Histobiopsy of bone marrow (author's transl)]

The histobiopsy of the bone marrow is more and more included in clinicohaematological diagnostics. It has better diagnostic possibilities than the cytology of smears (aspiration biopsy). The specimen is taken from the iliac crest by puncture or the milling method. The sample can be considered representative of the whole bone marrow with regard to the normal quantity and quality. The pathologist ordinarily per forms the processing and assessment of the specimens in a desirably constructive cooperation with the clinical haematologist. The paper presents a condensed review of the histological technics and the recording of features in bone marrow sections, the indications for bone marrow histobiopsy, the results (2769 cases of literature and 496 own cases), and the clinical significance of human bone marrow histobiopsy.     

Allogenic bone marrow grafts (author's transl)]

Bone marrow transplantation is a major therapeutic approach for treatment of patients with severe aplastic anemia or acute leukemia refractory to chemotherapy. It is possible only if an HLA matched sibing is found. ABO compatibility is not necessary. The conditionning regimen includes high doses of cyclophosphamide associated or not with a 1 000 rads total body irradiation. In acute leukemia, the two year percentage survival is 17%, in aplastic anemia it is 40%. Complications are immunologic : rejection, graft versus host disease and persistent severe immune deficiency.     

Stream mechanics and endothel regeneration (author's transl)

The regeneration of rabbit aortic endothelium was studied by autoradiography using 3H-thymidine. A decrease in the 3H-thymidine labelling index and in the mitotic rate with advancing age were found but no significant differences in the endothelial cell turnover between aortic segments with and without flow-mechanical stresses.     

Analysis on x-ray-sensitivity of rabbit embryos (author's transl)

The sensitivity of Day-4-blastocysts to total x-ray irradiation at a dosage of 130r is studied at developmental stages 10, 11, 12 and 17 days p. c., after the treated blastocysts could develop in synchronized foster mothers. The effects by 130r are compared to normal controls and other dosages of 90r and 250 r. A maximum of developmental failure is recorded particularly in 130 r --irradiated embryos. The following reasons are considered to being causally involved: 1. Reduced mitotic activity between Days 5 and 7. 2. Reduced growth of the embryonic disk at Days 6 and 7, such inhibiting differentiation and further formation of the embryo. 3. Increasing imbalances in the essential synchronisation demands of the embryonic and maternal systems. 4. Developmental retardation accompanied by a failure in the dissolution of the blastocyst coverings, by this resulting in a considerable number of degenerating blastocysts at Day 8 p.c. 5. Increased imbalances in the ratio of the differentiation and growth, specific for each embryonic stage. Growth of the embryo, in general, occurs more slowly than the process of differentiation. 6. Failure of adaptation to the chorionic-allantoic-placenta supply at Day 11. This investigation may be considered as a basis for further causal relationship studies to find out the reason for the more pronounced sensitivity to 130 r than to 250 r of Day 4 rabbit blastocysts.     

T cell regeneration after allogenic bone marrow transplantation

Various T cell subsets were characterized by double immunofluorescent staining using monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) in blood, bone marrow (BM) and tissues of 29 patients after allogeneic BM transplantation (BMT). In an attempt to prevent graft versus host disease (GvHD), 15 patients received cyclosporin A (Cy A). In the remaining 14 patients the BM was pre-incubated with a MoAb, OKT3. The regeneration of T4⁺ subset was delayed and the level of T8⁺ cells was abnormally high even 1 year after engraftment. This did not have any predictive value for the appearance of complications such as GvHD or severe viral infections. The number of T8⁺ cells was lower in the group of patients who received Cy A than in the OKT3 group (0·7±0·2 vs 1·5±0·3×10⁹/1 at day 90). In contrast to normal individuals, the T4/T8 ratio in both blood and regenerating BM of BMT patients was <1. A sizeable subset of circulating T cells expressed the phenotype T8⁺,T10⁺,HNK-1⁺,DR⁺. Circulating cells of this phenotype were transiently very high (up to 50%) in patients with active GvHD or suffering from severe viral infection. This subpopulation of lymphocytes was not found in the epidermal infiltrate that accompanied GvHD where the predominant phenotype was T8⁺,T1^-,T10^-,HNK-1^-,DR^-. We conclude therefore that after BMT the number and phenotype of circulating T cells reflects the T cell distribution seen in the regenerating BM.     

Lung alterations after paraquat poisoning (author's transl)

After one application of paraquat (35 mg/kg body weight) studies of the changes in lung structure in phospholipid content of the alveolar wash as well as in the static pV-curves are performed on adult hooded rats. Pathomorphologically 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h after the paraquat intoxication focal atelectases, circumscribed inflammatory infiltrations of the interstitium are predominant as well as an accumulation of macrophages in the interstitium and in the alveolar space. Initially granulocytes dominate in the inflammatory infiltrates; after 8 h lymphoid elements and histiocytes became more and more apparent. 24 an 48 h after the paraquat injection there is a degradation of the alveolar epithelium. After 8-48 h the phospholipid content of the alveolar wash and after 2-48 h the hysteresis loop of the pV-curves are statistically significantly decreased in comparison with control animals. It is assumed, that the paraquat mediated dearrangement of the surfactant system of the lung is caused by an increased degradation in consequence of liberated phospholipases as well as by a decreased or ceased synthesis of the surfactant. The latter may be the consequence of an autooxydative membrane alteration of the endoplasmatic reticulum, the toxic action of the hydrogen peroxide originated by the autooxydation but also of the loss of energy rich substrates.     

Low frequency vibration on human hollow bone (author's transl)

With the aid of a stable fixation and a hammer system was removed the bone in vibrations which was registered. The vibrations have relations to the regions of the bone and have a practical connexion to the knowledge of the fracturation of the bone.