[Emergency room management of contaminated patients]. / Schockraummanagement beim kontaminierten Patienten.

Accidents with the risk of exposure to hazardous nuclear, biological, or chemical materials are rare. Most emergency rooms are not familiar with the management of contaminated patients after this kind of incident. There are also ambiguous cases concerning the contamination status of the patient. The medical attendance should be performed carefully and under special security arrangements until a hazard for third persons can be excluded. The security arrangements should protect both (medical) personnel and third persons. Early medical treatment combined with decontamination should be the aim. Based on the case of a contaminated patient who was brought to our emergency department after an explosion of a fog grenade with red phosphorus, we discuss our management concept and the current literature.

[Preparation and documentation of lymph nodes in breast cancers. Experiences in pathologic-anatomic practice]. / Uber die Präparation und Dokumentation von Lymphknoten bei Mammakarzinomen. Erfahrungen aus der pathologisch-anatomischen Praxis.

The following conclusions were drawn from analysis of 292 specimens of amputated female breasts and statistical evaluation of the clinical data: Preparation of lymph nodes from unfixed material should be left to medical preparation engineers. All data on sizes and numbers should be recorded for documentation with high accuracy. Communication of clinical data has often been insufficient. It has happened all too often that no diagnostic extirpation was undertaken, and the time interval between such extirpation and radical surgery was found to be too long in some hospitals.

[Romanowsky dyes and the Romanowsky-Giemsa effect. 3. Microspectrophotometric studies of Romanowsky-Giemsa staining. Spectroscopic evidence of a DNA-azure B-eosin Y complex producing the Romanowsky-Giemsa effect]. / Uber Romanowsky-Farbstoffe und den Romanowsky-Giemsa-Effekt. 3. Mitteilung: Mikrospektralphotometrische Untersuchung der Romanowsky-Giemsa-Färbung. Spektroskopischer Nachweis eines DNA-Azur B-Eosin Y-Komplexes, der den Romanowsky-Giemsa-Effekt verursacht.

The Romanowsky-Giemsa staining (RG staining) has been studied by means of microspectrophotometry using various staining conditions. As cell material we employed in our model experiments mouse fibroblasts, LM cells. They show a distinct Romanowsky-Giemsa staining pattern. The RG staining was performed with the chemical pure dye stuffs azure B and eosin Y. In addition we stained the cells separately with azure B or eosin Y. Staining parameters were pH value, dye concentration, staining time etc. Besides normal LM cells we also studied cells after RNA or DNA digestion. The spectra of the various cell species were measured with a self constructed microspectrophotometer by photon counting technique. The optical ray pass and the diagramm of electronics are briefly discussed. The nucleus of RG stained LM cells, pH congruent to 7, is purple, the cytoplasm blue. After DNA or RNA digestion the purple respectively blue coloration in the nucleus or the cytoplasm completely disappeares. Therefore DNA and RNA are the preferentially stained biological substrates. In the spectrum of RG stained nuclei, pH congruent to 7, three absorption bands are distinguishable: They are A1 (15400 cm-1, 649 nm), A2 (16800 cm-1, 595 nm) the absorption bands of DNA-bound monomers and dimers of azure B and RB (18100 cm-1, 552 nm) the distinct intense Romanowsky band. Our extensive experimental material shows clearly that RB is produced by a complex of DNA, higher polymers of azure B (degree of association p greater than 2) and eosin Y. The complex is primarily held together by electrostatic interaction: inding of polymer azure B cations to the polyanion DNA generates positively charged binding sites in the DNA-azure B complex which are subsequently occupied by eosin Y anions. It can be spectroscopically shown that the electronic states of the azure B polymers and the attached eosin Y interact. By this interaction the absorption of eosin Y is red shifted and of the azure B polymers blue shifted. The absorption bands of both molecular species overlap and generate the Romanowsky band. Its strong maximum at 18100 cm-1 is due to the eosin Y part of the DNA-azure B-eosin Y complex. The discussed red shift of the eosin Y absorption is the main reason for the purple coloration of RG stained nuclei. Using a special technique it was possible to prepare an artificial DNA-azure B-eosin Y complex with calf thymus DNA as a model nucleic acid and the two dye stuffs azure B and eosin Y.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Influence of staining on fast automated cell segmentation, feature extraction and cell image analysis.

