Induction of mortality and malformation in Xenopus laevis embryos by water sources associated with field frog deformities.

Water samples from several ponds in Minnesota were evaluated for their capacity to induce malformations in embryos of Xenopus laevis. The FETAX assay was used to assess the occurrence of malformations following a 96-hr period of exposure to water samples. These studies were conducted following reports of high incidences of malformation in natural populations of frogs in Minnesota wetlands. The purpose of these studies was to determine if a biologically active agent(s) was present in the waters and could be detected using the FETAX assay. Water samples from ponds with high incidences of frog malformations (affected sites), along with water samples from ponds with unaffected frog populations (reference sites), were studied. Initial experiments clearly showed that water from affected sites induced mortality and malformation in Xenopus embryos, while water from reference sites had little or no effect. Induction of malformation was dose dependent and highly reproducible, both with stored samples and with samples taken at different times throughout the summer. The biological activity of the samples was reduced or eliminated when samples were passed through activated carbon. Limited evidence from these samples indicates that the causal factor(s) is not an infectious organism nor are ion concentrations or metals responsible for the effects observed. Results do indicate that the water matrix has a significant effect on the severity of toxicity. Based on the FETAX results and the occurrence of frog malformations observed in the field, these studies suggest that water in the affected sites contains one or more unknown agents that induce developmental abnormalities in Xenopus. These same factors may contribute to the increased incidence of malformation in native species.     

Die Laugenverätzung des Magens und ihr Vergleich mit dem peptischen Magengeschwür

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 6 Textabbildungen.     

Quantitative Cytochemical and Morphometric Investigations on Uterine Angiomatosis (Endolymphatis Stromal Myosis) and Stromal Sarcoma]

The angiomatosis uteri shows a low scattering of nuclear DNA content; an euploid DNA stem line suggests a benign behavior in these tumors. This evidence is supported by clinical experiences. The endometrial stromal sarcoma and the angioblastic sarcoma are characterized by a high scattering of nuclear DNA content, an aneuploid DNA stemline and a substantial irregularity of the nuclear area. These difference, suggest the malignancy of stromal and angioblastic sarcoma.     

Über vasculäre Neurofibromatose

Zusammenfassung Es wird über zwei Beobachtungen mit Gefäßveränderungen berichtet, die im Rahmen der generalisierten Recklinghausenschen Neurofibromatose bzw. bei solitären Neurofibrom aufgetreten sind. Diese selten beobachtete Manifestation der Neurofibromatose beruht wahrscheinlich auf einer Proliferation des gefäßeigenen Nervengewebes und wurde von Feyrter vasculäre Neurofibromatose genannt. Die Gefäßwand ist meist schwer deformiert und die Lichtung eingeengt. Der Befall von verschiedenen Gefäßschichten kommt in der Einteilung in fünf verschiedenen Gruppen zum Ausdruck. Morphologie und Klinik werden diskutiert.

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Vascular involvement in neurofibromatosis

Summary Feyrter suggested the term vascular neurofibromatosis for rarely described vessel-wall changes in generalized neurofibromatosis. These changes, followed by severe alteration of the wall and obliteration of the lumen, probably are produced by a proliferation of nerve fibers in the wall of the blood vessels. The classification into 5 different forms, as proposed by Feyrter and Reubi, is based on the different localization of the process in the vessel wall.The general morphological and clinical features of two recently observed cases of this rarely diagnosted disease are discussed.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Max Ratzenhofer zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

The comparative efficacy of religious and nonreligious imagery for the treatment of mild depression in religious individuals

No previous outcome study in cognitive therapy has examined either the efficacy of imagery modification for depressives or the efficacy of a cognitive therapy geared specifically to the individual's value system. The present study did both of these by comparing the relative therapeutic efficacy of a religious and nonreligious imagery modification for mildly depressed religious individuals. The nonreligious imagery treatment showed no effects beyond those of the self-monitoring treatment or the minimal treatment condition. The religious imagery treatment, however, showed significantly more treatment gains than the self-monitoring or nonreligious imagery treatments, while the self-monitoring plus therapist contact treatment was intermediate in effectiveness.The author wishes to thank J. T. Reagan and Russell Dern for their valuable help in the execution of the study.