Application of Molecular Pathology in Endocrine Pathology.

Rapid growth in knowledge of cell and molecular biology led to the increased usage of molecular techniques in anatomical pathology. This is also due to the advances achieved in the techniques introduced in the last few years which are less laborious as compared to the techniques used at the beginning of the "molecular era". The initial assays were also very expensive and were not performed except for selected centers.

[Extreme soft tissue hypertrophy of both hands of "uncertain origin"].

The author reports on a 56-year old patient. At the age of 17 an asymmetric hypertrophy of the soft tissue isolated on both hands developed increasingly. Based upon differing diagnoses, corticoids and "black light - phototherapy" were attempted.

[Diagnostic value of aspartate aminotransferase in the cerebrospinal fluid].

As datum, the range of aspartate aminotransferase in the cerebrospinal fluid of adults was determined on the basis of 153 fluid samples and compared with the values obtained from 356 neurological patients. A significant increase in enzyme activity was established in respect of CVI, polyneuropathy, acute encephalitis, and SAB. It was possible to eliminate any dependence of the aspartate aminotransferase activity on serum activity, total protein, and cell count.