FAZYTAN, a system for fast automated cell segmentation, cell image analysis and extraction of nuclear features, was used to analyze cervical cell images variously stained by the conventional Papanicolaou stain, the new Papanicolaou stain and hematoxylin and thionin only; the last two dyes are used as the nuclear stains in the two versions of the Papanicolaou stain. Other dyes were also tried in cell classification experiments. All cell images in the variously stained samples could be described by the same nuclear features as had been adapted for the discrimination of conventional-Papanicolaou-stained cells. Variances were lower for thionin-stained cells as compared with hematoxylin-stained cells. By application of spectrophotometry, it was confirmed that the spectra of the cytoplasmic counterstains are superimposed on those of the nuclear stains. It appears that a variety of dyes are suitable as cytologic stains for cell classification by the FAZYTAN system, provided that they achieve sufficiently strong nuclear-cytoplasmic contrast by precisely delineating the chromatin texture.

The new and reproducible Papanicolaou stain. Morphologic and spectrophotometric observations on the influence of stain composition on staining results.

The morphologic and spectroscopic characteristics of a new and reproducible modification of the Papanicolaou stain are briefly described. The main features of this modification are (1) replacement of the natural dye hematoxylin by the synthetic and chemically well defined dye thionin, (2) introduction of an alcoholic counterstain consisting of eosin gamma and fast green FCF only and (3) employment of alcoholic solutions only. The absorption characteristics of hematoxylin and thionin bound to chromatin are influenced by the cytoplasmic counterstaining, especially by the two green dyes, the absorption peaks of which are close to those of the nuclear stains. The implications of these results for visual and automated cytologic diagnosis are briefly discussed.

[Postmortem diagnosis of hypertension]. / Zur postmortalen Diagnostik der Hypertonie.

The postmortem diagnosis of hypertension is of importance both for the determination of basic disease or terminal cause of death and for statistical investigations based on autopsy material or for comparisons between clinical and epidemiological data as well. The analysis of our autopsy records revealed: 1. The most important macroscopical findings are an increased weight of the heart, an arteriosclerosis of the peripheral extracerebral arteries of the brain, and an adenomatous hyperplasia or adenomas of the suprarenal cortex, they should be looked for at autopsy. 2. A microscopical finding of a hypertension is in the first place the arteriolosclerosis of kidneys followed by that of the pancreas, myocardium, liver, and brain. In practice, a specimen of kidney and pancreas should be investigated histologically in each case of a possible hypertension.

[Romanowsky dyes and Romanowsky-Giemsa effect. 2. Eosin Y, erythrosin B, tetrachlorofluorescein, spectroscopic characterization of pure dyes, association of eosin Y]. / Uber Romanowsky-Farbstoffe und den Romanowsky-Giemsa-Effekt. 2. Mitteilung: Eosin Y, Erythrosin B, Tetrachlorfluoreszein. Specktroskopische Charakterisierung der reinen Farbstoffe, Assoziation von Eosin Y.

Analytically pure samples of the Romanowsky dyes eosin y, erythrosin b and tetrachlorofluorescein are prepared. DC of the dye samples shows no contaminations. We measured the absorption spectra of the dye dianions in alkaline aqueous solution and of the dye acids in 95% ethanol at very low dye concentrations. The molar extinction coefficients of the long wavelength absorption of the monomeric dye species are determined (Table 1). The extinction coefficients may be used for standardisation of dye samples. The absorption spectra of eosin y in aqueous solution are dependent on concentration. Using a new very sensitive method it was possible to identify two association equilibria from the concentration dependency of the spectra. Dimers are formed even in very dilute solutions, at higher concentrations tetramers. The dissociation constant of the dimers D in monomers M at 293 K, pH = 12, is K21 = 2,9 X 10(-5) M; of the tetramers Q in dimers D K42 = 2,4 X 10(-3) M. From the experimental spectra of eosin solutions at various concentrations, pH = 12, and the equilibrium constants K21, K42 the absorption spectra of the pure monomers, dimers and tetramers are calculated. M has one long wavelength absorption band, VM = 19300 cm-1, epsilon M = 1,03 X 10(5) M-1 cm-1; D also one absorption band, VD = 19300 cm-1, epsilon D = 1,74 X 10(5) M-1 cm-1; Q two absorption bands, VQ1 = 19100, VQ2 = 20200 cm-1, epsilon Q1 = 1,65 X 10(5), epsilon Q2 = 1,96 X 10(5) M-1 cm-1. The absorption spectrum of the dimers is discussed by quantum mechanics.

