Resegotti L

Mitosis in the ascites tumor in the rat after administration of trimethylcolchicinic acid methyl ester alone or in combination with phlorhizin

The mitoses blocking in rat ascite tumours has been studied after administration of different doses of d-tartrate of trimethylcolchicinic acid methyl ester (NCI 1136). The number of mitoses gradually increases until the 7th hour. Then a diminution is observed for the smallest doses, while it is unmodified for the mean doses and increases again for the large and small doses repeated. The association of Florizine prolonges and enhances the mitotic blocking. The modifications induced by NCI 1136 are repaired between the 24th and 72nd hour after injection: the smallest the dose administered, the most precocious the reparation. The capacity of NCI 1136 to prolonge the life of the tumour bearing animal is discussed and its action on mitoses is compared to that obtained with colchicine.

[Chromatographic picture of urinary 17-ketosteroids in various forms of hemolymphopathy].

A study on steroid hormone metabolism in 24 cases of blood dyscrasias has been performed through chemical determination of urinary 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and chromatographic analysis of the former.Corticoids appeared to be preferentially decreased in acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and polycythemia, while in chronic lymphatic leukemia and in Waldenstroms disease 17-ketosteroids were affected as well.The chromatographic analysis of 17-ketosteroids showed that fractions IV and V, corresponding to androsterone and etiocholanolone, are decreased in almost all cases. High and bifid peaks III are constantly found in polycythemia and haemophilia; changes of peak III of a minor importance are occasionally found in all types of leukemia.The significance of the data observed is discussed from the point of view of steroid metabolism and a hypothesis is presented to explain the mechanism of the changes occurring in pattern of the various chromatographic fractions of 17-ketosteroids.A study on steroid hormone metabolism in 24 cases of blood dyscrasias has been performed through chemical determination of urinary 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and chromatographic analysis of the former. Corticoids appeared to be preferentially decreased in acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and polycythemia, while in chronic lymphatic leukemia and in Waldenstroms disease 17-ketosteroids were affected as well. The chromat1>graphic analysis 1>f 17-ketosteroids shi>wed that fractfons IV and V, corresponding to androsterone and etiocholanolone, are decreased in almost all cases. High and bifid peaks III are constantly found in polycythemia and haemophilia; changes of peak III of a minor importance are occasionally found in all types of leukemia. The significance of the data observed is discussed from the point of view of steroid metabolism and a hypothesis is presented to explain the mechanism of the changes occurring in pattern of the various chromatographic fractions of 17-ketosteroids.

Behavior of blood sulfhydryls in malignant blood and lymphoid tissue diseases

Sulfhydryls were determined in the serum of 61 patients affected with malignant hemolymphopathies. The mean values were under normal, except for the group of acute leukemias. A particularly marked difference was found between primary acute leukemias and acutizations of chronic myeloid leukemias. In the former, normal mean values and, in most cases, normal initial values were observed, whereas in the latter no cases with normal initial values were found: here, in addition, the lowest mean values were present. In these cases a relation was observed between lowering of sulfhydryl value and degree of the leukemic hyperplasy. In Hodgkins disease the lowest sulfhydryl values were found to be consistent with a shorter survival.

Behavior of blood sulfhydryls in malignant neoplasms

Basing on the significance of sulfhydryl groups in cell metabolism, the behaviour of serum sulfhydryls was studied in various physiological and pathological conditions. The limiting values of the normal ranges were assessed.Pregnancy, fever, anemia, decay of general conditions were not found to cause an abnormal shift in sulfhydryl values. On the other hand, in cancer patients sulfhydryls are often under the normal, although a 26 per cent of normal values may be observed in the presence of clinically demonstrated cancers: hence, the determination of serum sulfhydryls is not of diagnostical value.This different behaviour, likely dependent on the varying rate of sulfhydryls linked to globulins, was not found to be consistent either with the site and extent of the tumour, or with the presence of metastases, or with the duration of the disease.Basing on the significance of sulfhydryl groups in cell metabolism, the behaviour of serum sulfhydryls was studied in various physiological and pathological conditions. The limiting values of the normal ranges were assessed. Pregnancy, fever, anemia, decay of general conditions were not found to cause an abnormal shift in sulfhydryl values. On the other hand, in cancer patients sulfhydryls are often under the normal, although a 26 per cent of normal values may be observed in the presence of clinically demonstrated cancers: hence, the determination of serum sulfhydryls is not of diagnostical value. This different behaviour, likely dependent on the varying rate of sulfhydryls linked to globulins, was not found to be consistent either with the site and extent of the tumour, or with the presence of metastases, or with the duration of the disease.