Summary.-Plasma and buffy-coat vitamin C were estimated in 158 samples from 139 lung-cancer patients, at all stages of the disease. Most samples showed hypovitaminosis C in both estimations: 64% had plasma, and 25% buffy-coat values below the thresholds for incipient clinical scurvy (0.3 mg% and 10 jg/108 cells respectively).Levels were diet-dependent and could be increased by oral supplements. Levels were low both in tumour-bearing patients and in those clinically free of disease after resection. The latter had particularly low values during the first 6 months, indicating the utilization of vitamin C in surgical repair.The vitamin C content of 13 primary lung tumours was assayed: tumours had a higher vitamin C content (mean 1116 +551 ,ug/g tissue) than normal lung (58.5 + 20-4 ,ug/g).Mononuclear cells from normal individuals show a higher vitamin C content than polymorphs, but in lung -cancer patients the expected correlation of buffy-coat vitamin C with the proportion of lymphocytes in peripheral blood was obscured by an inverse correlation in patients with relative lymphocytosis (.25% lymphocytes), confirmed by an inverse correlation of the proportion of lymphocytes in peripheral blood with mononuclear-cell vitamin C in 14 patients in whom this was measured. These correlations were unaffected by controlling for plasma values, and indicate the utilization of vitamin C in lymphocyte-related anti-tumour mechanisms.Vitamin C is necessary for phagocytosis and for the expression of cell-mediated immunity. In view of the increasing circumstantial evidence that immune mechanisms exert some measure of control on tumour extension and metastasis in man, the effect of supplementation with vitamin C in lung-cancer patients on survival should be tested in a clinical trial.

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A cohort of I 9 consecutive asthma patients, stable prior to admission, were investigated in the 'clean' atmosphere of the Airedale Allergy Centre, starting with a therapeutic fast. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEF)fell initially, whether medication had been reduced or not (withdrawal), but by about the sixth day most patients were symptom-fiee on less medication; by the last week of admission the reduction in medication was very highly significant (p < 0.0005). All patients gave positive wheals on intradermal injection of inhalant allergens (4 prick-test negative). Bronchoconstriction was provoked by open food challenge in 18 patients, and by sublingual challenge with chemicals in ten patients.The implications of the findings were discussed with the patients at each stage of the investigation. They were discharged on 'vaccines' containing their Miller endpoints f I]for prophylaxis, and an individually designed rotation diet (including most trigger foods), and advised how to reduce exposure to relevant inhalants and chemicals. At follow-up >6 months after discharge, patients had more control over their asthma: 13/19 (68%) claimed to be at least 'definitely better': 5 'well' or 'almost well'. Symptoms were significantly reduced, and medication was lower at follow-up than on admission (p

The smoking habits of 381

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Summary.-Peripheral-blood basophils were counted, in thick smears, in samples from patients with primary bronchial carcinoma, from patients in the same wards and from normal individuals. The median counts for patients with other chest conditions (15-5/4d) and bronchial-carcinoma patients free of tumour months to years after resection (16/1l) did not differ from those for normal individuals (19/1,u), but tumour-bearers showed higher counts (median 33/1z), 24/41 having counts above the highest count in normal individuals (29/1l): P<0.002).The highest values were in patients with squamous bronchial carcinoma, apparently reflecting spontaneous challenge of an anti-tumour immune response. In those tested at the time of diagnosis, higher values in both lymphocyte and basophil counts were related to surgical resectability.

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