[Clinical relevance of the antiphospholipid syndrome. Antiphospholipid antibodies in a mixed rheumatologic patient sample]. / Klinische Relevanz des Antiphospholipid-Syndroms. Antiphospholipid-Antikörper in einem gemischten rheumatologischen Krankengut.

The antiphospholipid syndrome may occur either in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or as a primary condition. Diagnostic criteria include the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies using cardiolipin antigen (anticardiolipin antibodies, ACA) or lupus anticoagulant, and at least two clinical manifestations, primarily venous or arterial thrombosis, thrombocytopenia or repeated miscarriage. Among 200 patients with various rheumatic diseases, a pathological ACA test in excess of 44 U/ml was detected with ELISA in 81 cases (41%), and of these 30% had values exceeding 100 U/ml. Both overall positive reactions and the particularly high titers were clearly more common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and collagen disease, namely 51% and 33%, respectively, than in patients with sero-negative spondylarthritis and non-inflammatory diseases of the locomotory system (22% pathological, 13% highly pathological, titers. Correlations were also found with miscarriage in women, positive rheumatoid and antinuclear factors, and the number of diagnostic criteria of RA or SLE presenting. A questionnaire survey - evaluating 84 subjects, half with positive and half with negative, ACA reactions - confirmed the correlation between miscarriage and the detection of ACA.

[Successful delivery of an intrauterine pregnancy following 3 extrauterine pregnancies]. / Erfolgreich ausgetragene intrauterine Schwangerschaft nach drei Extrauteringraviditäten.

A case of an successfully delivered intrauterine pregnancy following three organ-preserving operated ectopic pregnancies (two left-sided and one right-sided) is described. Despite a higher risk of a renewed extrauterine pregnancy especially in younger women without any pregnancy before and in women wishing a child with only one tube or with a pathologically changed contralateral tube, respectively, the tube-saving operation should be striven for.

[Experiences with the use of a lyophilized reference plasma for calibrating the determination of thromboplastin time values]. / Erfahrungen beim Einsatz eines lyophilisierten Bezugsplasmas zur Kalibrierung der Bestimmung des Thromboplastinzeitwertes.

Experiences are notified about production and employment of a lyophilised standard plasma for designation of thromboplastin time-value in the district Magdeburg. In addition to testing the homogeneity and the methodology for declaration the 100% - value results of ring tests are exhibited, which underline the necessity of a unitary standard plasma pool, secured to various criterions.

[Screening for endometrial carcinoma in a group at risk]. / Screening auf Endometriumkarzinom in einer Risikogruppe.

In a population-based study 923 asymptomatic women with diabetes aged 40 to 70 years were investigated by aspiration curettage. The samples were evaluated histologically. During the initial screening 4 histologically proved endometrial cancers were diagnosed. All cancer patients were additionally obese and had hypertension, with one exception they were also nulliparous. During the same period the expected number of cases for all investigated women was estimated to 0,74. The expected number of cases limited to those with diabetes, obesity and hypertension was 0,31; and limited to those with diabetes, obesity, hypertension and nulliparity was 0,1, respectively. Additionally 4 cases of adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium were identified. The long-term impact on morbidity and mortality of endometrial cancer within the investigated population at risk cannot be assessed as yet.

[Oestradiol receptors in endometrial carcinomas (author's transl)]. / Ostradiolrezeptoren in Endometriumkarzinomen.

Tissue samples taken from endometrial carcinomas as well as from normal and hyperplastic endometria were tested for oestradiol receptors. Roughly one and the same amount of receptors was recordable from all three tissue groups. In premenopausal women, receptor levels were lowest in the advanced phase of secretion. All tumour patients so far have survived without recurrence. Therefore, no correlation has been established, as yet, between receptor level and prognosis, in a way similar to what has been found in cases of mammary carcinoma.

[Risk group oriented early detection of cervical cancer? (author's transl)]. / Risikogruppenorientierte Krebsfrüherkennung der Cervix uteri?

