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E Zang

Publications and source records attributed to E Zang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of green and black tea on hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing systems in the male F344 rat.

1. The induction of phase I and II enzymes in the liver of the male F344 rat drinking 2% (w/v) solutions of green or black tea for 6 weeks was investigated. Also studied were glutathione (GSH) and cyst(e)ine in blood, liver and kidney, as well as serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total and free testosterone. 2. The total carbon monoxide-discernible liver P450, b5 and NADPH-cytochrome c(P450) reductase activities were similar in all groups. 3. There were significant increases in liver of rat drinking green or black tea of P4501A1, 1A2 and 2B1 activities, but no change in P4502E1 and 3A4 activities. Of the phase II enzymes, UDP-glucuronyltransferase was increased, but glutathione S-transferase was not. 4. Serum GSH was higher in the group administered black tea, but GSH and cyst(e)ine in other groups was at control levels. Serum cholesterol was lower in rat given black compared with green tea. Triglycerides had a declining trend after green and black tea exposure compared with water controls. Free and total testosterone were not affected. 5. Thus, beverages widely used by man altered host biochemistry as regards specific phase I and II enzymes in liver of rat and specific serum parameters.

Animals↗

Role of fat and calcium in cancer causation by food mutagens, heterocyclic amines.

We investigated the modulation by dietary corn oil and calcium levels of carcinogenesis by heterocyclic amines (HCA), a new class of important carcinogens in the human nutritional environment, since they are formed during cooking. Two approaches involved (i) a chronic bioassay in male and female F344 rats, and (ii) an abbreviated test, the induction of foci of aberrant crypts in the colon in male F344 rats. One typical HCA, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) was fed at 75 ppm for 12 months to male and female rats that were held three and six months longer, respectively, on control diets. Neoplasms were induced in the Zymbal gland, skin (predominantly in male rats), liver, mammary and preputial glands, colon, and lung. Diets with 23.5% corn oil increased carcinomas in the liver in males, and in the mammary gland in females, compared with a 5% corn oil diet. Males on the low-fat diet had more cancers in the lip, and females had more ear duct cancers, than did rats on the high-fat diet. Another HCA, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), fed at 400 ppm for nine weeks induced foci of aberrant crypts in the lower intestinal tract of male F344 rats. There were significantly more aberrant crypts on the high-fat than on the low-fat diet. On the low-fat diet, there were fewer aberrant crypts on the higher calcium level. Thus, dietary fat modulates the carcinogenic action of HCA food carcinogens in specific organs of male and female F344 rats. Also, both fat and calcium affected the induction of aberrant crypts in the distal intestinal tract of male F344 rats.

Amines↗

A study of tobacco carcinogenesis. LI. Relative potencies of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines as inducers of lung tumours in A/J mice.

Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA) are formed from nicotine and the minor Nicotiana tabacum alkaloids during tobacco processing and tobacco smoking. The TSNA are the most abundant strong carcinogens in smokeless tobacco and in smoke. In this comparative study six TSNA and two major volatile N-nitrosamines of cigarette smoke are assayed for their relative tumorigenicities in strain A/J female mice and for their potential to induce lung tumors. N-nitrosodimethylamine was the most potent inducer of lung adenoma in the A/J mouse model followed in order of decreasing potencies by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, N'-nitrosonornicotine and N'-nitrosoanabasine. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid were inactive. The relative tumorigenic activities of the tobacco-specific nitrosamines in strain A/J mice compare well with the available data for their relative tumorigenic activities in F344 rats and Syrian golden hamsters.

Adenoma↗

Effect of high fat corn oil, olive oil and fish oil on phospholipid fatty acid composition in male F344 rats.

