Evaluation of prostate-specific antigen in prostate cancer.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was assayed retrospectively in 131 prostate cancer patients. Pretreatment levels at primary tumor diagnosis were above 5 ng/ml in 13/16 (81%) of stage B and C patients and in 28/28 (100%) of stage D (D1 and D2) patients. At the discovery of metastasis in treated patients, they were above this value in 12/17 (71%) of patients. To determine the value of PSA assays when physical exams were negative, 52 patients were reevaluated at a maximum interval of 12 months as a function of their initial PSA concentration. When the initial PSA was negative, there was no clinical evolution during the next 6 months; when PSA was positive, patients had a 55% risk of progression in the next 4 months. All PSA assays were coupled with prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) measurements. No PAP values were positive when PSA was negative.

[Diagnostic value of SCC-TA4 determination in 4 localizations of epidermoid cancers. An experience of the FNCLCC subgroup of radio-analysis]. / Intéret diagnostique du dosage du SCC-TA4 dans quatre localisations de cancers épidermoïdes. Expérience du sous-groupe de radio-analyse de la FNCLCC.

A multicenter and retrospective study of the diagnosis value of SCC-TA4 in squamous cell carcinomas of 4 localisations was made with the 2 thresholds of 2 and 2.5 ng/ml. However, 3.1% of controls have a SCC value above 2.5 ng/ml. Sixteen benign gynecologic pathologies had no positive level. The benign digestive (N = 73), bronchial (N = 345) pathologies and no squamous cell carcinomas (N = 93, N = 220 respectively), had SCC-TA4 mean levels significantly lower than corresponding squamous cell carcinomas (N = 153, N = 128 respectively). Sensitivity of the test varied from 40% in the squamous cell carcinomas of the lung, to 72% in the squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. Specificity was always very high and varied from 91% in the SCC of lung, to 100% in the SCC of uterine cervix. For the SCC of uterine cervix, oesophagus and head and neck, the mean values and incidence of positive levels increased significantly with increasing tumor size and advancing disease stage. For the SCC of uterine cervix, mean SCC-TA4 levels and percentages of positive levels above 2 ng/ml were significantly higher for the patients with recurrence (22.5 +/- 4.6 ng/ml; 76%) or with metastasis appearance (23.6 +/- 5.4 ng/ml; 77%) than for the patients in remission (less than 1.5 ng/ml; 0%). In the SCC of oesophagus, we report levels before treatment that are significantly higher for the patients with metastasis at the first attempt (4.2 +/- 5.1 ng/ml; 59%), and an elevated SCC level at the diagnosis evoked a SCC of lung already disseminated (8.8 +/- 12.1 ng/ml; 50%) that will fail to respond to treatment (4.0 +/- 4.2 ng/ml; 48%).

[Study of a kit for the search for HBs antigen by an enzymo-immunological method (author's transl)]. / Etude d'une trousse pour la recherche de l'antigène HBs par méthode enzymo-immunologique.

The authors present a kit marketed by Abbott for searching HBs antigen by an immunological method. This technic of sandwich type included 3 stages. During a first stage, the HBs antigen eventually present was extracted from the biological fluid by a specific antibody adsorbed on a polystyrène bead. After washing, a second specific antibody labelled with peroxidase was added. After incubation and washing, the peroxidase activity of the bead was revealed by adding a chromogenic substrate. The development of a colour indicated the presence of HBs antigen in the biological fluid under study. Very simple to use, this kit permits specific detection of HBs antigen with a sensitivity comparable to that of radio-immunoassay. A good correlation was obtained with the radio-immunological kit Austria II and with the enzymo-immunological kit Hepanostika.

[The psychotropic action of TRH]. / L'action psychotrope de la T.R.H.

During a double-blind trial about using TRH perfusions, the authors didn't established any antidepressive effect. On the other hand they observed an anxiety reaction under a 1,200 microgram in perfusion. The study of the basic level of T3, T4, T.S.H. and Prolactin corroborated the normality of the biological evaluation among the depressed. No difference of the hormonal response under T.R.H. was established depending on different types of depression. The authors reported that the Prolactin respons is higher among the subjects for whom the T.R.H. was the more distressing.

[Changes in free and total thyroid hormones and reverse T3 in adult male rats during fasting]. / Variations des hormones thyroïdiennes libres, totales et de la reverse T3 chez le rat adulte mâle au cours de jeûne.

The serum levels of thyroid hormones (T3, F.T3, RT3, T4 and F.T4), cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in a population of adult male rats subjected to experimental fasting. Comparison of bindings with results published in the literature reveals certain disagreements attributable to individual variations in the animals resulting from physical or physiological factors. This study demonstrates that deiodination of thyroxine in T3-Reverse has an economic role on a metabolic level. Evaluation of the T3/RT3 ratio appears to provide an indication of the homogeneity of the peripheral metabolism in an experimental population.

C-peptide uptake and excretion by the liver in man.

The hepatic uptake of C-peptide is believed to be negligeable; this, however, is based on indirect evidence. In the present work, C-peptide was measured in four non obese non diabetic men stimultaneously in portal blood and bile. Small amounts of C-peptide were found in bile, compared with portal levels; these data are consistent with a minor role of the liver in C-peptide metabolism but represent a direct demonstration of an extraction of the peptide by the liver in man.

