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Biomedical subjects

J E Bock

Publications and source records attributed to J E Bock.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The value of CA 125 measurement before second-look laparotomy in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Serum CA 125 levels were evaluated in 71 patients undergoing second-look laparotomy for primary epithelial ovarian cancer. With a cut-off limit of 35 U/ml, 17 of 45 patients with residual disease (38%) were CA 125-positive. All of 26 patients with pathological complete response were marker-negative. Second-look laparotomy may be avoided in a select group of patients with elevated CA 125 values.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Immunoreactive inhibin-production in post-menopausal women with malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.

In post-menopausal women with a malignant epithelial ovarian tumor the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level was found to be significantly lower compared with healthy controls. We demonstrated immunoreactive (i.r.) inhibin in 20% of controls which was elevated to 60% of women with an ovarian tumor and correlating strongly to FSH in the tumor group (P = 0.0002). Steroid hormone levels were comparable in the two groups. In women with ovarian tumors the survival time for the i.r. inhibin-producing women was found to be 4.6 years compared with 0.9 year, or 5.1 times longer than in the non-producing women (P = 0.002). The site of i.r. inhibin production in these post-menopausal women is unknown, but i.r. inhibin production by the developing ovarian tumor or by the post-menopausal ovary may be regarded as a defense mechanism against an elevated gonadotrophin level (the gonadotrophin theory) which would promote further tumor growth. The recent suggestion that the alpha subunit of inhibin is a tumor suppressor gene is consistent with these results. The serum i.r. inhibin or alpha subunit concentrations might be used as an aid to diagnosis or as a prognostic indicator of survival in women with an ovarian carcinoma.

Aged↗

The post-operative gonadotropin level in post-menopausal women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Serial estimates of the post-operative hormone levels were made in 15 women subjected to oophorectomy because of ovarian carcinoma. All women were post-menopausal. Pre-operatively, they had significantly lower follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels compared with an age-matched control group. Blood samples were collected after a median time of 8 months (139-378 days). After oophorectomy, significantly higher FSH values were found (P = 0.0002), whereas the luteinizing hormone (LH) values were not significantly changed. The inhibin, estradiol and progesterone values were found to be significantly lowered compared with the pre-operative sample. Total and unbound testosterone levels were significantly lower while dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and androstenedione levels were unchanged compared with the original sample and compared with controls. Most likely, estradiol and progesterone are produced by the epithelial malignant tumors, as the post-operative values are completely comparable with the primarily included healthy controls. The FSH is suppressed by inhibin and only to a minor degree by the steroid hormones as indicated by the correlation coefficients. Of great interest is the question whether inhibin production is random, or defensive, lowering the gonadotropin levels or influencing tumor growth in some hitherto unknown fashion.

Aged↗

Human papillomavirus in vulvar squamous-cell carcinoma and in normal vulvar tissues: a search for a possible impact of HPV on vulvar cancer prognosis.

Paraffin-embedded sections of vulvar squamous-cell carcinomas and of normal vulvar tissues were examined for HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18 and 33 by the polymerase chain reaction. Overall, 19 of 62 tumours harboured HPV DNA of types 16, 18 or 33. HPV types 6 and 11 were not detected. HPV DNA was found in 61% of tumours with adjacent intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN III), and in 13% of tumours without associated VIN III. HPV DNA was not detected in any of 101 normal vulvar tissues. HPV DNA was found more often in younger women, in patients with VIN III-associated tumours, and in those with multicentric anogenital neoplasia. This points to the existence of a subset of vulvar carcinomas preceded by intraepithelial neoplasia, with HPV as a major factor in carcinogenesis. HPV also seems to be an important factor in the development of multiprimaries in these patients. The 2 groups of patients with vulvar carcinoma did not differ with regard to prognosis, as estimated by the risk of recurrence after primary surgery.

Adult↗

[Sterilization of women in Denmark in 1990].

