The tumor-protective effect of selenium in an experimental model.

The possibility of a tumor-protective effect of selenium on the growth of benzpyrene-induced sarcoma was studied in an assay with Balb/c mice. The animals received 4 parts/10(6) selenium in their drinking water for 12 months prior to subcutaneous injection of benzpyrene to induce sarcomas. In contrast to unpretreated controls, the selenium-exposed animals developed significantly less and smaller tumors in a given time. These results are compared to those of other authors. Several mechanisms for selenium influence on benzpyrene metabolism are discussed.

Increased chromium and nickel content in lung tissue.

In random autopsies chromium (n = 23) and nickel (n = 16) together with various other metals, were determined in lung tissue by means of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. With increasing age a significant increase in concentration of both chromium and nickel was found. This is evaluated as an indicator for a corresponding exposure, which is marked by a local (workplace) and regional (environment) share of a clear increase in the total chromium/nickel load and by a life-long duration. The question arises, whether the selective concentration (long half-life) of the inhaled chromium and nickel particles/compounds in the lung are to be regarded as a stochastic lung cancer risk.

Investigations on metabolism and carcinogenicity of 1,1,2-trichloroethane.

Two groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (50 animals/group per sex) were treated with either 15.37 or 46.77 mumole of 1,1,2-TCE in DMSO/rat for 2 years. The animals were treated once a week by s.c. injection of test compound in the skin of neck. Two groups of controls received either DMSO or no treatment at all. The incidence of benign mesenchymal and epithelial tumors was not significant when compared with either DMSO-treated or untreated controls. The animals treated with 46.77 mumole 1,1,2-TCE significantly developed sarcomas when compared with the untreated controls. In a further experiment, either 40 mumole or 160 mumole 1,1,2-TCE was injected into male Wistar rats and the metabolites, TdGA and HEMA, were determined in 24-h urine samples. Comparative studies were carried out giving equimolar amounts of chloroethanol and 2-chloroacetaldehyde diethyl acetal. Analysis of the metabolites showed that no detectable HEMA was excreted in urine after treatment of rats with 1,1,2-TCE or chloroethanol. TdGA was excreted in urine much more among chloroacetaldehyde-treated animals than among 1,1,2-TCE- or chloroethanol-treated rats.

Investigations on metabolism, genotoxic effects and carcinogenicity of 2,2'-dichlorodiethylether.

Either 40 mumole or 160 mumole 2,2'-DDE was injected into male Wistar rats and the metabolites, TdGA and HEMA, were determined in the 24-h urine specimens. Comparative investigations were carried out giving equimolar amounts of chloroethanol and 2-chloroacetaldehyde diethyl acetal. In a further step, inhalation experiments were performed to determine urinary excretion of the two metabolites after an 8-h exposure of male Wistar rats to 10, 50, 100, and 500 ppm 2,2'-DDE and to 50, 200, und 1,000 ppm vinyl chloride. A long-term study was conducted to investigate the possible carcinogenicity of 2,2'-DDE in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats following s.c. injections of 4.36 mumole and 13.1 mumole 2,2'-DDE in DMSO per week. The evaluation of tumor development in treated groups and controls were based on macroscopic inspection and histological examinations of the suspect organs and tissues. Analysis of the metabolites showed that HEMA excretion was much lower than the excretion of TdGA following the uptake of 2,2'-DDE, 2-chloroethanol and 2-chloroacetaldehyde diethyl acetal. Contrary to these, vinyl chloride uptake resulted in a higher urinary excretion of HEMA than TdGA. There was no appreciable increase in the number of tumors detected in 2,2'-DDE-treated animals when compared with untreated or DMSO-treated groups. Since irradiation of 2,2'-DDE with UV did not elevate mutagenic activity of the compound against Salmonella typhimurium TA100, the high mutagenicity of the compound found in a desiccator cannot be due to the liberation of mutagenic compounds produced under the influence of UV light.

Active immunization with follicle-stimulating hormone for fertility control: a 4 1/2-year study in male rhesus monkeys.

Active immunization of four adult rhesus monkeys with highly purified ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) over 4 1/2 years resulted in the production of specific FSH antibodies. While luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion were not affected, sperm counts were in most instances reduced to or below the lower normal range. On a few occasions, azoospermia or high sperm counts were observed. Although the antibodies produced neutralized the biologic activity of FSH throughout, spermatogenesis gradually returned, as evidenced by testicular histologic characteristics. However, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules remained decreased, and the germinal epithelium was depleted. No adverse side effects could be demonstrated in the immunized animals, e.g., immune complexes in either serum or tissues and resultant tissue damage. These results show that although active immunization with FSH may not result in an effective method of male fertility control, long-term immunization against a circulating hormone may not result in deleterious side effects.

Studies on proliferation kinetics in liver and spleen during early graft-vs-host reaction in mice.

