[Secondary prevention of esophageal cancer--intervention on precancerous lesions of the esophagus].

In 1983, intervention of precancerous lesion of esophagus was undertaken in the high risk area of esophageal cancer, Heshun Village, Linxian County. It had been expected that cancerous degeneration rate of esophageal dysplasia should be reduced by 50% so as the prevention of esophageal cancer could become possible. 6758 subjects of the general population aging from 40 to 65 were examined by esophageal exfoliative cytology, 1729 had marked dysplasia and 2411 had mild dysplasia of esophageal epithelium. Those with marked dysplasia were randomized into 3 groups to take their respective medication: antitumor B (Chinese herbs); retinamide (4-Ethoxycarbophenylretinamide) and placebo. The subjects with mild dysplasia were divided randomly into 2 groups for treatment by riboflavin and placebo. 95% of the subjects had taken 90% or more of the total medication for 3 years, at the end of which they were reexamined by esophageal exfoliative cytology. The reexamination rate was 94.1%. The incidence of esophageal cancer in the antitumor B group (3.9%) was reduced by 53% as compared with that of the placebo group (8.3%). This difference had statistical significant (means 2 = 7.672, P less than 0.05). The incidence of esophageal cancer in retinamide and riboflavin groups were reduced by 33.7% and 19% as compared with those of the control groups. The regression rate of dysplasia in the treatment groups were increased than that of the control groups. The above results showed that our hypothesis about the secondary prevention of esophageal cancer is correct. The intervention of precancerous lesion of the esophagus is effective in the prevention of esophageal cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arterialized capillary blood gases and acid-base studies in normal individuals from 29 days to 24 years of age.

Studies of arterialized capillary blood gases and acid-base values were performed on 712 normal persons who were between the ages of 29 days and 24 years. The results were divided for clinical use into six groups by age; linear regression lines were constructed for better understanding of the development of blood gas levels and the acid-base balance. The blood pH essentially remained unchanged throughout the study period. The oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures, base excess of extracellular fluid, and buffer base and bicarbonate levels are lower in infants than in children and adults; adult values are reached at approximately 7 to 12 years of age. The probable explanation for the lower values in infants is discussed. The effects of crying on the composition of blood gases are mentioned.