[The German Society for Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (DGBG/GBGK) 1945-1984]. / Die Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Bekämpfung der Geschlechtskrankheiten (DGBG/GBGK)Die Ara von 1945-1984.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Bekämpfung der Geschlechtskrankheiten (German Society for Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases) was founded in 1902. After World War II, many regional groups existed. The drafting of the Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Geschlechtskrankheiten (Laws regarding Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases), public education regarding the increasing rates of STDs, continuing medical education especially regarding the use of penicillin in syphilis and gonorrhea, and the major scientific advances in this field stimulated the re-formation of a national organization. Members of the new organization were important in the development of more sophisticated tests for syphilis in the 1960s, for the decrease in incidence of gonorrhea in the 1970s, and for advances in the diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma, Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes genitalis and human papilloma viruses. This new information was also disseminated via a variety of continuing medical education activities. The hopes of the general public and physicians that such therapeutic advances would make scientific research in the area of STDs unattractive or even unnecessary proved to be overly optimistic. The worldwide epidemic of HIV/AIDS confronted the society with a new major challenge in the early 1980s.

[Malignant priapism as a sign of a recurrent prostate cancer. Differential diagnosis of induratio penis plastica]. / Maligner Priapismus bei rezidivierendem Prostatakarzinom. Eine Differenzialdiagnose zur Induratio penis plastica.

A 62-year-old patient was referred with the suspected diagnosis of Peyronie disease. The patient showed the clinical picture of a beginning malignant priapism with hematogenous metastases from an recurrent prostatic carcinoma. The penile metastases were misdiagnosed as Peyronie disease. Although both clinical pictures show some superficial similarity, Peyronie disease usually fulfills classical criteria which help to clearly distinguish it from neoplastic diseases.

Evidence for catecholaminergic, neuronlike cells in the adult human testis: changes associated with testicular pathologies.

Neuronlike, catecholaminergic cells expressing tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) have recently been found in the testis of a nonhuman primate species, the rhesus monkey. We examined whether neuronlike cells are present in the human testis. To this end, we first determined if the genes for TH and for a voltage-activated sodium channel (NaCh), a prerequisite for neuronal excitability, are expressed in normal adult testes. Using an RT-PCR approach, cDNA clones, identical to the sequences of human TH and to the alpha subunit of a NaCh type, were isolated. Immunohistochemical methods localized the corresponding proteins in testicular biopsies from adult men (age range, 28-44 years) without testicular pathologies and from infertile patients with either Sertoli cell only (SCO) syndrome or severe hypospermatogenesis and germ cell arrest (GA). TH and NaCh antibodies, as well as antibodies recognizing dopamine-transporter protein, identified immunoreactive cells of mainly bipolar or occasionally multipolar, elongated phenotype in most, but not all, biopsies of each group (12 out of 23). The results were corroborated by identification of TH gene expression by RT-PCR approaches in biopsies. Immunoreactive cell bodies, as well as nerve fibers, were more readily detected in SCO and GA biopsies. This was quantified after immunohistochemically visualizing all testicular neuronal elements, cell bodies, and fibers, with a neurofilament 200 (NF-200) monoclonal antibody in one set of randomly selected sections from all biopsies. We found significantly increased NF-200-immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers in SCO-syndrome and GA biopsies. These results show the existence of an as yet unknown testicular catecholaminergic neuronlike cell type in the human testis. This cell type may complement and act in concert with the well-known testicular sympathetic innervation. The increase of both "intrinsic" (neuronal cells) and "extrinsic" (nerve fibers) neuronal elements in pathological testicular biopsies suggests that the two parts of the human testicular nervous system may be involved in pathogenesis and/or maintenance of GA and SCO syndromes.

Birth of healthy children after intracytoplasmic sperm injection in two couples with male Kartagener's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe two cases in which intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was successful for patients with infertility due to Kartagener's syndrome. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Private hospital for gynecology department of reproductive medicine, and university hospital center for andrology. PATIENT(S): Two couples with primary infertility due to Kartagener's syndrome in the male. INTERVENTION(S): ICSI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy and birth after ICSI. RESULT(S): In both couples, ICSI was successful in the first cycle. The uncomplicated pregnancies resulted in the birth of three healthy children. One female and male/female twins. CONCLUSION(S): In couples with infertility due to Kartagener's syndrome in the male, ICSI has proved to be a successful therapy resulting in clinically healthy offspring. This knowledge may improve our understanding of the involvement of paternally inherited centrosomes, which nucleate microtubules, in human reproduction.

