Laser treatment for carcinoma of the bronchus.

Laser treatment in carcinoma of the bronchus is essentially palliative and is suitable for only a few patients. Patients selected for laser treatment must have predominantly endobronchial growth with normal bronchial anatomy still identifiable and symptoms due to the obstruction or to haemoptysis. A total of 34 patients with carcinoma of the bronchus were treated with argon gas or neodynium yttrium aluminium garnet crystal lasers. Good palliation was obtained in just over half the cases of partial obstruction of the trachea or main bronchus, but best results were obtained in lesions of the trachea or main carina. Re-expansion of the collapsed lung was achieved in some cases but with considerable risk of pneumonia. Haemoptysis was controlled at least partly in several cases. Laser treatment has the advantage of having no toxicity or dose limit and may be used in cases of poor respiratory function. The procedure was better tolerated than radiotherapy or chemotherapy and its relatively lower cost may justify setting up laser units in major cities.     

The mutant “proboscipedia” in Drosophila melanogaster — A case of hereditary homoösis

Summary The recessive mutant proboscipedia, found byBridges April 27, 1931, has its locus in the third chromosome at approximately 5.3 units to the right of Dichaete, or at 45.7.In proboscipedia the oral lobes are converted into a labium-like organ, which also resembles a pair of antenna-like or tarsus-like appendages. This change, as well as the modifications of the labrum, maxillae, maxillary palpi, and other structures give to the mouth parts of proboscipedia a resemblance to those of the biting type found in insects of lower orders.The four-fold resemblance of the modified oral lobes in proboscipedia to the labrum, the maxillary palpi, the antenae and the tarsi is comprehensible in view of the homology of these three head-appendages with each other and with the walking legs.

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Zusammenfassung Die rezessive Mutante Proboscipedia, die vonBridges am 27. 4. 31 gefunden wurde, ist im 3. Chromosom ungefähr 5,3 Einheiten rechts von Dichaete, oder bei 45,7 lokalisiert.Bei Proboscipedie sind die oralen Lappen zusammengebogen zu einem lippenartigen Organ, das einem Paar antennenähnlicher oder tarsusähnlicher Anhänge gleicht. Diese Abart und ebenso die Modifikationen des Labrum, der Maxillen, der Maxillargliedmaßen und anderer Strukturen geben den Mundteilen von Proboscipedia eine Ähnlichkeit mit denen des kauenden Typus, wie er bei Insekten niederer Ordnung gefunden wurde.Die vierfache Ähnlichkeit der modifizierten oralen Lappen bei Proboscipedia hinsichtlich des Labrum, der Maxillargliedmaßen, der Antennen und der Tarsi ist verständlich da diese drei Kopfanhänge und die Laufbeine homolog sind.

     

The early effects of chemical carcinogens on adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture: I. Quantitative changes in intracellular enzyme activities following a single dose of carcinogen.

The effects of exposure of adult rat hepatocytes to chemical carcinogens have been studied using a short-term maintenance culture system. Scanning microdensitometry was used to quantitate the observed changes in enzyme activity. The dose-response curves showed a biphasic response for all 4 enzymes studied (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, NADPH oxidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) there being decreased enzyme activities at the higher dose levels used, possibly indicating cytotoxicity. The enhancement of enzyme activity at low dose levels was due to generalised increases occurring in every cell, rather than to selection of a cell species particularly high in enzyme activity. A culture period of 24 h was necessary for the complete adaptation of the cells to the culture environment as evidenced by the response of intracellular glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity to carcinogen treatment. These findings are discussed in relation to previously reported in vivo studies.