David V. Brown

Long-range studies of the biologic behavior of the human uterine cervix

Abstract In an attempt to define the etiological factors important in the genesis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix, a large group of normal women has been followed for over 5 years. An initial careful history and physical examination have been followed by periodic pelvic examinations, vaginal cytology, and biopsies of the cervix. There appears to be a definite relationship between cervical metaplasia and age, as well as a correlation between metaplasia and the presence of cervical eversion in the patient under the age of 40 years. The suggested relationships of pregnancy, the menopause, and other uterine disease were found to represent merely the altered prevalence found within the age groups involved. In this series no relationship could be shown between cervical metaplasia and race, marital status, menarche, time of menopause, type of menopause (physiologic or surgical), pregnancy, leukorrhea, bloody discharge, history of venereal disease, use of contraceptives, circumcision of husband, height, weight, body type, size of breasts, presence of enlarged inguinal nodes, gravidity, parity, clinical parity of the cervix, type of cervical mucosa, size or irregularity of the uterus, adnexal or rectal pathology. Because of the low incidence of cervical malignancy in the general population and the comparatively small group of such patients studied, no direct evidence has yet been obtained concerning the relationship between cervical metaplasia and cervical malignancy. Continuation of this study with the accumulation of additional data may provide definitive information and answers to these problems.

Long-range studies of the biologic behavior of the human uterine cervix: III. Squamous metaplasia

Abstract In an attempt to define the etiological factors important in the genesis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix, a large group of normal women has been followed for over 5 years. An initial careful history and physical examination have been followed by periodic pelvic examinations, vaginal cytology, and biopsies of the cervix. There appears to be a definite relationship between cervical metaplasia and age, as well as a correlation between metaplasia and the presence of cervical eversion in the patient under the age of 40 years. The suggested relationships of pregnancy, the menopause, and other uterine disease were found to represent merely the altered prevalence found within the age groups involved. In this series no relationship could be shown between cervical metaplasia and race, marital status, menarche, time of menopause, type of menopause (physiologic or surgical), pregnancy, leukorrhea, bloody discharge, history of venereal disease, use of contraceptives, circumcision of husband, height, weight, body type, size of breasts, presence of enlarged inguinal nodes, gravidity, parity, clinical parity of the cervix, type of cervical mucosa, size or irregularity of the uterus, adnexal or rectal pathology. Because of the low incidence of cervical malignancy in the general population and the comparatively small group of such patients studied, no direct evidence has yet been obtained concerning the relationship between cervical metaplasia and cervical malignancy. Continuation of this study with the accumulation of additional data may provide definitive information and answers to these problems.

Studies on Serum Protein Changes and Organ Dye Concentrations in Trypan Blue Carcinogenesis.

Summary A single injection of trypan blue produced a prompt reduction in total serum proteins due largely to a decrease in the albumin fraction. The hypoproteinemia, with a reduction in all fractions, found in animals bearing dye induced reticuloendothelial tumors was attributed to the advanced stage of neoplasia. An“abnormal” band between α 1 and α 2 previously described in the serum of rats only after trypan blue treatment was seen in the present study in the serum of untreated animals, but was quantitatively increased after the dye injection. The incidence and concentration of this band were not increased in tumor bearing animals. Evaluation of the degree of cellular response and the concentration of protein bound dye in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes following one dye injection indicated that neither could be correlated with the eventual development of reticuloendothelial neoplasms in the liver. However, the relatively rapid fall in the concentration of protein bound trypan blue in the liver led to speculation that tumorigenesis in this organ might be due to release of free dye or formation of metabolic breakdown products.