Epidemiological and laboratory animal model studies have provided evidence that the effect of dietary fat on colon tumorigenesis depends on the amount of fat and its composition. Because of the importance of the composition of dietary fat and of tissue membrane fatty acid composition in tumor promotion, experiments were designed to investigate the relative effects of high fat diets rich in omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids and colon carcinogen on the phospholipid fatty acid composition of liver, colon, small intestine, erythrocytes and blood plasma. At 6 wk of age, groups of animals were fed diets containing 5% corn oil (LFCO), 23.5% corn oil (HFCO), 23.5% olive oil (HFOO), and 20.5% fish oil plus 3% corn oil (HFFO). Two weeks later all the animals except the vehicle-treated animals received azoxymethane s.c. once weekly for 2 wk at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight. Animals were sacrificed 5 d later and liver, colon, small intestine and erythrocytes and blood plasma were analyzed for phospholipid fatty acids. The results indicate that the phospholipid fatty acid composition of liver, colon and small intestine of HFCO diet fed animals, were not significantly different from those fed the LFCO diet. The levels of palmitoleic acid and linoleic acid were increased in erythrocytes and blood plasma of the animals fed the HFCO diet compared to those fed the LFCO diet. Feeding the HFOO diet significantly increased the oleic acid content and decreased the linoleic acid and arachidonic acid levels in various organs when compared to the HFCO diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea induced brain tumors in rats monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, plasma proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and microscopy.

Characteristic slow growing brain gliomas were induced in rats by a single subcutaneous injection of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) within 24 h of birth. A parallel control group of rats was injected with saline. Seven treated rats developed gliomas within 2 years. Periodic nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in 3-mm slices at 1.5 Tesla and monthly plasma sampling for proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 360 MHz were started 6 months after the injection of ENU. In the MRS experiments, the Fossel index, average of the line widths of the methylene and methyl peaks at 360 MHz, was determined from half-line widths of methyl and methylene peaks at 0.8 ppm and 1.3 ppm. In five of the ENU injected animals that developed histologically verified brain tumors, these were also observed by MRI without contrast agents. There was no consistent correlation between the imaged tumors and the Fossel index obtained through MRS during the course of the study where repeated observations were performed on individual animals, nor was there any consistent statistical difference in the Fossel index between ENU-treated and control animals. The results of this study demonstrate that slowly developing carcinogen-induced brain tumors in rats can be successfully and reliably monitored noninvasively by MRI but not by MRS of plasma.

Animals↗

Voluntary exercise and experimental mammary cancer.

The results of these studies indicate that voluntary activity suppresses the development of chemically and virally induced primary mammary tumors in rats and mice fed high-fat diets. These diets were chosen to mimic the current U.S. fat consumption of approximately 40% of calories as fat. It remains to be seen if activity exerts a similar suppressive effect on animals fed their customary low-fat diet (10% calories as fat). In general, the activity profiles of the female Fischer F-344 and Sprague-Dawley rat and the C3H/o mu j mouse exhibited a similar pattern with an early peak followed by a gradual plateau over time. The effects of activity on body fat composition showed a trend toward a decreased percent of body fat when compared to sedentary animals but a statistically significant decrease was found only in the F-344 female rat. In the DMBA model, carcinogen dose did alter outcome parameters. For example, time to first tumor was extended under low- but not high-DMBA conditions, and, conversely, tumor multiplicity was significantly decreased in the high- but not low-DMBA group. In the NMU model, an inverse association was found between the amount of activity and tumor incidence. A similar association was not found with the DMBA model. The reason for this is uncertain, but further analysis in terms of other parameters such as total tumor number may shed more light on this discrepancy. The suppressive effect of activity on the MMTV-induced mouse mammary tumor is of particular interest since it raises the possibility that activity may exert effects on the process of provirus insertion, and/or oncogene activation--an area of great potential promise in cancer prevention. Activity appeared to enhance the volume and to a lesser degree the number of metastatic foci in the lungs of F-344 retired breeders under high-fat but not medium-fat conditions. In addition, the most active animals in the high-fat group exhibited the greatest volume of metastases. These results, together with those in the NMU model, point to the critical importance of the quantity of voluntary activity an animal engages in and its relation to both primary and secondary cancer prevention. They imply that beyond a certain point of either frequency or intensity, the beneficial effect of exercise may be nullified by competing deleterious effects. The metastases study has also brought to light the importance of dietary fat as a potential intervening variable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

A study of betel quid carcinogenesis--VIII. Carcinogenicity of 3-(methylnitrosamino)propionaldehyde in F344 rats.

