Chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases predispose towards lung cancer by unknown mechanisms. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) administration to mice causes lung injury and a subsequent inflammatory response, and when administered chronically to certain inbred strains following carcinogen treatment, increases lung tumor multiplicity. We hypothesize that inflammation promotes lung tumor growth in this model system and have begun to examine this hypothesis by assessing inflammatory parameters in inbred strains that vary in their susceptibility to promotion. Positive correlations were found between susceptibilities to tumor promotion and BHT induction of alveolar macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration into alveolar airspaces, and increased vascular permeability (P < .03, P < .04, and P < .005, respectively). The amounts of pulmonary cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 did not strongly correlate with promotion. Because persistent elevation of macrophage content is the hallmark of a chronic inflammatory response, the alveolar macrophage population was depleted by adding chlorine to the drinking water prior to carcinogenesis. This treatment reduced lung tumor multiplicity following 2-stage carcinogenesis (P < .05). These correlations between inflammatory and tumorigenic responses to BHT, along with decreased tumorigenesis after macrophage depletion, are consistent with a role of inflammation in promotion. Inflammatory mediators may provide targets for early diagnosis and chemoprevention.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ambient air quality and occurrence of multiple sclerosis relapse.

Infectious viruses and bacteria can trigger multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations. Seasonally changing concentrations of ambient air pollutants are known to predispose to transmissible infections, to induce systemic immune responses and to enhance existing peripheral inflammation. Ambient air quality and monthly MS relapse occurrence in south-western Finland were compared by multivariate logistic regression. The odds ratio of the risk of a relapse onset was over fourfold (4.143, p < 0.001) when the concentration of inhalable particulate matter (PM(10)) was at the highest quartile. Inhalable airborne particulate matter concentrations were connected to relapse occurrence. Poor air quality may enhance the seasonal changes in MS relapse occurrence by an increased susceptibility to transmissible infections.

Air Pollution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Craniofacial features in patients with deficient and excessive growth hormone.

We studied the role of growth hormone (GH) in craniofacial growth by analyzing the craniofacial structures in patients with either deficient or excessive GH. The cephalogrammes of 21 patients with isolated or combined GH deficiency and of two patients with GH excess were compared with cephalogrammes of age and sex matched controls, and the patients with deficient GH also with height and sex matched controls. In cephalometric measurements, skeletal anatomy was followed as closely as possible. All patients had a Class I or an end-to-end dental occlusion. Head circumference was normal in all patients. Facial widths were significantly smaller in patients with deficient GH but at the level of + 2 SDs in the two with GH excess when compared to Finnish norms. In patients with deficient GH, facial heights were significantly smaller than in age matched controls, but of the same order with height controls for anterior facial height. Posterior facial height was smaller even in this comparison. In patients with GH excess, facial heights were much larger and at the levels of +3 and +6 SD. Clivus was shorter in patients with deficient GH and longer (+ 1.9 and +3 SD) in the two with GH excess. All angulations of the sphenoidal plane deviated from those of the controls in the group with GH deficiency. The cranial base angle (CL-SPhen) was smaller than in controls while it was normal in patients with GH excess. We are inclined to interpret the craniofacial structure of those with deficient GH as being unique to the condition rather than merely negative allometry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