Alpha-foetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in germ cell neoplasms.

Serum alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were measured, serially whenever possible, in 70 patients attending the Institute of Radiotherapy, Rotterdam, on account of testicular (65) or ovarian (4) germ cell tumours or, in one case, an endodermal sinus (yolk sac) tumour in the mediastinum. In 15 patients the disease was active; in the others it was in remission. Patients with active disease had raised serum AFP levels which correlated well with disease activity; no patient without evidence of active disease had raised serum AFP levels. None of the patients with active disease was found to have raised serum CEA levels. There was no correlation between serum AFP and CEA levels in patients with germ cell neoplasms, but good correlation between serum AFP levels and disease activity. Serum CEA levels did not correlate with disease activity, and serial determinations would therefore not be useful in monitoring progress in this group of diseases

Charge transfer reactions of tris(dimethylamino)phosphine : solvent effects and ESR measurements

It is demonstrated that the course of the reaction of tris(dimethylamino)phosphine with aromatic bromides is strongly dependent on the nature of the solvent. The reaction in DMF or THF gave rise to the formation of radicals, which could be measured directly or by the method of spin-trapping, using 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane as a scavenger

An example of a phosphoranyl radical in a tetrahedral configuration

Phosphoranyl radicals with an aryl ligand appear to have a relatively small phosphorus doublet splitting constant, indicating a relation between the ap and the structure of these radicals

Electron transfer reactions between trivalent phosphorus compounds and activated ketones

The present paper presents a mechanism for the reaction between trivalent phosphorus compounds - P(OR)3, R = alkyl and P {N(CH3)2}3 - and molecules with activated carbonyl groups such as -diketones, o-quinones and ,ß-unsaturated ketones. It appeared from ESR measurements that intermediate radicals which originate in a high concentration are converted into oxyphosphoranes. In the case of P(OR)3 an intramolecular shift could be established as a side reaction. Furthermore a number of interesting spin adducts are formed between phosphinium radicals and the scavenger 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane

Electron transfer reactions between trivalent phosphorus compounds and activated ketones

The present paper presents a mechanism for the reaction between trivalent phosphorus compounds - P(OR)3, R = alkyl and P {N(CH3)2}3 - and molecules with activated carbonyl groups such as -diketones, o-quinones and ,ß-unsaturated ketones. It appeared from ESR measurements that intermediate radicals which originate in a high concentration are converted into oxyphosphoranes. In the case of P(OR)3 an intramolecular shift could be established as a side reaction. Furthermore a number of interesting spin adducts are formed between phosphinium radicals and the scavenger 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane

Electron transfer reactions between trivalent phosphorus compounds and activated ketones

The present paper presents a mechanism for the reaction between trivalent phosphorus compounds - P(OR)3, R = alkyl and P {N(CH3)2}3 - and molecules with activated carbonyl groups such as -diketones, o-quinones and ,ß-unsaturated ketones. It appeared from ESR measurements that intermediate radicals which originate in a high concentration are converted into oxyphosphoranes. In the case of P(OR)3 an intramolecular shift could be established as a side reaction. Furthermore a number of interesting spin adducts are formed between phosphinium radicals and the scavenger 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane

Sensitivity and specificity of the 'Awaji' electrodiagnostic criteria for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: retrospective comparison of the Awaji and revised El Escorial criteria for ALS.

Contains fulltext : 89303.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The Awaji Commission recently proposed a modification of the electrodiagnostic criteria for ALS. We assessed whether the Awaji recommendations improve the sensitivity of the early diagnosis of ALS. In a retrospective study we reviewed clinical and neurophysiological data for 213 patients who visited our motor neuron disease outpatient clinic between October 2006 and December 2008. Using the El Escorial criteria, 51 patients were diagnosed with definite or probable ALS, 14 with probable laboratory-supported ALS, and 28 with possible ALS. An alternative diagnosis was present in 120 patients. Applying the Awaji recommendations, 66 patients were diagnosed with either definite or probable ALS, and 27 with possible ALS. Of the 14 patients diagnosed with probable laboratory-supported ALS, eight switched to probable ALS and six to possible ALS using the Awaji recommendations; none of the patients with an ALS mimic was diagnosed with ALS according to the Awaji recommendations. In conclusion, the new criteria for ALS do not result in a loss of specificity and can potentially improve the sensitivity by 16%. However, this diagnostic improvement appears eliminated if patients with probable laboratory-supported ALS - due to UMN signs in one region - should be categorized as possible ALS.1 december 201