In assays of Areca-specific N-nitrosamines, 3-(methylnitrosamino)propionaldehyde (MNPA) exhibits higher cytotoxicity than nitrosoguvacine (NGC), nitrosoguvacoline (NG) and 3-(methylnitrosamino)propionitrile (MNPN). NGC is not mutagenic. However, NG is a weak carcinogen in F344 rats while MNPN is a potent carcinogen; MNPA had thus far not been tested. In this study MNPA was injected s.c. at a dose of 6.57 mg three times weekly for 15 weeks (total dose 2.6 mmol/rat). During the 100 weeks of the bioassay, the treated F344 rats, and especially the females, showed significantly less weight gain than the control animals, indicating high toxicity for MNPA at the tested dose. Upon termination of the bioassay, the MNPA-treated animals were found to have tumors of the lung, liver, nasal cavity, forestomach and kidneys. The control animals showed no tumors in these organs. The incidence of lung tumors in the MNPA group was statistically significant (P less than 0.025). The results of this study show that MNPA is a carcinogen in F344 rats.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Effect of the chemopreventive agents piroxicam and D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine on intermediate biomarkers of colon carcinogenesis.

Our previous studies have shown that dietary piroxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, act as potential chemopreventive agents in inhibiting azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. The present study was designed to determine the effect of these chemopreventive agents on intermediate biomarkers, namely colonic epithelial cell proliferation and levels of prostaglandins, which can be used as effective predictors of colon cancer. Starting at 6 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the control diet and experimental diets containing piroxicam or DFMO. At 7 weeks of age, all animals, except the vehicle controls, were injected s.c. with AOM at a dose level of 15 mg/kg body wt/week for 4 weeks. Vehicle controls received an equal volume of normal saline. Groups of animals were then killed at the end of last AOM or saline injection (baseline) and at week 4, 16, 24 and 32 following the last AOM or saline treatment. Animals intended for cell proliferation study were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) at a dose level of 20 mg/kg body wt 1 h prior to being killed. The rate of colonic cell proliferation at all time points was assessed immunohistochemically using anti-BrdU. The levels of colonic mucosal prostaglandins were estimated by radioimmunoassay. The results indicate that carcinogen treatment increased the colonic cell proliferation measured as the crypt labeling index in proximal and distal colons and the concentrations of colonic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto PGF1 alpha. The data demonstrate that DFMO significantly inhibited the AOM-induced labeling index in the distal and proximal colon at all time points, whereas piroxicam slightly decreased the labeling index. On the other hand, piroxicam exerted a pronounced inhibitory effect on the levels of both PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha. DFMO suppressed the colonic PGE2 levels to a lesser degree than piroxicam. The results demonstrate that DFMO, an inhibitor of ODC, suppresses cell proliferation, whereas piroxicam, a NSAID, inhibits prostaglandins, and emphasize the need to develop agent-dependent intermediate biomarker(s) to validate the efficacy of chemopreventive agent(s) in colon carcinogenesis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Modulation by butylated hydroxytoluene of liver and bladder carcinogenesis induced by chronic low-level exposure to 2-acetylaminofluorene.

The modulating effect of five dose levels of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on liver and bladder carcinogenesis induced in rats by concurrent exposure to 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) was investigated. AAF at a low dose of 50 ppm was fed simultaneously with concentrations of 100, 300, 1000, 3000, or 6000 ppm BHT in the diet to male F344 rats for up to 76 weeks. By 12 weeks, AAF alone induced altered hepatocellular foci, identified by iron storage deficiency and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity. At subsequent time points of 24, 36, and 48 weeks, the number of foci progressively increased, and at the end of the study, the incidence of liver neoplasms was 100%, a new finding with such a low dose of AAF. Simultaneous feeding of BHT inhibited the induction of liver altered foci by AAF in a dose-related manner and reduced the incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas and the number of liver neoplasms per animal. Feeding of 6000 ppm BHT, but not of lower doses, together with AAF resulted in an increase in the incidence and multiplicity of bladder neoplasms, and 3000 ppm increased nodular hyperplasia of the bladder. These results suggest that the chemoprevention by BHT of cancer resulting from low-level long-term carcinogen exposure may be achieved at doses that do not produce adverse effects.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Chemoprevention of colon carcinogenesis by dietary administration of piroxicam, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one, and ellagic acid individually and in combination.

