[Environmental surveys in the areas of Bitterfeld, Hettstedt and a comparative area in 1992-2000]. / Umweltmedizinische Untersuchungen im Raum Bitterfeld, im Raum Hettstedt und in einem Vergleichsgebiet 1992-2000.

The aim of the environmental epidemiological study was to determine possible adverse effects on the health of children in the environmentally polluted areas of Bitterfeld and Hettstedt compared to the less polluted area of Zerbst (Eastern Germany). The changes of the health parameters were recorded together with the environmental changes during the time period of 6 years. The study design consisted of three repeated regional cross-sectional studies in 1992/93, 1995/96 and 1998/99. In total, 7,611 questionnaires could be analysed (participation rate: 89%, 75% and 75%). Children living in the most polluted area of Hettstedt had a noticeable higher risk for non-allergic respiratory diseases and symptoms compared to children living in the control area of Zerbst. From 1992 to 1999 a statistically significant decrease in the prevalences of these health outcomes was found. Children without indoor pollutants in their homes had the greatest benefit by the improvement of ambient air quality. The increase in lung function (FVC, FEV1) also underlines the improvement of the respiratory health. Children living in the polluted areas reported allergies more often (physician's diagnosis, allergy specific antibodies). The prevalence of asthma, the bronchial hyperreactivity and atopic eczema was increased within the observational period of 6 years. An increased prevalence was also shown for more severe allergic sensitisation (RAST classes > 17.5 kU/l), while the prevalence of hay fever increased slightly on a non-significant level. The burden with lead and cadmium was higher in children living in polluted areas and decreased during the study period except for 1997 where the lead concentration in blood increased according to the higher lead concentration in settled dust in Hettstedt at that time.

Long-term quality of life after ablative intraoral tumour surgery.

The aim of the present retrospective study was to determine the long-term quality of life of patients who had undergone intraoral tumour resection. 135 patients with a malignant tumour located in the floor of the mouth and the adjacent area were enrolled in the study. A standard questionnaire was used to determine the physical functional status, the psychological status and social functioning of cancer patients (Schipper et al., 1984). The results were related to the T-stage, the size and the location of the intraoral soft tissue defect, the mode of reconstruction and the postoperative interval. The results showed a significant correlation of the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC) score with the Karnowsky-Index. The values were significantly lower in the higher T-stages. The location of the soft tissue defect, the type of soft tissue reconstruction and discontinuity resections of the mandible were crucial for postoperative quality of life, inasmuch as bilateral defects with loss of mandibular continuity and myocutaneous flap reconstructions showed significantly lower FLIC values. Reconstruction of mandibular continuity did not contribute to an increase in FLIC values. Dysphagia, reflux of food through the lips and nose during meals, decreased appetite and persistent pain significantly decreased the FLIC scores. It is concluded, that the FLIC is suitable for the determination of life quality in cancer patients since the score has shown the potential to reflect differences in postoperative life quality with regard to surgical procedures and functional sequelae.

Theophylline induced differentiation provides direct evidence for the deregulation of c-myc in Burkitt's lymphoma and suggests participation of immunoglobulin enhancer sequences.

Most of the evidence that supports the hypothesis that the c-myc gene is abnormally regulated in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is indirect. The putative abnormal expression of c-myc is likely, at least in part, to be a consequence of the usurpation of its regulatory sequences by immunoglobulin enhancer elements, which are invariably juxtaposed to c-myc by the translocations associated with this tumor (C. M. Croce, J. Erikson, A. Ar-Rushdi, D. Aden, and K. Nishikura, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 3170-3174, 1984). We have developed a differentiation induction model system to examine this issue more directly. In a variety of non-BL cell lines, differentiation induction results in the down-regulation of c-myc (G. P. Studzinski, A. K. Bhandal, and Z. S. Brelvi, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 179: 288-295, 1985; Y. Matsui, R. Takahasi, K. Minara, T. Nakagawa, T. Koizumi, Y. Nakao, T. Sugiyama, and T. Fugita, Cancer Res., 49: 1366-1371, 1985; T. Mitchell, E. Sariban, and D. Kufe, Mol. Pharmacol., 30: 398-402, 1986; Z. S. Brelvi, and G. P. Studzinski, J. Cell. Physiol., 128: 171-179, 1986). Since BL is of B-cell origin, differentiation is associated with persistent or increased expression of immunoglobulin genes. Therefore, if c-myc and c-mu are coregulated in BL via immunoglobulin enhancer sequences, persistent or increased expression of the c-myc gene, rather than down-regulation, should occur in differentiated BL cells. Differentiation was induced in four BL cell lines with theophylline (7 x 10(-3) M), and mRNA was examined by Northern blot analysis. In all four BL lines studied (JD38, AG876, KK124, and Daudi), there was persistent or increased expression of both c-mu and c-myc genes (detected with a third exon c-myc probe), in contrast to the decreased expression of the c-myc gene observed in the three Epstein-Barr virus transformed lines studied (A3317, TC84, and CB34). In the BL cell line, JD38, the c-myc gene is truncated (the second and third exons are translocated to chromosome 14 while the first exon remains on chromosome 8). In this line, we demonstrated that theophylline induced differentiation results in down-regulation of the first exon while the level of expression of the translocated second and third exons remains unchanged or increases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Concentration of serum testosterone in XY sex reversed horses.

