Sialic acid as a marker for differentiation between benign and malignant intracranial tumors.

One of the characteristics of malignant tumor cells is the production of glycocompounds with a high content of N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid). Total sialic acid concentration was determined in the serum of 136 patients with an intracranial tumor. The concentration was determined enzymatically and using HPLC. Both methods had a relatively high specificity (90%), provided an inflammatory process due to an infection could be excluded. Sensitivity was 72.6%; the cut-off level of sialic acid concentration was determined to be 2.75 mumol/ml. There was a significant difference in the average sialic acid concentration of benign and malignant tumors. The test was least reliable in determining whether the growth of an astrocytoma is malignant.

AIDS and Austrian physicians.

Physicians have key roles both in treating disease and educating their patients about health and disease-related issues. To assess which factors correlate with Austrian physician's willingness to treat and educate patients about HIV-related risk behaviors and deal with AIDS issues, we conducted a survey of general practitioners, internists, and dermatologists in Graz, Austria. We report on some aspects of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of these physicians. Factor analysis revealed two attitudinal components significantly associated with HIV-related practices of the respondents. We labeled these components Reluctance and Infection. "Reluctance" reflected discomfort with sex-related matters and was associated with less HIV counseling and less interest in HIV-related continuing medical education. "Infection" reflected a fear of contracting HIV disease and was positively associated with an increased assessment of different risk factors and a tendency to refer HIV-infected patients for all further treatment. Results suggest that physicians need further training in their ability to deal with HIV issues. Fortunately they seem willing to improve and take further training to do so. Patients, physicians, and the public would all benefit from acknowledging and dealing with the attitudes and needs of physicians toward HIV-related issues.

[Reactions to tick-borne encephalitis vaccination (authors transl)]. / Zur Verträglichkeit des FSME-Impfstoffes

No serious side effects with resultant permanent disability were encountered amongst 1457 patients receiving tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination. However, generalized and local reactions occurred in a high percentage of cases following the first vaccination. Fever, headache and vomiting were frequently encountered together. Over 50% of the children under 10 reacted with pyrexia of varying degree up to 39 degrees C, but the temperature seldom exceeded this mark. These reactions began immediately (usually in the night) after the vaccination and generally disappeared after one to two days (rarely longer). During this time a decrease in work efficiency must be expected in a high percentage of vaccinated patients. On the other hand, complete inability to work was recorded in a small percentage of cases only. After the second vaccination (four weeks later) side effects such as fever appeared significantly less frequently, but local reactions were more common. Hence, limitation of work ability over a short period must be anticipated in a relatively high percentage of cases receiving their second dose of TBE vaccine.

[Risk of AIDS and prevention in the hospital and general practice]. / AIDS-Gefährdung und -Prophylaxe im Krankenhaus und in der Praxis.

Following an explanation of the most important routes of infection, there are general recommendations for protection against HIV-infection. Part 2 discusses AIDS risks and prophylaxis in the hospitals and in the offices of physicians. This discussion includes both, general aspects and specific medical questions. Both among medical workers and among the general population, HIV-infection can be prevented by adequate measures, sufficient knowledge and determination.

[Experiments to improve the oncolysis-effect of clostridial-strain M55 (author's transl)]. / Versuche zur Verbesserung der Onkolyse mit dem Clostridienstamm M55.

Decreasing the oxygen in the respiration-air of animals to 11-12%, it was possible to increase the oncolysis-effect of the Clostridial-Strain M55 significant (macroscopical complete oncolysis in comparison with the usual application: Ehrlich-Solid-Tumour +62%, Harding-Passey-Melanom +64%). In nearly 30%, Tumours cured completely.

[Influence of plasmaphoresis on total and T-lymphocyte count (author's transl)]. / Zur Beeinflussung von Leukozyten, Lymphozyten und SRBC-rosettenbildenden T-Lymphozyten durch Plasmapherese.

For more than one year 30 plasma donors were tested as to their influence on leukocytes, lymphocytes and SRBC-rosette-forming-T-lymphocytes. None of the donors, even under long-term observation and with more than 40 double plasmaphoreses per year, showed any significant changes in the above-mentioned data. The general level of lymphocytes and SRBC-rosette-forming is individually fixed, and there is a definite correlation between these two factors. This individual level is also uninfluenced by frequent plasmaphoreses.

