Quantitative analysis of individual cell-free DNA concentration before and after penetrating trauma.

Introduction: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) elevations were remarked in the blood of trauma patients. Published increases refer to comparative values of a healthy control group, ignoring thereby inter- and intra-individual differences under normal conditions. The aim of this study was to quantify cfDNA in patients in the time course of a planned orthopedic surgery, which constitutes the advantage of obtaining individual pre- and post-trauma values for each patient.

First detection of ethylphenidate in human fatalities after ethylphenidate intake.

Methylphenidate, a psychostimulant drug from the group of amphetamines is, among others, established in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. It is also known to have a certain potential of abuse. In combination with alcohol, the metabolite ethylphenidate was detected in human plasma in small amounts.

[Human papillomavirus in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. A study at the Ulm Military Hospital, Germany].

There is increasing evidence worldwide that human papillomavirus is a major risk factor for head and neck cancer. Only few studies on this association have been performed in Germany to date. For the purposes of the present study, tumor specimens from 223 patients with squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx were analyzed for HPV DNA and p16INK4a expression.

Expression of Abelson interactor 1 (Abi1) correlates with inflammation, KRAS mutation and adenomatous change during colonic carcinogenesis.

Background: Abelson interactor 1 (Abi1) is an important regulator of actin dynamics during cytoskeletal reorganization. In this study, our aim was to investigate the expression of Abi1 in colonic mucosa with and without inflammation, colonic polyps, colorectal carcinomas (CRC) and metastases as well as in CRC cell lines with respect to BRAF/KRAS mutation status and to find out whether introduction of KRAS mutation or stimulation with TNFalpha enhances Abi1 protein expression in CRC cells.

Methodology/principal Findings: We immunohistochemically analyzed Abi1 protein expression in 126 tissue specimens from 95 patients and in 5 colorectal carcinoma cell lines with different mutation status by western immunoblotting.

[Sclerosing Sertoli cell tumor of the testis: a rare tumor. Case report and review of the literature on the subtypes of Sertoli-cell tumor].

Sertoli cell tumors of the testis are extremely rare (0.4-1.5% of all testicular neoplasms) and have a heterogeneous pathology.