Attosecond metrology in a continuous-beam transmission electron microscope.

Electron microscopy can visualize the structure of complex materials with atomic and subatomic resolution, but investigations of reaction dynamics and light-matter interaction call for time resolution as well, ideally on a level below the oscillation period of light. Here, we report the use of the optical cycles of a continuous-wave laser to bunch the electron beam inside a transmission electron microscope into electron pulses that are shorter than half a cycle of light. The pulses arrive at the target at almost the full average brightness of the electron source and in synchrony to the optical cycles, providing attosecond time resolution of spectroscopic features. The necessary modifications are simple and can turn almost any electron microscope into an attosecond instrument that may be useful for visualizing the inner workings of light-matter interaction on the basis of the atoms and the cycles of light.

Lipoma of the index digit--a very rare location.

We report an extensive lipoma of the left index digit in a 75-year-old woman. This location is very rare. A review of the literature revealed only two prior cases of digital lipoma occurring distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint. Surgical removal of the tumor was performed without any problems, and there has been no recurrence after 18 months.

Acute jejunal ileus in intestinal lymphangiectasia.

A 26-year-old patient presented with epigastric pain of sudden onset and severe puffy swelling of both legs and forearms. An irregularly shaped nodular filling defect on selective jejunal films, severe hypoproteinemia, low IgG concentration, and lymphopenia were suggestive of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy, and the patient was placed on a low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides. This initially improved his condition, but some weeks later he developed obstructive ileus of the small intestine. On laparotomy yellowish to whitish deposits were found to be present in some segments of the small intestine and a fist-sized mass 100 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure was resected without complications. Histologically, the submucosal lymphatics were dilated, and the jejunal wall showed extensive pseudocystic, intramural submucosal lymph edema with secondary bleeding and tight stenosis of the jejunal lumen. During the 14-month follow-up time after discharge the patient has been asymptomatic and working, on no treatment other than a low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides.

Application of silver acetate autometallography and gold-silver staining methods for in situ DNA hybridization.

In situ hybridization using biotinylated DNA probes has become an important tool in histopathology. It is well known that the sensitivity of the methods used to demonstrate viral DNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimen depends strongly on the detection system used. In the present study, an optimized in situ DNA hybridization protocol was combined with four different approaches of gold-silver staining methods. For silver enhancement, the recently described method of silver acetate autometallography, a technique allowing highly efficient development without the necessity of dark room illumination has been used. The most efficient detection method found in our experiments was the use of gold-adsorbed anti-biotin antibodies with subsequent silver enhancement. This staining procedure can be completed in 5 hours including hybridization and is a highly sensitive alternative to peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase detection systems.

Distribution and co-localization of immunoreactive helospectin with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and peptide histidine methionine in human nasal mucosa, soft palate and larynx.

Regulatory peptide immunoreactivities reported in the upper respiratory system of man include vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine methionine (PHM), which are co-localized in a network of fine varicose nerve fibers. The present study was undertaken to examine the possible occurrence and distribution of the recently described VIP-like peptide helospectin. Double immunofluorescence labelling showed that helospectin is co-localized with VIP and PHM. In addition to nerve fibers containing all three peptides, scattered nerve fibers were detected that were only immunoreactive to helospectin but not to VIP and/or PHM. The distribution of helospectin/VIP/PHM immunoreactive nerve fibers around blood vessels and in close relationship to seromucous glands indicates their possible involvement in the regulation of blood flow and secretion.

Gastrin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells of the antral mucosa in patients with duodenal or gastric ulcers. An immunocytochemical study.

Gastrin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in biopsies taken from the prepyloric portion of the antrum from 15 patients with duodenal ulcer, 16 patients with gastric ulcer, and a control group of 19 patients without histopathological alterations of the antral mucosa were studied using peroxidase anti-peroxidase and immunogold-silver staining methods in combination with morphometry. Numerical densities and sizes (immunoreactive areas) of the cells demonstrated were measured and compared between all three groups. Gastrin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were located most frequently in the lower midzone of the gastric crypts. None of the parameters measured showed a correlation with age or sex. The group with duodenal ulcer tended to exhibit gastrin- and somatostatin-cell-hyperplasia whereas the size of both cell types remained unchanged. In comparison with the control group, the numerical density of gastrin-immunoreactive cells was significantly increased in gastric ulcer patients, whereas the numerical density of somatostatin-immunoreactive cells was decreased in this group. Immunoreactive areas of both cell types were significantly increased in patients with gastric ulcer.

