[Value of the nitroblue tetrazolium test (NBT) in the clinical diagnosis of bacterial infections]. / Wertigkeit des Nitroblautetrazolium (NBT)-Testes in der klinischen Diagnostik bakterieller Erkrankungen.

107 patients and 27 normal individuals underwent the NBT test, as described by PARK et al., in order to ascertain whether it helps to diagnose a bacterial infection. The patients studied consisted of a group with bacterial infections, and a further group suffering from a variety of internal organic diseases of non-bacterial genesis. At the same time, the absolute leucocyte count, the differential blood count, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the leucocyte phosphatase were evaluated. In 84% of the patients with bacterial infections, the values of the NBT test, which are normally between 3 and 14%, were considerably higher, while the value in patients without bacterial infection was only 4% higher than the normal rate. Neither with the leucocyte count, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the deviation to the left, nor with the alkaline leucocyte phosphatase was such accuracy obtainable. It is, however, essential that the methodology is closely observed, as even slight changes during the processing can alter the result. The evaluation of the preparations by an experienced analyst is, of course, prerequisite.

[Histomorphometric study of pelvic-crest biopsies during long-term fluoride treatment of osteoporosis (author's transl)]. / Histomorphometrische Untersuchungen an Beckenkamm-Biopsien bei Fluorid-Langzeittherapie der Osteoporose.

In 14 patients being treated with fluoride preparations for osteoporosis histomorphometric analysis of iliac biopsies showed that the volume of the mineralised spongiosa had increased by more than 20% above initial level in eight instances. The volume of the osteoid in ten cases had also increased, generally most markedly in the first year. In some cases the clinical symptoms corresponded to the histomorphometric findings. The results suggest that fluoride treatment of osteoporosis can be continued beyond one year. But this should only be done under precise control also of histological bone studies because in three of the patients the spongiosa volume had reached high normal values already after one to three years of treatment.

[Relationships between hemopoiesis and peripheral blood counts in untreated and 32P-treated patients with polycythaemia vera (author's transl)]. / Die Hyperplasie der Haemopoese in relation zur peripheren Blutzell-Vermehrung bei unbehandelter und 32P-behandelter Polycythaemia vera

The composition of the hemopoiesis was determined in iliac crest biopsies of 51 patients with polycythaemia vera. There was a good correlation between thrombopoiesis and thrombocytes and, to a minor degree also between erythropoiesis and erythrocytes in untreated patients as well as between granulopoiesis and granulocytes in 32P-treated patients. In patients with normal blood counts there existed no correlation between the bone marrow and the blood counts within smaller limits of the cell count. Histomorphometric analysis shows no difference either between untreated and 32P-treated patients or between patients with and without splenomegaly. This is an argument against a significant intrasplenic hemopoiesis or an intrasplenic cell pooling, or destruction (hypersplenism), respectively. The blood sinusoids are hyperplastic and distended. With increasing hyperplasia of the hemopoiesis the sinusoids become relatively smaller. So changes in vascularisation may be of importance in the infrequent transitions into myelofibrosis and/or leukemia.