The chemopreventive action of 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of piroxicam, D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DMFO), 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one (DHEA analogue 8354), and ellagic acid (EA) administered in diet individually and in combination before and during initiation and postinitiation phases of azoxymethane-induced neoplasia of the intestine was studied in male F344 rats. The MTD levels of piroxicam, DFMO, DHEA analogue, and EA were determined in male F344 rats and found to be 500, 5,000, 500, and 10,000 ppm, respectively, in modified AIN-76A diet. When these agents were fed in combination, the MTD levels were: piroxicam plus DFMO, 250 and 2500 ppm; piroxicam plus DHEA analogue, 250 and 250 ppm; piroxicam plus EA, 250 and 5000 ppm; piroxicam plus DFMO plus DHEA analogue, 250, 2500, and 250 ppm; and piroxicam plus DFMO plus EA, 250, 2500, and 5000 ppm. From these MTD values, 40 and 80% MTD levels were calculated and tested for their efficacy. At 5 weeks of age, animals were fed the modified AIN-76A (control) diet and experimental diets containing 40 and 80% MTD levels of piroxicam, DFMO, DHEA analogue, and EA individually and in combination. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were administrated s.c. injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body weight/week for 2 weeks). Animals intended for vehicle treatment received s.c. injections of an equal volume of normal saline. Fifty-two weeks after azoxymethane and saline treatment all the animals were necropsied, and colon and small intestinal tumor incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and multiplicity (tumors/animal) were compared among various dietary groups. The results indicate that 40 and 80% MTD levels of dietary piroxicam and DFMO significantly (P less than 0.001) inhibited colon and small intestinal tumor incidence and multiplicity. DHEA analogue at 40% MTD level significantly decreased the small intestinal and colon tumor incidences (P less than 0.05), whereas 80% MTD of DHEA analogue inhibited only small intestinal tumor incidence. EA at 40 and 80% MTDs had no significant effect on colon tumor incidence (P greater than 0.05), but 80% MTD of EA showed a significant inhibitory effect on the incidence of small intestinal adenocarcinomas (P less than 0.01). In the combination study, 40 and 80% MTD levels of piroxicam plus DFMO significantly (P less than 0.001) inhibited colon adenocarcinoma incidence (8.3%) and multiplicity (0.08 +/- 0.04) (SE) when compared to colon adenocarcinoma incidence (72.2%) and multiplicity (1.14 +/- 0.18) in control diet-fed animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Modulation of N-nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumor promotion by dietary fiber and fat.

A test of the anticancer effects of dietary fiber was conducted using the N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumor model. Starting 3 days after NMU treatment, four different groups of F344 rats (30 rats in each group) were fed as follows: Group 1 received a high-fat diet; group 2, a high-fat plus fiber diet (soft white wheat bran, 10% wt/wt); group 3, a low-fat diet; and group 4, a low-fat plus fiber diet. The rats remained on these diets for 15 weeks. Tumor incidence in group 1 was 90% compared with 66% in group 2 (P less than .001). Tumor incidence in group 3 was 63% compared with 47% in group 4 (P greater than .4). These results show that supplemental dietary fiber exerts an inhibitory effect on the promotional phase of NMU-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats when fed a high-fat but not a low-fat diet. To test whether fiber may exert its antipromoting effect by reducing circulating estrogens, serum 17 beta-estradiol was assayed. No changes were observed in serum 17 beta-estradiol levels among the four groups, suggesting that the protective effect of fiber in this animal model is not mediated by a fiber-induced reduction of circulating 17 beta-estradiol.

Animals↗

Chemoprevention of colon carcinogenesis by concurrent administration of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug with D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, in diet.

