[Risk stratification in medulloblastoma: screening for molecular markers].

Background: The present study evaluates molecular markers for patients at risk of poor or no response to medulloblastoma. The aim of the study is to optimize therapy stratification.

Patients And Methods: 69 snap-frozen medulloblastoma samples were examined.

Expression of GAS7 in childhood CNS tumors.

Expression of growth arrest-specific (Gas) genes is observed during growth arrest in terminally differentiating cells during development of peripheral nerves. Gas7 is expressed predominantly in the brain and is required for neurite formation. Human GAS7 is located on chromosome 17p11.

No aberrant methylation of neurofibromatosis 1 gene (NF1) promoter in pilocytic astrocytoma in childhood.

Tumors of the central nervous system are the most frequent solid tumors in childhood. With 30-40% of this heterogenous group, low-grade astrocytomas represent the most common subtype. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is strongly associated with the development of pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), frequently appearing as optic glioma.

Promoter methylation pattern of caspase-8, P16INK4A, MGMT, TIMP-3, and E-cadherin in medulloblastoma.

Methylation of promoter regions of CpG-rich sites is an important mechanism for silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSG). To evaluate the role of tumor suppressor genes caspase-8 (CASP8), TIMP-3, E-cadherin (CDH1), p16INK4A, and MGMT in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis, 51 medulloblastomas (46 primary tumor specimens, 5 cell lines) were screened for methylation of promoter linked CpG-islands. For CASP8, we examined the 5' UTR region that has been shown to be associated with expression of CASP8.

Isochromosome 1q as an early genetic event in a child with intracranial ependymoma characterized by molecular cytogenetics.

Data concerning cytogenetic features of childhood ependymoma are rare. In this article, a gain of 1q was identified as the sole alteration in a primary childhood infratentorial ependymoma by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). A recurrence of this brain tumor was studied using multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) in addition to CGH and G-banding analysis.

Analysis of the GAP-related domain of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene in childhood brain tumors.

The neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) gene contains a 360-bp region with significant homology to the catalytic domain of mammalian GTPase-activating protein. This particular GAP-related domain of the NF1 gene (NF1-GRD) stimulates ras GTPase and inactivates ras protein p21ras. Therefore, it has been suggested that the NF1 gene represents another tumor-suppressor gene.

Quantitative determination of fluconazole-amphotericin B antagonism to Candida albicans by agar diffusion.

Fluconazole is a bis-triazole antifungal which partly antagonizes the activity of amphotericin B against Candida albicans (and other Candida species). This antagonism can easily be demonstrated by radial agar diffusion. Amphotericin B at reservoir concentrations of up to 1.

[Differential liver siderosis diagnosis using quantitative iron determination in the biopsy specimen].

Quantitative iron investigations were carried out in the leavings of liver biopsy specimens from 92 patients with liver siderosis, detected by histochemical methods. A discrimination between primary and secondary liver siderosis were tried by the liver iron index. Idiopathic hemochromatosis was not found in liver iron indices below 2, both hemochromatosis and secondary liver siderosis were found with an index above 2.

[Examples for using capillary gas chromatography with wide bore columns in occupational health].

Wide bore capillary columns (0.4-0.75 mm ID) can be easily and inexpensively installed in packed column GCs.

[Studies on the long-term exposure of operating room personnel to 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluorethane (Halothane)].

Different operation theatres of the county of Gera were examined to quantify the exposition against halothane which is used as an inhalation narcotic, and also against ethanol. Besides the short time exposition (0.5 h) determined with gas sampling tubes the long time exposition (up to 8 h) was monitored personally by means of charcoal passive samplers.

[Short bowel syndrome and glucose tolerance].

There are different signs after extended small bowel resection. The length of the resected small intestine (size of resection), the location of the removed part (type of resection), the time after operation (stage of adaption) and the age of the patient define the severity and nature of complaints following small bowel resections. We examined the dynamics of glucose- and insulin level after oral and intravenous glucose administration to recognize the relation to the size of resection.