Value of CA 15:3 in the follow-up of breast cancer patients.

CA 15:3, a new tumour marker detectable by two monoclonal antibodies (115 D 8 and DF 3), was measured by an immunoradiometric technique on the ELSA solid phase. Sixteen percent of patients with localized breast cancer had CA 15:3 levels greater than 25 U ml-1, and levels increased with tumour size. CA 15:3 levels greater than 25 U ml-1 were found in 54% of patients with nodal involvement and in 91% of patients with metastatic breast disease. Measurement of CA 15:3 in 70 women with metastatic breast cancer and a normal CEA revealed positive CA 15:3 levels at diagnosis of the first metastasis in 66% of cases; 63% of these patients could be monitored with CA 15:3.

[Beta-2-microglobulin and rheumatoid factor levels in the synovial fluid (author's transl)]. / Bêta-2-microglobuline et facteur rhumatoïde dans le liquide synovial. 85 dosages.

The object of this study was to determine whether levels of beta-2-microglobulin and of rheumatoid factor measured by an enzyme-immunoassay allowed good discrimination between inflammatory and degenerative arthropathies. A multiparametric study of synovial fluid was performed on 85 specimens from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chondrocalcinosis, mechanical arthritis and traumatic arthopathies. A beta-2-microglobulin level of less than 4 mg/l is a result very mich in favor of a non-inflammatory arthropathy (48/49 cases). The quantification of intra-articular rheumatoid factor allows for reclassification in the context of sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis.

The value of serum alkaline phosphatase alpha 1 isoenzyme in the diagnosis of liver metastases. Preliminary results.

Serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme electrophoresis on cellulose acetate plates in a normal population of 91 controls and 255 cancer patients demonstrates the presence of an isoenzyme alpha 1 in 36 out of39 cases of confirmed liver metastases. In 188 cancer patients without apparent hepatic lesion and with a normal liver biology, the alpha 1 isoenzyme has been found in 45 cases, but 11 presented afterwards confirmed liver metastases. This isoenzyme remained negative in the normal population. Therefore, our results indicate that the alpha 1 alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme may be a useful marker for the biological diagnosis of liver metastases.

Residual beta cell function in insulin-dependent diabetes: evaluation by circadian determination of C-peptide immunoreactivity.

Residual beta cell function was evaluated through circadian determination of C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) in eighty insulin-dependent diabetics. Evaluation of beta cell activity through circadian CPR determination was in good agreement with the results obtained by glucagon test which is considered a potent stimulus of C-peptide release. The prevalence of residual beta cell function in our population was 35%. Residual beta cell function was associated with a shorter duration of diabetes, a lower dose of insulin therapy and less chronic complications. On the other hand, serum growth hormone circadian variations were more spread in diabetics without beta cell function. That is consistent with diabetes instability which has been reported more commonly insulin-dependent diabetics without beta cell function.

[Clinical value of the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen in bronchial secretion (author's transl)]. / Détermination de l'antigène carcino-embryonnaire dans les sécrétions bronchiques.

Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by radioimmunoassay was performed in per-endoscopic obtained bronchial secretion. Bronchial CEA values are higher in the case of primary carcinoma of the lung than of metastatic lung cancer or pulmonary benign disease (p less than 0.0005). More interesting is the ratio bronchial CEA/serum CEA which is much higher in primary carcinoma of the lung than in benign disease (p less than 0.0005) and lower in metastatic lung carcinoma than benign disease (p less than 0.0025). In primary carcinoma of the lung, the CEA determination seems to have a prognostic value since higher levels are reported in patients unsuccessfully treated than in treated patients with apparent remission.

beta2-Microglobulin in lymphoproliferative disorders with special reference to gammapathies.

Plasma beta2-microglobulin ratio were calculated taking into account serum creatinine levels and were found to be elevated in a variety of lymphoproliferative disorders. Degree of elevation appeared to be proportional to the tumour mass.

[Determination of beta2-microglobulin in breast, lung, colorectal and ENT carcinoma (author's transl)]. / Dosage de la beta2-microglobuline dans les cancers du sein, du poumon, du côlon et de la sphère ORL.

Significant increase of plasma level beta2-microglobulin in cancer patients (breast, bronchus, colorectal and ENT) occurs rarely. More, the highest levels observed are within the range of non malignant diseases. We cannot assume that beta2-microglobulin assay will be useful as tumor marker.

[Systematic study of various tumoral markers in prevalent bone metastasis]. / Apport de l'étude systématique de différents marqueurs tumoraux dans les métastases osseuses prévalentes.

In the presence of prevalent bone metastases, the precise histo-pathological diagnosis of the primary tumor is often difficult. The authors study the diagnostic value of systematic serum assay of a series of tumoral tracers (ACE, AFP, PAP and PSA, SCC, CA 19:9, CA 15:3, CA 125) which until now were used in evolutive and therapeutic monitoring. 34 patients were selected for this preliminary retrospective study (including 20 with a demonstrated histopathological diagnosis). 70 p. cent of prevalent bone metastases express a target tracer corresponding to the initial location. In some cases, an elevated tracer, because of its specificity, may bring about a diagnostic or therapeutic decision (always according to the context). No conclusion may currently be drawn in case of discordance between the anatomo-clinical context and the "profile" of the markers (1 case in our series).