The prevalence of human papillomavirus genotypes in nonmelanoma skin cancers of nonimmunosuppressed individuals identifies high-risk genital types as possible risk factors

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignant disease in Caucasians. Known risk factors include fair skin, sun exposure, male gender, advancing age, and the presence of solar keratosis. No viral risk factors have been established thus far. To examine the association between nonmelanoma skin cancer and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) types, we performed a retrospective study in which skin biopsies were collected from 496 nonimmunosuppressed patients attending dermatologic clinics during a defined period and for whom a biopsy or resection of a tumor was indicated for medical reasons. A total of 390 patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of warts (n = 209), solar keratosis or Bowen's disease (n = 91), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 72), or basal cell carcinoma (n = 18), as well as 106 control patients with normal skin was analyzed for infection with HPV and, if positive, HPV typed by sequencing. Logistic regression was performed to separately investigate association of certain HPV types with the occurrence of warts, precancerous lesions, and skin cancer compared with normal skin. For all three histological groups, both crude risk and risk adjusted for age, sex, and sun exposure were calculated. HPV DNA was detected in only 4.7% of controls, in 90.9% of benign warts, in 60.4% of precancerous lesions, in 59.7% of squamous cell carcinoma, and in 27.8% of basal cell carcinoma, which demonstrates that viral infection is specifically linked to skin disorders. The distribution of viral types found is distinctly different between warts and precancers or cancers, supporting an etiologic role of specific HPV types. This is supported by statistical analysis, where after adjusting for age, gender, and sun exposure, the odds ratio for nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients who were DNA positive for the high-risk mucosal HPV types, 16, 31, 35, and 51 was 59 (95% confidence interval, 5.4-645) with normal skin as controls. These findings suggest that persistent infections of the skin with high risk genital HPV types recently identified as significant risk factors for cervical cancer may also represent a risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancer in a nonimmunosuppressed population.     

Complex encounters at the macrophage-mycobacterium interface: studies on the role of the mannose receptor and CD14 in experimental infection models with Mycobacterium avium

The initial interactions between mycobacterial cell wall components and receptor structures on the surface of macrophages may be critical in determining the outcome of infection. They may trigger the ingestion and digestion of microorganisms, but they may also promote the intracellular persistence and growth of mycobacteria. Using Mycobacterium avium as a model system, three approaches of different complexities were used to analyse some structural features and some functional consequences of M. avium interacting with the macrophage mannose receptor or CD14, a pattern recognition receptor. Binding specificities of a recombinant, truncated extracellular portion of the mannose receptor were assayed in a novel ELISA-formatted system using viable M. avium cells as ligands. Infection with M. avium strains differing in their virulence were performed in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and in mice with a targeted deletion of the CD14 gene. These parallel and converging approaches not only help define the molecular basis for understanding early events in the pathogenesis of mycobacterial infections, but are also necessary to ultimately determine the relevance of in vitro findings in the context of actual manifestations of disease in vivo.     

Initial management of immune thrombocytopenic purpura in adults: a randomized controlled trial comparing intermittent anti-D with routine care

We conducted a randomized clinical trial in adults with a new diagnosis of ITP and a platelet count <30000/muL to test the hypothesis that initial intermittent treatment with anti-D may avoid or defer the need for splenectomy when compared to current routine care (glucocorticoid treatment, followed by splenectomy). Splenectomy was to be performed in the anti-D group if patients failed to respond to three consecutive anti-D treatments given within 10 days. The incidences of splenectomy were 14 of 37 (38%) in the routine care group and 14 of 33 (42%) in the anti-D group (absolute risk reduction = 4.6% in favor of the routine care group, 95% CI, -18.4 to 27.6%). However, splenectomy was performed prematurely, not according to the protocol, in 11 of 14 patients in the anti-D group. The median time to splenectomy was 36 days (range, 9-78) in the routine care group and 112 days (range, 19-558) in the anti-D group (P = 0.045 at 100 days after randomization, P = 0.840 at 1 year after randomization, using log-rank analysis). Patients in the anti-D group were treated with prednisone for fewer days (70 days) compared to the routine care group (112 days, P = 0.01). No major bleeding events occurred. In this study, initial treatment of patients with intermittent anti-D initially deferred splenectomy. Whether our aggressive regimen of anti-D could have prevented splenectomy if it had been adhered to in all patients remains uncertain. However, compliance with this anti-D regimen was not feasible for many patients and/or their physicians.     