The effect of aristolochic acid on the development of methyl-cholanthrene tumours in mice.

1. In several experiments on groups of mice aristolochic acid administered by mouth reduced the induction rate of methyl-cholanthrene tumours. 2. In cases where such tumours were influenced their growth was slowed down. 3. If aristolochic acid treatment is started a long time after the methylcholanthrene injection its effect on carcinogenesis is weaker. 4. Oral administration gave better results than injection. 5. Pertussis vaccine seems to have no significant influence on tumour development.

Oncolysis by Clostridium oncolyticum M55 and subsequent enzymatic determination of sialic acid in serum.

Since the discovery of the "Clostridium tetani phenomenon", various apathogenic clostridia have been used for tumour lysis. Experiments have been conducted to achieve a tumour diagnosis using radiolabelled antibodies to clostridia. In addition, a method has been described that distinguishes, with variable success, between healthy and tumour-carrying animals by means of hemagglutination. The method outlined here uses the fact that malignant cells produce a multitude of sialic acid compounds which lie on the cell membrane and are also connected to the lipid layer of the tumour cell membrane. The apathogenic Clostridium oncolyticum M55 only germinates and multiplies in the malignant tumour tissue. Thus; bacterial hydrolases can enter the tumour tissue and lead to oncolysis. Subsequently the glycocompounds which can be detected by means of an enzymatic determination of the concentration of neuraminic acid (one of the sialic acids) in the serum are washed out into the peripheral blood. We observed these processes in mice in the Ehrlich ascites solid carcinoma and in the Lewis lung carcinoma. Using this method it was possible to detect tumour growth at an early stage with impressive accuracy. The Lewis lung carcinoma which secretes only small amounts of sialic acid glycocompounds cannot be distinguished from the control group by determination of sialic acid concentration. It was possible to detect a 52% increase in the amount of sialic acid after administration of spores of clostridia. This method makes it possible to increase the tumour marker sialic acid through manipulation of the tumour, using apathogenic clostridia, and to measure of sialic acid concentration as an indicator of the metabolic products of the tumour.

The liquefaction (oncolysis) of malignant gliomas by a non pathogenic Clostridium.

Vascular glioblastomas become liquefied when contaminated with spores of the non-pathogenic Clostridium butyricum M 55. The spores are administered by intracarotid injection. The oncolysis is complete one week after injection. The glioblastoma is converted into a brain abscess which is then operated on appropriately. Forty nine patients have been treated in this manner. The rate of recurrence, however, remained uninfluenced.

[The use of clostridial antigens for a serological and autoradiographical early diagnosis of tumours (author's transl)]. / Die Verwendung von Clostridien-Antigenen für eine serologische und autoradiographische Frühdiagnose von Tumoren.

In continuation of the examinations on the usefulness of Cl. oncolyticum M 55 spores reported by Möse new experiments with an auto-radiographical method are plannes. After the isolation, chemical characterization of the cell wall antigens and the exo-antigens and the formation of antibodies, these antibodies should be at first labelled with 125 J and henceforth with 131 J. The iodine-labelled antibodies should allow the diagnosis and localization of the tumours.

[The development of methylcholanthrene-tumors in mice under the environmental influence of various electrobioclimatological conditions (author's transl)]. / Die Entwicklung des Methylcholanthren-Tumors der Maus unter verschiedenen elektrobioklimatologischen Umwelteinflüssen.

Comparative analyses of the development rate of a slow Tumor (Methylcholanthrene) in mice were undertaken under conditions of a) an electrostatic field (Field strength 200 V/m, Residual sinus component 0.1%), b) a Faraday cage (Shielding effectivity on atmospheric electrical disturbances: 99%) and c) a laboratory, climatized with conventional methods. The tumor was initiated in each case following a 6-week acclimatisation period to the unaccustomed surroundings. Following this, we observed the appearance rates over a period of 8 months at 14-day intervals. Under customary laboratory conditions these were perceptibly higher than in the electrostatic field or in the Faraday cage. No difference was apparent between the two latter conditions. Any variations in the electrobioclimatological environment can lead to stress reactions resulting in familiar consequences to various defense mechanisms. This allows us to find an explanation for the results otherwise difficult to interpret; for both in the electrostatic field and under shielding from external electrical influences the neoplastic activity was obviously reduced in comparison to normally climatized laboratory conditions. We are continuing the experiments.

