[Geographic differences in iodine supply in the Silesia terrain in relation to thyroid cancer risk]. / Zróznicowanie geograficzne podazy jodu na ternie województwa slaskiego w aspekcie ryzyka raka tarczycy.

Risk factors associated with differentiated thyroid carcinoma depend on its histotype. Follicular carcinoma is described as a predominant type in the areas with iodine deficiency, in opposite to papillary thyroid cancer. The incidence of thyroid cancer and its histotypes varies considerably throughout Silesia (data obtained from the Institute of Oncology Cancer Register, Gliwice). The factors responsible for these differences are unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the present iodine supply in Silesia region and to relate it to the incidence of the various histotypes of thyroid carcinoma. Urinary iodine excretion observed in 7-11 year-old-children was used as a parameter of iodine supply and measured in the group of 1037 school children in sixteen localities, equally dispersed throughout Silesia. Urine samples were obtained to measure iodine concentration by the modified Sandell-Kolthoff's catalytic method. Mean incidence rates of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma were calculated for regions of Silesia by averaging the rates of the communities in each region. Despite the intensive iodine prophylaxis the persistent symptoms of iodine deficiency were observed. There were significant differences in children's ioduria among investigated regions. The percentage of low ioduria (lower then 100 micrograms/l) varied from 35.7% to 87.7%. We observed no correlation between age-adjusted rates for histotypes of thyroid carcinoma and the percentage of urine iodine below 100 micrograms/l, which served as an estimation of iodine deficiency. Our study indicates that Silesia is still an area of moderate iodine deficiency. We were unable to explain the factors responsible for the observed differences in the incidence rates of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma.

[Serum concentration of selected neoplasm markers: CA15-3, TPS and CEA in women with diagnosed breast benign disease]. / Przydatnosc oznaczen wybranych markerów nowotworowych: CA15-3, TPS i CEA u kobiet z rozpoznana dysplazja sutka.

The aim of the study was the assessment of serum concentrations of selected neoplasmatic markers: CA15-3, TPS and CEA in women with established diagnosis of benign breast disease (BBD) using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for average 3 years. 120 women with BBD were divided to 2 groups: HRT-users (n1 = 24) and HRT-non-users (n2 = 96). 31 healthy, regularly menstruating, age-matched women served as control group. Concentrations of all markers were measured with immunoradiometric methods. In all groups serum concentrations of measured markers were within normal range. We conclude that hormone replacement therapy has no influence on serum concentrations of CA15-3, TPS and CEA.

Inhibition of Angiogenesis In Vivo by ets-1 Antisense Oligonucleotides-Inhibition of Ets-1 Transcription Factor Expression by the Antibiotic Fumagillin.

The inhibition of angiogenesis in vivo as a result of the inhibition of Ets-1 transcription factor expression by the ets-1 phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-AGATCGACGGCCGCCTTCAT-3' has been proven by experiments with chicken embryos. Thus, participation of the Ets-1 transcription factor in the formation of new blood vessels in vivo has been demonstrated. Furthermore, it is shown that the angiostatic effect of the fungal metabolite and angiogenesis inhibitor fumagillin is mainly a result of its ability to inhibit Ets-1 expression.

[Inhibition of angiogenesis on the chicken chorioallantoic membrane by Ets 1 antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides]. / Hemmung der Angiogenese auf der Chorioallantoismembran des Hühnchens durch Ets 1 Antisenseoligodesoxynukleotide.

The Ets 1 transcription factor, the founder of the ets gene family of transcriptional regulators, has strongly been supposed to play a role in angiogenesis under both physiological and pathological conditions including tumor vascularization. An in vivo role has nevertheless not yet been proven. We therefore investigated whether an Ets 1 antisense oligodesoxynucleotide (ODN) blockade effectively inhibits in vivo angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantois membrane-assay. We used a 20-mer phosphorothioate directed against the AUG initiation codon and a short 3' sequence of the c-ets 1 mRNA (5'-AGATCGACGGCCGCCTTCAT-3') in order to block Ets 1 expression. Three quantities of either antisense or negative control sense ODNs were directly applied on the chorioallantois membrane on day five of development and results evaluated on day seven. No effect on angiogenesis was seen in the antisense group treated with 2.5 micrograms ODN/egg compared to the sense control group. In contrast chorioallantoic blood vessel numbers and diameters were considerably reduced after application of 5 micrograms antisense ODN. 10 micrograms of either antisense or sense ODNs turned out to be toxic: all 6 embryos had died on day seven. Our results are the first proof that the Ets 1 transcription factor is actually necessary for the regulation of in vivo angiogenesis. Its role is probably not restricted to development but also concerns new blood vessel formation during chronic inflammation and tumor vascularization.