Encountering the person in his environment--approaches to psychosocial management

INTRODUCTION: Is it necessary to understand your vis a vis or is it enough to meet, to get in touch? Awareness of the different perception of reality is important. INTERINDIVIDUELL: Defined as basic requirements for getting in touch, mutual modelling and interchange were "Knowing your own world", "Being curious about the world of the other", candour and tolerance. Time makes the essential framework. GROUPS/ORGANISATIONS: Are the interindividuell parameters also practicable for groups/organizations? DISCUSSION: In the psychosocial context the subjective perception of the world is cause and cure at the same time. The basic requirements enable people, by getting in touch, to reorganize themselves.     

Diagnosis,treatment and progress after frontal lobe injury

The comprehensive assessment of a frontal lobe injury is one of the most complex problems in diagnosis and treatment due to the variability of nature, extent and effect of various disorders of higher cerebral functions, i. e. impairment of the ability to act systematically, attention, motivation and emotionality. This brings about considerable differences in assessing and judging the effects of frontal lobe syndromes. Impairments of initiation, planning and carrying out of actions, of impulse control, attention, memory and self-perception often manifest in disorganised and dissocial behaviour which brings about serious effects in many fields of social adaptability. Deeper neurological insights in nature and effects of these deficiencies and improved diagnostical methods and concepts of intensive-care treatment as well as the improved understanding in the necessity of a longterm rehabilitation program have led to the development of specific strategies concerning the dealing with the patient, the counseling of the social environment, especially of the relatives, and the treatment of the patient's symptoms. In the course of acute and rehabilitative treatment the patient normally has to develop strategies of habituation and adaptation to his social environment, furthermore techniques of compensation as well as an improvement of personal resources including attention, memory and planning of actions. The ability of self-control ought to be improved by training of behavioural strategies leading to an increased independence. The success of treatment varies distinctly from individual to individual. As a rule, basic capabilities in the scope of higher brain functions as well as executive and behavioural abilities can be improved. However, a restitutio ad integrum of all dysfunctions is very rare.     

Cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels in saliva of healthy neonates: normative data and relation to body mass index, arterial cord blood ph and time of sampling after birth

The measurement of cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) in saliva has become a reliable tool for both the scientist and the clinician for studying adrenal cortical function in the adult and the older child. We have now established in parallel normative data for salivary cortisol and 17-OHP levels in healthy neonates. We have asked whether or not there is a circadian rhythm of cortisol and 17-OHP saliva levels in neonates. Furthermore, we have asked whether salivary hormone levels correlated with auxologic and clinical data and time of sampling. Cortisol and 17-OHP levels in saliva samples from 119 healthy neonates (55 girls, 64 boys) were measured using in-house time-resolved fluorescent immunoassays. Saliva samples were obtained using a saliva collecting tube three times a day on the first or second day of life. Gender and gestational age did not influence salivary cortisol and 17-OHP levels. No significant circadian rhythm of salivary hormone levels was detected in this group of newborns. However, body mass index, arterial cord blood pH and time of saliva sampling significantly influenced salivary hormone levels. In conclusion, measurement of cortisol and 17-OHP in saliva is feasible in healthy neonates. The existence of normative data forms the basis for future studies on pathophysiologic states in the newborn period.     

Epidemiologie, Ätiologie und Prävention des Zervixkarzinoms

Sogenannte high risk humane Papillomviren (HPV) wie HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 51, 52, 58 und 59 verursachen Geb?rmutterhalskrebs. In der folgenden übersicht werden die wichtigsten vorliegenden epidemiologischen Daten zum Zervixkarzinom und seinen Vorstufen auf ihre Assoziation mit HPV analysiert. Im Weiteren werden molekulare Mechanismen der anogenitalen Karzinogenese evaluiert. Die Bedeutung des HPV-Nachweises für die Pr?vention des Zervixkarzinoms wird diskutiert. Abschlie?end werden die Prinzipien der Impfstrategien gegen HPV dargestellt.     

Untersuchungen über Pepsinverdauung

Ohne Zusammenfassung