Association of antisperm antibodies with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

Antisperm antibodies are significant in male factor infertility. The prevalence of antisperm antibodies in the infertile population is approximately 10 percent, and it is not cost-effective to test for these antibodies in every male partner of an infertile marriage. Earlier studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of antisperm antibodies among men with a history of bacterial prostatitis or urethritis. Because of this established association, we measured the prevalence of serum antisperm antibodies, using a gel agglutination assay, in 28 men with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis and in age-matched control group of 69 men without a history of prostatitis. The prevalence was 25 percent (test subjects) and 7.2 percent (controls) (p less than 0.05). This finding indicates that nonbacterial prostatitis is a risk factor for the presence of serum antisperm antibodies and that subfertile men with a history of nonbacterial prostatitis should be tested for these antibodies.

Xanthogranulomatous endometritis: case report.

A case of chronic endometritis with unusual histological features due to the presence of abundant foam cells and lipid material is described. The presence of foam cells, abundant intra- and extracellular lipid together with other inflammatory cells in the absence of endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma warrants the diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous endometritis.

Beta 2-microglobulin excretion and urinary cytology in analgesic nephropathy.

Patients with analgesic nephropathy are at risk from uro-epithelial malignancy. Enhanced secretion of beta 2-microglobulin occurs from epithelial cancer cells. In order to find a screening test for malignancy in analgesic nephropathy, urinary levels of this protein were measured in patients with analgesic nephropathy with urine cytological abnormalities and were compared to a control group with glomerulonephritis. Mean fractional excretion of beta 2-microglobulin was higher (8.61 +/- 1.76 SEM) in patients with analgesic nephropathy than in those with glomerulonephritis (1.13 +/- 0.76) (P less than 0.025). Those patients with analgesic nephropathy who had malignant cells in the urine had higher mean fractional excretion (18.56 +/- 5.77) than those with only atypical cells (8.5 +/- 2.0) (P less than 0.05) who in turn had higher mean values than those with normal cytology (2.12 +/- 0.62) (P less than 0.0025). It is suggested that the increased beta 2-microglobulin excretion in analgesic nephropathy is due to secretion from abnormal urothelial cells as well as reduced tubular catabolism. Beta 2-microglobulin may be of use as a screening test for malignancy in analgesic nephropathy.

Chromosome and histologic patterns in pre-invasive lesions of the cervix.

The chromosome constitution and histologic appearances are described in seven cases of carcinoma in situ of the cervix in which biopsies were examined at two different time intervals. Punch biopsies were taken using colposcopic localization from the area of maximum abnormality and fragments for chromosomes analysis from cone biopsies taken with the aid of stereomicroscopy. Chromosome preparations were made using a direct squash technique. The chromosome profile and histologic appearances remained constant in six of the seven cases over time intervals varying from three months to three years. In one case the histologic, cytologic and chromosome profile changed over a five month period from a large cell peritetraploid lesion to a small cell peridiploid. The significance of these observations is discussed.

Oral contraceptives and cervical neoplasia.

PIP: Data from the Cytology Service of the Anti-Cancer Foundation of the University of Adelaide were submitted to computer analysis to compare the prevalence of carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma of the cervic in users and nonusers of oral contraceptives. Results of cervical smears from 26,286 oral contraceptive users and 23,512 nonusers were compared (38.8% of the total computer record chosen for detailed study because age, parity, contraceptive use, cytology and/or histopathology were known). When age and parity were examined, it was found that younger women (age 24-34) tend to use oral contraceptives, especially those of parity 2 plus. The only relationships found between carcinoma in situ and oral contraceptive use were in women age 30 or less who had 2 or more children and used oral contraceptives and in women aged 41 or more who had 2 or more children and did not use oral contraceptives; both groups had an increased prevalence of the disease. The prevalence of invasive carcinoma was increased in women over the age of 31 who did not use oral contraceptives. This was highly significant in women over the age of 40. Further study will be required to identify the factors at work. In the meantime it is recommended that oral contraceptives only be prescribed after cytological examinations have been made.^ieng

A light-scattering study of bovine factor VIII.

Classical light-scattering measurements made on bovine Factor VIII preparations, which contain a series of multimers ranging from 1 greater than 12 X 10(6) molecular weight, gave a weight average molecular weight of about 8 X 10(6) and a z-average radius of gyration of about 3000 A. Characteristic dimensions for variously shaped models were calculated.

Prognostic aspects of endometrial carcinoma.

A retrospective analysis of 91 patients with endometrial carcinoma is presented with emphasis on important factors in relation to survival. Patients with Stage 1 carcinoma were treated with a standardized mode of preoperative radiation and extended abdominal hysterectomy. An 87.1% 5-year survival rate was obtained for patients with well differentiated lesions, with only 1 patient developing a vault metastasis. The assessment of residual tumour after intracavity radiotherapy proved reliable in predicting prognosis and should prove of benefit in directing additional therapy for endometrial carcinoma.

Urine cytology findings in analgesic nephropathy.

Urine cytology screening for neoplasm led to the detection of 3 urothelial carcinomas and 1 severe urothelial dysplasia in 98 patients with analgesic-induced papillary necrosis. A further 18 patients had changes suggesting that they were at risk of incurring malignancy in the near future. Routine urine cytology is recommended in all cases of analgesic nephropathy.