DNA measurement,proliferation markers,and other factors in pituitary adenomas

To assess the proliferative activity of pituitary adenomas, 36 surgically removed adenomas were studied by light microscopical parameters; mitotic count; expression of PCNA, Ki-67, cathepsin D, and EGF; and image cytometry. Three adenomas (9%) showed high, 11 (34%) medium, 17 (53%) moderate, and 1 (3%) low structural differentiation. In 10 adenomas (31%), no mitosis was observed. The average was 2.4 mitoses/100 HPF; the highest count was 7.1 mitoses/100 HPF. Eleven adenomas (33.3%) were PCNA-negative; in 20 adenomas (60.6%), between 0.05 and 3.9, and in 2 adenomas (6.0%), between 10.5 and 16.4 PCNA-positive nuclei were observed. Only a recurrent null-cell adenoma (9%) was Ki-67-negative. Three adenomas (9.1%) were EGF-negative, 28 (84.8%) showed up to 10% positive cells, and 2 (6.1 %) showed between 10 and 30% positive cells; 19 adenomas (68%) were cathepsin D-negative, including all endocrine-inactive adenomas. Half the adenomas had an euploid DMA stem line. Endocrine-inactive adenomas displayed a higher rate of euploid DNA stem lines than endocrine-active adenomas. The S-phase fraction varied between 2.97 and 28%, with a mean value of 14.4%. Half the adenomas showed an S-phase fraction of 11.65% or lower.     

Leberfunktionsprüfungen bei Vergiftungen mit Trinitrotoluol durch Bestimmung des Abbaus von p-Oxyphenylbrenztraubensäure

Zusammenfassung Bei Ratten wurden wiederholte akute und chronische Vergiftungen und bei Hunden chronische Vergiftungen mit Trinitrotoluol durchgeführt und die Leberfunktion durch Bestimmung des Abbaus von p-Oxyphenylbrenztraubensäure zu prüfen versucht. Obgleich alle Tiere, die infolge der Vergiftung starben, histologisch nachweisbare Schädigungen der Leber aufwiesen, konnte nur bei einigen Ratten, die wiederholt mit großen Dosen Trinitrotoluol vergiftet worden waren, die bei Leberschädigungen erwartete Zunahme der Ausscheidung von p-Oxyphenylbrenztraubensäure beobachtet werden. Während der chronischen Vergiftung von Ratten mit kleinen Dosen Trinitrotoluol nahm die Ausscheidung von p-Oxyphenylbrenztraubensäure in keinem Falle zu, bei mehreren Tieren dagegen ab. Es war also auch bei den — soweit die histologische Untersuchung einen diesbezüglichen Schluß erlaubt — stärkeren Schädigungen der Leber durch Trinitrotoluol ebenso wie bei den früheren Untersuchungen mit m-Dinitrobenzol eine quantitative Bestimmung der Störung der Leberfunktion bei Ratte und Hund nicht möglich. Daß die Änderungen der Ausscheidung der p-Oxyphenylbrenztraubensäure während der Vergiftung durch Änderungen der Leberfunktion bedingt werden, ist sehr wahrscheinlich und bietet einen weiteren Hinweis auf die Wirkung des Trinitrotoluols auf die Leber.Mit 1 Textabbildung.     

Natural 6-hydroxy-chromanols and -chromenols: structural diversity,biosynthetic pathways and health implications

We present the first comprehensive and systematic review on the structurally diverse toco-chromanols and -chromenols found in photosynthetic organisms, including marine organisms, and as metabolic intermediates in animals. The focus of this work is on the structural diversity of chromanols and chromenols that result from various side chain modifications. We describe more than 230 structures that derive from a 6-hydroxy-chromanol- and 6-hydroxy-chromenol core, respectively, and comprise di-, sesqui-, mono- and hemiterpenes. We assort the compounds into a structure–activity relationship with special emphasis on anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities of the congeners. This review covers the literature published from 1970 to 2017.

We present the first comprehensive and systematic review on the structurally diverse toco-chromanols and -chromenols found in photosynthetic organisms, including marine organisms, and as metabolic intermediates in animals.     

Developing the “120 by 20” Goal for the Global FP2020 Initiative

This report describes the purpose for developing a quantitative goal for the London Summit on Family Planning held in July 2012, the methodology behind its formulation, and the lessons learned in the process. The London Summit has evolved into the global initiative known as FP2020, and the goal has become “120 by 20,” or reaching 120 million additional users of modern contraceptive methods by 2020 in the world's poorest countries. The success of FP2020 will first be evaluated on the basis of quantitative verification to determine that the “120 by 20” goal was reached. More important, however, is the extent to which the goal today serves as a global rallying cry to mobilize resources and leadership around current family planning programs, with a focus on voluntary family planning and quality of care, and with an emphasis on meeting girls' and women's unmet needs and their right to practice contraception. We hope this article provides greater transparency and understanding of the FP2020 goal, and that the global goal spurs annual monitoring of progress toward national goals in the world's poorest countries.     

Removal of microcystins by slow sand filtration

To assess the elimination potential of slow sand filters for cyanobacterial hepatotoxins (microcystins), two full-scale experiments were conducted using the German Federal Environment Agency's experimental field in Berlin, Germany. One experiment was carried out with dissolved microcystins extracted from a cyanobacterial bloom on one of Berlin's lakes, dosed as short-term, single-pulse application. The other experiment simulated natural conditions more closely, with a longer-term exposure of the filter to living cyanobacterial cells (collected from the same lake) so that most toxins were initially contained inside the cells. The microcystins were detected by ELISA and HPLC/photodiode array detector and subsequently identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The experiment with dissolved microcystins yielded very high elimination rates (>95%) inside the filter bed attributed to biodegradation, whereas retardation by adsorption was low. The obtained half-lives for the microcystins detected by ELISA were about 1 h. The second experiment, which was with mostly cell-bound microcystins, showed similar results during the first days after application of cyanobacteria (elimination >85%). As the population declined in late autumn, the proportion of extracellular to cell-bound microcystins increased. At the same time the elimination rates declined to values <60%. This decline is most likely attributable to retarded biodegradation at temperatures of <4 degrees C. Altogether the results of the experiments show that under moderate temperatures, with an intact schmutzdecke (biofilm) with previous contact with microcystins, slow sand filtration is an effective treatment for eliminating microcystins from drinking water.