Autoradiographic and liquid scintillation counting studies were made during the early graft-versus-host-reaction in mice. At the height of GVHR on the 10th day after transplantation, hepatosplenomegaly correlated with the radioactive disintegrations (DPM). This coincided with a high proliferation rate of the blasts that appeared in the spleen, and of the portal infiltrations and Kupffer cells in the liver. Convenient control groups were used to show that these changes are a specific reaction in GVHR.

Zinc concentrations in human tissues. Liver zinc in carcinoma and severe liver disease.

In 58 unselected necropsies, zinc (Zn) in specimens of liver (mean +/- s = 280 +/- 178 micrograms/g d.w./4.28 +/- 2.72 mumol/g d.w.), kidney (170 +/- 57 micrograms/g d.w./2.60 +/- 0.87 mumol/g d.w.), spleen (69 +/- 13 micrograms/g d.w./1.05 +/- 0.20 mumol/g d.w.), and lung (64 +/- 16 micrograms/g d.w./0.98 +/- 0.24 mumol/g d.w.) were analysed by means of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. In the examined range from 25 to 92 years of age, the Zn concentrations in all tissues measured did not show age or sex-dependency. There was a high correlation between the tissue concentration of Zn and Mg in lung, liver, and spleen, between Zn, Mg, and Pb in liver as well as between Zn and Pb and Zn and Cd in kidney. All hepatic cirrhosis cases had very low Zn conc. in liver tissue, the tumor cases generally increasing Zn conc. in liver tissue with progressive stage of regional invasion and distant metastasis.

Double-phase Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy in secondary hyperparathyroidism relapsing after parathyroidectomy and removal of a parathyroid autograft.

A 53-year-old woman with chronic renal failure had secondary hyperparathyroidism relapsing after undergoing a second parathyroidectomy and excision of an autologous parathyroid graft that had been implanted after her first parathyroidectomy. Double-phase scintigraphy with Tc-99m MIBI disclosed pathologic MIBI uptake in the right anterior thorax where the parathyroid transplant had been placed. Histopathologic examination of three nodules excised from this region yielded hyperplastic parathyroid tissue. This case report further illustrates the value of double-phase Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy in atypical cases of hyperparathyroidism.

[Amyloid tumors in soft tissues of the neck]. / Amyloidtumoren in den Weichteilen des Halses

Tumorous amyloid deposits in the neck region of a 31-year-old man caused difficulties in the preoperative differential diagnosis of a tumorous process of the thyroid gland. Several tumorous amyloid deposits compressing and eroding the left nevus vagus and having no connection to the trachea or thyroid gland were removed. Such isolated tumorous amyloid deposits in the neck region have not been described before. Histologically no thyroid tissue was found. A medullar cancer of the thyorid gland that has to be excluded in such cases was not found.

[Gastrointestinal sarcomas]. / Magen-darm-sarkome

In 45 primary sarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract the authors attempt to derive criteria for prognosis from histology and localization of the tumors and from clinical parameters. Their observations lead to the conclusion that 1) proximal sarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract have a better prognosis than distal sarcomas, 2) lymphocytic malignant lymphomas has a better prognosis than other histologic types, and 3) there is a correlation between blood sedimentation rate and prognosis.

[Late metastasis of an extragonadal Leydig cell tumor]. / Spät-Metastasierung eines extragonadalen Leydig-Zelltumors.

The case of a 36-year-old patient who underwent extirpation of a Leydig cell tumor of the epididymis is presented. Five years later a retroperitoneal mass was removed, which was found to be a metastatic Leydig cell carcinoma. The literature conrains reports of only 32 cases of metastatic Leydig cell tumors, all of which had originated in the testis and not extragonadally. The symptoms, treatment and prognosis are discussed with reference to the literature.

Immunofluorescence studies on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material.

In an attempt to apply immunomorphologic techniques to formalin-fixed material, various tissues were studied by indirect immunofluorescence. To minimize nonspecific background staining, formalin-fixed paraffin sections were treated with pronase prior to incubation with the antisera. This technique was published by Huang in 1975 to study hepatitis B core and surface antigen in formalin-fixed liver-tissue. Our examination demonstrate that this technique might enable the morphologist to identify immunoglobulins in formalin-fixed tissues and so to get new criteria for their diagnosis.

[Immunofluorescence studies of experimental glomerulonephritis in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material (author's transl)]. / Immunfluoreszenzoptische Untersuchungen zur experimentellen Glomerulonephritis an Formalin-fixiertem und Paraffin-eingebettetem Gewebe.

