A comparison of Alpine emissions to forest soil and spruce needle loads for persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

The project MONARPOP analysed the concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in two important sink compartments, needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and forest soil from 40 remote Alpine forest sites in Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. In the present study the load of PCDD/F, PCB, PBDE, PAH, HCB, HCH and DDT in the Alps calculated on the basis of measured data are compared with their estimated emissions in the Alpine region. It comes out that the masses of the studied pollutants stored in the forests are higher than the corresponding emissions in the Alpine area indicating that the Alps are a sink for POPs advected from surrounding areas. It is assumed that local emissions of PCDD/F and PAH deriving from biomass burning are probably underestimated and that the pool of these pollutants in the forests represents the accumulation over some decades.

The Elbe flood in August 2002--occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) and dioxin-like PCB in suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediment and fish.

As a result of extreme precipitation in August 2002 major flooding occurred in the catchment area of the rivers Elbe, Vltava (Moldau) and Mulde. Pollutants from industrial sites and from municipal sewage treatment works (STW) entered the Elbe and led to a serious pollution problem in the river. PCDD/F concentrations (in pg WHO-TEQ/g dw) in SPM ranged from 7-150, in sediments from 3-140; the "safe sediment value" of 20 was exceeded in 46% of the samples. 24 eels showed a wide concentration variation for these contaminants. The WHO-PCDD/F+PCB-TEQ values lay in the range from 11-56 pg/g ww, whereby the WHO-PCB-TEQ values were several times higher than the WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ values. The maximum permitted value of 4 pg WHO-PCDD/F/g ww (EU Directive No. 2375/2001) was reached or exceeded in 54% of the individuals. A statistical analysis using data from SPM and sediment samples showed that in the Czech river section the flooding activated a contamination source in the vicinity of the Spolana works. The influence of the tributary Mulde could be clearly demonstrated. Only a major clean-up of the contaminated sites in Bitterfeld can lead to a mid to long term improvement in respect of PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB input into the Elbe.

Source identification of PCDD/Fs in a sewage treatment plant of a German village.

The PCDD/F levels in the sewage sludge of a village in North-East Germany were substantially above the limit of 100 pg I-TEq/g for sludge applied to land. A study was initiated to identify the PCDD/F sources in the sewage of this treatment plant. It was found that the PCDD/F contamination entered the plant through the faecal inlet, where the content of faecal storage tanks was emptied into the treatment plant. The isomeric patterns of the higher chlorinated homologues were similar to that of PCP, while incineration showed some influence on the lower chlorinated homologues. Cluster analysis revealed a profile similar to that of PCP.

Boron neutron capture therapy: linkage of a boronated macromolecule to monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor-associated antigens.

Two new protein-binding polyhedral boron derivatives, isocyanatoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-) (1) and isocyanato(trimethylamino)octahydro-closo-decaborate(1 -) (2), were synthesized. These anionic isocyanates have long hydrolysis half-lives at pH 7 and react readily with primary or secondary aliphatic amines resulting in spontaneous urea linkage. Utilizing 1, 1100 boron atoms (7.3% boron by weight) were incorporated per molecule of a polyclonal antibody directed against human thymocytes (anti-thymocyte globulin) without denaturation. However, immunoreactivity of the conjugates was lost. Reaction of 1 and 2 with polylysine yielded boronated macromolecules containing 21-28% boron by weight (up to 2000 boron atoms per molecule). Polylysine boronated with 2 was successfully linked to antibody molecules employing the heterobifunctional linking molecules N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) and m-maleimidobenzoyl sulfosuccinimide ester (sulfo-MBS). Separation of the conjugated antibody from the free boronated macromolecules and unconjugated antibody molecules has been achieved by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-300 column. By linking boronated polylysine to antibodies, greater than 10(3) boron atoms were incorporated with the attachment of this species to one or more sites on the antibody molecule. The resulting immunoconjugates contained greater than 10(3) boron atoms per molecule, retained their immunoreactivity, and potentially might be useful for the selective delivery of large numbers of boron atoms to tumor cells.

[Differential diagnostic studies using the dermatoscope in selected diseases]. / Differentialdiagnositsche Untersuchungen mit dem Dermatoskop bei ausgewählten Erkrankungen.

The Zeis dermatoscope can be used beyond its known applications for precise and detailed skin surface examinations of different types of dermatosis. Differential diagnostic problems are solved by comparative observation of efflorescence and efflorescence fields of similar appearance. The examination series presented, the results of which are discussed in detail, is concerned mainly with surface examinations of parapsoriasis en plaques, seborrhea en plaques and the clinically similar early forms of mycosis fungoides. Also mentioned are examinations of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and circumscribed scleroderma, lichen planus, Hutchinson-Dubreuilh freckle and similarly appearing facial verruca seborrhoica, as well as fresh dispersions of foreign bodies. The didactic value is underlined by color photographs taken of diseased skin and nails with the dermatoscope at various magnifications. Finally, a description is given of possible instrument extensions.

[Fibrin depostition in granuloma anulare (author's transl)]. / Immunhistochemischer Fibrin-Nachweis beim Granuloma anulare.

In 6 cases of granuloma anulare direct immunofluorescence studies were carried out with anti-fibrinogen and anti-immunoglobulin sera. Fibrin deposition was found in all lesions. The result is discussed with reference to local fibrinolysis.

[Problems in the special nosological position of keratoacanthoma. Clinical, histological and comparative Feulgen-cytophotometric studies. 3. Classification of keratoacanthomas, therapeutic consequences, conclusions]. / Zur Frage der nosologischen Sonderstellung des Keratoakanthoms. Klinische, histologische und vergleichende Feulgenzytophotometrische Untersuchungen. Teil 3: Einteilung der Keratoakanthome, therapeutische Konsequenzen, Schlussfolgerungen

Feulgen-cytophotometric examinations of 61 keratoacanthomas of the skin have revealed 3 types differing from each other in their DNA distribution. Keratoacanthomas type I are characterized by a diploid DNA distribution--comparable to epidermis cells. An increasing average DNA content (x) and mean distribution (Sx) compared with diploid cells are, however, conspicuous. Keratoacanthomas type II display DNA peaks in the triploid phase and increasing x and Sx. Keratoacanthomas type III show DNA tumor stem lines in the hypotetraploid, tetraploid and hypertetraploid phases, with x and Sx further increasing. The occurrence of two tumor cell populations of aneuploid localization is noteworthy in part of the keratoacanthomas. Transitional types among the tumors mentioned above are possible. Only type I does not allow cytophotometric demarcation of epidermis cells or tissue lymphocytes based on statistical analysis. The three types of keratoacanthomas can be significantly defined against each other. These cytophotometric findings explain the occurrence of clinical variations of keratoacanthomas with tumor ulceration, increased growth and recidivity. As a rule total excision and careful histological examinations are advisable. The occurrence of paraneoplastic keratoacanthomas and carcinomata disguished as keratoacanthomas is mentioned. Spontaneous healing should not be waited for despite the possible occurrence of benign keratoacanthomas.

[Granulomas of axillae (zirconium?) (author's transl)]. / Axillare Granulome (Zirkonium?)

Deodorant preparations containing Zirconium may induce axillary granulomas of allergic origin. The case of a 49 years old female patient is presented, who developed axillary granulomas after having used a deodorant preparation containing Zirconium.