Identification of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) secreting cells and other cell types using antibody to HCG and a new monoclonal antibody (mABlu-5) in cultures of human placental villi

Summary We have identified cells which secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) of cultures if first trimester placental villi. As a first step, we identified epithelial cells using a new monoclonal antibody. We then added HCG antibodies to the cultured cells. We found that syncytiotrophoblast (and not cytotrophoblast), Hofbauer cells and some mesenchymal cells stained with HCG antibodies.     

Different proliferative activity of the glandular and myoepithelial lineages in benign proliferative and early malignant breast diseases.

The aim of the present study was to explore cell biological characteristics of normal breast, benign proliferative breast diseases and noninvasive breast malignancies based on the recently published adult progenitor cell concept from our group. Here, we investigated the proliferative activity of CK5/14(+), CK8/18/19(+) and alpha-smooth muscle actin(+) cellular phenotypes encountered in normal mammary gland, in a series of usual ductal hyperplasias and early malignant breast diseases, such as atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasias, as well as ductal and lobular in situ carcinomas. Immunohistochemical double labeling was performed on frozen sections from diagnostic breast biopsies by using antibodies to basal cytokeratins (CK5/14), glandular cytokeratins (CK8/18/19), smooth muscle actin and the Ki-67 antigen (MIB1). Normal breast tissues and usual ductal hyperplasias were characterized by a heterogeneous cellular composition of the growth fraction. The proliferative cell compartment consisted of CK8/18/19(+) glandular and, in a variable proportion, CK5/14(+) progenitor phenotypes. In contrast, noninvasive breast malignancies were composed of a monotonous proliferation of CK 8/18/19(+) neoplastic glandular cells. These findings indicate a significant role of progenitor cells in the development of benign proliferative breast diseases and lend support to the view that malignant transformation in the human breast usually occurs in a cell committed to the glandular lineage. Our results provide cell kinetic support to the functional progenitor cell hypothesis, and we propose this concept as an operative model for understanding benign proliferative and malignant breast diseases.     

经单侧半椎板切除髓内海绵状血管瘤

目的探讨脊髓髓内海绵状血管瘤的出血性损伤风险、临床特征以及经单侧半椎板切除髓内海绵状血管瘤的手术技巧。方法回顾性分析11例髓内海绵状血管瘤病人的病历资料。均经单侧半椎板切除肿瘤。采用统计学分析，在性别分布、平均年龄、年出血率等方面与同期颅内（145例）、脑干（61例）海绵状血管瘤进行比较。术前Frankel分级D级8例，C级2例，A级1例。结果本组女性7例，男性4例．女性与男性之比高于颅内（80：65）和脑干（33：28）海绵状血管瘤；年出血率为2．8％／病人，稍低于颅内（3．3％）和脑干（3．1％）海绵状血管瘤。病变均获全切：术后随访期内8例神经系统症状改善（Frankel分级D级升到E级6例，C级升到D级2例）．3例临床症状无变化。结论脊髓髓内海绵状血管瘤应全切以防复发和再出血；选择微侵袭的半椎板入路，以及术中采用体感诱发电位监护．是取得满意结果、预防附加损伤的关键．     

Lack of association between cytomegalovirus infection, HLA matching and the vanishing bile duct syndrome after liver transplantation.

In this study we evaluated the association between cytomegalovirus infection alone or in relation to human leukocyte antigen matching and the development of vanishing bile duct syndrome, a form of chronic hepatic allograft rejection. A total of 81 consecutive liver transplant recipients were studied. Cytomegalovirus infection developed in 46 recipients (57%), and vanishing bile duct syndrome occurred in 9 recipients (11%). Cytomegalovirus infection developed in only five of the nine patients with vanishing bile duct syndrome. Univariate analysis of pretransplant recipient/donor cytomegalovirus serological tests and human leukocyte antigen typing showed they were not significant risk factors for the development of vanishing bile duct syndrome. Time-dependent analysis of cytomegalovirus infection after transplantation as a risk factor for vanishing bile duct syndrome, in a multivariate analysis with human leukocyte antigen match, showed no statistical significance. In our study, no association was found between cytomegalovirus infection alone or in relation to class I or II human leukocyte antigen match and the subsequent development of vanishing bile duct syndrome.     

Herpesvirus infections in seals: a summary of present knowledge.

This review summarises the occurrence of herpesvirus infections in pinnipeds and data from investigations carried out by the authors. These data demonstrate that herpesvirus isolates collected from harbour seals (Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758) during the 1988 seal epidemic were almost indistinguishable from feline herpesvirus 1 and that Antarctic Weddell's seals (Leptonychotes weddelli Lesson, 1826) carry antibodies against seal herpesvirus from the north-western Europe seal epidemic. The significance of herpesvirus infections in seals is discussed.     

Kammerautomatie und Vorhofflimmern

Ohne ZusammenfassungHierzu 6 Textfiguren.     

Primary Radiotherapy of Stage IIA/B–IIIB Cervical Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive literature on cervical cancer demonstrates, even today, the need for optimization of the timing of external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) in the treatment of stage IIA/B-IIIB cervical carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 210 patients with carcinoma of the cervix were treated in the Municipal Center of Oncoradiology between January 1991 and December 1996 (FIGO IIA: n = 10, FIGO IIB: n = 113, and FIGO IIIB: n = 87). Two regimens were compared: sequential radiation therapy (SRT) with 4 x 8 Gy HDR-BT to point A followed by EBRT, and continuous radiation therapy (CRT) in which 5 x 6 Gy HDR-BT to point A, one session per week, was integrated into the EBRT. A total dose of 68-70 Gy to point A and 52-54 Gy to point B was given in EBRT with SRT, five fractions per week were applied. Four fractions per week were applied in CRT, i. e., no EBRT was performed on the day of HDR-BT. Total doses to points A and B were identical in both regimens. Overall treatment time (OTT) amounted to 56 days for SRT and 35 days for CRT. Median follow-up time was 3.4 (2.5-4.2) years. RESULTS: Progression-free 5-year-survival (PFS) was 71% in the CRT and 56% in the SRT group. Nevertheless, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 1.00), and the same was found in a subgroup analysis of the different tumor stages, showing, however, an unequivocal trend. Late bladder and rectal injuries occurred in 13% and 25%, respectively. Late rectal injuries were significantly more frequent with SRT than CRT (35 patients in the SRT and 18 patients in the CRT group; p = 0.037). This was due to the higher doses per fraction of HDR-BT in the SRT group. No difference was found regarding late bladder injuries (p = 0.837). CONCLUSION: For the patients included in this study, no advantage has been found so far in using CRT, i. e., shortening the OTT by weekly integration of HDR-BT into EBRT. Nevertheless, an obvious trend exists. The dose of 8 Gy per fraction of HDR-BT in the SRT regimen was obviously too high. To achieve a significant improvement in local control and disease-free survival (DFS) as well as overall survival (OS), the combination with modern chemotherapy regimens and regional deep hyperthermia may rather be the treatment option.