Immunofluorescence studies are an essential part of the diagnosis in glomerulonephritis. For these studies unfixed, frozen material was used only, on account of intense background staining of formalin-fixed slides. A method developed by Huang (1975) was tested on experimental glomerulonephritis. He succeeded in minimizing the background staining of formalin-fixed liver tissue with pronase-treatment. Our results show no differences in the immunofluorescence of the experimental glomerulonephritis between frozen and paraffin-embedded sections. It seems to be possible therefore to investigate a glomerulonephritis in formalin-fixed material by this method.

Effect of generalized graft-versus-host-reaction on B- and T-lymphocytes and a benzpyrene-induced murine sarcoma.

UNLABELLED: The investigations of 400 adult hybrids from A/Jax fem. BALB/c male were aimed at answering the following questions: 1. What is the influence of a generalized graft-versus-host-reaction (GVHR) on the induction and growth of benzpyren-induced sarcoma? 2. What is the behavior of B- and T-lymphocytes during GVHR, and during induction and growth of benzpyren-induced sarcoma? 3. Which are the deductions to be drawn with regard to the effect of B- and T-lymphocytes during tumorigenesis and tumor growth? RESULTS: 1. The number of tumors was significantly greater in the GVHR animals (74.5%) than in the controls (49.5%). 2. A significant decrease of T-lymphocytes and increase of B-lymphocytes during GVHR were found in the peripheral blood. 3. The examination of the tumor marginal zone showed a marked decrease of the total round cell count and the T cells, while the count of B-lymphocytes remained uninfluenced. These results are discussed and compared with results of other authors.

[Immunoglobulin producing immunoblastoma of the duodenum (author's transl)]. / Immunglobulin-bildendes Immunoblastom des Duodenums.

A case report is given of a 32 year old patient harboring an immunoblastoma of the duodenum. Immunoglobulins could be demonstrated histologically in the tumor cells for the first time by a special technique. Clinical and morphological findings are discussed.

Ultrastructural and histochemical investigations of spindle-shaped corpuscles in phagocytic cells of lymph nodes.

In connection with various diseases, spindle-shaped or roundish 2-15 micrometer large corpuscles with a yellowish-green, partly brown color are found in phagocytic cells of lymph nodes of various localisation. There are three groups according to staining and ultrastructural characteristics. I. Strongly Fe+++ positive corpucles only, 2. corpuscles with a positive PAS-reaction, Ziehl-Neelsen and Sudan black B stain and slight iron adsorption, 3. particles with irregular stainability. Ultrastructurally, the spindle bodies of Group I have a uniform membrane, double in some sections and a narrow, finely granular rim, in which 50 A large iron micelles are stored. The electrondense center contains structures which may correspond to remainders of cell organelles. The similarly shaped particles of Group 2 have a homogeneous, electron-dense center and sometimes half-moon-shaped, homogeneous, less dense appositions. A dense round center with finely honey-combed translucencies and marginal vacuoles characterizes the irregularly shaped, in part spindly corpuscles of Group 3. The energy-dispersion X-ray analysis indicates only iron for the particles of Group I. A relation of the corpuscles to specific diseases, especially to sarcoidosis and certain therapeutic measures, is not evident.

[Correlation of splenomegaly and blood picture changes in graft vs host reaction of the mouse]. / Zur Korrelation von Splenomegalie und Blutbild Veräderungen bei der graft-versus-host-Reaktion der Maus

The early phase of graft-versus-host-reaction is characterized by a rapid decline of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, with a minimum between days 9 and 11, and return to normal until day 20 after spleen cell grafting. Erythrocytes and hematocrit do not change during this period. There is no causal correlation between splenomegaly and lymphopenia. Lymphopenia provides a criterium for experimental graft-versusu-host-reaction equivalent to the spleen-index.

Effect of splenectomy on B- and T-lymphocytes and a benzpyrene-induced murine sarcoma.

UNLABELLED: The investigation of 400 adult mice had the objective to find out 1. The influence of splenectomy on genesis and growth of a benzpyrene-induced sarcoma and 2. The behavior of B- and T-lymphocytes under the influence of splenectomy. RESULTS: 1. A significantly lower number of tumors developed in splenectomized animals (28.5%) as compared to controls (49.5%). 2. A significant decrease of B-lymphocytes and an increase in T cells after splenectomy were found in the peripheral blood. 3. The examination of the tumor marginal zone showed a decreased number of B-lymphocytes and an increase of T-lymphocytes, while the total count of round cells remained unchanged. These results are discussed and compared with results of other authors.

[Spontaneous intra-antral rhinolith. A case study]. / Spontaner intra-antraler Rhinolith. Eine Fallbeschreibung.

Rhinoliths of the paranasal sinuses have often been reported and are generally due to trauma and surgery of these cavities and to retained foreign bodies. In the present case, an unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis had been treated by antiinflammatory agents only, but never underwent surgery or trauma. Tomography revealed a high density concretion. A solid rhinolith was removed by a Caldwell-Luc procedure and was then submitted to spectrographic and electron microscopic investigations.