Investigation of the techniques employed in sterilization of women in Denmark in 1990 was undertaken and compared to an equivalent investigation done in 1985. A questionnaire was sent to all hospitals in Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Among the departments returning the questionnaire and carrying out sterilization of women in 1990, 29 departments were specialized gynaecological departments, 31 were non-subspecialized surgical departments and five were medical/surgical departments. Laparoscopic sterilization was used in every specialized gynaecological department. The percentage of surgical departments using this method has increased from 41.3 in 1985 to 87.0 in 1990. In 1990, bipolar electrocoagulation and clip-technique were the most frequently employed laparoscopic methods. In 1985 it was bipolar electrocoagulation. Five departments are still using unipolar electrocoagulation. In 1990, hysteroscopy mainly took place in the western part of Denmark.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

The significance of histology and morphometry in predicting lymph node metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

The material consists of a series of 73 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. The site and the size of the primary tumor and the histological status of the lymph nodes of the groin were known. Two pathologists evaluated nuclear hyperchromatism, nuclear polymorphism, histological differentiation, number of mitoses, inflammatory response, and vascular invasion and graded these parameters from one to three. The reliability of the histopathological grades evaluated by the kappa coefficient showed considerable interobserver variation. Despite this a model which included the subjective parameter nuclear hyperchromatism could predict patients without lymph node metastases. The model consisted of patients with tumors which were not situated on the clitoris, were less than 40 mm in diameter, and exhibited only slight hyperchromatism. The model fitted 19 (26%) and 14 (19%) of the patients with two different pathologists evaluating the nuclear hyperchromatism and none of these patients had lymph node metastases. The quantitative parameter--mean nuclear volume--determined by morphometry was of no diagnostic value for the prediction of patients without groin node metastases at the time of operation.

Adult↗

Case-control study of risk factors for cervical squamous-cell neoplasia in Denmark. III. Role of oral contraceptive use.

The role of oral contraceptive (OC) use in relation to the risk of cervical neoplasia (squamous cell) was investigated in a population-based case-control study in Denmark of 586 women with histologically verified cervical carcinoma in situ (CIS), 59 women with invasive cervical cancer from Copenhagen, and 614 controls drawn at random from the female population in the study area. Ever use of OCs was associated with an increased crude risk for carcinoma in situ (relative risk [RR] = 1.8, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-2.5). The crude risk in relation to invasive carcinoma was 1.6 (CI = 0.7-3.5). After adjustment for potential confounders (excluding human papillomavirus), the risks were marginally increased, but not statistically significant (CIS: RR = 1.4, CI = 0.9-21: invasive: RR = 1.3, CI = 0.5-3.3). The risk increased with duration of use; compared with never users, the adjusted RR for carcinoma in situ was 1.9 (CI = 1.1-3.1) for women who had used OCs for six to nine years, and 1.7 (CI = 1.0-2.7) for women who used OCs for 10 years or more. This was independent of years since last use since both recent and non-recent long-term users were at an increased risk. This trend in risk with duration did not apply to the same extent to invasive lesions. The observation that the risks related to OC use were found both in women who had ever had a Pap smear and in women who had never been screened previously may speak against detection bias as an important factor.

Adult↗

Cervical conization and preterm delivery/low birth weight. A systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of cervical conization on preterm birth/low birth weight (LBW). DESIGN: A systematic review of the literature using external or internal controls. RESULTS: The typical odds ratio for preterm delivery in women with prior cervical conization using external controls was 3.23 (95% confidence interval 2.29-4.55). Using internal controls the typical odds ratio for LBW was 2.97 (95% confidence interval 1.09-8.05). Using external controls the typical odds ratio for LBW was 2.31 (95% confidence interval 1.33-3.99). CONCLUSION: Women with cervical conization are at higher risk for preterm birth than external controls, and the surgical intervention as such is a major determining factor.

Cervix Uteri↗

Case-control study of risk factors for cervical neoplasia in Denmark. II. Role of sexual activity, reproductive factors, and venereal infections.

