Twelve novel HLA-B*15 alleles carrying previously observed sequence motifs are placed into B*15 subgroups

Twelve new B*15 alleles are described. All of the known B*15 alleles are divided into subgroups based on serologic assignments and/or nucleotide sequence polymorphisms. These groups might be used as a reference for DNA-based testing at an intermediate (i.e. "serologic") level of resolution.     

Nucleation of calcium phosphate by surface-bound extracellular matrix

The native extracellular matrix (ECM) laid down on silicon and titanium surfaces by osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells was exposed by selective removal of cells. This type of material surface ECM-Si, ECM-Ti was shown to promote the nucleation of calcium phosphate from a simulated body fluid (SBF). Microscopic and spectroscopic results revealed the effect was associated with a collagen fiber-free extracellular matrix.     

Hirndurchblutung und cerebraler Stoffwechsel bei Kranken mit chronischer Niereninsuffizienz

Zusammenfassung 1. Bei 24 Kranken mit chronischer Niereninsuffizienz und Urämie wurden die Hirndurchblutungsgröße quantitativ mit der Stickoxydulmethode und der cerebrale Stoffwechsel mit enzymatischen Methoden untersucht.2. Bei einem Harnstoff-N von 142 mg-% und einem arteriellen pH von 7,31 lag die Hirndurchblutungsgröße mit 63,0 ml/100 g · min gering über der Norm. Der cerebrale O₂-Verbrauch (2,77 ml/100 g · min) und der cerebrale Glucoseverbrauch (3,75 mg/100 g · min) waren stark vermindert. Der Glucose-Oxydationsquotient war mit 1,13 gering reduziert. Die cerebrale Lactat- und Pyruvatabgabe unterschieden sich nicht sicher von der Norm. Der respiratorische Quotient lag mit 0,89 tiefer als normal.3. Die Aufschlüsselung des Materials in acidotische (pH<7,35) und nichtacidotische (pH>7,35) Urämien ergab unterschiedliche Resultate:a) Bei 15 acidotischen Urämien war die Hirndurchblutungsgröße mit 69,0 ml/100 g · min erhöht. Die Korrelationsberechnung zeigt, daß eine gesicherte negative Beziehung zwischen pH und Hirndurchblutungsgröße besteht: Je stärker die Acidose, desto höher die Durchblutung.Die cerebrale O₂-Aufnahme war mit 2,62 ml/100 g · min und die Glucoseaufnahme mit 3,33 mg/100 g · min signifikant vermindert. Der Glucose-Oxydationsquotient war mit 0,98 sehr stark reduziert.b) Bei 9 nichtacidotischen Urämien lag die Hirndurchblutung mit 52,9 ml/100 g · min im Normbereich, während der O₂-Verbrauch mit 2,96 ml/100 g · min und der Glucoseverbrauch mit 4,52 mg/100 g · min reduziert waren. Der Glucoseverbrauch war deutlich weniger vermindert als bei den acidotischen Urämien. Daher unterscheidet sich in dieser Gruppe der Glucose-Oxydationsquotient nicht signifikant von der Norm.4. Es besteht eine statistisch gesicherte positive Korrelation von pH und O₂- bzw. Glucoseverbrauch, d.h. je stärker die Acidose, desto niedriger sind O₂- und Glucoseaufnahme. Zur Höhe des Harnstoff-N besteht keine Korrelation.5. Unter der Therapie mit Abfall des Harnstoff-N und Anstieg des pH besserten sich cerebrale O₂- und Glucoseaufnahme und normalisierte sich der Glucose-Oxydationsquotient.6. Es besteht eine Beziehung von cerebraler Funktion (Sensorium klar, getrübt, Praecoma, Coma) zu den cerebralen O₂- und Glucoseutilisationswerten, nicht hingegen zur Durchblutungsgröße.7. Die urämische Encephalopathie ist Folge einer acidotisch-toxischen Stoffwechseldepression und geht nicht mit einer cerebralen Zirkulationsstörung einher.Meinen akademischen Lehrern Prof. Dr. Dr. G. Bodechtel und Prof. Dr. A. Bernsmeier zu ihren Geburtstagen im März 1972.     

Cultivation and partial characterization of spiroplasmas in cell cultures.

Spiroplasmas were propagated in the Drosophila melanogaster cell line Dm-1. Spiroplasma citri and unidentified strains (corn shunt organism, 277F [tick isolate], powder puff, BNR-1, honey bee, and OBMG) grew to 10(8) to 10(9) colony-forming units per ml and could be passaged. Cytopathic effect (CPE) varied with the infecting spiroplasma. The honey bee isolate killed Dm-1 within 2 to 4 days and produced CPE in four mammalian cells tested. At 25 degrees C, suckling mouse cataract agent produced no CPE in Dm-1 cells. Dm-1 cells did not support growth of the spiroplasmal sex ratio organism. Spiroplasmas could be detected in the cell cultures by agar inoculation, dark-field microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and DNA fluorescent staining. The uridine phosphorylase test showed significant levels of conversion of [14C]uridine to [14C]uracil for all but some plant isolates: S. citri, corn shunt organism, lettuce, cactus, and powder puff strains, the first mycoplasmas to lack the enzyme. Primary isolations of corn shunt organism from infected corn plants were made in Dm-1 and I-XII cultures. The course of corn stunt organism infection of Dm-1 was monitored for three passages. The use of agarose and Dienes staining of the colonies improved growth and colony counting of corn stunt organism. The number of viable infected DM-1 cells decreased from 1.2 x 10(7) at passage 1 to 7.0 x 10(6) at passage 2 and 3 x 10(5) at passage 3.     

