Raili Peltonen

Antibodies to herpesvirus hominis types 1 and 2 among women with neoplastic change of uterine cervix.

Abstract. The occurrence of antibodies to herpesvirus hominis types 1 and 2 was studied in Finland among patients with a neoplastic change of the uterine cervix. The following groups were studied: 220 patients with malignant or premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix, 143 control patients matched for age, socioeconomic level, marital status, home district and number of deliveries and 82 patients with breast or stomach cancer. Antibodies to HVH types 1 and 2 were determined using the neutralization test. Sera showing an index of ≥100 were accepted as positive to type 1 and those of ≤85 as positive to type 2. Among patients with a neoplastic change of the uterine cervix the frequency of type 1 antibodies varied between 70% and 79%. In the control group the frequency was 84% and among patients with some other malignancy 91%. These differences in the frequencies of type 1 antibody were not statistically significant. Type 2 antibodies were present in 35 to 47% among dysplasia and malignancy of the cervix. In the control group it was 18% and in other malignancies 20%. The differences between these groups and the controls were almost significant, significant and highly significant, respectively. Differences could also be observed in the distribution of neutralization indexes. The average index calculated from all sera was 48 both in the control group and in the group of other malignancies, while in sera of patients with dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma the respective values were 70, 66 and 79.

Immediate Information Expected by the Neonatologist from the Placenta

As the obstetrician attends to the mother and the pediatrician to the child, the placenta often tends to be ignored. Nevertheless, essential anamnestic information about the condition of a newborn infant, and especially of a premature, can be gained from careful scrutiny of the placenta and fetal membranes. This paper emphasizes the importance of gross examination of the placenta and membranes as a source of immediate information to the pediatrician within the delivery room.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE RESPIRATORY MOVEMENTS AND THE STREAM OF THE LUNG LIQUID OF THE FOETUS AND THE NEONATE. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

lymphocyte response. With a concentration of 2 cy. Analogous proteins have been found in mg/100 ml no significant inhibition was found several pregnant animals. when compared to reference proteins. It is reasonable that this immunosuppressive Increased production of this high molecular serum factor is involved in the immunoregulatory glycoprotein with immunosuppressive properties mechanisms during normal pregnancy. is not a phenomenon peculiar to human pregnan-

INCREASED OCCURRENCE OF PREMALIGNANT CERVICAL LESIONS IN TEENAGERS

During this period (until July 1973) 7 1 new cases were recorded by the Cancer Registry of Norway. The incidence (new cases per year per 100 000 population ) below 5 years of age was only about 1 pro mille and in the age group 1519 only about 1 per cent of the incidence found in the age groups above 60. In addition 6 cases of malignant pelvic tumours of possible gynaecological origin were recorded in the age group 04 and 4 cases of mammary cancer in the age group 15-19. The total number of tumours is thus 81. Originating in vulva, vagina and uterus were 12, in the ovary 55. There were 4 cases of chorion-epitheliorna, all in the age group 15-19. None of the 16 cases below 10 years of age survived more than 1 year and 5 months , even if 8 of the cases were localized. The survival rate 10-19 years of age is 55 per cent with an observation time from 4 months to 20 years, an average of 8 years and 5 months. 22 of the cases have been followed for more than 5 years, and of those 16 were localized. One 13 years old patient irradiated unilaterally because of dysgerminoma had a normal puberty and delivered 19 years old a healthy son. One other case treated at 14 years of age indicates that radiation of the total pelvis in tumour doses is not incompatible with complete sexual function in later life.

IMMEDIATE INFORMATION EXPECTED BY THE NEONATOLOGIST FROM THE PLACENTA

As the obstetrician attends to the mother and the pediatrician to the child, the placenta often tends to be ignored. Nevertheless, essential anamnestic information about the condition of a newborn infant, and especially of a premature, can be gained from careful scrutiny of the placenta and fetal membranes. This paper emphasizes the importance of gross examination of the placenta and membranes as a source of immediate information to the pediatrician within the delivery room.

118: The excretion pressure of alveolar fluid – an additional factor in the expansion of the lung at birth?

The fact, that the alveolae in children succumbed to laryngeal atresia are not collapsed but expanded, suggests, that tracheobronchial fluid is excreted into the alveolae under pressure.To test this hypothesis the left main bronchus was ligated a few days before term in rabbit foetuses, without interrupting the pregnancy. Some hours after delivery the offspring was sacrificed and the respiratory tract examined. On the ligated side the alveolae were found to be expanded by fluid, while the bronchi remained in the contracted foetal state. The contralateral lung, which had supported life between delivery and sacrifice, was histologically normal.Bronchography carried out on foetal sheep in utero accordingly revealed contracted bronchi and a flow directed from the alveolae towards the trachea, whereas the bronchi after the first breath attained the normal postnatal width.

THE FUNCTION OF THE ARTERIAL DUCT DURING THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF THE LIFE

The decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure resulta in the pressure difference between the arteries connected with the arterial duct changing in the opposite direction to that in the fetal stage. The function of the lungs requires a fall in the pulmonary arterial pressure. The oxygen content of the blood decreases the resistance of the pulmonary circulation and closes the arterial duct. If the infant has respiratory difficulties during the adaptation period, and its oxygen supply is impeded, the resulting hypoxia causes an increase in the pulmonary resistance. At this stage the newly born infant strives to react by opening the arterial duct, and aortic blood which is rich in oxygen, enters the pulmonary vessels. In this way the newborn infant is prevented from getting into a vicious circle which would only aggravate the asphyctic condition. But after this, if however the pulmonary pressure is increasing the bloodflow in the duct may flow again from the pulmonary artery in to the aorta.

Cineroentgenological studies on the flow of the foetal lung liquid during the perinatal period

Eight lambs delivered by caesarean section were studied before and during the first breath with Philips 5” image intensifier and an Arriflex cinematographic camera, rate 16-24 per minute. A saline filled condom was fitted on the snout of each lamb as it was brought out of the amniotic cavity, prior to exposure to air. Into the trachea was introduced a polyethylene tube in order to measure the pressure changes in the liquid-filled air passages before and during the aeration of the alveoli. Through the tube was injected 1 ml “Urografin 76 % Leiras”. The movement of the contrast material indicated before the aeration a flow from trachea out into the pharynx and the foetus swallowed it. If the foetus was asphyctic, there was a profuse stream from the trachea. During the aeration of the alveoli the lung liquid remaining in the respiratory passages were absorbed into the pulmonary circulation.The film demonstration.