In a retrospective case-control-study 500 women with a carcinoma in situ of the cervix uteri and 500 controls were examined by a standardized interview and compared by matched pair analysis. 8 risk factors for ca in situ were found indicating a lower social status, earlier sexual activities and more frequent inflammations of the cervix uteri. However screening programs should not be restricted to such women because it is difficult and expensive to identify and to reach the high risk group.

[The therapy of the early ovarian cancer (T1/T2 M0 N0) (author's transl)]. / Zur Therapie des Ovarialkariznos im lokal begrenzten Stadium T1/T2 M0 N0.

The paper deals with the results of a randomized prospective therapeutic study concerning 60 patients with ovarian cancers in stages T1 M0 N0 and T2 M0 N0 without (A group) and with (B group) postoperative chemotherapy, who had been operated on under a curative objective. The operative approach covered the abdominal exstirpation of the uterus with both adnexa and resection of the omentum. In stage T1 M0 N0 the 5-year survival time was reached by 94% of the patients without follow-up treatment (A group) and 90% of those who received such treatment (B group). In stage T2 M0 N0 all the patients without follow-up treatment (A group) and 76% of those cytostatically treated (B group) survived 5 years. While after a 10-year observation period the therapeutic results have remainded unchanged for stage T2 M0 N0 the survival rate of patients with tumours in stage T1 M0 N0 who hat received follow-up treatment has decreased to 62%. Statistical comparison of therapeutic concepts was not significant (error probability 5%). Attention is drawn to the importance of the operative approach. Ruptured secondura ovarian cancers and ascites do not anymore permit the curative approach and drastically reduce the chances of survival. Present methods of follow-up treatment cannot improve the effectiveness of the curatively performed operative measures take in case of ovarian cancer 5 of stages T1 M0 N0 and T2 M0 N0.

[On the therapy of uterine cervix carcinoma in situ]. / Zur Therapie des Carcinoma in situ cervicis uteri.

It is reported of 607 cases of uterine cervix carcinoma in situ from the years 1963 to 1977. During this period, the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as the histological preparation technique have advanced. -- 75% of the cases were primarily conized. About half of these cases were surely radically excised. 323 patients (53,2%) were treated actively by simple hysterectomy, 242 patients (46,8%) were treated conservatively (190 conisations, 19 reconisations, 60 portioamputations, 12 ringbiopsies, 3 radiations). -- After 323 total exstirpations, 2 recurrences of carcinoma in situ in vaginal stump were observed (0,6%). After local treatment of 242 patients, 17 recurrences of the disease appeared (6%), among them 4 cases as invasive cervix carcinoma. 11 cases belong to the group of primarily nonexcised or uncertainly radically excised carcinoma in situ, and in 4 cases a possibility of recurrence has been discussed. -- It has been refered to the importance of the exact conisation technique and subtile histotechnical obtaining of slides in step sections. If the carcinoma in situ radically excised and followed by an attentive follow up in women below 40 years, a conservative procedure is adviced. For women above 40 years an active procedure is indicated, because it offers a high therapeutic reliability and a minimal risk. For cases of nonradically excised carcinoma in situ hysterectomy is indicated. The removal of the vaginal cuff is considered as unnecessary.

Interaction of thiabendazole with fungal tubulin.

Thiabendazole, 2-(4'-thiazolyl)benzimidazole, at 80 micrometer completely inhibits mitosis in hyphae of Aspergillus nidulans, growing in liquid culture. DNA and RNA synthesis and mycelial growth are only partially inhibited at this concentration. Binding studies with cell-free mycelial extracts from Penicillium expansum showed that thiabendazole competitively inhibits [14C]carbendazim binding to tubulin, which suggests that the antimitotic activity of thiabendazole is based on interference with microtubule assembly. Tubulin from a thiabendazole-resistant and carbendazim-highly sensitive mutant of P. expansum has a lower affinity to thiabendazole and a higher affinity to carbendazim than tubulin from a wide-type strain. This indicates that in this mutant the structure of the binding site is affected. The data presented suggest that several sites of both the tubulin and ligand molecule are involved in the binding of benzimidazole compounds to fungal tubulin.

