Optical Assets of In situ Electro-assembled Platinum Black Nanolayers.

Optoelectronic technology has been increasingly driven towards miniaturization. In this regard, maintaining the optical properties of the bulk materials while reducing their size is a critical need. How thin must the film be to preserve the bulk material´s optical absorbance and reflectance characteristics? This is the central question for our study of the in situ electro-assembly broad band optical absorber films of platinum in non-aqueous solution of PtCl4. By reducing the in situ constructed film to sub-visible-wavelength thicknesses, the measured reflectance in the region from the ultraviolet to the infrared remained close to that exhibited by the micrometre-width films. These platinum black films broadly absorb electromagnetic waves at a sub-incident-wavelength thickness owing to their plasmonically increased absorbance cross-section. Simulation of various incident energy electron trajectories gives insights into the electron depth through the porous platinum black of ρ = 1.6 g/cm3 and previews the optical behaviour close to the atomic thickness.

Chemical and Electrochemical Synthesis of Platinum Black.

We present electrochemical and chemical synthesis of platinum black at room temperature in aqueous and non-aqueous media. X-ray analysis established the purity and crystalline nature. The electron micrographs indicate that the nanostructures consist of platinum crystals that interconnect to form porous assemblies. Additionally, the electron micrographs of the platinum black thin layer, which was electrochemically deposited on different metallic and semiconductive substrates (aluminium, platinum, silver, gold, tin-cooper alloy, indium-tin-oxide, stainless steel, and copper), indicate that the substrate influences its porous features but not its absorbance characteristics. The platinum black exhibited a broad absorbance and low reflectance in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions. These characteristics make this material suitable for use as a high-temperature resistant absorber layer for the fabrication of microelectronics.

Myocardial sarcoidosis as a rare cause of sudden cardiac death.

Two relatively young women died suddenly due to myocardial sarcoidosis. Necropsy in both cases revealed compact infiltration of the ventricular septum by fibrous tissue. Histologic sections elucidated extensive granulomatous degeneration and giant cells of the Langhans' and foreign body type without central necrosis of the granulomas. Both women had been entirely free of symptoms, but in the second case of a 35-year-old, who had been 6 months pregnant, an ultrasound sonography of the heart had documented a suspicious area in the ventricular septum interpreted as a scar. Further investigations had been postponed until delivery. Isolated myocardial sarcoidosis should be taken into account as one possible cause of sudden death, especially in young people.

Effect and duration of gestagen influence on adrenal cortex and ovary. A morphological study in the Syrian golden hamster.

Perinatal androgen application prevents the cyclic secretion of gonadotropins and leads to sterility. Androgenic side effects were recorded in some synthetic gestagens. In order to determine their extent, different synthetic gestagens (dydrogesterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, cyproterone acetate) and one androgen hormone (testosterone propionate) were administered to ten separate groups of male and female hamsters. Started perinatally, the treatment was continued with increasing doses till the end of the eight week. Matched groups of animals and controls were killed at the age of 8 weeks (end of treatment), 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. Gestagenic effects on the adrenals and ovaries were studied by gravimetry, light microscopy, and histometry. The adrenals are influenced by the glucocorticoid-like and androgenic side-effects of MP and CA, but DY produces no effects of this kind. All gestagens reduce the number of corpora lutea, but the androgenic side-effects do not prevent the production of corpora lutea. Adrenal and ovarian changes are reversible. The female hamster adrenal is a sensitive substrate for androgenic and glucocorticoid-like side effects of synthetic gestagens.

Retrospective analysis of 1500 mamma biopsies from 1951-1975. A way of self-control in pathology.

Recently, doubts have been raised regarding the accuracy of histopathological diagnosis. For reasons of quality control, three groups of 500 mamma biopsies each, covering the consecutive periods 1951-1953, 1963-1964, 1975 were re-examined microscopically. The quota of error for material re-diagnosed as false-positive or false-negative was 0.13%. 23 pre and early malignant alterations, formerly "suspected" cases and descriptive diagnoses were considered as "borderline" cases, and re-examined separately by 3 different pathologists. In only 4 cases the suspected malignancy, i.e. the diagnosis of so-called CLIS, was not confirmed. A relative increase of unsuspected mamma biopsies became apparent in the last period of investigation, possible due to the wide range of pre-surgical examination methods used today, or to increasing clinical efforts to detect pre-malignant alterations. No shift could be established in the mastopathy-group.

Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney. Histopathology, ultrastructure and comments on differential diagnosis.

Clinical and histopathological features of two cases of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney are presented. One of these cases was also studied by electron microscopy. Histologically, both tumors consisted of an admixture of undifferentiated polygonal or elongated cells and cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm frequently containing hyaline globular structures. Ultrastructurally, these cytoplasmic inclusions were composed of large masses of actin-size and intermediate-size filaments. The poor prognosis of this type of tumor is emphasized and histological criteria for differential diagnosis from other malignant renal tumors of childhood and adolescence are discussed.

