Three pairs of twins with retinoblastoma are presented with those reported in the literature. There are altogether 20 pairs of monozygotic twins, of which 16 (80%) are concordant. Of 9 pairs of dizygotic twins, 1 pair (11.11%) is concordant. The hereditary index of retinoblastoma is 77.50%. The factors affecting the concordant rate are discussed. It is suggested that genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease.
Four cases of angioccardiographically diagnosed endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF), 3 right heart type and 1 biventricular type with predominant right heart involvement, are presented. All cases are sporadic ones residing north of the Yangtse River. Geueralized marked cardiac enlargement, usually globular in shape, huge right atrium and pulmonary oligemia are the main plain film features of the right heart type. Mild prominence of the upper segment along the left cardiac border with exaggerated pulsation, highly characteristic, seen in 3 of the 4 cases. Apex obliteration and right ventricle inflow tract contraction deformity with outflow tract dilation are angiocardiographic signs of diagnostic significance. The right atrium is hugely dilated associated with massive tricuspid regurgitation in all 4 cases. In the biventricular type, the right heart chambers are usually predominantly involved. Clinicoradioiogic differential diagnosis of EMF is discussed.
Three technics are used to study peripheral and portal blood immunoreactive insulin (IRI) assay in insulinoma patients. Measurement of fasting peripheral blood glucose and IRI in 16 insulinoma patients, 20 noninsulinoma patients and 20 normal persons confirms that the IRI/glucose ratio is a more reliable indicator of insulinoma than either glucose measurement or IRI assay alone. In all insulinoma patients, the ratio is greater than 0.3. IRI assay of blood taken from the poirtal vein trunk during operation in 11 insulinoma patients and 10 noninsulinoma patients show no IRI level overlapping between the 2 groups. The elevated IRI levels which can be measured by a quick assay method intraoperatively, drop promptly to normal after insulinoma excision. Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein catheterization (PTPC) with IRI assay of the portosplenic blood samples in 6 insulinoma patients show peak values at the tumor sites, whereas no peaks are observed in 2 without insulinoma. PTPC appears to be useful for preoperative tumor localization.
In 2.7 cases of moyamoya disease (MD), subarachnoid hemorrhage and limb paralysis are the cardinal symptoms. MD diagnosis is based mainly upon cerebral angiography showing smoke-like vascular network and wide spread collateral circulation. Laboratory examination is of referential value. Etiology and treatment are also discussed.
Spasmodic torticollis (ST) is a common neurologic disease. Its main clinical feature is clonic or tonic spasm of cervical muscles, causing much suffering and disability. During the past 6 decades, various surgical procedures have been employed for ST with some success. From Aug 1973 to Dec 1980, we treated 42 ST cases by acupuncture point D'arsonval electrotherapy and faradization satisfactorily obviating surgery and its dangers. 40 of 42 cases were completely cured, 1 markedly improved and 1 improved. The 40 completely cured have resumed work or study without recurrence.
In order to clarify the bio-geochemical etiology by examining the relationship between water, soil and diet, effects of preventive measures and results of laboratory experiments, the authors investigated the Keshan disease (KD) epidemic and nonendemic areas in Heilongjiang, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnari, and Tibet through general clinical examinations and records of diet (1963-1978). The results revealed great differences in water, soil and diet, it is suggested that there is a relationship between natural environment and KD incidence and recognized that environmental chemicals through the water-soil-food chain act upon the human body.
This paper deals with the concepts, significance, methods and important points of epidemiologic study on adverse effects of exposure to environmental pollution, workplace hazards and manufactured products.
During a period of 2 years, 132 patients with advanced solid cancer were treated with AT-1727 alone in 8 hospitals. The objective drug response was not very marked, only 11.4%(15/132). But if the results are evaluated by the international criteria or by old Chinese criteria of new chemotherapeutic drugs, the response rate is raised to 32.6%(43/132). The therapeutic results of AT-1727 in gastric cancer and external vulva cancer are encouraging. Five of 15 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma had partial remission as did two of 7 cases of Hodgkin's disease. The most important advantage is, AT-1727 has no myelosuppressive toxic effects, occasionally a few patients had very mild leucopenia but never below 3,000/mm3. Mild gastrointestinal tract disorders were noted but in only 1 case did serious vomiting lead to cessation of treatment.
This paper introduces the new method of intraluminal thread and silver clips to occlude the oviducts to produce female sterilization. On the basis of experimental studies, we designed some tools and improved the technic. Since December 1979, we have used this method clinically in 124 cases, the clinical observations of 100 cases are described.
Our results show that both A1-fetoprotein (AFP) and A1-antitrypsin (AAT) tend to increase simultaneously in all but a few cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC), but it is better to use both assays for accurate PHC diagnosis.
