Regulation of choline acetyltransferase expression by 17 ß-oestradiol in NSC-34 cells and in the spinal cord.

Motoneurones located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord conciliate cholinergic innervation of skeletal muscles. These neurones appear to be exceedingly affected in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The dysfunction of motoneurones is typically accompanied by alterations of cholinergic metabolism and signalling, as demonstrated by a decrease in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression. 17 ß-Oestradiol (E(2)) is generally accepted as neuroprotective factor in the brain under acute toxic and neurodegenerative conditions and also appears to exert a protective role for motoneurones. In the present study, we attempted to analyse the role of E(2) signalling on ChAT expression in the motoneurone-like cell line NSC-34 and in vivo. In a first step, we demonstrated the presence of oestrogen receptor α and ß in NSC-34 cells, as well as in the cervical and lumbar parts, of the male mouse spinal cord. Subsequently, we investigated the effect of E(2) treatment on ChAT expression. The application of E(2) significantly increased the transcription of ChAT in NSC-34 cells and in the cervical but not lumbar part of the spinal cord. Our results indicate that E(2) can influence the cholinergic system by increasing ChAT expression in the mouse spinal cord. This mechanism might support motoneurones, in addition to survival-promoting mechanisms, in the temporal balance toxic or neurodegenerative challenges.

[Impact of breast ultrasound screening in gynecological practice]. / Bedeutung der Mammasonografie für die Brustkrebsfrüherkennung in der gynäkologischen Praxis.

PURPOSE: To define the value of whole breast ultrasound for breast cancer detection in primary women's health care in gynecological routing practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among women who were operated at the breast center of the German Diagnostic Clinic (DKD) in the year 2007, we selected different indications for the examinations which were relevant for the detection of breast lesions. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 86 breast cancers (24 %) which were treated at the DKD in the year 2007 were detected only because of an individual ultrasound screening examination. None of these women had abnormal clinical findings and only 8 of these women had abnormal mammograms. The majority of these cancers were early stages, pT1a/b. In this group of patients, only 8 benign lesions detected by ultrasound were operated. This corresponds to a ratio of benign vs. malignant operations of 0.4 to 1, which is far superior to the recommendations of international guidelines for quality assurance. CONCLUSION: Our results show that ultrasound screening considerably increases the detection of early breast cancers without increasing the rate of unnecessary biopsies. This should encourage gynecologists to learn and perform systematic breast ultrasound examinations and to increase their own performance by continuous training. We can expect that additional studies will prove breast ultrasound to be a powerful method for improving breast cancer detection. Currently available state-of-the-art ultrasound technology allows for early detection, but further education and quality control are important for implementation in nation-wide health care.

Structure of the Atmosphere of Jupiter: Galileo Probe Measurements

Temperatures and pressures measured by the Galileo probe during parachute descent into Jupiter's atmosphere essentially followed the dry adiabat between 0.41 and 24 bars, consistent with the absence of a deep water cloud and with the low water content found by the mass spectrometer. From 5 to 15 bars, lapse rates were slightly stable relative to the adiabat calculated for the observed H2/He ratio, which suggests that upward heat transport in that range is not attributable to simple radial convection. In the upper atmosphere, temperatures of >1000 kelvin at the 0.01-microbar level confirmed the hot exosphere that had been inferred from Voyager occultations. The thermal gradient increased sharply to 5 kelvin per kilometer at a reconstructed altitude of 350 kilometers, as was recently predicted. Densities at 1000 kilometers were 100 times those in the pre-encounter engineering model.

The helium mass fraction in Jupiter's atmosphere.

On 7 December 1995, the NASA Galileo probe provided in situ measurements of the helium abundance in the atmosphere of Jupiter. A Jamin interferometer measured the refractive index of the jovian atmosphere in the pressure region from 2 to 14 bars. These measurements indicate that the atmospheric helium mole fraction is 0.136 +/- 0.004. The corresponding helium mass fraction is slightly below the presolar value, which suggests that separation of helium from hydrogen in Jupiter's interior is only in its early stages.

Venus Thermosphere: In situ Composition Measurements, the Temperature Profile, and the Homopause Altitude.

The neutral mass spectrometer on board the Pioneer Venus multiprobe bus measured composition and structral parameters of the dayside Venus upper atmosphere on 9 December 1978. Carbon dioxide and helium number densities were 6 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(6) per cubic centimeter, respectively, at an altitude of 150 kilometers. The mixing ratios of both argon-36 and argon-40 were approximately 80 parts per million at an altitude of 135 kilometers. The exospheric temperature from 160 to 170 kilometers was 285 +/- 10 K. The helium homopause was found at an altitude of about 137 kilometers.

Small mass spectrometer with extended measurement capabilities at high pressures.

