resistance to EEP in laboratory strain of Staphylococcus aureus (Oxford 209 P) can be achieved already after serial passages on nutrient media containing EEP. Culturing Staphylococcus resistant to EEP in an environment devoid of this compound caused a remission to sensitivity of the strain investigated.

Biological properties and clinical application of propolis. VI. Investigation of the influence of ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) on cartilaginous tissue regeneration.

Dressing of artificially formed losses of the cartilaginous tissue with the preparation containing ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) caused acceleration of regenerating processes in the lesioned cartilage. EEP inserted into the joint is well tolerated.