[Phlebology in German departments of dermatology. An analysis on behalf of the German Society of Phlebology]. / Phlebologie an deutschen Hautkliniken. Eine Bestandsaufnahme im Auftrag der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Phlebologie.

BACKGROUND: Phlebologic diseases have become extremely common and have major socio-economic impact. However, the percentage of dermatologists working in phlebology appears to be decreasing according to the data of the German Society of Phlebology (DGP). METHODS: To investigate the reasons for this development, we--on behalf of the DGP--sent a questionnaire to 120 German Departments of Dermatology in autumn 2012. RESULTS: In 76 returned questionnaires, the number of physicians with additional fellowship training in phlebology averaged 1.5; the average number of those who fulfill the criteria for training fellows in phlebology was 0.9. In 71.1 % of the departments there was a phlebologist. A special phlebologic outpatient clinic existed in 73.7 % of the departments. Sonography with Doppler (89.5 %) and duplex (86.8 %) was used as the most frequent diagnostic tool. For therapy, compression (94.7 %), sclerotherapy (liquid 78.9 %, foam 63.2 %, catheter 18.4 %), endoluminal thermic procedures (radio wave 28.9 %, laser 17.1 %) and surgery (especially crossectomy and stripping 67.1 %, phlebectomy of tributaries 75 %) were used. The average number of treatments was very heterogenous in the different departments. CONCLUSIONS: Phlebology definitely plays an important role in dermatology. Most departments fulfill the formal criteria for the license to conduct advanced training in phlebology. A wide spectrum of phlebological diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is available.

Graded X-ray Optics for Synchrotron Radiation Applications.

Using X-ray diffractometry and spectral measurements, the structure and properties of graded X-ray optical elements have been examined. Experimental and theoretical data on X-ray supermirrors, which were prepared by the magnetron sputtering technique using precise thickness control, are reported. Measurements on graded aperiodic Si(1-x)Ge(x) single crystals, which were grown by the Czochralski technique, are also presented. The lattice parameter of such a crystal changes almost linearly with increasing Ge concentration. The measurements indicate that Si(1-x)Ge(x) crystals with concentrations up to 7 at.% Ge can be grown with a quality comparable to that of pure Si crystals.

A new UHV angle encoder for high-resolution synchrotron radiation monochromators.

The high precision of 0.1 arcsec required for the positioning of optical elements in new two-axes monochromators at the undulator beamlines at BESSY II has led to the development of UHV-compatible high-precision angle encoders. Mounted directly on the rotation axes, they provide substantial advantages over measuring systems connected outside the vacuum vessel. Making use of a fast closed-loop control system, an accuracy of 0.1 arcsec at a resolution of less than 0.01 arcsec has been experimentally verified.

A plane-grating monochromator for circularly polarized undulator radiation at BESSY II.

At BESSY II, a third-generation 1.7 GeV storage ring is under construction. A planar elliptical undulator will be installed as a source of X-rays that have a high degree of circular polarization. Radiation in the first, third and fifth harmonics will cover the energy range 87-1330 eV. The beamline will essentially consist of a plane-grating monochromator working with collimated light in the dispersion plane. A single set of optical elements can be used to handle the two angularly separated beams of opposite helicity from the double undulator. The degree of circular polarization ranges from 73 to 100%, and a flux of up to 5 x 10(13) photons s(-1) (100 mA)(-1) can be achieved. A maximum spectral resolution of about 13 000 will be possible at 100 eV using a 20 micro m slit.

[Botryomycosis caused by fusobacteria]. / Botryomykose durch Fusobakterien.

In the Anglo-American literature botrymycosis is described as a chronic cutaneous granulomatous reaction to bacterial infection, containing granules resembling the sulphur granules seen in actinomycosis. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are discussed with reference to a recently observed patient. Fusobacterium nucleatum was isolated as the bacterial cause of the pathologic disorder.

[Eosinophilic cellulitis--clinical and histological aspects]. / Eosinophile Zellulitis--klinische und histologische Aspekte.

Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) is a rare skin disease whose aetiology is still unknown. The onset is acute, and different disease stages may exist simultaneously during the course. Histological examination shows flame figures as a characteristic, but not pathognomonic, feature. In later stages the infiltrate adopts granulomatous characteristics. Malignant haematological disorders, which frequently occur with this disease, should be excluded.

A monoclonal Ro-antibody and the serum of a Ro-positive patient with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) react with basal layers of human epidermis.

Skin lesions, especially at areas exposed to sunlight, prove to be a major form of manifestation of diseases related to Ro-antibodies and neonatal-, 'ANA-negative-', and cutaneous types of lupus erythematosus. A monoclonal Ro-antibody established by our group reacts with a 60 kD polypeptide in extracts from human spleen, whereas in extracts from human epidermis the monoclonal Ro-antibody and a purified Ro-antibody from a monospecific serum of a patient with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus reacted with a 60 kD and a 48 kD protein. Performing immunofluorescence microscopy on HEp2-cells both antibodies showed a nuclear speckled staining pattern and a reaction with cytokeratin filaments. On skin biopsies obtained from the patient, predominantly the basal layers of the proliferative stratum germinativum demonstrated a high rate of immunofluorescence; antigen-expression seems to depend on sunlight exposure. From these data we assume that, especially in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, cross-reaction of the Ro-antibody with one of the lower molecular keratins happens in that area of human epidermis which histologically shows cellular destruction.

X-ray microscopy of biological objects with carbon kappa and with synchrotron radiation.

X-ray micrographs of biological objects have been obtained with a resolution better than 1000 angstroms by using poly(methyl methacrylate) x-ray resist and carbon Kalpha or synchrotron radiation. Synchrotron radiation allows short exposure times; storage rings especially designed as radiation sources and improved x-ray resists would make exposure times under 1 second possible.