The effect of three levels of piroxicam and three levels of D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) fed individually and in combination during the postinitiation phase of carcinogenesis was studied in male F344 rats to generate a data base on the efficacy and synergistic and additive effects of these compounds as inhibitors of colon carcinogenesis. The maximum tolerated dose of DFMO was determined in male F344 rats and found to be 5000 ppm in the AIN-76A diet. Piroxicam at levels of 25, 75, and 150 ppm and DFMO at concentrations of 400, 1000, and 4000 ppm (20, 50, and 80% maximum tolerated dose) in AIN-76 diet were tested individually and in combinations. At 7 weeks of age, while the rats were consuming the control diet (AIN-76A), all animals except the vehicle (saline)-treated controls were given a single s.c. injection of azoxymethane (CAS: 25843-45-2) at a dose level of 29.6 mg/kg body weight to induce intestinal tumors. One week after azoxymethane injection, animals were transferred to their respective experimental diets containing piroxicam and DFMO. Fifty-six weeks after azoxymethane injection, all animals were necropsied and colon and small intestinal tumor incidences and multiplicity were compared among the various dietary groups. Feeding of diets containing 75 and 150 ppm piroxicam or 1000 and 4000 ppm DFMO significantly inhibited the incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) of colon adenocarcinomas compared to that of control diet. The multiplicity (number of tumors/rat) of adenocarcinomas was significantly inhibited in animals fed the 25, 75, and 150 ppm piroxicam or 400, 1000, and 4000 ppm DFMO diets. Results analyzed by the linear regression method suggested a dose-dependent inhibition in colon adenocarcinoma incidence with increasing levels of piroxicam or DFMO. The incidence and multiplicity of colon adenocarcinomas were significantly inhibited in animals fed the diets containing combinations of 25, 75, and 150 ppm piroxicam and 400, 1000, and 4000 ppm DFMO. Piroxicam and DFMO administered together had a stronger inhibitory effect than did those given individually. Piroxicam and DFMO when administered individually had no significant inhibitory effect on colon adenoma incidence and multiplicity; in contrast, combinations of these compounds significantly inhibited colon adenomas. No consistent differences were found in the incidence and multiplicity of small intestinal tumors among the dietary groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗

Changes in height of choroidal melanomas after plaque therapy.

Serial ultrasonic measurements of 82 uveal melanomas treated with brachytherapy plaques (cobalt-60 and iodine-125) and followed up for up to 141 months revealed that no two patients had identical patterns of change. The mean absolute change in tumour height after treatment was 1.8 mm at six months, 5.6 mm at 48 months for large tumours, and 0.9 and 1.9 mm for medium sized tumours. Eighty of the 82 patients fell into one of three patterns of response: 57 patients had a decrease in height after treatment (type D), 13 patients had the same height after treatment (type S), and 10 patients had a progressive increase in height (type I). Life table comparison showed no correlation between survival and location of tumour, sex of patient, size of tumour when treated, or laterality. There was a slight correlation between age and survival. Patients older than 60 died more frequently from metastatic melanoma than those under 60 (p = 0.06). Life table analysis showed a significant correlation between tumour regression type and survival. At 48 months the best cumulative probability of survival was in patients with type D (88% alive) compared with those of type I (34% alive, p = 0.0004).

Adult↗

Changes in AIDS risk behavior among intravenous drug abusers in New York City.

Forty newly admitted patients to a methadone treatment clinic in New York City were interviewed to assess their patterns of intravenous (IV) drug abuse, sexual activity, and other risk behaviors for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The study revealed a marked decline in needle sharing since 1984 (46% to 14%), despite a concurrent doubling of the number of weekly IV drug injections per subject (10 to 21). High rates of promiscuous heterosexual activity were noted among men (80% said they were currently active with more than one woman), while the rates of condom use were low, as reported by both men and women (less than 30%). Recent reduction in weight were reported by 40% of subjects, and the average body mass of all individuals was subnormal. Thus, despite an apparent decline in needle sharing, high risk sexual behavior is apparently persisting, drug use is increasing, and nutritional deficits are prevalent among IV drug abusers. Synergism of these factors should be considered in the manifestation of HIV infection among IV drug abusers.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase responses to a standardized dose of hydrogen peroxide in the mononuclear leukocytes of patients with a diagnosis of cancer.