Sexual, reproductive and venereal risk factors for cervical neoplasia were investigated in a population-based case-control study of 586 women with histologically verified, cervical squamous-cell carcinoma in situ, and 59 women with invasive squamous-cell cervical cancer, diagnosed from 1985 to 1986 in Copenhagen. Cases were identified from the computerized Danish Cancer Registry. An age-stratified control group (n = 614) was drawn at random from the female population in the study area by means of the Danish Central Population Register. A structured questionnaire was mailed to cases as well as controls. Increasing number of sexual partners exerted a significant effect on the risk both for carcinoma in situ, and invasive cancer, independently of age at first intercourse and other potential confounders. Conversely, the association with early age at first intercourse became statistically insignificant after allowance for other risk factors, although an increasing risk was still observed with decreasing age at sexual debut. Early age at first episode with genital warts was a significant risk factor for carcinoma in situ, perhaps indicating a possible increased susceptibility of the cervix epithelium during adolescence. A history of genital warts was a good predictor of risk for carcinoma in situ, whereas a history of previous gonorrhea was associated with an increased risk for invasive carcinoma. Women with multiple births had a significantly increased adjusted risk, especially for carcinoma in situ, although some association was also observed with invasive cervical cancer. The study supports the hypothesis of cervical neoplasia being a sexually transmitted disease, and that carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical carcinoma, to a high degree, have similar patterns of risk factors.

Adult↗

Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Fifty cervical adenocarcinomas and 50 squamous cell carcinomas from age-matched patients were examined for human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. The polymerase chain reaction was used to examine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded carcinoma tissues for 120 and 113 bp sequences, respectively, of the highly conserved E6/E7 regions of the viral genomes. HPV type 16 was detected more often in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas (60% vs 18%, P less than 0.001). Conversely, HPV type 18 was detected significantly more often in adenocarcinoma tissues (52% vs 12% in squamous cell carcinomas, P less than 0.001). These differences may reflect the fact that different virus receptors exist in cervical cells with different morphologic potential, or they may indicate that the specific HPV infection actually plays a role in directing carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cervical carcinoma in Greenland.

The incidence of cervical cancer in Greenland is one of the highest in the world. This is in accordance with known epidemiologic risk factors, in particular of sexual lifestyle and tobacco smoking. Yet a recent study of cervical smears from randomly selected Greenlandic women failed to demonstrate any elevated prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), of which particularly HPV types 16 and 18 are assumed to play a role in the development of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma. Another oncogenic virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be widespread in the Greenlandic population and the virus has been reported to infect the female genital tract. We therefore used the polymerase chain reaction to examine paraffin-embedded tissues of cervical carcinomas from 11 indigenous Greenlandic women and, for comparison, also cervical carcinoma tissues from 11 Danish patients, for EBV, HPV 16 and HPV 18 DNA sequences. None of the 22 cervical tissues contained EBV DNA. Six Greenlandic and five Danish carcinomas harbored HPV 16 DNA, and one carcinoma of each group was HPV 18-positive. In conclusion, cervical carcinoma is not associated with EBV infection. Further, the oncogenic HPVs are probably encountered at the same rate in carcinomas from Greenland and from Denmark.

Journal Article↗

Mucin-type carbohydrates (type 3 chain antigens) in normal cycling human endometrium.

Carbohydrates related to the ABO, Tn, and T blood group systems are markers of cellular differentiation in many epithelial tissues. Using a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies, we have immunohistochemically investigated the expression of mucin-type (type 3 chain ABO-related) antigens in 64 samples of normal cycling endometria of known ABO and Lewis blood type. Tn and T antigens had a highly restricted expression in normal cycling endometrial tissue. The expression of type 3 chain H and A antigens was always compatible with the ABO blood type of the individual and seems to be regulated by the secretor genes, as secretors [Lewis (a-b+)] expressed more A and H type 3 chains than nonsecretors [Lewis (a+b-)]. The expression of type 3 chain H and A, sialyl-Tn and sialyl-T antigens showed cyclic variations in the glandular epithelium of the functionalis, but not of the basalis layer of cycling endometrium. A hormonal regulation of the enzymes involved in blood group-related carbohydrate chain elongation in human endometrium is thus possible and may participate in the specialized secretory process of human cycling endometrium.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Significance of plasma skimming and plasma volume expansion.