[Thrombolytic therapy in a case of mitral valve thrombosis (author's transl)]. / Streptokinasebehandlung einer Thrombose an einer Mitralklappenprothese.

In this paper we present a case in which thrombolytic treatment with Streptokinase was successful in a 53-year-old patient, who developed valve thrombosis one year after aortic and mitral-valve replacement by Björk-Shiley tilding-disk-valve prosthesis. The patient suffered from pulmonary congestion and cardiogenic shock. In spite of Arterenol infusion the blood pressure fell down to 90/50 mm Hg. The systolic pulmonary artery-pressure rose up to 120 mm Hg, the cardiac output was 1.8 l/min. The patient became anuric. A transport to the next department of cardiovascular surgery was impossible. In this extraordinary critical situation for the patient we introduced a thrombolytic therapy with Streptokinase. Within a few hours, the systolic pulmonary artery-pressure fell down by 33%, the cardiac output increased by 100%. One and half days later the patient did not need Arterenol infusion and the blood pressure was 120/80 mm Hg. Referring to this observation, we conclude that Streptokinase therapy can be a successful emergency-treatment of a life-threatening artificial heart-valve thrombosis, if surgical treatment is impossible.

Haemodialysis in rats.

A plate dialyser requiring an extracorporeal blood volume of 1.5 ml was developed to dialyse conscious rats. In experiments in vitro and in vivo its function was tested. The in vitro clearances of urea, creatinine and potassium were 126+/-9 ml/min/m2, 70.5+/-9 ml/min/m2, and 132.5+/-13 ml/min/m2, respectively. The method appears to be suitable for pharmacological and toxicological studies.

[Hemo and cross dialysis treatment in phalloidin intoxication in the waking rat]. / Hämo- und Cross-Dialysebehandlung der Phalloidin-Intoxikation an der wachen Ratte

In vitro 14C-Methyl-Phalloidin is found to be well dialysable; in vivo dialysis is less effective. In rats the application of 2 mg/kg Phalloidin i.v. led to death after 106 minutes on the average. Hemodialysis with electrolyte-glucose solution or with plasma protein solution immediately started after Phalloidin injection did not alter the survival time significantly. Only a group of rats which was cross dialysed immediately after intoxication showed a statistically insignificant prolongation of survival time of 16 minutes. The histomorphological findings of the liver were similar in all groups. We found a phalloidinic vacuolisation of the cytoplasm of the lobular periphery, hemorrhagic necrosis and also fatty changes in the periphery of the lobule with small fat droplets and pycnosis of nuclei. Specific Phalloidin effects, too, were found in the liver of both animals used in cross-dialysis, which proves that Phalloidin is dialysable by this method.

Is there any transtubular reabsorption of filtered proteins in rat kidney?

The bovine protease inhibitor aprotinin (Trasylol) has a high affinity to the kidney and is preferentially pinocytized in the proximal tubule. After i.v. injection of 1mug 124 I aprotinin the blood content decreases to 2.8% of the primary injected amount within 3 hrs, while simultaneously each kidney contains 29%. This substance was used to test whether or not a peptide which is pinocytized, is released in the intact form into the peritubular blood. By a cross circulation technique with two unilaterally nephrectomized rats we were unable to detect any transport of pinocytized, intact peptide through the proximal tubule cell over the observed cross circulation period of 1-8 hrs even when using 5000 times the above dosage. Since the total amount of aprotinin in the kidney is immunologically reactive (ca. 97%), and 65% of the radioactivity in the blood is not reactive after 6 hrs, we believe that the last step in the absorption process consists in digestion inside the lysosomes and instantaneous release of the split products into the blood.