[Epidermal cyst of the parotid gland]. / Epidermoidzyste als Raumforderung der Glandula parotis.

Epidermoid cysts of the parotid gland are rare. We report the case of a 60-year-old man with a cystic tumor of the right parotid gland. The patient had undergone ipsilateral middle ear surgery twice four years previously. The tumor was identified by computed tomography and ultrasonography and removed by total parotidectomy under suspicion of a parotid tumor. Histopathology revealed the diagnosis of an epidermal cyst. The differential diagnosis of a parotid tumor should include (iatrogenic) epidermoid cyst, in particular if there is a history of prior ear surgery via an endaural approach.

[Cutaneous basosquamous cell carcinoma]. / Basosquamöses Karzinom der Haut.

BACKGROUND: Basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare malignancy with specific histopathological features of both basal cell (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Therefore, the histological diagnosis is challenging. Due to its low incidence there is no consensus on the surgical management of BSC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We describe the (immunohistological) diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of nine cases (8 male symbol : 1 female symbol, on average 68.6 years of age (range: 47-81)) of BSC. Of these, seven were located on the pinna, one on the forehead and zygomatic region and one in the retroauricular region. RESULTS: Immunochemical staining for epithelial membrane antigen was negative (apart from the typical areas of epithelial pearl formation) and BerEP4 was positive in all cases. Therapy consisted of partial removal of the pinna in four, and total removal in three cases. One patient was treated by partial removal of the auricle with superficial parotidectomy and ipsilateral neck dissection. In the case of the carcinoma on the forehead, a local excision was performed. The median follow-up was 45 months. One patient had a local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The histological diagnosis of BSC is confirmed by the use of EMA and BerEP4 immunohistological staining. Clinically, BSC is a rare, aggressive skin tumor. Despite the histological similarity to basal cell carcinoma, BSC has an imminent risk of metastasizing. Hence, therapy should be similar to that for SCC, taking into consideration the age and general state of the usually elderly patient.

EMS Agenda for the Future: where we are...where we want to be.

During the past 30 years, emergency medical services (EMS) in the United States have experienced explosive growth. The American health care system is now transforming, providing an opportune time to examine what we have learned over the past three decades in order to create a vision for the future of EMS. Over the course of several months, a multidisciplinary steering committee collaborated with hundreds of EMS-interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to develop the EMS Agenda for the Future. Fourteen EMS attributes were identified as requiring continued development in order to realize the vision established within the Agenda. They are integration of health services, EMS research, legislation and regulation, system finance, human resources, medical direction, education systems, public education, prevention, public access, communication systems, clinical care, information systems, and evaluation. Discussion of these attributes provides important guidance for achieving a vision for the future of EMS that emphasizes its critical role in American health care.

EMS agenda for the future: where we are ... where we want to be. EMS Agenda for the Future Steering Committee.

During the past 30 years, emergency medical services (EMS) in the United States have experienced explosive growth. The American health care system is now transforming, providing an opportune time to examine what we have learned over the past three decades in order to create a vision for the future of EMS. Over the course of several months, a multidisciplinary steering committee collaborated with hundreds of EMS-interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to develop the "EMS Agenda for the Future." Fourteen EMS attributes were identified as requiring continued development in order to realize the vision established within the Agenda. They are Integration of Health Services, EMS Research, Legislation and Regulation, System Finance, Human Resources, Medical Direction, Education Systems, Public Education, Prevention, Public Access, Communication Systems, Clinical Care, Information Systems, and Evaluation. Discussion of these attributes provides important guidance for achieving a vision for the future of EMS that emphasizes its critical role in American health care.

[Effectiveness of oral rifampicin against mycobacteriosis in tropical fish]. / Untersuchungen zur oralen Wirksamkeit von Rifampicin gegen die Mykobakteriose der Zierfische.

In vitro studies have shown that rifampicin is an effective antibiotic for mycobacteria infections. Two species of tropical fish, the Firemouth Cichild Cichlasoma meeki and the Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus, were used to determine whether oral application of rifampicin might serve as an effective treatment for mycobacteriosis in tropical fish. Fish of the two species were infected with M. marinum under controlled conditions. Six or twelve weeks after infection, treatment was begun with medicated fish food containing rifampicin in combination with tetracyclin. Histological examination of epithelial cell granuloma in the anterior and posterior kidneys, as well as in liver and spleen, showed that antibiotic treatment could somewhat reduce the intensity of, but could not successfully eliminate infection. In addition, after treatment, acid-resistant rods could still be isolated from histological samples and M. marinum could be cultured from organ samples.

[The use of nonpathogenic leptospira as diagnostic antigens for the diagnosis of leptospira infections in cattle]. / Zur Nutzung apathogener Leptospiren als Suchantigene in der Diagnostik der Leptospireninfektion des Rindes.