The organs associated with plasma volume expansion, i.e., the red bone marrow, the enlarged spleen, and the uteroplacental complex, are arteriovenous shunts with an interposed sinusoidal stroma able to skim off plasma-rich blood. In the spleen, plasma separation is an integral part of the hemoconcentration. In the red bone marrow, plasma skimming might provide a washout mechanism for the many newly formed erythrocytes and platelets from the sinusoids to the peripheral blood circulation. In the uteroplacental complex, skimming of plasma-rich blood is beneficial in increasing blood flow in the myometrium, kidneys, and skeletal musculature. The hypervolemic status with anemia will simulate a negative iron balance, which speeds up the absorption of iron. Thus a conceptual unit seems to exist in which rheological factors influence such functions as transport of newly formed blood cells into the circulation (in the red bone marrow), hemoconcentration (in the spleen), and iron balance during pregnancy (in the uteroplacental complex).

Bone Marrow↗

The pituitary-gonadal axis in women with benign or malignant ovarian tumors.

The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone (total and free) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were investigated prior to surgery in 24 postmenopausal women with benign and 28 postmenopausal women with malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. The serum concentrations of hormones were compared with those of 28 healthy, postmenopausal, age-matched controls. Significantly lower serum FSH levels were demonstrated in women with malignant tumors. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding the serum LH levels. The hCG levels were low in all groups. Regarding progesterone and estradiol levels, low postmenopausal steroid levels were found in all groups examined and no significant differences were demonstrated within the groups. No significant correlations between the levels of estradiol and FSH or progesterone and LH were demonstrated. To exclude a central depression of gonadotropin release mediated by the dopaminergic system we examined the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin. No differences were found between the groups regarding TSH and prolactin levels. A possible relationship between other hormones/factors produced by the tumor and exerting a negative feedback, either centrally or directly, on the gonadotropin release remains to be investigated. A change in biological activity in the gonadotropins might explain the present findings.

Aged↗

Sexual function and somatopsychic reactions after local excision of vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia.

Eighteen patients, under the age of 60 years, who have been treated with local excision of the vulva, participated in the study in which sexual function and somatopsychic reactions were evaluated by personal interviews. Furthermore both objective and subjective cosmetic results were registered. After this type of operation, fewer than one-third of the patients had postoperative sexual and somatopsychic problems, whereas more than half of the patients undergoing vulvectomy did report such problems. Fourteen out of 18 patients were satisfied with the cosmetic result and in 12 of the patients no disfiguration was found. This study shows that local excision of intra-epithelial neoplasia of the vulva is far less sexually traumatic than is vulvectomy.

Adult↗

Induction of labor by vaginal prostaglandin E2. A randomized study comparing pessaries with vaginal tablets.

A prospective randomized study of 267 pregnant women was undertaken to compare the efficacy of a pharmacy-prepared 3-mg prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) vaginal suppository with a 3-mg PGE2 vaginal tablet for induction of labor and cervical ripening. No statistically significant difference in success frequency was found between the two groups, either on the first day (72% and 74%, respectively; p greater than 0.05) or on the second day (89% in both groups). There was an equal proportion of women requiring oxytocin augmentation in the two groups, but the slower releasing properties of the vaginal tablet were reflected in a longer mean induction--delivery interval of about 4 h for this group. In both the pessary and the vaginal tablet groups, women who had not gone into labor on the first day showed a statistically significant increment in the Bishop score on the morning of the second day. The frequency of cesarean section was the same in both groups, but instrumental deliveries were more frequent in the vaginal tablet group. It is concluded that PGE2 vaginal tablets--a chemically stable alternative to pharmacy prepared pessaries--appear to be effective as regards cervical ripening as well as for labor induction.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

Detection of human papillomavirus type 16 DNA sequences in archival cervical tissues by the polymerase chain reaction.

We have evaluated the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of viral DNA sequences in paraffin-embedded archival tissues. In 63 frozen cervical biopsy specimens that were taken from premalignant and invasive lesions, Southern blotting detected human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA in 28 (44%) of the samples. In the polymerase chain reaction analysis of the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded mirror biopsy specimens, 46 (73%) of the tissues were found to be positive for HPV type 16. In three Southern blotting-positive cases, the DNA of the paraffin-embedded sections was too scant or too degraded to allow the detection of HPV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. In 21 Southern blotting-negative cases, HPV type 16 DNA could be demonstrated in the archival sections by the polymerase chain reaction technique--a sensitivity improvement of more than 80% over the standard method of HPV detection in tissues.

Base Sequence↗