[Anaphylactic reaction after soya intake in a patient with birch pollen allergy]. / Anaphylaktische Reaktion nach Sojagenuss bei einem Patienten mit Birkenpollenallergie.

Patients with birch pollen allergy may suffer from severe anaphylactic reactions after ingestion of foodstuffs containing soya. The reason for this is similarities in protein structure between a major birch pollen allergen (bet v 1) and Gly m 4, a pollen-related protein in soya. A 65-year-old patient allergic to birch pollen developed an adverse systemic reaction after consumption of a soya-containing drink. The diagnosis could be confirmed by in vitro and skin testing methods. Patients who suffer from birch pollen allergy should strictly avoid the intake of soya-containing foodstuffs.

[Cytomegalovirus. Pathological-anatomical manifestations and detection methods]. / Zytomegalievirus. Pathologisch-anatomische Manifestation und Nachweisverfahren.

Human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus, is a member of the Herpesviridae family with high rates of transmission. Primary infection is often asymptomatic and leads to life-long latency. Reactivation may induce different organ manifestations, particularly in the setting of immunosuppression. Histopathologically, the virus can be detected by light microscopy. Different cell populations in different organs are transformed into"owl's eye" cells, which are pathognomonic. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy can be applied as complementary methods. Various PCR approaches in molecular pathology including nested PCR, capture probe ELISA-PCR and real time PCR confer HCMV tests high sensitivity and specificity. The present article discusses the methods of pathological diagnostic approaches and describes organ manifestations of HCMV.

Comparison of Color Flow Doppler Sonography (CFDS) and immunohistologic detection of microvessels for the assessment of the malignancy of thyroid nodules.

The assessment of tumor vascularization by color flow Doppler sonography (CFDS) has been suggested for the distinction between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Our objective was to investigate if the CFDS results reflect the percentage of histologically determined microvessels in adenomas (As), adenomatous nodules (ANs), and papillary carcinomas (PCs). Tissue sections from 10 adenomas, 8 ANs and 13 PC and surrounding tissue of 10 PCs and 2 benign nodules were immunostained for CD34. A computerized image analysis was used to determine the microvessel density in four hot spots and ten systematically selected fields. Preoperatively CFDS was performed and classified according to Frates et al. We found a consistent percentage increase of CD34 stained microvessels in PCs (83 and 96%) as compared to adenomas and ANs (38 and 49%) determined by the hot spot analysis and systematic field analysis. A ROC analysis on the basis of the histologically determined number of microvessels demonstrated 70% microvessels as an optimal cut point for the diagnosis of PC with the highest sensitivity of 92% and highest specificity of 89%. The analysis of the CFDS-classification IV for the distinction between PCs and adenomas and ANs showed a sensitivity of 62% with a specificity of 100%. The lower sensitivity of the CFDS classification as compared with the immunohistologic determination of the microvessel density indicates that the CFDS classification detects the pathognomonic intranodular microvessels only incompletely. The higher CFDS specificity is most likely due to the detection of other vascular aspects of malignancy in addition to intranodular microvessels.

Sex-specific and lasting effects of a single course of antenatal betamethasone treatment on human placental 11ß-HSD2.

INTRODUCTION: We have previously shown that even a single course of antenatal betamethasone (BET) as an inductor for lung maturity reduces birth weight and head circumference. Moreover, animal studies link BET administration to alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-gland-axis (HPA). The unhindered development of the fetal HPA axis is dependent on the function and activity of 11ß-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase type 2 (11ß-HSD2), a transplacental cortisol barrier. Therefore, we investigated the effects of BET on this transplacental barrier and fetal growth. METHODS: Pregnant women treated with a single course of BET between 23 + 5 to 34 + 0 weeks of gestation were compared to gestational-age-matched controls. Placental size and neonatal anthropometrics were taken. Cortisol and ACTH levels were measured in maternal and umbilical cord blood samples. Placental 11ß-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase type 1 (11ß-HSD1) protein levels and 11ß-HSD2 protein and activity levels were determined. Parameters were analyzed independent of sex, and in subgroups divided by gender and gestational age. RESULTS: In term born females, BET administration was associated with reduced head circumference and decreased 11ß-HSD2 protein levels and enzyme activity. Males treated with BET, especially those born prematurely, showed increased 11ß-HSD2 protein levels. CONCLUSION: A single course of BET alters placental glucocorticoid metabolism in a sex-specific manner. Decreased 11ß-HSD2 levels in term born females may lead to an increased placental transfer of maternal cortisol and therefore result in a reduced head circumference and a higher risk for altered stress response in adulthood. Further research is needed to conclude the significance of increased 11ß-HSD2 levels in males.

Bisphosphonate effects on alveolar bone during rat molar drifting.

The remodeling of bone during molar drifting and cortical growth in the rat maxilla and the effects of dichloromethylene bisphosphonate (Cl2MBP) on these processes were investigated in 30 age-matched rats. A control group of six rats was killed at 10 weeks of age. Beginning at 10 weeks of age, 12 rats were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of Cl2MBP (10 mg/kg), and 12 control rats were injected daily with normal saline. Six rats of each group were killed at 12 and at 20 weeks of age. All rats were injected with fluorescent bone labels eight and one days before termination. Calcified and decalcified vertical sections through the lingual roots of maxillary molars were prepared for histomorphometry. Bone apposition rates, remodeling activity, and bone cell populations were quantified by image analysis on depository and resorptive surfaces of alveolar bone and on cortical bone surfaces. The drift rates of the first and second molars were calculated. Results showed that in control animals the drift rate of the first molar exceeded that of the second molar (p less than 0.05), supporting a previously proposed mechanism for age-dependent narrowing of interdental bone. Cl2MBP treatment decreased remodeling activity on resorptive surfaces of alveolar bone, despite a transient increase in osteoclasts. Cl2MBP also decreased the osteoblast number and bone apposition rate on depository surfaces of alveolar bone, and reduced the rate of molar drifting (p less than 0.05). However, Cl2MBP treatment had no detectable effect on osteoblast number or bone apposition on cortical bone surfaces. These results support the concept that bisphosphonates influence bone formation indirectly through a coupling mechanism which links formation with resorption.