[Prophylactic gynecologic examinations in a stationary region]. / Prophylaktische gynäkologische Untersuchungen im stationären Bereich

We prophylactically examined female patients on the occasion of clinical treatment by other medical branches. Our gynaecological examinations were performed corresponding to a recommendation of the common decision of the SUP Central Committee, the GDR government and the TUF Central Board of Sept. 25th, 1973. From April 1th, 1974 to April 1th., 1975 2960 patients from 26 other clinics were screened. The frequency of histologically confirmed diseases of tumors due to registration (56 cases = 18,9(0/00) was higher than supposed compared with similiar screening programs. Under the cases were 5 carcinomas in situ, 3 microcarcinomas and 3 cervical carcinomas of stage Ib and higher. The share of discovery was 1,7 (0/00) for carcinomas in situ and 2 (0/00) for invasive cervical carcinomas. 28,6(0/00) of all women had a benign disease due to treatment or control. These examinations support, screening programs of a whole territory. The requisite expense is less than for similar programs on the outside of clinics.

Differential binding of methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate to fungal tubulin as a mechanism of resistance to this antimitotic agent in mutant strains of Aspergillus nidulans.

The antimitotic compound methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) formed a complex in vitro with a protein present in mycelial extracts of fungi. The binding protein of Aspergillus nidulans showed a set of properties which is unique for tubulin. Binding occurred rapidly at 4 degrees C and was competitively inhibited by oncodazole and colchicine. Other inhibitors of microtubule function such as podophyllotoxin, vinblastine sulfate, melatonin, and griseofulvin did not interfere with binding of MBC. Electrophoretic analysis of partially purified preparations of the binding protein revealed the presence of proteins with similar mobilities as mammalian tubulin monomers. Hence it is concluded that the binding protein is identical with fungal tubulin. The effect of MBC on mycelial growth of mutant strains of A. nidulans was positively correlated with the affinity of the binding sites for this compound. The apparent binding constant for MBC and tubulin from a wild type was estimated at 4.5 X 10(5), from a resistant strain at 3.7 X 10(4), and from a strain with increased sensitivity to MBC at 1.6 X 10(6) liters/mol. Mutants showing resistance and increased sensitivity to MBC are candidates to have alterations in tubulin structure. Affinity of tubulin for MBC is probably a common mechanism of resistance to this compound in fungi. Low affinity of tubulin for MBC is probably a common mechanism of resistance binding constant of 2.5 X 10(3) liters/mol.

[Quantitative determination of menstrual blood loss using the clinical whole-body counter]. / Quantitative Bestimmung des menstruellen Blutverlustes mit dem Klinischen Ganzkörperzähler.

In 20 females the whole-body retention test using 59Fe was carried out for quantitative determination of menstrual blood loss. In hypomenorrhoea blood loss ranged from 10 to 40 ml and in normal menstruation from 70 to 150 ml. Blood losses in excess of 150 ml should be considered as hypermenorrhoea. This method constitutes an extension of diagnostic facilities with respect to confirmation of data given in the history of the patients concerning blood loss at menstruation and with particular problems (e.g. undisclosed cases of anaemia, bleedings with uterus myomatosus or with an indwelling endouterine pessary).

[Results of preventive mycological examination in pregnant women]. / Ergebnisse prophylaktischer mykologischer Untersuchungen bei Schwangeren

From accidential patients fifteen per cent of 2328 pregnant women showed in a cultural method (malt-extract-agar) a vaginal mycosis in the seventh month of pregnancy. In most of the cases it was Candida albicans, but there were also other cases of Candida and Toruplopsis glabrata. The therapy of vaginal mycosis during pregnancy should be done generally, to prevent infections of infants and infections is gynecological and neonatological departments.