[Identification and characterisation of immune cells in the ejaculate of infertile and fertile men]. / Nachweis und Charakterisierung von Immunzellen im Ejakulat infertiler und fertiler Männer.

Using the immunoperoxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies the ejaculates of 20 infertile and 15 fertile men were examined for lymphocyte subsets and activation markers to know more about the cellular mucosal immunity in the male genital tract. The results have shown that there are small differences of T-helper (CD4), T-suppressor (CD8), B- (CD19) and Natural Killer cells (CD57) between both groups. The number of monocytes (CD14), activated T- and B-cells and macrophages (CD25), the LCA-positive cells (CD45) and the HLA-DR-positive cells were remarkably increased in fertile patients. It has been established that the number of NK-cells (CD57) correlated with mycoplasma infection and the B-cells (CD19) correlated with the testosterone level. It seems that the increased testosterone value improved the cellular immunity. Infertile men have a disturbed mucosal immunity and a higher rate of genital infections.

[Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations of postmenopausal women with hormone replacement therapy]. / Lymphozytendifferenzierung im peripheren Blut von Frauen unter Hormonsubstitution im Klimakterium.

The effect of hormone replacement therapy on cellular immunity of postmenopausal women was studied by flow cytometry (FACS). Lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood before and after hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) were measured. After 6 months of HRT with the sequential combined drug Klimonorm(R) (2 mg estradiol valerate and 0,15 mg levonorgestrel) the cytotoxic T-cells (CD8) were reduced and the CD4/CD8 ratio was increased significantly (p < 0,05).

Polypharmacy in psychiatric treatment. Patterns of psychotropic drug use in Austrian psychiatric clinics.

There are great variations in the way psychotropic drugs are prescribed. Most experts are in favour of psychopharmacological monotherapy, but little is known about the extent to which it is actually practised. A survey of the psychopharmacological medication of all patients under treatment was carried out in three Austrian psychiatric clinics of various types on two separate days. A psychiatric university clinic, the psychiatric department of a general hospital and a regional mental hospital were selected for the survey. It was established that only 8% to 22% of the patients underwent psycho-pharmacological monotherapy and that the patients received 2.2 to 3.3 psychotropics on average. Five to 22% of the patients received five or more psychotropic agents. The results are presented in more detail in relation to the diagnoses of schizophrenia and depression. The rare occurence of monotherapy might be due to unsound treatment regimens in some instances, but much more to a general trend in psychiatry fostering polydrug use.

[Cellular lymphatic tissue of the endometrium and uterine tube]. / Das zelluläre lymphatische Gewebe des Endometriums und der Tuba uterina.

The presence of T-lymphocyte subsets in human endometrium and tubal mucosa in correlation to the menstrual cycle was investigated by the immunoperoxidase technique. The main cell populations were the pan T-cells (CD 3) and T-suppressor cells (CD 8). The T-helper cells (CD 4) and the B-lymphocytes (CD 22) were sparsely distributed. Significant differences between the phases of menstrual cycle could not be observed.

Identification of lymphocyte subsets in the human fallopian tube.

PROBLEM: Immunohistochemical investigations for the detection of lymphocyte subsets in the human oviduct have been performed. Knowledge about local immunity especially cell-mediated immunity, in the fallopian tube has been, up to now, limited. As an essential structure for the human reproduction process, the tubal mucous membrane is exposed to a variety of antigens. METHOD: A total number of 20 tubal biopsies obtained from fertile women during gynecological operations like tubal ligations or hysterectomy were examined by the immunoperoxidase technique. Seven specimens were obtained during the proliferative phase, ten during the secretory phase and three during a caesarean section with tubal ligations. RESULTS: It could be established that the presence of lymphocytes in the oviductal mucous membrane is physiological. These cells can be identified by their typical immunohistochemical patterns. There were no significant differences of the type and number of lymphocytes in the mucosa within the phases of menstrual cycle. The dominant cell types in the tubal mucosa were the CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: It can be suggested that the lymphocytes in the tubal mucosa may involved in the process of immune tolerance, which could realize the transport of sperms and blastocysts through the oviduct under normal conditions without activation of local immune mechanisms. The lymphoid tissue of the oviduct is a specialized form of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT).

[Rare site of malignant melanoma]. / Seltene Lokalisation eines malignen Melanoms.