The XY Sex Reversal Syndrome of the horse is a condition associated with female or intersexual development in genetic males. In our previous study, 38 sex reversed XY mares were classified according to behavior, gross clinical phenotype, gonadal status, and H-Y phenotype. Four classes were described, ranging from potentially fertile female (Class I) to virilized intersex (Class IV). In the present study, serum testosterone concentrations were measured in 29 sex-reversed XY mares, 3 normal mares and 3 normal stallions. Serums were obtained during the breeding season (March-August), and were stored at -70 C until assayed. Serum testosterone concentrations in the normal XX mares ranged from nondetectable to 0.41 ng/ml; in normal XY stallions, from 1.04 ng/ml to 2.4 ng/ml; and in XY mares, from nondetectable to 5.4 ng/ml. Sex reversed mares previously assigned to Class I or II had serum testosterone concentrations ranging from nondetectable to 0.22 ng/ml. Serum testosterone concentrations in XY mares were correlated with sex phenotype and behavior. Although the range of steroid concentrations among XY mares may be quantified more accurately with increased sampling, serum testosterone concentrations can be used currently as an added parameter for study of the sex reversed condition.

[Programmed labor: methods, results, guidelines (author's transl)]. / Die progrmmierte Geburt. Methodik, Ergbnisse, Richtlnien.

The programming of labor (setting the best possbile time under optimal conditions) was carried out in the University Women's Hospital, Freiburg i. Br. between 1970 and 1975 in 1121 cases. No perinatal mortality was reported. The secondary frequency of cesarean section for this primarily uncomplicated labor was 3.21% (general hospital statistics for this time period: 6.29%). The most important factors for the strict standardized method of induction is the observation of the pelvic score (desired: greater than 6) and a moderate dose of oxytocin or prostaglandin based on the essential amniotomy. In a statistical comparison of three groups of patients (n = 786): programmed labor (n = 427), induction via the same type of method where transference was suspected (n = 158), and uncomplicated spontaneous labor (n=183), the results with induced labor were better than those with spontaneous labor. In addition for the fact that the course of labor could be preplanned and the period of labor shortened intrauterine and partal complications occurred less frequently with programmed labor than with spontaneous labor. Placental complications and the tendency toward postpartum atony must be discussed. Minor complications decreased as the weight, length and gestation period of the newborn increased. Individual palpation until the physiological maturity for birth is reached would, therefore, seem to be required. Observe the conditions and increase antepartal controls. Only by setting the exact time for labor with modern methods of supervision is it theoretically possible to eliminate the danger of active management. The organizational problem involved with a general programming of labor poses the major problem at present.

[Proceedings: Estrogen metabolism in kidney tissue of female rats]. / Oestrogenstoffwechsel im Nierengewebe von weiblichen Ratten

PIP: Estradiol and estrone metabolism were studied in vitro in the kidney tissue of pseudopregnant and immature female rats. Estradiol was metabo lized to estrone, and estrone was reduced to estradiol, but oxidation generally dominated. After 15 minutes, 80% of the substrate had been metabolized, a rate not equalled by the liver. The endogenous estrogen situation appeared to influence tissue retention of estrogen, which was greater in the pseudopregnant animals. Extrahepatic estrogen metabolism may be of greater importance than was formerly supposed.^ieng