[Romanowsky dyes and romanowsky-Giemsa effect. 1. Azure B, purity and content of dye samples, association (author's transl)]. / Uber Romanowsky-Farbstoffe und den Romanowsky-Giemsa-Effekt. 1. Mitteilung: Azur B, Reinheit und Gehalt von Farbstoffen, Assoziation.

Azure B is the most important Romanowsky dye. In combination with eosin Y it produces the well known Romanowsky-Giemsa staining pattern on the cell. Usually commercial azure B is strongly contaminated. We prepared a sample of azure B-BF4 which was analytically pure and had no coloured impurities. The substance was used to redetermine the molar extinction coefficient epsilon (v)M of monomeric azur B in alcoholic solution. In the maximum of the long wavelength absorption at v = 15.61 kK (lambda = 641 nm) the absorptivity is epsilon (15.61)M = (9.40 +/- 0.15) x 10(4)M-1 cm-1. This extinction coefficient may be used for standardization of dye samples. In aqeuous solution azur B forms dimers and even higher polymers with increasing concentration. The dissociation constant of the dimers, K = 2,2 x 10(-4)M (293 K), and the absorption spectra of pure monomers and dimers in water have been calculated from the concentration dependence of the spectra using an iterative procedure. The molar extinction coefficient of the monomers at 15.47 kK (646 nm) is epsilon (15.47)M = 7.4 x 10(4)M-1 cm-1. The dimers have two long wavelength absorption bands at 14.60 and 16.80 kK (685 and 595 nm) with very different intensities 2 x 10(4) and 13.5 x 10(4)M-1 cm-1. The spectrum of the dimers in aqueous solution is in agreement with theoretical considerations of Förster (1946) and Levinson et al. (1957). It agrees with an antiparallel orientation of the molecules in the dimers. It may be that dimers bound to a substrate in the cell have another geometry than dimers in solution. In this case the weak long wavelength absorption of the dimers can increase.

[Renomedullary fibrosis and hypertension (author's transl)]. / Fibrose des Nierenmarkes und Hypertonie.

A statistically significant relationship between renomedullary fibrosis of various degrees and hypertension (196 autopsy cases examined) could be proven. The investigation revealed that the higher degrees of renomedullary fibrosis are to be regarded as a diagnostic sign of hypertension in deceased.

[The consequences of fibrosis of spleen capsule and perisplenitis cartilaginea for the postmortem diagnosis of hypertension and cor pulmonale (author's transl)]. / Die Bedeutung der Milzkapselfibrose und der Periossplenitis cartilaginea für die postmortale Diagnostik von Hypertonie und Cor pulmonale.

The statistical investigation of fibrosis of the spleen capsule and of perisplenitis cartilaginea in 444 consecutive autopsy cases revealed a significant correlation between the changes of the spleen capsule and cor pulmonale, but no significant correlation to hypertension was detected. Therefore, fibrosis of the spleen capsule and perisplenitis cartilaginea can be used as a criterion for the postmortem diagnosis of cor pulmonale.

[The evaluation of postomortem heart weight (author's transl)]. / Zur Bewertung des postmortalen Herzgewichtes.

In 1974 we published the "method of differentiated relative heart weight" for the evaluation of the postmortem heart weight. It is not the simple relation of heart to body weight of 1/200 that is used, but--depending on the body weight--1/175 for normal weight, 1/150 for underweight and 1/200 for overweight. This method is now submitted a test by means of 218 exactly diagnosed cases and the heart weights are compared with the mean values of Linzbach. If the weight of a heart is lower than the weight estimated by our method one can conclude, that the patient did not suffer from hypertension and/or from cor pulmonale. If the heart weight is higher than the estimated value a pathological heart weight is to be supposed, but normotension cannot be excluded, especially in women. In those cases the comparison of the heart weight with the mean values of Linzbach is recommended.