Cornelia Hoch-Ligeti

Induction of Carcinomas in the Nasal Cavity of Rats by Dioxane

Six out of 120 rats fed dioxane in drinking water at levels of 0.75, 1.0, 1.4 or 1.8% developed carcinomas in the nasal cavity. Spontaneous tumors at this tissue localization have not been reported to occur in laboratory animals. The carcinomas were pre-eminently of epidermoid type with few adenocarcinomatous areas and epithelial papillomas. Four rats with carcinoma of the nasal cavity had hepatocellular carcinoma in addition.

Investigation of Serum Protein Patterns in Patients Undergoing Operation

Summary 1. Distribution of serum protein components was investigated by the use of paper strip electrophoresis in 45 patients undergoing surgery. 2. A significant decrease in the albumin and increase of α1 and α2 globulins occurred in one-third of the cases during the first 24 hours following operation. These changes were present in 80% of all cases during the following 4 days. Thereafter the serum components tended to return to their preoperative levels. Components with mobilities different from those found preoperatively occurred in 3 cases after operation. 3. Total serum proteins and the hematocrits did not show any significant variation in the early postoperative period.

Effects of hormone administration on serum protein patterns.

Summary 1. In continuation of investigations on changes of serum protein patterns following operation, the effect of administration of hormones on the serum proteins of rats was tested. 2. The total serum protein concentration increased on cortisone administration; no other hormone tested had a significant effect. 3. Pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone decreased the serum albumin concentration. Testosterone, hydrocortone, and cortisone increased the serum albumin concentration. 4. Insulin increased the concentration of alpha1 globulins. Estrogen produced an increase in the alpha2 globulin concentration, which appeared as a double band. 5. Hydrocortone, but not cortisone, depressed the serum gamma globulin concentration. 6. The other pituitary and adrenal hormones, progesterone and thyroxine, were without effect on the serum protein pattern.

Behavior of Explants from Human Adult Bronchial Epithelium in vitro.

Summary Explants of bronchial epithelium were made from 119 adult human lungs removed by operation. Bronchial epithelium taken from patients with carcinoma of the lung grew more often in primary explants than analogous epithelium from tuberculous patients or from patients with bronchiectasis or unresolved pneumonia. Two explants, both derived from cases of carcinoma of the lung, gave rise to permanent strains. The histological appearance of the bronchial epithelium of the donor, even in a segment immediately distal from the explant, did not give an indication as to the growth expected in the explants. Explantation of carcinoma of the bronchus was unsuccessful in 4 cases.

Catecholamine production in tissue cultures of human adrenal medullary tumors and of adrenal medulla.

Summary Human adrenal medullary tumors and adrenal medulla produced catecholamines in tissue culture for at least 40 days.

Cardiac Tumors in Laboratory Rodents — Comparative Pathology

This survey of spontaneous and induced cardiac tumors of rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters is based on a critical review of the literature and the hitherto unpublished data of a study of the material accessed of the NCI Registry of Experimental Cancers. The frequency of cardiac tumors in laboratory rodents, the location within the heart, the histologic classification and heredity aspect are compared with these features in humans with cardiac tumors.

Damage to the conduction system of the heart in the newborn

Abstract Small hemorrhages in the conduction system of the heart were found in 10 out of 25 infants who died during the perinatal period. In half the number, the hemorrhages were associated with other petechiae in the myocardium. Petechiae might be an expression of ischemia during birth. The changes of the hemodynamics of the heart during birth, together with the rich vascularity of the conduction system, might predispose this area to hemorrhages. Hemorrhages into the conduction system may contribute to failure to survive the perinatal period.

Influence of low protein diet on distribution of D-amino acid oxidases in rats.

Summary 1. D-amino acid oxidases in livers and kidneys of rats on a low protein diet with or without addition of alpha estradiol have been compared with those of rats on a full diet. 2. The levels of D-amino acid oxidases in the kidneys was the same in all 3 groups. 3. In livers of rats on low protein diet, irrespective of feeding of alpha estradiol, the level of D-amino acid oxidases dropped to about half of that found in rats on full diet.