Half-life of the doubly magic r-process nucleus 78Ni.

Nuclei with magic numbers serve as important benchmarks in nuclear theory. In addition, neutron-rich nuclei play an important role in the astrophysical rapid neutron-capture process (r process). 78Ni is the only doubly magic nucleus that is also an important waiting point in the r process, and serves as a major bottleneck in the synthesis of heavier elements. The half-life of 78Ni has been experimentally deduced for the first time at the Coupled Cyclotron Facility of the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University, and was found to be 110(+100)(-60) ms. In the same experiment, a first half-life was deduced for 77Ni of 128(+27)(-33) ms, and more precise half-lives were deduced for 75Ni and 76Ni of 344(+20)(-24) ms and 238(+15)(-18) ms, respectively.

N=82 shell quenching of the classical r-process "waiting-point" nucleus 130Cd.

First beta- and gamma-spectroscopic decay studies of the N=82 r-process "waiting-point" nuclide 130Cd have been performed at CERN/ISOLDE using the highest achievable isotopic selectivity. Several nuclear-physics surprises have been discovered. The first one is the unanticipatedly high energy of 2.12 MeV for the [pi g(9/2) multiply sign in circle nu g(7/2)] 1(+) level in 130In, which is fed by the main Gamow-Teller transition. The second surprise is the rather high Q(beta) value of 8.34 MeV, which is in agreement only with recent mass models that include the phenomenon of N=82 shell quenching. Possible implications of these new results on the formation of the A approximately 130 r-process abundance peak are presented.

A phase III placebo-controlled study in advanced head and neck cancer using intratumoural cisplatin/epinephrine gel.

Patients with recurrent or refractory head and neck squamous cell carcinoma received cisplatin/epinephrine injectable gel or placebo gel injected directly into the clinically dominant tumour. The double-blind phase III trial comprised of up to 6 weekly treatments over 8 weeks, 4 weekly evaluation visits, and then monthly follow-up; open-label dosing began as needed after three blinded treatments. Tumour response was defined as complete (100% regression) or partial (50-99% regression) sustained for > or =28 day, and patient benefit as attainment of palliative or preventive goals prospectively selected by investigators and patients. With cisplatin/epinephrine gel, 25% (14 out of 57) of tumours responded (16% complete regression, 9% partial regression), vs 3% (one out of 35, complete regression) with placebo (P=0.007). Patient benefit was positively associated with target tumour response in the blinded period among cisplatin/epinephrine gel recipients (P=0.024): 43% (six out of 14) of responders benefited, vs 12% (five out of 43) of non-responders. The most frequent adverse event was pain during injection and the next most frequent was local cytotoxic effects consistent with the gel's mode of action. Systemic adverse events typical of intravenous cisplatin were uncommon. Intratumoural therapy with cisplatin/epinephrine gel provided safe, well-tolerated, effective palliative treatment for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, who lack other satisfactory treatment options.

[High-risk HPV types in oral and laryngeal papilloma and leukoplakia]. / HPV-Typen vom "high risk type" in oralen und laryngealen Papillomen und Leukoplakien.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile and adult laryngeal papillomas (JLP and ALP) and oral papillomas (OP) are important benign tumors of the head and neck. Laryngeal leukoplakia (LL) may be a precancerous lesion. The etiology of the papillomas is associated with human papillomavirus infection (HPV). The important noxes for the development of laryngeal leukoplakias are nicotine, alcohol, and HPV. Adult laryngeal papillomas and OP can also undergo malignant conversion. Today, there is no marker known to distinguish in progressive lesions and in those which show a regression. Different types of HPV were detected in head and neck cancer too. There is a important similarity to the genesis of cervical cancer. The 77 known HPV types were divided into benign types, e.g., 6 and 11, and those with oncogene potential, e.g., 16, 18, 31, 33, and 35. The detection of oncogene HPV may be a sensitive marker for prognosis of primary benign lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, the presence of HPV genomes 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, and 35 in 17 JLP, 27 ALP, 15 OP, and 11 LL was examined. DNA extracted from archived samples embedded in paraffin was amplified using the E6 specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The products were visualized by electrophoresis, and positive identification was achieved by Southern blot analysis and hybridization to specific biotinylated oligonucleotide. RESULTS: Our data show the presence of HPV 6/11 in all JLP (17 of 17), in all ALP (27 of 27), in 13 of 15 (87%) OP, and in seven of 11 (63%) LL. The "malignant" types HPV 16, 18, and 33 were found in six of 27 (22%) of the ALP, in three of 15 (20%) of the OP, and in four of 11 (36%) of the LL. the dominant type was HPV 16, HPV 31 and 35 were not detectable. Three ALP, one OP, and the four LL of the cases with oncogene HPV showed histologic features of moderate dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The role of HPV in malignant transformation of infected cells remains unclear. It is well known that the carcinogenesis must depend on promoters such as alcohol, tobacco, and metabolites of chronic inflammations. All patients with positive biopsies confirming HPV 16, 18, or 33 must receive special care to prevent the development of a carcinoma.

