A Golgi deimpregnation study of neurons in the rhesus monkey visual cortex (Areas 17 and 18)

Summary The morhological features of 298 neurons impregnated according to Golgi-Kopsch in areas 17 and 18 of Macaca mulatta were analyzed, and the same neurons were deimpregnated to visualize structural details of the somata in different types of neurons. The following cell types were investigated: Pyramidal and pyramid-like cells, spiny stellate cells, double bouquet cells, bipolar cells, chandelier cells, neurogliaform cells, basket and related cells. This procedure allows the evaluation of the nuclear-cytoplasmic proportion and the position of the nucleus besides shape and size of the cell body. Pyramidal and pyramid-like cells (N=43), spiny stellate cells (N=26), basket and related cells (N=126) are variable in these features. A positive correlation between soma size and width of the cytoplasm is found in pyramidal, pyramid-like cells and spiny stellate cells. With the exception of some large somata in both these types of neurons the nucleus is found in a central position. Double bouquet cells (N=6), bipolar cells (N=13) and chandelier cells (N=11) exhibit small cytoplasmic rims and centrally located nuclei. The small somata of neurogliaform cells (N=37), however, and the small to very large somata of basket and related cells show broad cytoplasmic portions surrounding the eccentrically located nuclei. These findings allow the identification of different neuronal types in Nisslstained sections on the basis of these soma features. This is a prerequisite for further detailed quantitative studies on the laminar distribution of different neuronal types in the visual cortex of the monkey.     

Mild phenotype in two unrelated patients with a partial deletion of 21q22.2-q22.3 defined by FISH and molecular studies

We describe two unrelated patients with cytogenetically visible deletions of 21q22.2-q22.3 and mild phenotypes. Both patients presented minor dysmorphic features including thin marfanoid build, facial asymmetry, downward-slanting palpebral fissures, depressed nasal bridge, small nose with bulbous tip, and mild mental retardation (MR). FISH and molecular studies indicated common deleted areas but different breakpoints. In patient 1, the breakpoint was fine mapped to a 5.2 kb interval between exon 5 and exon 8 of the ETS2 gene. The subtelomeric FISH probe was absent on one homologue 21 indicating a terminal deletion spanning approximately 7.9 Mb in size. In patient 2, the proximal breakpoint was determined to be 300-700 kb distal to ETS2, and the distal breakpoint 2.5-0.3 Mb from the 21q telomere, indicating an interstitial deletion sized approximately 4.7-7.3 Mb. The 21q- syndrome is rare and typically associated with a severe phenotype, but different outcomes depending on the size and location of the deleted area have been reported. Our data show that monosomy 21q of the area distal to the ETS2 gene, representing the terminal 7.9 Mb of 21q, may result in mild phenotypes comprising facial anomalies, thin marfanoid build, and mild MR, with or without signs of holoprosencephaly.     

Loss of CD34 and high IGF2 are associated with malignant transformation in solitary fibrous tumors

The aim of this study was to characterize the subgroups of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and to investigate the expression of different biomarkers including CD34 and IGF2 in malignant transformation.     

Elektrophoretische Untersuchungen über Eiweiß und eiweißgebundene Kohlenhydrate in der Synovialflüssigkeit und im Serum

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 4 Textabbildungen (10 Einzelbilder)Herrn Professor Dr. K. Niederecker in dankbarer Verehrung zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.Die Durchführung der Arbeit wurde durch Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft ermöglicht.     

Therapy results of locoregional recurrences in rectal cancer

Despite of advanced surgical technique and multimodality therapy results following secondary resection of local recurrence after rectal cancer are discussed controversially. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1990 and 1999 81 patients with local recurrence of rectal cancer were treated at our surgical department. Median age was 63 years, 62 % of patients were male. 98 % of recurrences were in local advanced stage (74 % = rT4, 25 % = rT3), 44 % of patients had synchronous distant metastases. RESULTS: 32 patients underwent resection of recurrent rectal cancer. Potential curative surgery was possible in 56 % of resections. Extended resections of adjacent organs were necessary in 21 patients. The 4-year survival in the curative group was 44 % compared to 19 % in patients with microscopic or gross residual disease. CONCLUSION: Optimistic long-term results in recurrent rectal cancer can only be achieved after curative resection. Preoperative radiochemotherapy in advanced cancers increases curative resection and probably survival rate.     

Die Operationsmethodik bestimmt die Rezidivhäufigkeit colorectaler Carcinome Ein Vergleich der Ergebnisse von 2 chirurgischen Kliniken

INTRODUCTION: In order to investigate whether operative technique determines the 5-year recurrence and survival rates, we analysed the results obtained by two surgical departments using two different operative techniques. Department A: Removal of the tumour and a number of lymph nodes; department B: En-bloc resection in accordance with the requirements of standardised tumour surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The surgical results obtained with all patients with colorectal carcinoma operated on between 1984 and 1988 (department A: 152 colon and 53 rectal carcinomas; department B: 124 colon and 177 rectal carcinomas). RESULTS: The local recurrence rate achieved by department A was significantly higher (colon carcinoma: department A 25 %; department B 10 %; rectal carcinoma: department A 54 %; department B 16 %). The 5-year survival rate for colon carcinoma was 65 % in department A, and 66 % in department B, the corresponding figures for rectal carcinoma being 49 % and 72 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that carcinoma of the colorectum should be operated on only at an institution that complies with the standards required for surgery of colorectal carcinoma.     

Head and neck cancer in Germany: a site-specific analysis of survival of the Thuringian cancer registration database

Objective  

To describe epidemiology and prognosis of head and neck cancer in Germany.