OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to investigate whether the length and lead-time biases of radiologic screening for lung cancers vary according to the histologic type of the tumor. METHODS: We analyzed the survival rates and radiographs of 119 cases of adenocarcinomas-large-cell carcinomas (ALC) and 50 peripheral squamous cell carcinomas (PSQ) detected in 205,401 screened individuals. RESULTS: The sensitivity of screening and 5-year survival rates were 84.0% and 48.2% for ALC, and 52.0% and 18.5% for PSQ, respectively. The corrected length bias was 4.3% for ALC and 4. 6% for PSQ. Stage III-IV ALC was often identified on 1-year-old films, but stage III-IV PSQ was not. Half of stage I ALC presented 2 or more years before detection, while half of stage I PSQ appeared within 1 year before detection. The survival rate of nonresected cases with stage I ALC was decreased 4 years after detection, while that of nonresected cases with stage I PSQ was decreased just after detection. The period of stage I ALC and PSQ was at least 6 years and 1 year, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Slowly growing ALC had high sensitivity in radiologic screening and a high rate in 5-year survival, but had long lead time and delay in detection. PSQ grew rapidly resulting in low sensitivity in radiologic screening, and short lead time and survival. In both types, the magnitude of corrected length bias was not remarkable. The survival of ALC should be carefully evaluated because of the long lead time.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative effects of the antidepressants amitriptyline, mianserin and adinazolam on hemodynamics and ECG in myocardial infarcted dogs.

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of mianserin (MIA), a tetracyclic antidepressant, and adinazolam (ADI), a new benzodiazepine antidepressant on cardiac function and electrocardiogram in normal and infarcted hearts of anesthetized dogs, and to compare the effects with those of amitriptyline, a commonly used tricyclic antidepressant. The parameters measured were: heart rate (HR); mean arterial blood pressure (MP); aortic flow (AF); maximal rate of increase of left ventricular pressure (LV dp/dt); blood flow of left circumflex of left coronary artery (CAF) and PQ and QRS intervals. The double product (DP) was calculated from HR and the arterial pressure. AMI increased HR, DP, LV dp/dt and CAF in the normal group, while in the infarcted group, AMI increased HR, DP and CAF, but decreased LV dp/dt at 3 mg/kg. AMI at 2 and 3 mg/kg prolonged QRS intervals in the infarcted groups. MIA increased HR and DP in the normal group at doses of 1 mg/kg or more, while in the infarcted group it produced only slight effects in hemodynamic parameters and PQ and QRS intervals. ADI had little effect on hemodynamics and PQ and QRS intervals in the normal group. However, it decreased LV dp/dt, CAF, MP at 3 mg/kg in the infarcted group. In conclusion, AMI markedly influenced cardiac hemodynamics and QRS interval in the myocardial infarcted group, while, on the other hand, MIA and ADI, in clinical doses, had only a slight effect on hemodynamics and PQ and QRS intervals in the infarcted group. Thus MIA and ADI were safer than AMI in the animals with myocardial infarction.

Amitriptyline↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Antitumor effects of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells in head and neck cancer.

Immune effector cells were generated in vitro and compared for activity against human head and neck cancer (HNC). A subset of human IL2-activated natural killer (A-NK) cells was able to eliminate tumor cells in vitro by necrosis, apoptosis or cytokine-mediated effects and to induce regression of established tumors in vivo, in a xenograft nude mouse model of HNC. Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) with specificity for a human oral carcinoma were as effective as A-NK cells in mediating killing of autologous tumor cells or entering spheroids. Stable HNC transfectants with the human IL2 gene, which produced IL2 were implanted in nude mice. IL2-secreting tumors regressed spontaneously. Strategies available for use in immunotherapy of human HNC are being evaluated to provide a solid basis for their future therapeutic applications.

Animals↗