[Inverted papilloma and its association with human papillomavirus (HPV). A study with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]. / Das inverte Papillom und seine Assoziation mit dem humanen Papillomvirus (HPV). Eine Studie mit der "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR).

Nasal inverted papilloma is usually a benign tumor but is associated with squamous cell carcinoma in about 10% of cases. To determine the etiological role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in inverted papilloma and to clarify the relationship between the different types of human papillomavirus and malignant transformation, we analyzed retrospectively a series of 29 formalin - fixed, paraffin-embedded cases, 3 of which had squamous cell carcinoma. A highly sensitive and specific modification of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the E6 gene sequences of HPV 6/11, 16 and 18. HPV was present in 20 of the cases (69%), HPV 6/11 in 14 (48%), HPV 16 in 19 (65%) and both HPV 6/11 and 16 in 13 of the specimens (45%). HPV 18 was not identified in any specimen. In all three of the squamous cell carcinomas based on inverted papillomas, HPV 6/11 and 16 were detected. These results were in agreement with other studies. While HPV is related etiologically to inverted papilloma, we suggest that HPV 16 may be involved in its malignant transformation.

[Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in formalin fixed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]. / Der Nachweis humaner Papillomvirus (HPV) DNA in formalinfixierten invasiven Plattenepithelkarzinomen des Larynx mit der Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Approximately 67 different subtypes of HPVs have now been described. Regularly most of the cervical cancers are positive for HPV 16/18. Current research also indicates that HPVs may be involved in the development of benign tumours and also squamous cell cancers of head and neck. Studies establishing the presence of different HPV subtypes in oral cancers and precancers suggest the possibility of the virus as etiological factor in oral carcinogenesis too. In this study the prevalence of HPV 6/11, 16 and 18 infection and other exogenous risk factors like nicotine and alcohol in laryngeal cancers were studied. A total of 100 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded cancers, 41 glottic and 59 supraglottic, in patients aged 58 years, were detected by use of the E6 specific PCR for HPV DNA. Significantly more glottic cancers, 26 of 41 (63.4%), were positive for the investigated HPV's. HPV 16 was found in all positive cancers. This predominance of HPV 16 was also present in the supraglottic carcinomas, but only 10.2% (6 of 59) of the these groups were HPV positive. In both groups the patients with HPV 16 and/or 18 positive cancers, the exogenous risk factor was higher than with in HPV 16/18 negative tumours. Following infection, the virus either remains dormant or else undergoes active replication resulting in the synthesis of infectious virus. The integration of virus DNA into the host cell DNA may be the result of action of nicotine and/or alcohol. The integration event is the key of the carcinogenesis. The level of the risk factor in the patients with supraglottic tumours was significantly higher.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Correlation between chronic hyperplastic laryngitis and infection with human papillomaviruses]. / Zusammenhang zwischen der chronisch hyperplastischen Laryngitis und der Infektion mit humanen Papillomviren.

