Erkki Saxén

Hodgkin's disease, lymphocytic predominance nodular. Increased risk for subsequent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Fifty‐one cases of Hodgkins disease, of lymphocytic predominance type, nodular subtype (HDLPN) were singled out from three sources: lymph nodes originally diagnosed as malignant lymphoma, nodes suspected of lymphoma and nodes suspected of toxoplasmosis. Two thirds of the 51 patients were men, and the median age was 42 years. The disease was characteristically unilocular and cervical and axillary nodes were most often involved. Local recurrences were common (in 13 cases). Oncological treatment (irradiation, cytostatics, or both) was given to 20 patients, whereas 31 patients remained untreated as the original histological diagnosis was not malignant. Despite the lack of treatment, the prognosis was good. Relative actuarial survival for the whole material was 93% at five years and 80% at ten years. During follow‐up, five patients developed a diffuse large–celled non‐Hodgkins lymphoma 4–11 years after the onset of HDLPN. The majority of the subsequent lymphomas cannot be therapy‐induced as only one of these patients had previously been treated (irradiated). Transition to other types of Hodgkins disease was observed only in two cases. It is concluded that HDLPN is a clinicopathological entity with a good prognosis, but that it may sometimes change into a more malignant lymphoma of the Hodgkins or non‐Hodgkins type.

Do the predictions for cancer incidence come true? experience from Finland

The observed occurrence of cancer in Finland in 1980 was compared with that predicted by extrapolation of the trends in cancer incidence by site in 1957 to 1968. The predictions had been constructed as 90% confidence intervals. Of the mutually exclusive 33 incidence predictions, 22 (67%) included the observed incidence rate. The incidence rate was successfully predicted for intestinal, pancreatic, and urinary cancers, as well as for lymphomas, whereas incidence forecasts concerning cancers of the lung, breast, and cervix uteri, and melanomas of the skin did not come true. The incidence of male lung cancer did not increase as was expected, breast cancer incidence increased even more than expected, and the decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer was steeper than expected. Because of failure in the population forecast, only 55% of the predictions (90% confidence intervals) for the numbers of new cancer cases included the observed number. For administrative purposes it would be important for the predictions to come true. On the other hand, the successes or failures of the predictions related to specific cancers may be used to study the effect of changes in etiologic factors, diagnostic methods, or the definition of cancer, as well as the effect of mass screenings or other intervention measures upon the cancer incidence. Extrapolation as a method of forecasting cancer incidence is adequate as far as the control of random error is concerned when only short‐term forecasts, ranging from 5 to 10 years, are needed. Cancer 57:2454–2458, 1986.

The effects of anionic polymers on cell attachment and growth behaviour, with a note on a similarity in the effect of fresh human serum

Abstract Anionic polymers in small concentrations inhibit cell attachment to a glass surface and cause cells to clump. The mechanism of these two effects seems to be similar; when the attachment is inhibited HeLa cells will stick together. Neither in protein-free medium nor in albumin-containing medium, the anionic polymers have any effect. The effect of anionic polymers is indistinguishable from the effect of fresh clumping serum. Both effects can be inhibited by thrombin. The clumping effect of fresh human serum is inhibited by anti-β-lipoprotein sera. The effect of the anionic polymers seems to be due to their electrochemical properties. The possible mechanism for the action of anionic polymers is briefly discussed. It is suggested that the anionic polymers act mainly on the cell surface increasing its negative charge, decreasing the deformability of the cell or changing the micro environment around the cell. The effect of the anionic polymers may also be attributable to their interaction with β-lipoproteins.

A HeLa cell clonal line lacking alkaline phosphatase activity.

Abstract A clonal line of giant HeLa cells with low or absent alkaline phosphatase activity is described. The clonal line was obtained from a standard HeLa cell strain in which low alkaline phosphatase activity is frequently observed in giant cells. The significance of the findings is briefly discussed.

THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF WASHING, DRYING AND STERILIZING GLASS SURFACES ON CELL ATTACHMENT AND GROWTH BEHAVIOR.

Abstract 1. 1. The growth behaviour of HeLa cells in different human sera is greatly influenced by the treatment of the glass surface on which the cells grow. 2. 2. The attachment rate of HeLa cells to a glass surface is altered by the way in which the surface has been dried and sterilized. 3. 3. The possible physical explanation is briefly discussed. The differences reported may be ascribable to variations in the electrical charge on the differently treated glass surfaces. The difference in attachment may also be due to the possibility that different amount of serum proteins or attachment inhibiting principle in serum is adsorbed onto glass surfaces differently treated. 4. 4. Great care must be taken in the evaluation of cell attachment experiments, as many known and unknown factors can affect the results.

Breast tumors with a solid and uniform carcinoid pattern: Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of two cases

Two cases of breast tumors with a uniform solid carcinoid pattern and argyrophilic dense-core granules were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in order to compare their characteristics with known features of other carcinoid tumors and ordinary breast carcinomas. The tumors were positive for keratin-type intermediate filaments, neuron-specific enolase and alpha-chain of human chorion gonadotropin but negative for vimentin and S-100 protein. Laminin was found only in a rim between tumor cell islands and stroma but not among the cells. It is concluded that these tumors are histologically, ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically similar to other carcinoid tumors. The present results suggest that both breast carcinoids and carcinomas may have a common precursor in the mammary secretory unit.

Rauwolfia and breast cancer.

When an accusing finger is pointed at an old drug widely used for treating a common disease a flurry of concern runs through the medical profession. Such examples in recent times include the haemolytic anaemia occasionally produced by the antihypertensive drug methyldopal and the excess cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients treated with tolbutamide or phenformin.2 But when the possible toxic effect is cancer concern is even greater. Such appears to be the case with the latest offender, rauwolfia. The principal use of rauwolfia derivatives lies in the treatment of hypertension. In Britain they are used in two types of patient. Firstly, in patients with very high blood pressure intramuscular reserpine in doses up to 5 mg will produce an effective and predictable fall over some 12 to 18 hours. Pressure control may then be continued with some form of oral medication. Their second use is in patients with mild hypertension where, usually combined with a diuretic, rauwolfia derivatives may be given for many years. From an epidemiological study of patients in this second category the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Programme has shown that the incidence of breast cancer is approximately three to four times greater in hypertensive women treated with rauwolfia preparations than in parallel control series.3 In this study the drug histories of 150 women with proved breast cancer were scrutinized. Eleven (7.3%) of these had been taking rauwolfia compared with 13 (2.2%)of 600 surgical control patients and 13(2.2%) of 600 medical controls. Bias in the selection of these patients

The effect of individual human sera on the attachment of HeLa cells on glass surface

Abstract Different human sera have different effects on the attachment of HeLa cells to a glass surface. The cells become more rapidly attached in a medium with an old serum pool stored for two weeks at +4 °C than in one with fresh individual serum. Also between fresh individual sera there exists a difference in influence on the cell attachment.

Teaching and Continuing Education in Pathology

Pathology is both a clinical and pre-clinical subject, a bridge between the clinical disciplines and the basic sciences. The teaching of organ pathology should be given to a major extent during the first clinical year, and only part of it should be integrated with the clinical courses, e.g., pediatric pathology and dermatopathology. The knowledge obtained from pathology courses provides a foundation for continuing education throughout the physicians professional life. Continuing education of academic pathologists includes activities of professional societies, following scientific journals, attending congresses and symposia, both national and international, sabbaticals, and shorter visits to other pathological laboratories. Continuing education of hospital pathologists should follow the same lines. In addition, the professional societies and academic pathologists should arrange courses and slide seminars especially for hospital pathologists. Hospital administrators should be informed about the importance of continuing education.