Increased percentage of microvessels but decreased density of large vessels in papillary carcinomas as compared to hot and cold thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVE: For thyroid tumors increased as well as decreased vessel densities have been reported. Because of different morphometric methods and specificities of previously used antibodies for small and large vessels our objective was to investigate and compare the density of large vessels and microvessels by different morphometric methods and antibodies in hot nodules(HN), cold nodules (CN), papillary carcinoma (PC) and Graves' disease (GD) to try to clarify some of these discrepancies. DESIGN: Tissue sections from 29 HN, 22 CN, 19 PC and 8 GD thyroids were stained with the antibodies for CD34 and alpha-SMA. A computerized image analysis was used to calculate the mean area of endothelium (mEA) and the mean endothelium to tumor epithelial nucleus area ratio (mE/N) in four hot spots and ten systematically selected fields. MAIN OUTCOME: We found a consistent increase of the CD34 stained percentage of microvessels in PC as compared to HN and CN determined by the hot spot analysis and systematic field analysis. This increased microvessel density in PC is of a similar magnitude as in GD, which is characterised by a prominent increase of vascularisation during its active disease stage. Our SMA staining results reveal a kind of mirror image of the CD34 staining results with higher vessel counts in the normal surrounding tissues as compared to HN, CN and PC. CONCLUSIONS: The specific immunohistologic detection of microvessels with the CD34 antibody combined with their specific evaluation is able to clearly differentiate PCs from normal tissue, HN and CN.

Trabecular bone structural variation in biopsy sites of the beagle ilium.

Iliac trabecular bone sites were studied in 2 male and 2 female adult beagles to determine normal structural variability among different sites, and to identify transilial biopsy sites with minimum structural variation. Only sites that provided adequate amounts of trabecular bone were studied. Trabecular bone area and perimeter were measured on microradiographs of ground sagittal sections using a Quantimet 720 image analyzer, and percent bone, perimeter to area ratio, and mean trabecular width were calculated. Over 100% variation was found in the parameters studies among sections from different sites within the same animal. However, variability was minimal among sections obtained more than 2 mm from the lateral or medial cortex within the most caudal sites evaluated. Two sites appropriate for sampling with an 8 mm trephine were identified as being centered over the following points: (a) a point 7 mm caudal to the cranial dorsal spine and 7 mm ventral to the tuber sacrale, and (b) a point 7 mm caudal to the cranial ventral spine and 7 mm dorsal to the tuber coxae. Comparison of data obtained from males and females indicated that sampling variation may also be reduced by using dogs of one sex and by preferential use of males.

Effects of bisphosphate treatment and mechanical loading on bone modeling in the rat tibia.

Bisphosphonate treatment has been shown to decrease endosteal bone formation and increase periosteal bone apposition in the rat tibial diaphysis. This study tested the hypothesis that the increase in periosteal apposition is a compensatory attempt to maintain skeletal mass appropriate for the mechanical load. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups. In two of the groups, one hindlimb in each rat was immobilized with a sling device to increase the mechanical load on the opposite limb. Daily injections of dichloromethylene bisphosphonate (Cl2MBP) were given at 10 mg/kg to one immobilized group and one mobile group. The other two groups were given daily injections of normal saline. Fluorescent bone labels were administered at two-week intervals. All rats were killed after ten weeks of treatment, and calcified tibial cross sections were prepared for fluorescence microscopy. Bone dimensions and periosteal and endosteal apposition rates were calculated. When compared with saline controls, Cl2MBP treatment decreased endosteal apposition rate in all tibias. Periosteal apposition rate was increased with Cl2MBP treatment in all tibias except the unloaded limb of immobilized rats. The Cl2MBP-induced increase in periosteal apposition rate was greatest in loaded limbs and was proportional to the relative amount of body weight supported.

Histometric evaluation of interproximal bone responses to electrosurgical mucoperiosteal incisions in dogs.

The periosteal and endosteal interproximal bone remodeling activity following clinically simulated blade and electrosurgical mucoperiosteal incisions was investigated by histologic and morphometric analyses. Undecalcified histologic sections were prepared and evaluated using standard bone morphometric techniques. Periosteal and endosteal bone surfaces subjacent to incisions were examined and the percentages of forming, resorbing, and quiescent surfaces, and the number of osteoclasts per millimeter of bone surface, were calculated. Based on indices of bone remodeling activity, the potentials for activation of interproximal bone remodeling by clinically appropriate blade and electrosurgery incisions in dogs appear to be similar.

Effects of electrosurgery on dog pulps under cervical metallic restorations.

Fifty-four Class V amalgam restorations were placed in nine beagle dogs to determine whether electrosurgical effects on pulp tissue could be altered by the presence of metallic restorations. An electrosurgical technique was performed, simulating clinical procedures for tissue removal while traversing the restorations. Time and power-use measurements were recorded for each operation. All operations that were performed within a time range imitating clinical procedures failed to produce changes in pulpal histology. When electrosurgical exposures were extended beyond 0.4 second contact with restorations, pulpal alterations occurred in the majority of specimens.