Primary melanoma of the vagina is a rare tumor associated with a poor prognosis. We report on a 82 years old woman with a malignant melanoma of the vagina. The treatment performed was the removal of the vaginal tumor and a hemivulvectomy followed by a chemotherapy over 6 month. A recurrence of the tumor and the development of metastases in the brain and in the lungs was observed 3 weeks after the end of the chemotherapy. The patient expired 10 month after the primary treatment.

[Clinical experiences with treatment of granulosa cell tumors]. / Klinische Erfahrungen mit der Behandlung von Granulosazelltumoren.

Symptoms, tumor morphology and clinical course were reviewed in 15 cases of granulosa cell tumors of the ovaries. The main symptoms were irregular menstrual bleedings. In 2 cases were found signs of glandular cystic hyperplasia additionally and in one case an adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. The appropriate treatment was the hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy performed in most of the cases, followed by additional irradiation and polychemotherapy in 4 cases each.

[Primary fallopian tube cancer]. / Das primäre Tubenkarzinom.

Seventeen patients with a primary Fallopian tube carcinoma have been treated in the Landesfrauenklinik Magdeburg between 1961 and 1990. Initial therapy consisted of surgery alone. The adjuvant postoperative therapy was radiation or combined chemotherapy. The overall 5-year survival rate was 56%, of stage I 75%, of stage II 40% and 35% of stage III.

[Differentiation of fetal lymphocytes with the DP-(dipeptidylpeptidase-) IV technique]. / Differenzierung fetaler Lymphozyten mit der DP-(Dipeptidyl-peptidase-) IV-Technik.

The knowledge about the ontogenicity of the human immune system based on animal experiments. In this study expulsed fetus of women with sponeous and arteficial abortions were analysed because of the content of T4(+)-lymphocytes in the lymphatic tissues. The thymus, spleen, and a piece of the bone marrow were dissected, homogenised and the lymphocytes were separated. The identification of the T4+ cells was performed by the cytochemical staining of dideptidyl peptidase IV (DP IV). It could established that from the 15th to the 26th week of gestation the number of T4+ cells increased in the thymus and spleen but not in the bone marrow. In cases with rubella infection was the number of T4+ cells in the spleen increased if the fetus have had no signs of embryopathy.

[Distribution of mononuclear cells in peripheral blood of females with spontaneous abortion]. / Verteilung mononukleärer Zellen im peripheren Blut bei Frauen mit Spontanaborten.

The quantitative distribution of peripheral T cells, monocytes/granulocytes, natural killer cells and B cells was estimated in aborting women using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies. 30 women with spontaneous abortions were included in the study and 30 fertile and 50 healthy pregnant women as control groups. It could established that the normal pregnancy has no influence on the distribution of mononuclear cells. In cases with threatened abortions was the number of monocytes/granulocytes and of natural killer cells increased if the loss of pregnancy occurred. The differentiation of mononuclear cells may be helpful for the prognosis of abortions.

[Fertility of workers exposed to herbicides and pesticides]. / Fertilität bei Exponierten gegenüber Pflanzenschutz- und Schädlingsbekämpfungsmitteln.

Twenty-one workmen exposed to herbicide as organic mercury compounds and to pesticide as halogenic hydrocarbon has been investigated concerning their fertility. If the concentrations of organic mercury compounds increase in the air of the place of employment then the levels of this heavy metal are also higher in the urine and in the ejaculate, and the fertility is reduced. It could also be established that a correlation exists between the concentration of pesticide in the place of employment and the male fertility, especially in cases with an excess of maximum permitted concentrations.

[Rare type of metastases in progressive cervix carcinoma]. / Seltene Metastasierungsformen des progredienten Zervixkarzinoms.

There are demonstrated two cases of advanced cervical carcinoma with unusual localization of metastases. One patient showed a scalp metastasis and the other one had a ulcerated inguinal lymph node metastasis. X-ray therapy caused a sufficient remission of the metastatic tumors.

[Type and frequency of gynecological tumors in the Gondar region of Ethiopia]. / Art und Häufigkeit gynäkologischer Tumoren in der Region Gondar/Athiopien.