The seroprevalence of leptospira antibodies was determined in 4377 bovine sera by microagglutination assay using 11 Leptospira interrogans serovars. In 10% (439 samples) of the sera, a positive reaction was detected. These included 275 sera (62.6%) with reaction to L. grippotyphosa, 159 (36.2%) to L. saxkoebing and 5 (1.1%) sera with reactions to other serovars. Multiple reactions were found in 9.8% of the 439 positive sera, whereby the Sejroe group dominated (65%) within the possible combinations of crossreactions. To determine the suitability of nonpathogenic strains as polyvalent diagnostic antigens, two L. biflexa serovar patoc strains were compared with the above-mentioned 11 L. interrogans serovars in microagglutination testing of 1995 screen sera. The sensitivity of the test was found to be 0.3% and the specificity was 80.3%. Using the two L. patoc strains, all of the 415 positive field sera and 11 positive control sera yielded negative reactions. Based on these results, the use of L. biflexa serovar patoc cannot be recommended as polyvalent antigen in the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis by microagglutination.

[Fresh water aquaria and veterinary practice. 2. Studies of proper raising of ornamental fish]. / Süsswasseraquaristik und tierärztliche Praxis. Teil 2: Untersuchungen zur artgerechten Haltung von Zierfischen.

The environmental conditions in 103 fresh-water aquaria were examined and the results compared to the standards as described in part 1 of this publication. The aim was to assess whether the care of aquarium fish was adequate in regard to management and the legal requirements of animal welfare. Disclosed faults are discussed and recommendations for their elimination and avoidance are suggested.

Evaluation of five different methods for routine diagnosis of rabies.

Brain tissue from 187 animals of different species was investigated by means of fluorescent antibody test, peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique, mouse inoculation test and cell culture technique for a diagnosis of rabies. With peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique the rabies specific reaction comprised inclusion bodies and a granular staining of the cytoplasm of affected cells. A specific positive reaction was found only in neurons, in which perikaryon as well as cell processes were affected. Fluorescent antibody test and peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique detected 98% each, mouse inoculation test 95% and cell culture technique 81% of the rabies positive animals. In conclusion, peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique allows a highly reliable diagnosis of rabies when only formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material is available. Histopathological alterations comprising Negri bodies, inflammatory and degenerative lesions were encountered in 53% of the rabies positive brains.

[Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in fish from hatcheries and clarifying ponds]. / Polychlorierte Biphenyl (PCB) in Fischen aus Teichwirtschaften und Nachklärteichen.

The concentrations of six selected single polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, for which legal tolerance levels became valid in 1988, and the congener no. 49 (2,2',4,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl) were determined in the muscle tissue of 58 fishes from fish hatcheries and in 17 fishes from settle ponds. The fish were taken from flowing waters in the years 1986 and 1987. High and low chlorinated biphenyls were present in each sample, but the concentration of the low chlorinated biphenyls was distinctly lower than that of the higher chlorinated ones. Nevertheless these results demonstrate the intake of components of low chlorinated technical PCB mixtures in the environment and food chains. Compared with the investigations carried out in 1980/81 in fishes from fish hatcheries, a decrease of PCB contamination in the muscle tissues with regard to the technical mixture Clophen A 60 was observed. This is in accordance with the results our team obtained a short time previously in muscle tissue from foxes and in food-stuffs. The concentration of all PCB congeners determined in the muscle tissue from fish of settle ponds was significantly higher than in the tissue from fish taken from hatcheries. Thus, the PCB content depends on the PCB load in different environments. Therefore, fishes can be useful as bioindicators for the intake of low and high chlorinated PCB congeners in aquatic ecosystems.

Histology and histochemistry of the liver of chickens after DENA induced hepatocarcinogenesis and ingestion of low chlorinated biphenyls.

Studies are presented which demonstrate the pathological effects of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in the liver of chickens. DENA, which has been shown to cause tumors in rats and chickens, was tested on 80 laying hens to determine whether changes in the liver during hepatocarcinogenesis were similar to those observed in rats. In addition, the hepatocarcinogenic and cocarcinogenic properties of Clophen C (CC), a technical mixture of low chlorinated biphenyls was tested on chickens. The livers of test animals were examined histologically for preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Histochemical methods were used to determine lipid and glycogen contents as well as changes in activity of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase. Putative preneoplastic lesions in the liver were first observed according to the substance and dosage applied as follows: DENA 1 X weekly (group II), beginning on day 258; DENA 2 X weekly (group III), beginning on day 183; and CC + DENA 2 X weekly (group V), beginning on day 231. Application of CC alone did not induce lesions. The concept that CC has cocarcinogenic capability was substantiated by the fact that animals from group V (CC + DENA 2 X weekly) developed twice as many tumors as did animals from group III (DENA 2 X weekly). Additionally, tumors developed earlier in the former group than in the latter.