[Castleman's lymphoma (author's transl)]. / Das Castleman-Lymphom. Angiofolikuläre Lymphknotenhyperplasie als diagnostisches und therapeutisches Problem.

Intrathoracic angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's lymphoma) was found in a 32-year-old woman. The diagnosis could be established already preoperatively by endoscopic biopsy. It was a coincidental discovery as there were no clinical symptoms. Histologically the tumour was of the hyaline-vascular type. After uncomplicated surgical removal follow-up at 6 weeks was unremarkable. Aetiology and pathology of this rare disease are unknown.

[Sex dimorphism of adrenal cortex of the Syrian golden hamster following gonadectomy (author's transl)]. / Geschlectsdimorphismus der Nebennierenrinde des Syrischen Goldhamsters nach Gonadektomie.

Earlier studies showed a sex dimorphism of the adrenal cortex of the hamster developing during puberty. Morphologically, this is most evident in the zone reticularis. The male has larger reticular cells than the female, 60 pairs of siblings were castrated around the 10th day of life; 6 males and females were sacrificed at weekly intervals between the 3rd and 12th week of life. 60 pairs of uncastrated siblings served as control. Till the 10th week of life the body and adrenal weight of the castrated males agree with those of the castrated females. From the 11th week onwards the males have the higher body and adrenal weight. Neither histometrically nor histologically there are differences in the adrenal structure of the 2 castrated sexes. Both groups have small reticular cells. Compared to the uncastrated animal the male castrated hamster has a higher body and a lower adrenal weight, whereas the female castrate shows no significant difference in comparison with the non-castrate of the same age and sex. Thus, the adrenal cortex of the Syrian golden hamster is stimulated by androgen hormone. This result is contrary to the rat adrenal, where changes, caused by gonadectomy, are found in the female, and the female adrenal is stimulated by estrogen.

[Histological changes in the adrenal cortex of the Syrian hamster following perinatal treatment with sex steroids]. / Histologische Veranderungen der Nebennierenrinde des Syrischen Goldhamsters nach perinatal begonnerner Sexual-steroidbehandlung.

The adrenal cortex of the Syrian golden hamster is influenced by androgen hormone, for during puberty sex dimorphism of the adrenal cortex can be observed; it is prevented by perinatal castration. The following study will show, if and how other steroids influence the adrenal cortex of the normal and castrated female and male golden hamster. Beginning perinatally, groups of 10 hamsters each (intact and castrated males and females, altogether 160 animals) received testosterone hexohydrobenzoate (T), oestrogen undecylate (0), cyproterone acetate (CA) or sesame oil till the 6th week of life in an increasing, from the 6th-12th week in a constant dose. (T: 2.0 mg, 0: 1.0 mg, CA: 10.0 mg/week). The animals were sacrificed at the end of the 12th week of life. Control of adrenal weight; light microscopy of the adrenals; histometry, statistical evaluation of all data, and histochemistry. The adrenals of intact and castrated animals reacted in the same way. Under T treatment, in females, the zona reticularis enlarged as in males. By light microscopy and histometry there were no differences anymore between the female and male adrenals. 0 feminized the adrenal of the male, i.e. the zona reticularis became narrow with small cells, while the adrenal cortex of the female did not change. In both sexes, CA affected the zona reticularis less than the zona fasciculata. Thereby numeric and single cell atrophy was caused. Our results demonstrate the sex-specificity of the zona reticularis, showing a contrary influence by T and 0, and the rather glucocorticoid than anti-androgen-like effect by CA upon the adrenals.

[A case of actinomycosis of the fallopian tube (author's transl)]. / Kasuistischer Beitrag zur Tubenaktinomykose

Reported is the rare case of an actinomycosis of the right Fallopian tube. The clinical picture is characterized by a comparatively sudden onset of abdominal pain, obstipation and feaver as well as a markedly increased ESR. Good co-operation between the various clinical disciplines (urology, surgery, internal medicine, gynecology) lead to an exact preoperative localization of the scaring and infiltrating process that is then verified by laparotomy. The right adnexae show massive inflammatory infiltrates and form a conglomerate tumor with the adjacent sigma and appendix. Characteristic actinomycetic druses are found histologically only in the right Fallopian tube. On the left side a florid non-specific salpingitis is antibiotics is withoug complications. Mode of infection, differential diagnosis and prognosis that is dependent on a correct diagnosis at an early stage are discussed.

The effect of cyproterone acetate on the adrenal of the male hamster.

Administration for different doses of cyproterone acetate (CPA) to male hamsters for 5 weeks slows down the growth of the adrenals and the increase in body weight. This effect is still present 4 weeks after cessation of CPA treatment, though some recovery can be seen. Histological and histometrical evaluations confirm an atrophy of the adrenal, particularly in the zona fasciculata and in higher doses also in the zona reticularis. After operative castration it is the zona reticularis which shows the most marked atrophic changes. It is therefore concluded, that CPA possesses besides its anti-androgenic properties an inhibiting corticoid-like effect on the adreno-pituitary feed-back mechanism.