Mononuclear leukocytes from 151 patients with cancer of various organs and from 467 apparently cancer-free individuals were exposed, in vitro, to H2O2 (100 microM) and the effects of the exposure on the activity of adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase (ADPRT) were determined. First, the reproducibility of this test procedure was established as satisfactory, by comparing the results of assays performed independently by two investigators, and by measuring ADPRT in cells from two individuals over a 9-week period. The test data were analyzed by multiple linear regression, and the correlation of cancer diagnosis, age, sex and smoking habits with ADPRT values was determined. The strongest correlate was cancer diagnosis. We considered categorizing ADPRT values as high and low, with a cut-off value that would substantially distinguish cancer from cancer-free individuals. When a cut-off value of 1200 c.p.m. TCA ppt [3H]NAD+/5 x 10(5) cells was applied to the complete test material, it was found that ADPRT values from cancer patients were more frequently below the cut-off than values from disease-free individuals: the relative risk estimate (odds ratio) was 13.8. When a similar analysis was done on values from lung cancer patients and smoking disease-free individuals, the odds ratio was 73.5. However, a cut-off value of 2000 c.p.m. TCA ppt [3H]NAD+/5 x 10(5) cells was most effective in distinguishing lung cancer patients (the largest cancer group, n = 96) from smoking non-cancer individuals: that value provided better sensitivity (85%) and specificity (81%) than other cut-off values tested in the range 1200-2000 c.p.m. Further, in the case of lung cancer, possible effects of anatomical site, and of staging and pathology on ADPRT values was analyzed by the chi-squared test: no significant associations were found. These data support the value of the ADPRT test in detecting early stage lung cancer regardless of location or pathological type.

Adult↗

Prognostic factors and staging classification of patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma.

Two hundred twelve patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were followed prospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of survival and development of opportunistic infection (OI) from the time of diagnosis of KS. Clinical variables analyzed were age at onset, presence of systemic symptoms, prior or coexistent OI, development of OI greater than 3 months following KS diagnosis, and extent of disease. Laboratory variables analyzed were absolute number of peripheral T-helper lymphocytes (T4), helper/suppressor ratio (T4/T8), serum beta-2-microglobulin, and serum acid labile alfa interferon. Three independent variables were predictive of shorter survival: (1) prior or coexistent OI (P = .02), (2) presence of systemic symptoms (P = .001), and (3) absolute T4 count less than 300 cells/microL (P = .002). Based on survival, patients with AIDS-related KS can be divided into four groups: (1) those with no prior or coexistent OI, no systemic symptoms, T4 greater than or equal to 300 cells/microL (median survival, 31 months): (2) those with no prior or coexistent OI, no systemic symptoms, and T4 less than 300 cells/microL (median survival, 20 months); (3) those with no prior or coexistent OI and presence of systemic symptoms (median survival, 15 months); and (4) those with prior or coexistent OI (median survival, 7 months).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The development of virus-free labile blood derivatives--a review.

Human blood plasma derived coagulation factor concentrates carry a substantial risk of virus transmission as traditionally prepared. Intensive investigations during the past 5 years have led to the development of several virus sterilization procedures which can be applied to these concentrates as well as to other labile protein derivatives. This review summarizes detailed information which is now available establishing the virucidal potency of these procedures, particularly with regard to the contaminating viruses of most concern: hepatitis B, non-A, non-B hepatitis and the AIDS virus. Currently utilized virus sterilization procedures have greatly reduced or eliminated the transmission of AIDS virus, HIV. The transmission of non-A, non-B hepatitis virus (NANBHV) has also been greatly reduced by some but not all of these procedures. Additional virus safety data in man will be required to establish whether any of the procedures gives products which are totally safe from NANBHV transmission and to assess their impact on other blood-borne viruses.

Animals↗