Immunohistochemistry (S 100, KL 1) and human papillomavirus DNA hybridization on Morbus Bowen and bowenoid papulosis

Summary In this study 55 paraffin embedded samples defined as Bowen's disease or bowenoid papulosis were investigated with antibodies against S 100 protein and keratins (KL 1). S 100-positive cells were quantified and related to defined section area of the epidermal compartment by computer-assisted image analysis. The density of S 100-positive cells was compared with normal skin and was particularly related to growth patterns and keratinization of the different lesions under study. S 100-positive dendritic cells were found to be reduced overall in bowenoid lesions when compared with normal skin. Lesions with high counts of S 100-positive dendritic cells most frequentty showed a solitary growth pattern with highly conserved architecture and differentiation and no tendency to stromal invasion. In contrast, cases with low counts of S 100-positive cells very often showed multifocal development, a high degree of architectural disturbance and dedifferentiation. In this group, stromal invasion (cases of invasive carcinoma associated with Bowen's disease) was seen more often. Interestingly, this latter group of cases also revealed a peculiar keratin pattern. Frequently, the basal cell layer was decorated with KL 1 antibody, which usually recognizes only suprabasaly located keratinocytes. No differences between Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis were found in terms of densities of S 100-positive dendritic cells and keratin pattern. In our experience, extragenital Bowen's disease and genital Bowen's disease can not be distinguished on purely morphological grounds or with the immunocytochemical approach presented here. Interestingly, when employing in situ hybridization with HPV 16 probes three of seven samples of genital Bowen's disease harboured HPV 16 DNA, whereas six cases of extragenital disease were negative.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Lo 285/2-4)     

Der p-Phenylendiamin(PPD)-Oxydasetest als eine Laboratoriumsmethode zur Diagnostik der Hyperthyreose

Zusammenfassung Bei 31 unbehandelten Hyperthyreosekranken wurde die p-Phenylendiamin(PPD)-Oxydaseaktivität und die Kupferkonzentration im Serum und gleichzeitig der Grundumsatz bestimmt. Der Grundumsatz lag bei allen Patienten über der Normgrenze. Die PPD-Oxydaseaktivität und der Serumkupferspiegel sind signifikant erhöht gefunden worden. Demzufolge scheint die PPD-Oxydasebestimmung im Serum ein guter Hinweis für die Diagnose unbehandelter Hyperthyreosen zu sein.Weiterhin wurden dieselben Untersuchungen bei Hyperthyreosekranken vor und während der Therapie mit einzelnen Thyreostatica der Thiouracilgruppe durchgeführt. Dabei konnte eine Verminderung von PPD-Oxydaseaktivität und Kupfergehalt im Serum, parallel zur Grundumsatzverminderung, beobachtet werden, sofern die Thyreostatica in genügenden Dosen angewandt wurden. Die Bestimmung der PPD-Oxydaseaktivität erscheint daher auch zur Beurteilung des Therapieeffekts und zur Ermittlung der therapeutischen Dosis von Wert zu sein.     

Die Atemarbeit von Säuglingen bei Atmung durch Endotrachealkatheter

Zusammenfassung Wir bestimmten an sechs Säuglingen im Alter von 6 Monaten die zusätzliche Atemarbeit, die bei Atmung durch Loennecken-Katheter der Charrièrestufen 18, 16, 14 und durch einen neuen Katheter der Stufe 14 mit nur sehr kurzem stenotischem Anteil von den Säuglingen aufgewendet wird. Dabei stellten wir fest, daß im günstigsten Fall bei einem Katheter der Stufe 18 die Atemarbeit verdoppelt und im ungünstigsten Fall bei einem Katheter der Stufe 14 auf das 28fache erhöht wird. Der neue Katheter der Stufe 14 liegt in seiner Wirkung zwischen den Stufen 18 und 16 der Loennecken-Katheter.Ausgeführt mit Mitteln der Deutsehen Forschungsgemeinschaft und der Dr. Karl Wilder-Stiftung des Verbandes der Lebensversicherungsunternehmen e. V.Wir danken unserer technischen Assistentin Frau U.Loebell und Herrn cand. med. K. J.Grusz für ihre Mithilfe bei der Ausführung der Messungen und der Auswertung der Meßergebnisse.     

