[Laparoscopic Herniotomia and Closure in Case of Appendicitis within the Hernia Sac (Amyand's hernia): Is Use of Mesh Contraindicated?] / Laparoskopischer Bruchlückenverschluss bei Appendizitis im Leistenhernienbruchsack (Amyand-Hernie): Ist der Einsatz eines Netzes kontraindiziert?

Amyand's hernia is defined as an appendix vermiformis - inflamed or not - within the hernia sac at the ipsilateral groin. The occurrence of this specific type of hernia is extremely low; clinical presentation is preoperatively characterised by signs and symptoms of an incarcerated inguinal hernia. There is a controversial debate on the use of prosthetic material for mesh-based hernioplasty; actually, the majority of surgeons reject it. However, in the area of predominantly prosthetic hernioplasty, this question has been raised again. Based on the approximately 150 published cases so far and their detailed analysis, this controversial issue in Amyand's hernia is reassessed, also on the basis of our own clinical experience in the treatment of two representative cases. Even in the case of a coincident finding of appendicitis within the sac of an inguinal hernia, laparoscopic hernioplasty using alloplastic meshes appears possible after simultaneous appendectomy if, in addition, the adhesive hernia sac is also resected. If prosthetic material is implanted, only low weight and large-porous meshes should be used.

No evidence for binding between resistance gene product Cf-9 of tomato and avirulence gene product AVR9 of Cladosporium fulvum.

The gene-for-gene model postulates that for every gene determining resistance in the host plant, there is a corresponding gene conditioning avirulence in the pathogen. On the basis of this relationship, products of resistance (R) genes and matching avirulence (Avr) genes are predicted to interact. Here, we report on binding studies between the R gene product Cf-9 of tomato and the Avr gene product AVR9 of the pathogenic fungus Cladosporium fulvum. Because a high-affinity binding site (HABS) for AVR9 is present in tomato lines, with or without the Cf-9 resistance gene, as well as in other solanaceous plants, the Cf-9 protein was produced in COS and insect cells in order to perform binding studies in the absence of the HABS. Binding studies with radio-labeled AVR9 were performed with Cf-9-producing COS and insect cells and with membrane preparations of such cells. Furthermore, the Cf-9 gene was introduced in tobacco, which is known to be able to produce a functional Cf-9 protein. Binding of AVR9 to Cf-9 protein produced in tobacco was studied employing surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization. Specific binding between Cf-9 and AVR9 was not detected with any of the procedures. The implications of this observation are discussed.

Deuterium labelled nonylphenols in an in-vitro model of percutaneous absorption of environmental xenoestrogens.

A technical mixture of isomeric nonylphenols NP is formed as rather persistent degradation product of nonionic surfactants and has become widespread in the environment, e.g., in surface waters. Information about possible pathways for incorporation is needed for risk assessments, as NP has estrogenic properties. NP uptake after skin contact was determined using isolated and perfused bovine udders as models for human skin. NP-d2 labelled in the positions ortho to the OH-group was prepared by an exchange procedure which did not measurably change the relative amount of isomers. Samples of udder perfusate, milk equivalent produced during the experiments and skin tissue were taken immediately before administration of 500 mg or 50 mg NP-d2 on an udder skin area of 200 cm2 and then for 5 h. They were analyzed by GC-MS for NP and NP-d2 after cleanup by steam distillation and final extraction with SPME fibres. The results are an unambiguous proof of the penetration of NP into the capillary system of living mammals after skin contact.

Expression of ACC oxidase promoter-GUS fusions in tomato and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia regulated by developmental and environmental stimuli.

The enzyme ACC oxidase, catalysing the last step in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone ethylene, is encoded by a small multigene family in tomato, comprising three members, LEACO1, LEACO2 and LEACO3. LEACO1 is the major gene expressed during ripening, leaf senescence, and wounding (Barry et al., 1996). To investigate the transcriptional regulation of ACC oxidase gene expression, chimeric fusions between the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene and 97 bp of 5' UTR plus 124, 396 and 1825 bp, respectively, of 5' untranscribed LEACO1 sequence were constructed and introduced into Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill cv. Ailsa Craig) and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. Analysis of transgenic tomatoes indicated that the region containing nucleotides -124 to +97 of the LEACO1 gene is sufficient to confer a marked increase in GUS activity during fruit ripening, albeit at very low levels. Fusion of 396 and 1825 bp of LEACO1 upstream sequence resulted in strong and specific induction of GUS expression in situations known to be accompanied by enhanced ethylene production. Reporter gene expression was similar to that of the endogenous LEACO1 gene, with major increases especially during fruit ripening, senescence and abscission of leaves and, to a lesser extent, of flowers. Analysis of transgenic N. plumbaginifolia plants confirmed the pattern of LEACO1 promoter activity detected in tomato leaves and flowers. Reporter gene expression was also induced following wounding, treatment with ethylene, and pathogen infection. Histochemical analysis illustrated localized GUS activity in the pericarp of ripening fruit, abscission zones of senescent petioles and unfertilized flowers, and at wound sites. These results demonstrate that ACC oxidase is regulated at the transcriptional level in a wide range of cell types at different developmental stages and in response to several external stimuli.