[On the evaluation of health factors in high-rise buildings. 2. Bioclimatological consequences resulting from comparative measurements of the air ionisation in a high-rise building located in a heavily contaminated suburban area and at certain altitudes (author's transl)]. / Zur gesundheitlichen Beurteilung von Hochhäusern. 2. Mitteilung: Bioklimatologische Konsequenzen aus Vergleichsmessungen der Luftionisation in einem Hochhaus in einem stark verunreinigten Stadtgebiet an der Stadtrandzone sowie in der Höhenlage.

According to accepted scientific theories inhaled small ions deliver their charges in the pulmonary alveoli and this leads to local recharges. This process stimulates structures of the central nervous system and the activity of the endocrine is excited, resulting in an enhancement of the general well-being. These possibilities of interpretation regarding a biological ionic effect are supported, with reservations (e.g. effects produced by a change in climate), by positive medical effects during and after a stay in a well-ventilated mountain climate or also in a sea-climate. Owing to their lower mobility the large ions are inhaled as small ions to an increasing extent. The chemical and physical noxa are delivered and deposited in the respiratory tract. They "stick" the epithelia in the trachea and in the bronchi as well as the endothelia in the lung vesicles. The number of the ciliary movements is reduced. Similar effects are known to be caused also by nicotine abuse. This results in a decreased ability of expectoration and a lower intake of oxygen by the alveoli. These facts could furnish an explanation for the increased vulnerability of city dwellers to infections diseases and to catarrh. The changed ionisation of air in urbanised areas (mainly large ions in high concentrations) definitely represents only one of the many risk factors. In addition to the attempt to characterize bioclimatically local weather conditions by means of the non-conventional parameter "air ionisation" our study has also been intended to establish biologically oriented criteria for the living in a high-rise building in a particularly unfavourable location. Under specific microclimatic conditions the uppermost storeys were at times bioclimatically favoured over the lowermost, especially when shallow air inversion is present. In such cases, small ions exclusively were registered in the upper storeys and large ions in the lower floors.

[On the evaluation of health factors in high-rise buildings. 3. Sociological investigations and questioning of physicians about living in high-rise buildings (author's transl)]. / Zur gesundheitlichen Beurteilung von Hochhäusern. 3. Mitteilung: Soziologische Untersuchungen und Befragung von Arzten über das Wohnen im Hochhaus.

It can be rightly assumed that there are persons who evidently prefer to live in high-rise buildings. They should not be prevented from doing so as long as no evidence is produced that this preference neither does any serious harm to the people concerned nor causes any major risk of damage to the community. To our knowledge, accurate and sufficiently extensive empirical investigations have not yet been undertaken. One cannot help feeling that general shortcomings (e.g. inadequate town planning, housing planning, workmanship etc.) lead to a hunt for scapegoats. The high-rise building appears to be a rewarding object for such intentions. There is conclusive evidence that dwellings of good and poor quality exist. Both can be found in the detached single-family house and in the tower block. What has to be claimed is mainly a good location and good workmanship, for both are much more important than the type of the dwelling. The most striking deficiencies which were found in the high-rise buildings of Graz are mistaken selection of the location and poor workmanship. The improvement of the living conditions of a larger number of people will therefore depend more on the elimination of these shortcomings rather than on the promotion of certain types of dwelling. Subsequent to these sociological investigations, a physician questioned the general practitioners prevailingly attending to tenants of the high-rise buildings under study. There is no trend toward an increased incidence of objectively determinable diseases among the people living on the upper storeys of the high-rise buildings under review. This holds good for both the adults and the children. By contrast, the factor "noise" evidently influences health to some extent. The influence of this factor is partly so overrated that it outweighs, in particularly severe cases, any other adverse environmental condition.

[Microbiological studies of the contamination of hospital waste and household refuse]. / Mikrobiologische Untersuchungen zur Kontamination von Krankenhausabfällen und Haushaltsmüll.

A bacteriological analysis of hospital waste and household refuse (garbage dump) showed a wider range of bacteria in hospital waste. However, quantitatively, household refuse was more contaminated, especially with fecal bacteria. Almost one third of all hospital waste showed no bacterial growth under the conditions chosen for the study. In blood-drenched waste and serum samples 2% of all samples examined were anti-HBc and anti-HBe positive.