Cancer of the larynx is one of the most prevalent tumors of the head and neck, with its prognosis dependent on early diagnosis. A number of authors have now reported a connection between head and neck cancers and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). A large number of these tumors has been found to be HPV 16/18 positive, with results ranging from 10% to 75% positive. It is currently known that viral infection alone cannot realize an oncogenic potential and there have to be exogenous and/or endogenous factors as well. Further, little is known about the prognosis of epithelial lesions which undergo malignant conversion. The aim of our study was to determine whether the HPV 16/18 content in biopsies of chronic hyperplastic inflammations of the larynx was a prognostic factor for later malignancy. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine 150 laryngeal biopsies from 132 men and 18 women. Additionally, historical data, including information about regular alcohol and nicotine consumption, were examined for an association with HPV 16/18. Three different groups were found to be at risk for developing a carcinoma of the larynx from the 91 patients positive for HPV 16/18 (10 women and 81 men). These included: (1) HPV 16/18 positive patients not exposed to exogenous irritants (6 women and 9 men); HPV 16/18 positive smokers (1 woman and 37 men); (3) HPV 16/18 positive smokers and regular alcohol drinkers (3 women and 35 men). During the 3 1/2 years of our study one woman and one man from the first group developed a cancer of the larynx.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Type 6/11 and 16/18 squamous epithelial cancers of the upper respiratory tract and digestive system. An in situ hybridization study]. / Humane Papillomviren (HPV) vom Typ 6/11 und 16/18 in Plattenepithelkarzinomen des oberen Atmungs- und Verdauungstraktes. Eine In-situ-Hybridisierungsstudie.

61 squamous cell cancers (27 laryngeal, 12 hypopharyngeal, 14 tonsillary, 8 tongue) with different keratinization and grading and seven lymph node metastases of HPV 16/18 positive carcinomas were analysed for the presence of HPV-DNA by in situ hybridisation. 65.5% of them were found to be positive. Twelve laryngeal carcinomas (44%), five tonsillary tumours (35.7%), eight tumours of the hypopharynx (66.6%) and three tongue carcinomas (37.5%) were shown to contain HPV 16/18 DNA. The detection rates of HPV 6/11 were lower. 44 of the analysed tumours (72.1%) had a grading G2. 29 of these tumours (65.9%) were HPV positive. Only eight of the patients were no heavy smokers or alcoholic drinkers. One of the lymph node metastases was positive for HPV 16/18. The results indicate that HPV may be involved in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck tumours.

[Detection of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in laryngeal papilloma. An in situ hybridization study]. / Der Nachweis humaner Papillomviren (HPV) in Larynxpapillomen. Eine In-situ-Hybridisierungsstudie.

Together 35 papillomas of the larynx (8 juveniles, 27 adults) were studied for the presence of HPV-DNA by means of nucleic acid hybridization. The hybridization procedure was carried out "in situ" with biotinylated probes of HPV 6/11 and 16/18 under stringent conditions. The results are shown in Table 1. In all juvenile papillomas we detected HPV 6/11, but we did not find positive signals after hybridization with HPV 16/18, 25 (92.6%) of the examinated adult papillomas were HPV 6/11 positive. The detection procedure of HPV 16/18 was positive twice (11.8%). The results of our studies support the hypothesis of HPV 6/11 in development of larynxpapillomas.

[Use of the Dot-Blot technique in the detection of human papillomavirus(HPV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in malignant tumors of the oropharynx]. / Nachweis humaner Papillomvirus-(HPV-)Desoxyribonukleinsäure (DNA) in malignen Tumoren des Oropharynx mittels Dot-Blot-Technik.

A total of 23 malignant oropharyngeal tumours (palate, tongue, tonsils, pharynx) and two lymph node metastases were analysed for presence of papilloma virus DNA. Thirteen (54.5%) of 22 squamous cell cancers of different koilocytosis and grading were found to contain HPV 16/18 DNA. Only 16.6% (4 cases) were positive for HPV 6/11 DNA. There was no detectable HPV-DNA in the lymph node metastases (Table 1). The control biopsies (19) were negative after hybridisation.