[Erythrocyte ferritin in patients with normal and abnormal iron metabolism].

Erythrocyte and serum ferritin was determined in 36 patients with different pictures of diseases and under bleeding therapy in idiopathic haemochromatosis (IH). With latent iron deficiency there was no significant difference in the ferritin content of erythrocytes in comparison with the control group. The intraerythrocyte ferritin content in idiopathic haemochromatosis is always increased and will normalize under bleeding therapy as well serum ferritin.

[Ferrokinetic studies with Fe-59 in idiopathic hemochromatosis and other forms of iron overload].

Conventional ferrokinetic studies were done in patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis, secondary siderosis of the liver and iron overload in consequence of sideroblastic or aplastic anaemia. By means of the isotope 59Fe we determined the clearance of radioiron from the plasma, the plasma iron turnover, the utilization of iron by the erythropoesis and the iron uptake by the liver. The later value showed a good correlation with the iron content of the liver determined by atomic absorption spectrometry as well in patients with hemochromatosis as in patients with secondary siderosis of the liver.

[Diagnostic significance of quantitative iron determination in gastric mucosa in iron overload].

The iron content of liver and gastric mucosa was quantitatively examined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry in 36 patients with iron overload (22 with idiopathic haemochromatosis, 14 with therapy-resistant anaemia) and in 17 subjects without anomaly of iron metabolism. Diagnostically evaluable iron deposits in gastric mucosa were only found in severe iron overload. In this case it was correlated with the hepatic iron content, and was indicative of iron-related disturbances also in other organs.

[Value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in assessing therapeutic success in small cell bronchial cancer].

Unlabelled: The determination of the carcino-embryonal antigen (CEA) for the assessment of the therapeutic success and course in colorectal tumours is at present an established diagnostic method. In other solid tumours, e.g.

[Paraneoplastic endocrinopathies].

After the presentation of the definition and of several historical data the present pathophysiological imaginations concerning the problems of the ectopic hormone production are sketched which nowadays not yet have accepted a definitive form. A survey of the at present ascertained paraneoplastic endocrinopathies and several own findings allow a valuation of the significance of these phenomena in practice, taking into consideration the literature.

[Idiopathic hemochromatosis--diagnosis and therapy].

The excessive storage of iron in idiopathic haemochromatosis leads to severe organic lesion up to life-threatening conditions (cardiac insufficiency, portal decompensation). The symptoms melanodermia , diabetes mellitus and other endocrine failures, liver cirrhosis, cardiac insufficiency and arthropathy appear together or in various combinations. The diagnosis is ascertained by the proof of iron storage, the multiple organic affection and by familial accumulation of the various laboratory diagnostic possibilities are particularly to be emphasized the serum iron value together with the percetal transferrin saturation (as search test), serum ferritin, the desferrioxamine test, simple ferrokinetic investigations and the quantitative determination of iron in the liver in the bioptate .

[Pharmacokinetics of 131I-streptokinase].

It has been demonstrated in mouse experiments that 131I-streptokinase undergoes rapid elimination. It has been shown as unfit as a diagnostic agent in the treatment of thromboses.

[Release of chromium 51 by coxsackievirus-infected FL cells].

The time course of chromium-51 (51Cr) release was investigated on FL monolayer cells infected with different serotypes of coxsackievirus. 51Cr release was determined by means of the increase in 51Cr radioactivity in supernatants of cells saturated with 51Cr. Ten hours p.

[Possibility of renal vascularization by means of a jejunal flap].

An animal experimental model for the additional vascularisation of the kidney is represented by means of an excluded demucosed small intestine segment. The immediate clinical signification is to be seen in lowering the hypertension in case of pyelonephritic renal shrinkage. Histologic investigations do not show any vascular communication between intestine and kidney and not any ingrowing of intestinal vessels in the kidney.