Intraoperative Histological Investigations in Gynaecology (author's transl)

This study corroborates the great value of pathologist consultation in cases of diagnostic difficulty arising during the course of gynaecological operations. Joint discussion of the macroscopic appearance and/or interpretation of the frozen section appearance proved indispensable in the decision as to the appropriate operative procedure and the extent of the surgical measures in 147 cases submitted to intr-operative frozen section investigation. The highly satisfactory results are discussed and attributed largely to the efficient cooperation between pathologist and surgeon.     

Nuclear alterations on organ cultures of human malignant melanomas (author's transl)

Report on ultrastructurally striking nuclear anomalies in organ cultures obtained from amelanotic and pigmented human melanomas. These nuclear anomalies are more impressive than the nuclear invaginations present in tumours cells of several other malignant growths. Numerous nuclear fragments varying in size and held together by nuclear membrane bands may occur. The karyoplasm of these nuclei reveals nothing unusual no degenerative changes can be found.     

Amniotic fluid tests for fetal lung maturity (author's transl)

Amniotic fluid specimens of 30 pregnant women were examined for the evaluation of the fetal lung maturity. Three assays were used in parallel: the determination of the lecithin concentration, the estimation of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and the shake test. The results were compared together and with the fetal outcome. The shake test has proved to be sufficient for the exclusion of an immature lung. To avoid failure from false-negative results of the shake test an additional determination of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio is recommended, whenever clinical dates give rise to expect a mature lung. The determination of the lecithin concentration has no advantage compared to the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio. Pathology as candida infection or anecephaly falsifies.     

Limits of platelet aggregation tests for investigating thromboses (author's transl)

Three methods--spontaneous aggregation, ADP-induced aggregation and levels of circulating platelet aggregates--were used to test for platelet hyperaggregation in 87 adult patients divided into three groups. Group A comprised 26 patients with severe arterial diseases, including cerebral vascular accidents (16) and peripheral thrombosis (10) ; group B consisted of 31 patients with venous conditions, including deep phlebitis (22) and recurrent thrombo-embolic disease (9) ; group C, which served as control, comprised 30 patients with various non-vascular disorders. Spontaneous aggregation and enhanced reactivity to ADP correlated well with each other and were more frequent in patients with vascular diseases. However, one-third of patients in group C had pathological results, while one-third of patients in groups A and B had normal results, independently of any clinical particularity or therapeutic regimen. There were no significant differences between the three groups with regard to circulating platelet aggregates. These tests, therefore, appear to be of statistical and epidemiological interest, but of questionable practical value.     

Testing of bronchial carcinoma for sensitivity against cytostatics in tissue culture (author''s transl)]

To derive food table values of fatty acid composition, a comprehensive review was made of the literature available since 1960 on the lipid composition of pork products. Factors affecting pork lipid composition are discussed. Diet of the animal was found to have a major influence. Few significant differences were found in the grams fatty acid per 100 gm. fat of meat from the areas of the loin, belly, leg, and shoulder. Mean fatty acid distributions were derived for the separable lean and separable fat of pork. Methods of converting literature data into units suitable for food table purposes are briefly described. Tables of fatty acids per 100 gm. fat are given for brains, heart, kidney and liver, and for the lean and fat portions of pork cuts. The tables show that on a grams-per-100-gm. -fat basis, these four organ meats contain less total fatty acids and are richer sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids than are skeletal muscle or adipose tissue. Tabulations are also given for fatty acids in 100-gm. portions of raw and cooked pork cuts, sausages, luncheon meats, variety meats, and three popular sausages made with beef and pork meat.     

Development of the rudimentary prostates of Ellobius lutescens (Microtinae) in organ culture; effects of androgens (author's transl)

The structure of the rudimentary prostates of Ellobius lutescens is maintained intact after 6 days of organotypic culture in the absence of male hormones. Comparison with controls even shows a noticeable increase in the size of the epithelial cells. Adding male hormones to the culture medium does not modify the morphology of adult prostates, while it induces a sharp stimulation of immature prostates. In accordance with our previous results, these experiments show that the prostates of Ellobius lutescens lose their sensivity to androgens after puberty.     

Flat curves of oral glucose tolerance tests (author's transl)

Patients are often referred to diabetologists on account of a flat curve of oral glucose tolerance test. This abnormality, however, is virtually never associated with a serious metabolic disorder and in any case, it never points to a disease that cannot be diagnosed by questioning or by straightforward clinical examination, nor confirmed by a more specific laboratory test. The curve may be flat for technical reasons (e.g. rejection of the glucose administered, timing of blood withdrawals and assays), for physiological reasons (differences between venous and arteriolo-capillary blood), or for pathological reasons (interaction with drugs, pituitary, thyroid or adrenal insufficiency, digestive malabsorption) but it never implies organic hypoglycaemia nor diabetes mellitus.     

Investigations on the occurrence of mycoplasma in the amniotic fluid (author's transl)

In order to elucidate the pathogenetic importance of mycoplasma in amnionitis and in infectious syndrome of the amnion, the amniotic fluid of 185 healthy pregnant women was investigated for mycoplasma, bacteria and fungi. In no case mycoplasma were detected. This means that amniotic fluid is normally free of mycoplasma. If mycoplasma occurs in the amniotic fluid it has to be considered as a possible cause of amnionitis and infectious syndrome of the amnion.     

Investigations of cellular defense mechanism against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mucoviscidosis (author's transl)

In the bronchial secretion of patients with mucoviscidosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa besides Staphylococci can be isolated very often. The part of disturbances in the cellular defense mechanisms was investigated by the stimulation of the nitroblue-tetrazolium-reduction after in vitro-incubation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In mucoviscidosis no selective deficiency in the defense of phagocyting cells of the peripheral blood could be found by these examinations, representing only one step of the intracellular destroying of bacteria.     

Comparative study of xeroradiography and filmradiography (2700 statistically evaluated tests) (author's transl)

Bases on more than 2700 statistically evaluated, comparative filmradiographic thoracic organs, abdomen and vascular and lymphatic system, the value of xeroradiography was analyzed by a standardized process. We came to the conclusion that, in certain cases, xeroradiography is superior (example: head-neck-soft tissues), equal (example: cranial area) or inferior (example: abdomen) to conventional X-ray film techniques. The xeroradiographic procedure has advantages for the radiologist if he does not try to use it as a substitute for the conventional X-ray film technique.     

Redioimmunoassay for secretin (author's transl)

The synthesis of a secretin with an elongated N-terminus, namely Nalpha-(deaminotyrosyl-beta-alanyl)- secretin (DATA-secretin), using a conventional strategy, is described. After purification of the product by means of ion exchange chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-25 and by continuous carrier-free electrophoresis, immunological studies on the synthetic DATA-secretin were carried out using secretin antibodies. In comparison to 125iodine-labelled secretin and [Tyr6]secretin, 125iodine-DATA-secretin proved to be by far the best "tracer". Elaboration of a radioimmunoassay for secretin is therefore possible.