[Application of silver acetate autometallography in histopathology: a new detection method for use in immunogold silver staining, lectin histochemistry and in situ hybridization]. / Anwendung der Silberazetat-Autometallographie in der Histopathologie: Eine neue Darstellungsmethode zur Verwendung in Immunogold-Silver Staining, Lektin-Histochemie und in situ-Hybridisierung.

Modern histochemical techniques allow the specific detection of tissue constituents in situ. Routinely formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues may present problems to the pathologist since destruction of substances can lead to false negative results. Immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) can be a way to overcome some of these problems. A highly efficient method allows silver enhancement to be carried out without the necessity of a dark box (silver acetate autometallography). To test the new modification, antisera to a variety of antigens were used on paraffin and semithin resin sections. The system was also tested for its applicability in multiple immunostaining techniques and for the in situ hybridisation of viral DNA and for demonstration of carbohydrates by lectin histochemistry. It showed a very high detection efficiency with low background staining.

Multiple peptide production and presence of general neuroendocrine markers detected in 12 cases of human phaeochromocytoma and in mammalian adrenal glands.

In this study, antibodies to a range of markers of neuroendocrine differentiation were evaluated for their use in the histopathological assessment and characterisation of phaeochromocytomas. Routinely processed wax blocks from eleven adrenal phaeochromocytomas (10 benign and 1 malignant) and one benign phaeochromocytoma of the urinary bladder were investigated. In addition to these tumours, normal human, cat and piglet adrenal glands were examined. In the phaeochromocytomas, immunostaining was obtained with 21 of the 25 antisera used. Of the general neuroendocrine markers, neuron-specific enolase was found in all tumours, and chromogranin and protein gene-product 9.5 in most of the cases. A range of regulatory peptide immunoreactivities could be demonstrated, such as enkephalin, neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), 7B2, galanin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). In addition, two peptides were found which have not been reported previously in these tumours, peptide histidine methionine (PHM) and the cryptic fragment of the precursor encoding VIP. Co-localisation studies revealed that peptides derived from the same precursor or peptide family were found in the same tumour cells (e.g. VIP and PHM, NPY and its C-flanking peptide CPON). In the normal adrenal medulla, all the peptides previously reported to be present could be demonstrated immunocytochemically. Galanin was present in a subpopulation of cells also immunoreactive for enkephalin. Neuropeptide tyrosine and CPON were demonstrated in another subpopulation. Occasionally, cells were found to contain all four antigen immunoreactivities. Using antisera to enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis, galanin was found to be present in noradrenaline-containing cells. The study demonstrates the presence of various antigens in chromaffin tissue of the adrenal gland. A range of substances can also be identified immunocytochemically in phaeochromocytoma tissue, using routinely-processed material.

Netilmicin: new approach to treating gonorrhoea.

Resistance and side effects to antibiotics or other chemotherapeutic agents are the main limiting factors in the treatment of gonorrhoea. As no such side effects have been reported with a new aminoglycoside, netilmicin, the therapeutic efficiency of this substance was evaluated in 1200 patients (690 women, 510 men) with uncomplicated gonorrhoea, who each received a single dose of 300 mg netilmicin by intramuscular injection. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by smear microscopy and culture, which gave results in all 1200 patients. No serious side effects were reported. These results indicate that netilmicin is an extraordinarily safe and efficient agent for treating uncomplicated gonorrhoea.

Hemangiopericytoma of the heart following treatment of Hodgkin's disease. A case report.

During the autopsy of a 24 year old woman, who died of cardiorespiratory insufficiency a large solitary tumour was found extending into the right ventricle of the heart and obstructing the pulmonary valve subtotally. Histologically the tumour showed a vascular pattern of differentiation typical of a hemangiopericytoma with almost uniform cellularity and a dense reticulin meshwork surrounding the individual tumour cells. Ten years before death the patient had been diagnosed as having Hodgkin's disease treated with an unusually high dose of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Although tumours have been known to arise following radiation and chemotherapy and hemangiopericytomas of almost all parts of the body have been described, to our knowledge this is the first case of an (iatrogenically induced) hemangiopericytoma of the heart.

[Critical remarks on gonorrhea therapy: netilmicin]. / Kritische Bemerkungen zur Gonorrhoe-Therapie: Netilmicin.

Several failures of gonorrhea treatment due to neisseria producing penicillinase (PPNG), resistance against other antibiotics, side effects like allergies, gastrointestinal problems, and other factors are the reasons for continuing trials with new drugs in the treatment of gonorrhea. With regard to modern aminoglycosides, the development of early resistance has not been observed so far. Especially with Netilmicin, no such disadvantages have been reported in the literature. Therefore a single dose schedule was introduced with Netilmicin given to 600 patients suffering from uncomplicated gonorrhea in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug. 300 mg Netilmicin were administered intramuscularly in a one shot therapy. With all patients, the diagnosis had been confirmed by culture. The efficacy of therapy was controlled by a second culture, which proved to be negative in all 600 cases. Gonorrhea was also clinically cured in all patients.

