Serum sialic acid--an important cancer marker.

Total serum sialic acid (TSA), Lipid associated sialic acid (LASA), Total protein (TP) and TSA/TP factor (as cancer markers) have been estimated in 78 patients of cancer stomach, breast, colorectal region and gall bladder, before and after treatment and of varying degrees of metastasis and compared to 30 healthy controls. A significant rise in TSA and TSA/TP factor and a decrease in serum total protein levels was found in all cases of cancer. This increase was directly proportional to the degree of metastasis i.e. tumour burden. Serum TP levels were found decreased in all patients. Rise in LASA levels was not significant. Raised TSA/TP levels became lower to certain extent after effective therapy. Hence it can be inferred that although TSA and TSA/TP are not specific they are however, sensitive markers regarding detection of malignancy and useful in monitoring cancer progression and/or recurrent while evaluating the efficacy of various cancer therapies.

Effect of polyols and lipids on buffalo spermatozoal survival at 5 degrees C and -196 degrees C.

Six semen samples were obtained from each of the four healthy Murrah buffalo bulls and preserved at 5 degrees C up to 72 h in EYC diluter treated with glycerol (5, 7, 9 and 11%), mannitol (0.5, 1.5 and 3%), sorbitol (1, 2 and 4%), lecithin (1, 2 and 3%) and cholesterol (0.5, 1 and 2.5%). EYC diluter with semen (1:20) was kept as control. Individual motility of the spermatozoa was scored at 3, 24, 48, and 72 hours after dilution of the neat semen. By completion of 72 hours the efficiency of various treatments over control was in order of 1 and 2% lecithin, 5% glycerol/3% lecithin, 7% glycerol, 1% sorbitol and 0.5% mannitol. Mannitol and sorbitol improved the sperm motility at initial preservation phase, while glycerol at this phase depressed the motility. Lecithin at 1 and 2% levels revealed encouraging results for all the periods. Semen samples diluted in EYC with 5 and 7% glycerol were frozen up to -196 degrees C. Glycerol at 7% level yielded better post thawed revival. There appeared to be bull variation with respect to ultra-low temperature preservation.

Blood groups and cancer of the cervix uteri.

PIP: This paper reports the results of a study of the incidence of A, B, O. and AB blood groups in 700 patients with cervical cancer. Reports of studies by others are quoted. Patients had been admitted to wards of S.N. Hospital, Agra. The diagnoses of cervical cancer had been established by clinical, cytological, and histopathological examinations. ABO blood groups were determined by the slide method using standard Anti-A and Anti-B sera. The grouping was confirmed by serum grouping using known group A and group B cells. A control series consisted of 2000 healthy females. Although and increased incidence of cervical cancer was observed incidence of cervical cancer was observed among patients belonging to group O, as compared to controls, statistical analysis of data revealed no significant difference. The chi square for 3 degrees of freedom was 5.875. Conclusions were that no significant statistical difference in the A,B,O, and AB blood groups distribution was present among these 700 patients with cancer of the uterine cervix.^ieng