Multihormonal,amyloid-producing tumour of the islets of Langerhans in a twelve year old boy

Summary Clinical, pathological and biochemical data from a twelve year old boy with hypoglycaemic attacks and hyperinsulinism are presented. A pancreatic islet cell adenoma was diagnosed by ultrasonic scanning and enucleated from the head of the pancreas. Histological study revealed a mixed cellular population consisting of A₁- and B-cells. Large amounts of extravascular amyloid deposited were found between the cell strands. The tumour extract produced a prompt elevation of gastric acid secretion in the rat gastrin bio-assay. It is concluded that this islet cell tumour was a combined gastrinoma-insulinoma. The possible pathogenesis of this variety of the multiple endocrine adenoma syndrome is discussed. Monocellular-multihormonal islet cell tumours might arise from biochemically multipotent endocrine stem cells, whereas the multicellular-multihormonal type could either be a regulatory neoplasia or be derived from different neuroendocrine cells.

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Zusammenfassung Bei einem übergewichtigen 12jährigen Knaben mit Hypoglykämieanfällen und erhöhtem Blutinsulinspiegel konnte durch Ultraschall ein Tumor des Pankreaskopfes dargestellt werden. Das exstirpierte Gewebe erwies sich histologisch als ein aus A₁- und B-Zellen aufgebautes Inselzelladenom mit ausgedehnten extravasculären Amyloidablagerungen. Ein Extrakt aus dem Tumorgewebe bewirkte eine sofortige Zunahme der Magensäuresekretion am perfundierten Rattenmagen. Diagnose: Insulinom-Gastrinom. Monocellulärplurihormonelle Inselzelltumoren leiten sich möglicherweise von biochemisch pluripotenten Stammzellen der Langerhansschen Inseln her. Pluricellulär-plurihormonelle Adenome sind hingegen eher als Regulationsgeschwülste aufzufassen, könnten aber auch von verschiedenen neuroendokrinen Zellen abstammen.

     

Karl Rokitansky: his Bohemian years and his relationship with Jan Evangelista Purkyne: on the occasion of bicentenary of birth

Karl Rokitansky was born on 19th February 1804 in the historic Czech town of Hradec Králové (K?niggr?tz). During 1821-1824 he studied for 3 years at the medical faculty of Prague University. In the archives of Charles University there is a record of Rokitansky's performance during these three years. At the university he met J. E. Purkyne who was teaching anatomy at that time. Relationship between the two world--renowned medical scientists of Czech origin is discussed.     

Conservative treatment of cervical pregnancy by curettage and local prostaglandin injection

Recently, various conservative regimens for the treatment of cervical pregnancy have been introduced to preserve fertility in young women, with methotrexate being one of the most widely used drugs. The success of conservative treatment depends on early preoperative diagnosis. We report three cases of first trimester cervical pregnancy, successfully treated by curettage to evacuate the conceptus, followed by local prostaglandin instillation to prevent severe haemorrhage. In one patient, intra-amniotic instillation of hyperosmolar glucose was necessary to terminate fetal cardiac activity. beta-Human chorionic gonadotrophin returned to normal within 3 weeks in one patient and within 7 weeks in another, both of whom became pregnant again within 1 year, resulting in term deliveries. The third patient was lost to follow-up after 1 week. The advantage of prostaglandin and curettage is the absence of major side-effects to the mother or the fetus of a subsequent pregnancy. The management strategies used in the treatment of cervical pregnancies and the results obtained since the introduction of methotrexate in 1989 are discussed in the context of previously published literature. The incidence of subsequent pregnancies among women treated medically versus women treated surgically is reported.      

Improved oocyte quality is obtained with follicle stimulating hormone alone than with follicle stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin combination

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of pure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) with that of FSH/human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) combination in downregulated cycles. A total of 357 patients was evaluated retrospectively. Sixty percent of patients in the FSH group and 55% in the FSH/HMG group were new; the others were repeat patients. Ovulation was suppressed with leuprolide acetate in all patients, followed by either FSH (n = 218) or FSH/HMG (n = 119). There was no difference in patients' age, infertility factors, number of ampoules used, length of stimulation, oestradiol levels on day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, number of oocytes recovered or the number of embryos transferred. Also, nuclear maturity at aspiration and fertilization rates were not different between the two groups. FSH stimulation resulted in a significantly higher percentage of mature oocytes that showed the typical 'mature' morphological characteristics (P < 0.0001). The clinical pregnancy rates per transfer were 40 and 28% in patients stimulated with pure FSH and FSH/HMG respectively (P < 0.05). The significantly higher number of immature oocytes matured in vitro in the FSH/HMG group (P = 0.001) suggests a possible effect on in-vitro maturation, due to luteinizing hormone present in HMG. The difference in mature oocyte quality may be an important determinant in the higher pregnancy rates for the FSH- stimulated patients.