Treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and adolescents: definitive results of a multicenter study (NPC-91-GPOH).

Background: Preliminary results of combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and postradiation interferon beta (IFN-beta) in children and adolescents with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, especially in high-risk patients, have been promising.

Methods: From 1992 to 2003, 59 patients (58 high-risk patients and 1 low-risk patient, median age 13 yrs; range, 8-25 yrs) were treated in the GPOH-NPC-91 study. The Stage II patient received irradiation as initial therapy.

[Iotrolan versus iopamidol. A controlled double-blind study with lumbar myelography].

Within the frame work of lumbar myelography, 158 patients were entered in a double-blind study in order to test a dimeric contrast medium (iotrolan) against a monomeric one (iopamidol), both of them non-ionic. A three-step scheme was applied to evaluate the X-ray pictures with respect to contrast quality. Particular attention was paid to the visibility of details, i.

A new DNA binding assay to study subclasses of SV40 large T antigen binding to individual binding sites on the SV40 DNA.

SV40 large T antigen interacts specifically with three different sequences, termed sites I, II or III, within the control region of the SV40 DNA to regulate transcription as well as the initiation and progress of SV40 DNA replication. We have biotinylated three different DNAs containing either site I, II or III and immobilized these constructs on a streptavidin agarose matrix. All three immobilized DNAs were shown to bind T antigen from a total cell extract of SV40 infected monkey cells although with different affinities.

Complex interaction of SV40 large T antigen with the control region on the SV40 DNA.

SV40 large T antigen interacts specifically with three different DNA sequences within the SV40 control region namely site I, II and III, in order to regulate the viral DNA replication and the stimulation of late, or repression of early viral transcription. We define three different plasmids, containing either site I alone, site II with SV40 specific flanking sequences or both sites I and II with additional neighbouring sequences which were used to study the interaction of T antigen with each of its binding sites. We found that binding of T antigen to site II reduced binding of T antigen to site I as opposed to the interaction of T antigen with site I alone.

SV40 T-antigen binding to site II is functionally separated from binding to site I.

During lytic infection SV40 T antigen binds specifically to three different regions of the SV40 DNA to initiate viral DNA replication and to regulate early and late transcription. We have used the recently described plasmids pKB1, containing a 23-bp oligonucleotide coding for site I, pdl1085 containing sites II and III together with SV40 specific flanking sequences, and as a control pATC, a plasmid which contains all three binding sites (D. Müller et al.

[Imaging of cecal tumors using computer tomography].

Although contrast enema of the colon and endoscopy remain the preferential diagnostic methods in tumour of the caecum, computed tomography can accurately determine the extent of extraluminar tumour growth and hence help to arrive preoperatively at the appropriate therapeutic concept. Adenocarcinomas are morphologically distinctly different, due to focal thickenings of the colon wall, from the diffuse wall thickenings associated with malignant lymphomas, or from inflammatory conglomerate tumours. Computed tomography of the caecal region is a noninvasive examination method that can speed up diagnosis especially in elderly patients with elongated colon and stool incontinence.

[Inflammatory changes in shoulder arthrography].

Arthrography of the shoulder joint in so-called periarthritis humeroscapularis often shows nodular contrast defects, irregular defects in the bursa and contrast-filling of irregular lymphatics; these are characteristic signs of a synovitis. Arthrography can provide an exact diagnosis, not only in suspected post-traumatic rotator cuff, tears, but also in other painful conditions that limit movement. It is superior to CT in demonstrating inflammatory changes.

[Computerized tomographic differentiation of adenocarcinoma and malignant lymphoma of the stomach].

CT examinations in gastric adenocarcinoma (12 patients) differ clearly from the diffuse wall thickenings in malignant gastric lymphoma (7 patients) by displaying focal thickenings of the gastric wall. Before performing biopsy, it is often necessary to effect differentiation and staging, and to lay down a preliminary interdisciplinary oncological treatment concept.

[Intervention measures in social work in institutional gerontopsychiatry].

Social-worker has to follow up important functions within the diagnosis and therapy of a gerontopsychiatric station. His employment also concerns patients with serious psychiatric syndromes as well as depression, paranoia, and dementia. Social-worker completes the function of medical doctor and nurses, has to attend to patient's interests, and gives informations and advice to persons and institutions of environment.