For the in situ investigation of planetary atmospheres a small Mattauch-Herzog mass spectrometer has been developed. Its high-pressure performance has been improved by incorporating differential pumping between the ion source and the analyzing fields, shortening the path-length as well as increasing the extraction field in the ion source. In addition doubly ionized and dissociated ions are used for mass analysis. These measures make possible operation up to 10(-2) millibars. Results of laboratory tests related to linearity, dynamic range, and mass resolution are presented, in particular for CO(2).

[Effect of hyperventilation on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in man; continuous monitoring of arterio-cerebral venous glucose differences (author's transl)]. / Einfluss der Hyperventilation auf Hirndurchblutung und cerebralen Stoffwechsel des Menschen: Untersuchungen bei fortlaufender Registrierung der arterio-hirnvenösen Glucosedifferenz

CBF decreases when arterial PCO2 is lowered by physiological, pathological or therapeutically induced hyperventilation. This is accompanied by an undelayed compensatory increase of oxygen-av-differences. Continuous monitoring of enzymatically determined glucose-av-differences of the brain during hyperventilation has for the first time shown that there is an undelayed fall of the cerebral venous glucose content, too. This indicates that the brain cells extract an augmented amount of glucose per ml blood during decreased CBF. Therefore glucose metabolism of the brain is not impaired during non-critical CBF reduction. However, when arterial PCO2 falls below 25 mmHg a detrimental effect on CBF and cerebral metabolism has to be expected. CBF will then decrease below the critical threshold for an undisturbed oxygen supply, and the respiratory alcalosis will lead to a disturbed oxygen delivery due to the Bohr-effect. As a consequence both of these factors will reduce the energy-yielding oxydative glycolysis and augment the little energy producing anaerobic glycolysis with a concomitant increase of lactate formation, resulting in a tissue and spinal fluid lactate acidosis. From our results it is therefore concluded that induced hyperventilation should be avoided, and that central hyperventilation in diseased states has to be considered as an additional threat to the brain.

[Case contribution on ovarian carcinoma in monovular twins]. / Kasuistischer Beitrag zum Ovarialkarzinom bei eineiigen Zwillingen

There is a report of a case of a bilateral ovarian cancer in a 51-years old woman whose monocygotic twin sister had died of the same carcinoma one year before. In both cases it was partly a solid partly an adenocarcinoma of the ovaries. According to general statistics of carcinoma here it is an accidental event. Developmental aspects allow us to think of a common genetic disposition. The question is whether in case of a carcinoma of the ovaries in a monocygotic twin the adnectomia in the twin sister should be done.

[Ultramicroscopic studies on the human corpus luteum menstruationis and graviditatis]. / Ultramikroskopische Untersuchungen am menschlichen Corpus luteum menstruationis et graviditatis

In high active steroid producing cells of the human corpus luteum we can find in the cytoplasm a well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum in form of smooth tubules and homogenously spread vesicles resulting from an active metabolic process. We also find specific concertinalike folded membrane complexes which too belong to the endoplasmic reticulum. Numerous mainly tubular mitochondria contain dense lipoid inclusions. Their close conection with the endoplasmic vesicles is expression of a direct interaction of both cell organelles in progesterone production. The transport of the intracellular formed steroid hormones to the capillary takes place via locally enlarged intercellular spaces which communicate with the pericapillary space. On the other hand there are pericellular canaliculi which are coated with a membrane. They have no direct connection to the pericapillar space.

[Ultramicroscopic studies on the drainage system of the human corpus luteum]. / Ultramikroskopische Untersuchungen über das Drainagesystem des menschlichen Corpus luteum

The granulosa lutein cells of the human corpus luteum have a specialized system of drainage with a particularly formed extracellular space, by which the steroids pass into the capillary vessels. The extracellular space consists of two partial systems: First one finds, similar to the bile capillaries of the liver, lacune-like widnings of the intercellular space, where numerous microvilli of the lining cells are to be found and which are lined by desmosomes and invaginations of the cell membrane. Second there exist relatively wide canals limited by a granular membrane forming a network of their own among the lutein cells. Both systems contact without direct communication. We believe that first the steroids pass into the intracellular lacunes by diffusion or active transport from where they reach the membrane-lined canals by help of the network they pass on to the pericapillar space from where they diffuse into the blood vessels.

[Carcinoid metastases in a uterine myoma]. / Karzinoidmetastasen in einem Uterusmyom

For the first time carcinoid metastases in a uterine myoma with unsuspicious adnexes is described. In the reported case a carcinoid syndrom did not exist; the excretion of 5-hydroxyindolacetic-acid appeared to be within normal limits. In cases of a carcinoid within the female genital tract total hysterectomy with bilateral adnectomy is always advised, even if it requires repeated laparotomy.