[Malignant struma. With remarks on the use of the concept of precancerous conditions in strumas]. / Die Struma maligna. Mit Bemerkungen zur Anwendbarkeit des Präkanzerosebegriffes in Strumen.

Struma maligna raises some questions concerning carcinogenesis, precancerosis, as well as diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. Only little information can be obtained by evaluating morphological criteria. Usually exhibiting modest malignancy papillary carcinoma as well as C-cell-carcinoma of the thyroid deserve particular interest. With regard to the velocity of growth (organoid arrangement of tumour tissue), also folliculoid carcinoma (i.e. Struma Langhans) will differ from so-called 'true' carcinomas characterized by a slower rate of growth. All other types of carcinoma, including sarcoma, represent tumours with rapid growth, accompanied by early formation of metastases.--In this connection all considerations concerning the usefulness of the so-called 'concept of pre-cancerosis' for the thyroid are thought to be very important. Realizing an atypical adenoma seems to be promising in evaluating this concept.

[The effect of spermicides on physiological and pathogenic genital flora]. / Der Einfluss von Spermiziden auf die physiologische und pathogene Genitalflora.

In vitro-studies concerning the influence of commercially available spermicides on lactobacillus acidophilus as well as on pathogenic organisms of the genital tract revealed, that the preparations had only weak antimicrobial effect on Döderlein's bacteria and pathogenic fungi. However, all four preparations tested, revealed a good inhibition effect on neisseria gonorrhoeae, treponema pallidum and trichomonas vaginalis. Irreversible damage to gonococci and trichomonas vaginalis. Irreversible damage to gonococci and trichomonas was subject to considerable variation, probably due to the different chemical composition of the commercially in Austria available spermicides.

[Genital Chlamydia infections in female patients at risk of having sexually transmitted diseases]. / Genitale Chlamydieninfektionen bei STD- (= Sexually transmitted diseases-) Risikopatientinnen.

Investigations for Chlamydia infections of the genital tract were performed in 270 Viennese registered, as well as in 51 non-registered prostitutes. The results were compared with findings obtained in 56 female patients attending an out-patient STD clinic and 48 pregnant women seeking antenatal care in a department of obstetrics. Diagnosis of Chlamydia infection was the organisms on cultured McCoy cells after treatment with cycloheximide. The highest infection rate (31%) was found in non-licensed prostitutes. In registered prostitutes, 20.4% of the cervical smears proved to be positive for Chlamydia. The control groups showed lower infection rates of 9% and 4%, respectively. These results indicate that women who frequently change their sexual partners are considerably more at risk of contracting Chlamydia infections. Hence, this group of persons should be more regularly investigated and--if necessary--given appropriate treatment in order to prevent further spread of the disease.

[The role of clothing in the transmission of pathogenic fungi ]. / Die Rolle der Bekleidung für die Ubertragung pathogener Pilze.

Laboratory studies were made to examine the possibility of transmission of pathogenic fungi through textiles. 1. Dermatophytes were proven to be present in clothing and leather articles worn over areas infected by fungi. In patients known to be infected with Pityriasis versicolor, contaminated scales were obtained from their textiles, the fungi could be demonstrated. 2. Artificially infected textiles were found to harbor dermatophytes and pathogenic yeasts for a number of weeks without limiting the survival capacity of the fungi. 3. At low temperatures, fungi were not affected by various detergents. Under conditions simulating machine washings (30 minutes exposure time) at a temperature of 60 degrees C any washing agent was sufficient to cause irreversible damage. At higher temperatures the time for killing the fungi was diminished. These results were confirmed by experiments with contaminated material from patients (scales, hairs, nail particles).

The successful treatment of mycotic infections in immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients with ketoconazole.

Ketoconazole, a new broad-spectrum antimycotic drug, was administered to six renal transplant recipients with mucocutaneous and/or systemic candidosis. A beneficial clinical and microbiologic effect was seen in the treated patients. This orally administered drug was well tolerated, and side effects were not evident. Our results indicate that good treatment of mycotic infections can be expected even in patients with impaired graft function, since ketoconazole metabolism occurs mainly in the liver.

[Local acne therapy with erythromycin]. / Ein Erythromycinhaltiges Externum im Klinischen Test bei Akne.

Results of treatment of papulo-pustular acne vulgaris with erythromycin in a topical preparation. Demonstration of changes in the bacterial spectrum in acne lesions during therapy. Erythromycin could not be detected in the serum even after extensive application.