Congenital lower lip pits--a very rare syndrome? Report of two cases and review of the literature.

A 43-year-old white man and his 12-year-old daughter both displayed congenital lower lip pits. Since Van der Woude's description of this syndrome more than forty years ago, little attention has been given to this uncommon anomaly, probably due to variable expressivity, incomplete penetrance, and recognition of its clinical stigmata. We describe two family members with Van der Woude's syndrome and review its clinical aspects, differential diagnosis, and treatment.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy trial with yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of nonorganic erectile dysfunction.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of yohimbine hydrochloride included 86 patients with erectile dysfunction and without clearly detectable organic or psychologic causes. The patient group fulfilled all entry criteria; 85 of these could be considered for the Safety-respectively 83 for the Intention-to-treat (ITT)-analysis. Yohimbine was administered orally in a dosage of 30 mg a day (two 5 mg tablets three times daily) for eight weeks. Patients were seen for follow-up after four weeks' treatment, and for a final visit after eight weeks. Efficacy evaluation was based on both subjective and objective criteria. Subjective criteria included improvement in sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, frequency of sexual contacts, and quality of erection (penile rigidity) during sexual contact/intercourse. Objective criteria of outcome were based on improvement in penile rigidity determined by use of polysomnography in the sleep laboratory. Overall Yohimbine was found significantly more effective than placebo in terms of response rate: 71 vs 45%. Yohimbine was well-tolerated: Only 7% of patients rated tolerability fair or poor, and most adverse experiences were mild. There was no serious adverse event.

[Disorders of penile erection and their treatment]. / Störungen der Erektion und ihre Behandlung.

With a prevalence of 1 to 2% among males of reproductive age, erectile dysfunction is relatively common. For the patient and his partner, erectile disorders may represent a highly stressful situation. Frequently, a number of overlapping causes may be found to be responsible, with a psychological component--which may also arise secondarily--being involved in nearly every form of erectile dysfunction. Possible causes, the diagnostic approach and therapeutic options are discussed.

[Multiple cutaneous neoplasms in cyclosporine therapy after kidney transplantation]. / Multiple kutane Neoplasien bei Cyclosporin-Therapie nach Nierentransplantation.

We report on a 56-year-old renal allograft recipient receiving cyclosporin A immunosuppression. During this therapy he subsequently developed the following cutaneous neoplasms: squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, Bowen's disease, actinic keratosis, sebaceous hyperplasia, a dysplastic naevus and, finally a nodular malignant melanoma. Adverse effects of the cyclosporin A therapy are discussed, with special reference to dermatologic effects and the implications for patient and doctor.

[Soft roentgen therapy in cutaneous metastases of the eyelids]. / Röntgenweichstrahltherapie bei kutanen Metastasen der Augenlider.

HISTORY: Within 6 months a 88-year-old woman developed cutaneous metastases with infiltration of the eye-lid so that an opening of the eye-lids became impossible. The primary tumor histologically resembled a mamma carcinoma. THERAPY: Within a few days the cutaneous metastases of the eye-lids decreased by using x-ray therapy with the Dermopan II with a single dosage of 5 Gy and a total dosage of 35 Gy on the eye-lids. Even 12 months after palliative therapy the opening of the eye-lids was possible without any problems. CONCLUSIONS: By using the x-ray therapy immediate and gentle help could be given to the terminally ill patients so that eye-lid surgery could be avoided.

[Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism with pulsatile GnRH therapy]. / Hypogonadotroper Hypogonadismus unter pulsatiler GnRH-Therapie.

In idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism of men it is possible to normalize the endocrine and exocrine testicular function by pulsatile therapy with a GnRH pump. The long duration of the therapy can cause difficulties with compliance in young patients.

[Dermatologic aspects of anorexia and bulimia nervosa]. / Dermatologische Aspekte bei Anorexia und Bulimia nervosa.

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are common in western civilized countries. They are frequently associated with disorders of the skin. Up to now, no dermatological studies of large numbers of patients with eating disorders have been published. We examined 145 patients with eating disorders (65 anorexia nervosa, 80 bulimia nervosa) regarding skin alterations. Simultaneously we controlled the moisture content and the superficial lipids of the skin. Several symptoms relevant to dermatology were found. In detail we report on: xerosis, hair changes, nail disorders, pathognomonic hand lesions, sialadenosis, lesions of the oral mucosa and the teeth, peripheral oedema, acrocyanosis, petechiae and artefacts.