The present work was done to examine the type and frequency of benign and malignant gynecological tumors in patients treated during the 5 years period from 1982 to 1986 in the Gondar College of Medical Sciences. The different pathohistological findings were compared with the history and chief complaints of the patients. A total number of 208 patients with benign and of 93 patients with malignant tumors could be analyzed. In the group of benign tumors we observed most frequently breast tumors (25.5%), endometrial and cervical polyps (24.5%), and myoma uteri (23.1%). Patients with benign ovarian tumors were treated in 40 (19.2%) cases. In the group of malignant tumors we have seen breast carcinomas (31.2%) and cervical carcinomas (34.4%) most frequently followed by the endometrial (13.0%) and ovarian (11.8%) neoplasms. Comparison with the data of the literature has shown that the mean age of our patients is lower and the number of women with advanced carcinomas is higher than in other reports.

[The neuraminic acid/protein quotient in amniotic fluid: indicator for fetal maturity]. / Der Neuraminsäure/Protein-Quotient im Fruchtwasser: Indikator für die fetale Reife.

The concentration of neuraminic acid and proteins was determined in amniotic fluid of 207 pregnancies during the amniocentesis, performed in the 16.-21. week of gestation, 17 prematurities and 101 deliveries in time. The neuraminic acid/protein quotient increases significantly at term. Than, its reference range is 51.3-154.8 mumol/g (2.5-97.5 percentile). The neuraminic acid/protein quotient can be an useful prenatal indicator of the fetal maturity because of its high diagnostic specificity (97%) and sensitivity (88%).

[Experimental studies of the prevention of postoperative adhesions]. / Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Prävention postoperativer Adhäsionen.

Female wistar rats were used for the testing of different substances to prevent postoperative intraabdominal adhesions. It could be demonstrated that the best results were obtained by dextran 70 with a concentration of 10%. Good effects were seen also by contrykal (aprotinin) and hylase (hyaluronidase). By the combination of dextran 70 30% with contrykal the spread of adhesions was very low but the effect was not significant better than with dextran 70 10% alone. For the prevention of intraabdominal adhesions operative techniques with minimal lesions are important too of the peritoneal epithelium.

[Effect of heavy metal ions on male fertility]. / Einfluss von Schwermetallionen auf die männliche Fertilität.

In this study 67 workmen exposed to ions of heavy metals have been investigated because of their fertility. Concentrations of the noxious substances and their metabolites in blood and urine have been estimated and spermiograms were performed. The investigations demonstrated that a correlation exists between the concentrations of noxious substances in the place of employment, in the blood, and in the ejaculate, besides of zinc. An increased number of pathological spermiograms could be established especially in cases with an exceed of maximum permitted concentrations in the place of employment.

[Detection of T-lymphocytes in human endometrium]. / Nachweis von T-Lymphozyten im humanen Endometrium.

The T cell subpopulations in normal human endometrium were investigated by the immunoperoxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies. The total number of 100 endometrial biopsies from different phases of menstrual cycle were analyzed. It could be established, that the number of T cells shows typical variations during the cycle. The T suppressor cells increase in the ovulation and late luteal phase and decrease in the early luteal phase. The T helper cells were rare and without typical changes. It is assumed, that the regulation of T cells in the endometrium is connected with the formation of an optimal environment for the immigration of sperms and the implantation of the blastocyst.

[Determination of N-acetylneuraminic acid for the differential diagnosis of cystic ovarian tumors]. / Bestimmung der N-Acetylneuraminsäure zur Differentialdiagnose zystischer Ovarialtumoren.

The concentrations of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) were determined in the fluid of cystic ovarian tumors and in the blood serum from a total of 95 patients. The estimation of NANA was based on the method of Svennerholm. It was found that the mean content of NANA in the cystic fluid is more than 3.0 mmol/l in serous and more than 5.5 mmol/l in mucinous malignant ovarian tumors. The mean value of NANA in the serum of patients is mostly more than 3.5 mmol/l if there is an ovarian cancer. The estimation of NANA is useful for the preoperative diagnosis of cystic ovarian tumors.

[Incidence and significance of humoral antibodies in females with recurrent spontaneous abortions]. / Auftreten und Bedeutung humoraler Antikörper bei Frauen mit wiederholten Spontanaborten.

Serum samples from 70 patients with two or more early spontaneous abortions and, for comparison, sera from 20 healthy and fertile women were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of antibodies to sperms and genital organ antigens and for non-organ specific and organ specific antibodies. All sera were tested for thyreoglobulin antibodies by hemagglutination. The frequency of sperm antibodies and autoantibodies was significantly higher in patients with recurrent abortions than in the control group. There was no relation between the type or titer of antibodies and the clinical data of the patients.