Synthesis of gestodene

The synthesis of the new progestogen, 17 alpha-ethinyl-17 beta-hydroxy-18-methyl-4,15-estradien-3-one (gestodene, 6), starting from 18-methyl-4-estren-3,17-dione (1) can be accomplished by several methods. The oral progestational activity of gestodene is greater than that of levonorgestrel. Gestodene, in combination with ethinylestradiol, is contained in a recently developed oral contraceptive.     

Chlamydia trachomatis, a pathogen in infections of the upper respiratory tract?

In neonates and in older children C. trachomatis can cause otitis media in rare cases. This fact has to be taken into account in diagnosis. The detection of C. trachomatis in the pharynx after orogenital sexual practice seems to be rather due to colonization than to an infection. According to existing studies C. trachomatis does not play a causative role in the pathogenesis of pharyngitis in adults.     

Alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-macroglobulin/proteinase complexes in human seminal fluid.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the broad-spectrum proteinase inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and its functional subforms, i.e., free alpha 2M and alpha 2M/proteinase complexes, in human seminal fluid by using specific enzyme immunoassay systems. SETTING: The study has been performed in the Andrology Department of the Dermatology Clinics and the Laboratory of Immunopathology of the Institute of Immunology. PATIENTS, PARTICIPATES: Routine patients attending the Andrology Department. INTERVENTIONS: The data have been obtained without particular interventions before or after collection of seminal fluid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The aim of the study was to determine whether alpha 2M or alpha 2M/proteinase complexes are present in human seminal fluid. RESULTS: The concentration of total alpha 2M in human seminal fluid ranged from 1 to greater than 1,000 ng/mL, and between 56% and 85% of the inhibitor was complexed with proteinases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that alpha 2M and alpha 2M/proteinase complexes have to be considered as functionally relevant biomolecules in male genital tract secretions.     

Sexually transmitted diseases in Germany

In the former West Germany, in specific venereal diseases legislation passed in 1953, only syphilis, gonorrhoea, ulcus molle, and lymphogranuloma venereum were defined as venereal diseases and subject to mandatory notification. The proportion of unreported cases was as high as 75% for syphilis and up to 90% for gonorrhoea. Epidemiological data for the past 10 years exist only on selected populations from research studies and are summarized in this article. In the former East Germany reporting of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was mandatory and, due to the centralized organization, underreporting was considered to be low, although no specific studies have examined this. After the unification in 1990 of the two German states the West German laws were adopted in East Germany. Since 1982 - when the first AIDS case was reported in Germany - information on AIDS cases has voluntarily been collected at the national register at the AIDS Centre of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. The law governing the reporting of infectious diseases has recently been revised. Under the new Protection against Infection Act, which became effective on 1 January 2001, clinical diagnoses of STIs (with the exception of hepatitis B) are no longer notifiable diseases. Laboratory reporting of positive test results for Treponema pallidum has been introduced. With T. pallidum and HIV notifications, additional disaggregated data are collected. Since T. pallidum and HIV remain the only notifiable STIs, all other STIs have to be monitored through sentinel surveillance systems. These surveillance systems are currently being established. Under the new legislation, local health authorities have to provide adequate counselling and testing services for STIs, which may be provided free of charge if necessary.     

Bronchial sensitization in guinea pigs following ingestion of ovalbumin

Local bronchial mucosal hypersensitivity following antigen feeding was studied in the guinea pig. Groups of 6 animals were fed 1% ovalbumin (OA) in tap water or tap water without antigen (control group) for different feeding periods (14, 28, 42, and 56 days). Inhalative provocations with increasing concentrations of OA (0.5-8% OA) were performed at the end of each feeding period followed by body plethysmographic measurement of airway obstruction. Specific bronchial hypersensitivity to inhaled OA was not found in the control group, whereas specific bronchial reactivity to OA, described as reactivity index, was significantly different from the control group after 14 (p less than 0.05), 28 (p less than 0.001) and 42 days (p less than 0.01) of feeding. No difference to the control group was found after 56 days of feeding. Anti-OA IgG total and IgG1 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased in OA-fed animals reaching maximal concentrations at day 28 of the feeding period. We conclude that oral feeding of a 1% solution of OA can induce a transient state of local hypersensitivity to inhaled antigen in the guinea pig as manifested by bronchoconstriction on OA inhalation and increased concentrations of local and systemic specific antibodies. This period of local hypersensitivity is followed by tolerance.     

Transformation of Candida maltosa and Pichia guilliermondii by a plasmid containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARG4 DNA

Summary Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida maltosa and Pichia guilliermondii have been transformed by the plasmid pYe(ARG4)411, which contains the S. cerevisiae ARG4 gene inserted into pBR322. In all transformants argininosuccinate lyase as well as -lactamase were detected. The ARG⁺ phenotype of transformants is mitotically unstable. Closed circular pYe(ARG4)411, DNA was detected in transformant DNA preparations by hybridization to pBR322 DNA and by transformation of E. coli to ampicillin resistance.     

Interstitielle granulomatöse Dermatitis mit Arthritis

Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with arthritis is a rare dermatologic disorder seen in patients suffering from diseases in which circulating immune complexes occur. The typical cutaneous signs are linear cords usually located on the lateral aspect of the trunk. The characteristic, although not specific, histology reveals a dense diffuse infiltrate composed mostly of histiocytes, accompanied by neutrophils and eosinophils, and degenerated collagen surrounded by palisades of histiocytes. We discuss this disorder and its differential diagnosis.