[Cancerous and precancerous changes in the tumor margin areas of patients with bladder cancers]. / Kanzeröse und präkanzeröse Veränderungen in Tumorrandbezirken bei Patienten mit Harnblasenkarzinomen.

In histologically investigated tumour marginal biopsies of 68 patients with carcinomas of the urinary bladder a great number of findings was detected, which have a decisive influence on the prognosis. Degree of severity and frequency of these changes increase with reducing degree of differentiation of tumours. Hyperplasias of the urothelium, papillary formations and low-degree urothelial dysplasias are not easily to be estimated in the evaluation of their dignity in connection with highly differentiated papillary carcinomas of the urothelium. Multiple biopsies are the prerequisite for a modern therapy planning, in which case the tumour marginal area is of particular importance.

Correlation between in vitro autoradiographic results and histological WHO grades in human urothelial bladder tumours.

253 biopsy specimens of 106 urinary bladder tumours have been examined by means of in vitro autoradiography and the results compared with the WHO grading. An increase of the average labelling index occurred parallel to increasing WHO grades. However, great inter-tumorous differences in proliferation behaviour existed particularly in papillary G2 and G3 urothelium carcinomas. Possible causes of this heterogeneity are discussed. In vitro autoradiography is a suitable method for the objective characterization of the malignancy potential of urinary bladder tumours.

[Histomorphological variants of carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder]. / Histomorphologische Varianten des Carcinoma in situ der Harnblase.

31 secondary carcinomas in situ of the urinary bladder have been histologically examined. They exhibit a great variability of their histological features. This is due to the varying rate at which cells lose their specific properties. Besides urothelial carcinomas in situ, a squamous cell carcinoma in situ as well as the intraurothelial formation of malign signet-ring cells have been detected.

[Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder following cyclophosphamide therapy]. / Urothelkarzinom der Harnblase nach Cyclophosphamidtherapie.

A report is given on a 73-year-old patient in whom a urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder developed 11 years after a cyclophosphamide therapy. Taking the international literature into account, possible developmental mechanisms are discussed. Patients who have undergone cyclophosphamide therapy should be subject to constant urological observation as a high-risk group.

[Histological and autoradiographic studies of the objective characterization of the degree of dysplasia in the urothelium]. / Histologische und autoradiographische Untersuchungen zur Objektivierung der Dysplasiegrade am Urothel.

282 biopsy specimens of tumorous and tumor-free urinary bladders have been examined by histological and autoradiographical means. There is no recommendation unified on an international scale for the histological classification of intra-urothelial cell and nucleus abnormities . The classification into three degrees of dysplasia is proposed. The exact characterization of urothelium requires additional objective methods. The increase of the average labeling index parallel to the increasing degree of dysplasia has been proved autoradiographically. Moreover, the change of proliferation pattern with the increasing degree of dysplasia points to the loss of physiological regeneration.

[Histologic and autoradiographic studies on the significance and terminology of von Brunn's nests in biopsies of the bladder mucosa]. / Histologische und autoradiographische Untersuchungen zur Bedeutung und Terminologie der v. Brunnschen Nester in Blasenschleimhautbiopsien.

Von Brunn's nests have been investigated systematically by means of histology and autoradiography in 201 biopsies of tumour-free and tumorous urinary bladders. They show the same proliferation behaviour like the superimposed urothelium under normal conditions and with inflammatory, metaplastic and dysplastic changes. Their sheltered location permits definite diagnoses even with detached superficial urothelium. In case of cystic transformation, a distinction between pseudoglandular, pseudopapillary and cribriform types is possible. They have to be distinguished from genuine glandular metaplasias in von Brunn's nests. Normal and metaplastic von Brunn's nests do not represent precancerous stages. They are supposed to be a protected proliferation reserve.

[Cancer of the pancreas: a critical analysis of 214 autopsy records]. / Das Pankreaskarzinom. Kritische Analyse von 214 Autopsiefällen.

Based on the post-mortem findings of 214 cases of pancreatic carcinoma, local complications, distant effects of the tumour and paraneoplastic syndromes are considered in detail. With regard to the complications there are distinct differences between carcinomas of the pancreatic head and tail. The most important local complications turned out to be stenosis of the common bile duct in 58% and alterations of the gastrointestinal tract in 30%.