German experimental hepatitis B vaccine — Influence of variation of dosage schedule,sex and age differences on immunogenicity in health care workers

Summary Of the medical staff of our hospital 217 members at high risk for hepatitis B were immunized with an experimental hepatitis B vaccine and anti-HBs titers used to study the influence of two dosage schedules, age, and sex on immunogenicity. Participants were 34 years of age (mean; range, 20–61); they were divided into two groups and vaccinated three times. Group A received 42 µg HBsAg for each vaccination. Group B received 84 µg for the first and 21 µg for the second and third vaccinations. The seroconversion rate was 32.7% after the first, 78.8% after the second, and 95.7% after the third vaccination. The participants who failed to produce anti-HBs titer (3 IU/l;n=9) or whose anti-HBs titers were below 50 IU/l (n=31) were vaccinated a fourth time. Only mild side effects of injections were observed in a third of all participants, usually in the form of a sore arm.Between groups A and B there were no significant differences as far as the seroconversion rate and anti-HBs titer were concerned. Nonresponders plus low-responders accounted for 19%. Female participants produced a markedly higher anti-HBs titer than males, and the female/male ratio among non- and low-responders was 1:2; among nonresponders, 1:2.5. There was a negative correlation of the anti-HBs titer with the age of the participants. These results not only have practical consequences for revaccination policy, but also offer the opportunity to further study the genetic regulation of the immune response to a complex peptide antigen in man.Abbreviations anti-HBc antibody to hepatitis B core antigen - anti-HBe antibody to hepatitis B e antigen - anti-HBs antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen - HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen - IU/l international units per liter - MSD Merck, Sharp, and Dohme     

Expression of the structural proteins of dengue 2 virus and yellow fever virus by recombinant vaccinia viruses

Summary Vaccinia virus recombinants were constructed which contained cDNA sequences encoding the structural region of dengue 2 virus (PR159/S1 strain) or yellow fever virus (17D strain). The flavivirus cDNA sequences were expressed under the control of the vaccinia 7.5k early/late promotor. Cultured cells infected with these recombinants expressed immunologically reactive flavivirus structural proteins, precursor prM and E. These proteins appeared to be cleaved and glycosylated properly since they comigrated with the authentic proteins from dengue 2 virus- and yellow fever virus-infected cells. Mice immunized with the dengue/vaccinia recombinant showed a dengue-specific immune response that included low levels of neutralizing antibodies. Immunization of mice with the yellow fever/vaccinia recombinant was less effective at inducing an immune response to yellow fever virus and in only some of the mice were low titers of neutralizing antibodies produced.     

Quantitative histologic studies of the gonads of sand rats (Psammomys obesus) during the development of diabetes mellitus]

Quantitative-histological investigations (point counting method) are pointed out in 27 male and 15 female sand rats. The animals are divided in the IGT (impaired glucose tolerance), the diabetic and the control group. The LEYDIG cells are in the IGT-group increased, and in the diabetic group decreased. The female sand rats are characterized by the tendency of increase of size and number of follicles in the IGT-group. Corpora lutea are reduced but atretic follicles are increased in the diabetic group. The ovaries are greater in diabetic sand rats.     

An adjective list for assessing emotional expressivity in psychotherapy research

Background: Several forms of psychotherapy aim at improving their patients' emotional expressivity, which is considered to contribute to mental health. Studies on the success of such attempts are virtually absent. Aim: To develop a measure for assessing changes of emotional expressivity in the course of psychotherapy. Method: In study 1 (N = 321), we generated a pool of German adjectives referring to emotional expressivity and reduced the number of those adjectives by means of factor‐analysis. In study 2 (N = 103), we determined how emotional expressivity is related to the Big Five personality factors. Results: An expressivity scale of 12 items with highly satisfactory psychometric properties was construed. Emotional expressivity is substantially related to Extraversion and moderately related to Agreeableness and Openness. Conclusion: The scale is ideally suited for repeated assessments in the course of psychotherapy in multi‐agent (e.g., inpatient) settings. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.