Hans Nordlinder

Some life-style factors and the risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer in Swedish women

The objective of this nationwide case-control study was to examine body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, coffee consumption, cigarette smoking, and leisure-time physical activity in relation to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk. Subjects were 655 newly diagnosed EOC cases and 3899 population controls, all 50-74 years of age at recruitment between 1993 and 1995. Data were collected through mailed questionnaires. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 compared with those with a BMI < 22 kg/m2 appeared to have an elevated EOC risk (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01-1.85), particularly of mucinous (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.15-6.61) and clear-cell histologies (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 0.96-7.48). The OR for EOC among coffee users reporting ≥ 6 daily cups compared with non-users was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.42-1.10). Alcohol consumption was unrelated to EOC risk. Compared to non-smokers the ORs of EOC among current smokers were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.52-0.94) for those who smoked 1-10 cigarettes/day and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.53-1.02) for heavier smokers, while former smokers were at an unaltered risk (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.66-1.04). Reduced EOC risks were observed among women in the highest compared with the lowest physical activity levels both at age 18-30 years (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.87) and during the last years preceding study enrollment (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53-0.87). We conclude that women may avoid an excess risk of EOC through maintaining a normal BMI and reduce their risk by participation in leisure-time physical activity. The use of coffee, alcohol, or cigarette smoking does not appear␣to increase the risk of EOC.

Effect of trisodium phosphonoformate in genital infection of female guinea pigs with herpes simplex virus type 2

SummaryA genital herpesvirus type 2 infection in guinea pigs has been used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of phosphonoformate on the infection. An early topical treatment prevented the appearance of vesicles and histopathological changes and no virus could be recovered. When treatment, either topical or both systemic and topical, was delayed to 24 hours post infection no therapeutic effect was observed.

Tissue distribution of cellular retinol-binding protein and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein : use of monospecific antibodies for immunohistochemistry and cRNA for in situ localization of mRNA

Publisher Summary The most widely used technique to monitor expression of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) in tissues and cells has been based on the binding of their respective radiolabeled ligands in tissue or cell extracts. The use of immunohistochemical techniques for the detection of CRBP and CRABP in tissue sections, however, has been only partly successful, and this may relate to two basic problems. First because of their highly evolutionarily conserved nature, CRBP and CRABP are poor immunogens, and it is difficult to raise specific antibodies. Second, both retinoid-binding proteins are structurally very similar to a number of abundant fatty acid-binding proteins, making it difficult to ascertain that polyclonal antibodies recognize exclusively the appropriate antigen. This chapter discusses the generation, characterization, and use of monospecific antipeptide antibodies to CRBP and CRABP as well as the cellular localization of the corresponding mRNAs using in situ hybridization with S-labeled cRNA probes.

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare condition characterized by multiple subperitoneal spread of nodules, giving the clinical impression of a widespread malignant tumor. The histopathology of LPD is that of a benign leiomyoma, probably originating from the multipotent subcoelomic mesenchymal cells. Two new case reports are presented here, suggesting that some cases of LPD are wrongly classified as metastasizing leiomyosarcoma. As the prognosis in LPD is favorable, it is of great importance to establish the correct diagnosis. When both the pathologist and the clinician become aware of the multipotentiality of the mesothelium and the adjacent stroma and thereby the multifocal character of the lesions, some of the diagnostic problems might be overcome.Abstract. Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare disease characterized by the development of multiple subperitoneal leiomyomas, which are widespread in the peritoneal cavity. Of the previously reported LPD cases, nine patients were pregnant, two were on oral contraceptives and one had a granulosa‐cell tumor. The thirteenth documented case is presented here (this patient had been on oral contraceptives for 13 years). Thus, hormonal factors might be involved in the pathogenesis of LPD. Controversy prevails as regards the cellular origin of LPD. The disorder has a grossly malignant appearance, but has a benign histology and a favorable prognosis; so a correct diagnosis is imperative. In almost all the previously reported LPD patients, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy have been performed, but salpingo‐oophorectomy is probably unnessesary, at least in premenopausal patients.

Effects of vitamin A treatment on hyaluronan and water accumulation during the early inflammatory phase of bleomycin-induced lung injury in rats

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin A treatment on bleomycin-induced lung injury, especially during the early phase of alveolitis. The rats in the two treatment groups were given bleomycin intratracheally and oil vehicle (BO) or vitamin A (BA) orally. The rats in the control groups were given saline intratracheally and oil vehicle (CO) or vitamin A (CA) orally. Rats were killed 4, 7, and 30 days after bleomycin administration. Histologic signs of inflammation and fibrotic injury showed larger decreases in the BA group compared with the BO group at 7 days. After 30 days, most signs of inflammation had disappeared, and focal areas with further increased septal fibrosis were seen in the BO group and to a lesser extent in the BA group. The relative water content (%H 2 O) in the lung tissue was significantly increased at 4 and 7 days in the BA and BO groups compared with the CA and CO groups, but not at 30 days. No significant differences in %H 2 O values were found between the BA and BO groups at any time. Hyaluronan levels at 4 and 7 days in the BO group were significantly higher than in the CO group at 7 days. No other differences between groups were seen in hyaluronan levels. The messenger ribonucleic acid level for pro-alpha1(I) collagen in the BA group was reduced compared with the BO group but was higher than in the controls (groups CO and CA) after 7 days (n = 2 in each group). In bronchoalveolar lavage, performed in separate groups on day 4 after bleomycin administration, significant increases in hyaluronan levels and in the number of inflammatory cells were seen between both the BA and BO groups and the CO group, but no differences were observed between the BA and BO groups. These results indicate that vitamin A treatment does not inhibit early alveolitis in bleomycin-induced lung injury, although retinoids may partly modulate the later fibrotic phase in this experimental model.