Bovine islets of Langerhans. Potential source for transplantation?

Two methods are described for large-scale isolation of islets from the bovine pancreas. With the single-endpoint technique the average number of islets isolated from a 73.3-g pancreas sample was 150,560, representing an estimated total islet volume of 0.391 ml. Pancreases processed by the continuous digestion-filtration method yielded an average of 246,229 islets from a 93.9-g pancreas sample, representing an estimated total islet volume of 0.458 ml. Isolated bovine pancreatic islets demonstrated a well-preserved endocrine cell ultrastructure, responded to acute stimulation with propionic acid, and temporarily reversed experimental diabetes in mice.

[Ohtahara syndrome]. / Das Ohtahara-Syndrom.

Attacks of cerebral spasm occur in 1.5 to 5 per thousand newborn post partum. Basing on the rare Ohtahara's syndrome it is shown that the obstetrician can be exonerated from the suspicion of a trauma occurring during childbirth and causing the spasms, only if a precise and detailed documentation of the entire obstetric procedure is prepared an differentiated neuropaediatric diagnosis is performed.

[Possibilities and limits of mammography with special reference to breast carcinoma--a comparison of clinical, mammography and histologic diagnoses]. / Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Mammographie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Mammakarzinoms--Ein Vergleich klinischer, mammographischer und histologischer Diagnosen.

This paper informs about the diagnostical accuracy of clinical examination and mammography at the women's Hospital of the Städtische Klinikum Zwickau from 1989 to 1992 when pathological changes of breasts are diagnosed. A total of 508 diagnostical biopsies was performed during this study period. The histological examination resulted in 276 benign breast lesions and in 232 breast cancers. In 432 cases there was a lump palpable in the breast that was noticed at first by more than 60% of women themselves. 288 (56.7%) correct and 220 (43.3%) false diagnoses were established following the clinical examination. This resulted in a sensitivity of 100% with a specificity of 20.3% and an overall accuracy of 56.7%. However, with the help of mammography 386 (76.6%) pathological changes of breasts were found to be correct. 118 mammograms proved to be false. Out of these 90 (17.8%) had a false-positive diagnosis and 28 (5.6%) a false-negative one. The overall accuracy of mammography was 76.6% (sensitivity 87.9%, specificity 67%).

[Initial experiences with radionuclide mammography at the Cottbus Carl-Thiem Clinic]. / Erste Erfahrungen mit der Szintimammographie am Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus.

In the diagnosis of breast cancer, noninvasive methods are need in order to detect early stages of this disease. These methods have to have a high specificity in order to discriminate malignant and benign lesions. The scintimammography with 99mTc-MIBI might be such a new method. With this examination the early diagnosis of breast cancer might be improved and may reduce the need for diagnostic biopsies. The aim of our examinations was to get first experiences in comparison with the histological results. The histological results were considered to be the reference method. 25 scintigrafical examinations were evaluated, performed from August 1997 to January 1998. The scintigrafical results were recorded qualitative-visually with a score from 1 to 4. The histological results were received within 1 week after realization of the scintigrafical examination. 22 scintigrafical examinations were evaluated correctly. Of 16 benign lesions 14 were evaluated as true negative and 2 as false positive (fibroadenoma, haematoma). Of the 9 breast carcinomas 8 were evaluated as true positive and 1 false negative (lobular carcinoma in situ). In the case of unselected patients, low numbers of examinations and a diameter of the smallest carcinoma from 1.4 cm a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 88% has been observed. Our sensitivity and specificity was in the range of the current international scintimammography-studies. Statements about little breast carcinomas (diameter < 1 cm) are not yet available, because such patients were not examined. The scintimammography is not a screening test. It renders no additional information in the case of clear clinical results and/or clear mammography. Therefore useful indications have to be defined in subsequent scintimammography studies. Possible indications are: palpable breast lesions, which appear normal in mammography, uncertain results in mammography without palpable result and in the follow up of operations of breast cancer without mastectomy. It might be interesting to compare in the future new radiological methods and magnet resonance imaging and positron-emission tomography in the diagnosis of breast cancer with the represented conventional method.

Endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy in adolescent girls.

105 adolescent girls with mean age of 17.3 (11-19) years had laparoscopy/pelviscopy between 1996 and 1997. In 37 cases, endometriosis was diagnosed (35.2%). The majority of the girls (32.4%) presented with endoscopic endometriosis classification (EEC) stage I. 2.8% of the girls had stage EEC II. The lesions involved one site or pelvic organ (64.8%) with a mean age of 18.7 (14-19) years. In 35.2% of cases, the lesions were at multiple sites with a mean age of 16.9 (11-19) years. Indications for laparoscopy included chronic or acute pelvic pain and right-sided lower abdominal pain. Endometriotic lesions were found in the pouch of Douglas (64.8%), uterosacral ligaments (37.8%), and ovarian fossa (24.3%), 42.8% of directed biopsies were positive. Endocoagulation of the endometriotic lesions was performed in 91.9% of cases.

[Islands of Langerhans of cattle--potential donor tissue for clinical islet transplantation?]. / Langerhans' sche Inseln des Rindes--potentielles Spendergewebe für die klinische Inseltransplantation?

A standard method for bovine islet isolation has been developed. The mean islet yield per gram pancreas obtained from the last twelve consecutive glands was 2,098 +/- 292 representing an insulin recovery of 36.1 +/- 6.5%. The static incubation of freshly isolated bovine islets in the presence of glucose resulted in a less distinct increase of insulin secretion than in the presence of free fatty acids. Nevertheless, xenotransplantation of bovine islets to immunosuppressed C57BL6J mice did reverse streptozotocin-induced diabetes for 2 to 6 days.