Erfahrungen über die während des Verlaufes der akuten und chronischen Mittelohrsuppurationen auftretende Labyrinthitis

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Ethanol metabolism in heavy drinkers after massive and moderate alcohol intake

Some alcoholics have a regular daily alcohol consumption of more than 100 g. In preliminary observations we had the impression that the claimed alcohol intake in such ‘heavy drinkers’ was higher than could be accounted for by the ethanol elimination rate as measured routinely at 10 mmol/l (0.5 g/l).We therefore measured the ethanol elimination rate at very high blood ethanol concentrations of 40–80 mmol/l (2–4 g/l) found in eight alcoholics following heavy alcohol intake by measuring the falling blood ethanol concentrations until being less than 1 mmol/l. The elimination rate, on average 83 μmol/min per l blood, was about 49% higher than the elimination rate measured at 10 mmol/l in the same subject, being on average 58 μmol/min per l/blood (paired t-test, P < 0.05). The elimination rate following the high initial ethanol concentrations remained high until the concentration was below 5 mmol/l.Calculations of elimination rates are based on a number of assumptions concerning the physiologic and metabolic conditions. We examined specifically if the concentration-time curves could be adequately described by assuming metabolism according to a Michaelis-Menten pathway with a low K_m, value (simulating alcoholdehydrogenase with K_m 0.2 mmol/l) or by assuming metabolism by two pathways with an alternative high-K_m pathway with K_i about 10 mmol/l. It was not necessary, in the statistical analysis, to include an alternative high-K_m pathway. On the other hand, the data does give room for up to 50% elimination via such alternative pathways.The elimination rate at the high concentrations corresponded roughly to the claimed daily alcohol intake; furthermore the measured elimination rate at the lower concentrations were similar to values in non-alcoholics.     

White Cell Count During Maintenance Chemotherapy for Standard-Risk Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Relation to Relapse Rate

In a retrospective study of 84 children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed in 1981-1986, mean white cell count (mWBC) during maintenance chemotherapy (MT) was found to be significantly related to risk of hematological relapse, giving patients with the higher m WBC the poorer outcome. The only other significant relapse-related risk factor was white-cell count at diagnosis. mWBC was not significantly related to white cell count at diagnosis, sex, age, or dose of methotrexate or mercaptopurine. Patients with low mWBC also had relatively low white-cell counts after cessation of therapy when compared with patients with high m WBC.     

The pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands transplanted on athmymic mice

Summary 10 pleomorphic adenomas of the human parotid gland were transplanted on several groups of nude mice. For comparative reasons, 10 other pleomorphic adenomas, a neurinoma and a chordoma and transplants of squamous cell carcinomas and of normal salivary gland tissue were also analysed.In the primary tumours and in the transplants, the presence of keratin, carcinoembryonic antigen, tissue polypeptide antigen, lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, secretory component, amylase, fibronectin and of several lectin-receptors (PNA, WGA, HPA, Ulex europaeus) was sought.The immunohistological observations show that many of the features of a pleomorphic adenoma are constant under the conditions of transplantation. In the transplanted tumour, the same heterogeneity as in the primary tumours can be observed. Autoradiographic studies show little labelling with 3-H thymidine, which is in good accordance with the biological behaviour of the tumour.The distribution of fibronectin shows an interesting association with myoepithelial-like cells.Our results support the hypothesis that the histogenetic origin of the pleomorphic adenoma is a cell pool of the terminal ductal segment. A differentiation towards ductal cells (with production of secretory substances) and towards myoepithelial cells (associated with large amounts of basal membrane like substances) is observed.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and by the Hamburger Stiftung zur Förderung der Krebsbekämpfung     

Limb anomalies in the CHARGE association.

We report a male infant with iris coloboma, choanal atresia, postnatal retardation of growth and psychomotor development, genital anomaly, ear anomaly, and anal atresia. In addition, there was cutaneous syndactyly and nail hypoplasia of the second and third fingers on the right and hypoplasia of the left second finger nail. Comparable observations have rarely been reported and possibly represent genetic heterogeneity.     

Role of eosinophilic granulocytes in women with infertility and pelvic adhesions

Increased numbers of eosinophilic granulocytes and eosinophil degranulation have been observed in various inflammatory conditions. Biopsies from the fallopian tubes of 28 patients were examined for the content of eosinophilic granulocytes. Peritoneal fluids (PF) from 89 patients were analyzed for the concentrations of eosinophilic granulocytes and the granule protein eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). The ECP levels in the PF were substantially elevated during genital inflammation (P < 0.001). Furthermore, one week after laparotomy for adhesiolysis there were both increased PF-ECP levels (P < 0.01) and raised concentrations of eosinophilic granulocytes (P < 0.001) when compared to the reference group. Staining of the biopsies with monoclonal antibodies revealed an increased total number as well as a number of activated eosinophilic granulocytes in specimens from adhesions and sactosalpinx compared to specimens from normal fimbriae. The findings indicate that eosinophilic granulocytes may have a possible role in the fibrotic process of pelvic adhesion disease.