Cell cycle peculiarities of the Ehrlich ascites tumour as revealed by cell counting and flow cytometry

Based on own investigations general principles of cell cycle analysis by quantitative microscopic methods are discussed. Cell cycle peculiarities of the Ehrlich ascites tumour (EAT) are demonstrated. The numerical data yield information on the underlying type of growth expressed by the logistic function (Verhulst-Pearl). The effective tumour development starts with an exponential phase. In EAT the 5th day is regarded as representative for this stage. Then after a transition phase a steady state is reached. The 11th day after transplantation reflects best this phase of tumour development. By flow cytometric measurements DNA frequency distributions can be obtained in dependence of tumour age. The interpretation of the practically useful height of the second frequency peak in the histograms is discussed in relation to the underlying type of growth. The evaluation of the measurements reveals a characteristic change of the relative duration of the cell cycle phases G1, S, G2 and of the percentage of cells within these phases. Multiparameter single cell measurements complete the cytometric cell cycle analysis in relation to the position of cells in the cell cycle and allow a distinction between quiescent and proliferating cells. Finally the application of the parameters assayed on the biological model is extended to tumours in man.     

Druckschmerzhafte Brustwirbeldornfortsätze—ein quantitatives Maß von Schmerzen?

A study was conduced in 100 migraine patients and 100 control subjects who did not suffer from headaches to test Dung's hypothesis that the number of painful spinal processes in the throacic spine can be used as a quantitative measure of the degree of pain in the patient concerned. The results show significant differences in the frequency of painful spinal processes between the two study groups. This supports Dung's hypotheses. As it is easy to determine the presence of painful spinal processes the frequency of this phenomenon, the reasons for it and its significance should be the sujbects of further examination.     

The relation between the results of cytophotometric examination of endometrial carcinoma and clinical course of these disease

Summary We made a prospective cytophotometric study of 48 cases of endometrial carcinoma. Thirty-two (66.7%) of the cases had diploid DNA content and the proportion of non-diploid tumors increased with the staging of tumors, lack of differentiation and depth of myometrial invasion. DNA content ( ), DNA malignancy grade (DNA-MG) and 5c exceeding rate were statistically significant in relation to the clinical course of the disease and the histological grade of differentiation. DNA parameters appear to be especially suitable for the objective assessment of malignancy.     

The behavior of serum hCG level in normal and disordered pregnancy--a prognostic factor

The increase of serum hCG was determined in 305 pregnant women at least twice in the first 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. In a large number of cases this was done to rule out a disturbance of pregnancy. The results were evaluated by means of a comparison to the time-dependent changes of the normal range. They were classified in the following manner: 1 = Normally increasing values, 2 = Values lower than normal, but normal increase, 3 = values to low and increasing too slowly, 4 = Serum hCG too low or declining, 5 = initially normal values failing to rise. A type 4 secretion pattern was invariably followed by a demise of pregnancy. In about one half of the cases showing a type 2 pattern, the pregnancy either miscarried or was found to be in an ectopic location. In normal pregnancies, type 2 pattern was found in 29% and type 1 in 71%. A comparison of the results of the first and second hCG determination revealed close agreement in more than 90% of the cases, and in 84% when the comparison was extended to a third sample.     

Beeinflussung von Schmerzen durch physikalische Therapie

The new orientation concerning the therapy of chronic pain has brought about essential progress during recent years. However, physical therapy is often disregarded. Therefore, various possible ways of influencing pain by physical therapy are presented. In contrast to pharmacotherapy, physical therapy is often able to abolish the causes of pain. By means of respiratory control or relaxation it is possible to reduce increased muscular oder vascular reactivity. The unfavourable influences of increased tone of the sympathatic nervous system on the development of chronic pain may be reduced by several methods of physical therapy. The possibility of influencing the nociceptor and the surrounding tissue by electrotherapy is still a hypothesis, but a promising one. Central pain control by physical therapy is investigated most frequently and is of essential importance. It is also of value to take into consideration the psychotherapeutic effects of physical therapy. The integration of physical therapy into a complex treatment schedule may lead to further progress in the treatment of patients with pain.     

Amyloid deposition in the nucleus basalis of Meynert complex: a topographic marker for degenerating cell clusters in Alzheimer's disease

Summary The deficiency of the cholinergic cortical projection system arising in the different basal forebrain structures collectively referred to as nucleus basalis of Meynert complex is a constant finding in Alzheimer's disease, a disorder which is neuropathologically characterised by the appearance of three intracerebral formes of twisted -pleated sheet (amyloid) fibrils, neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid-containing neuritic plaques and congophilic amyloid angiopathy. In the present study the quantitative relationship between these hallmarks of the disease, amyloid deposition and neuronal loss in the cholinergic basal forebrain system, was investigated in ten cases of Alzheimer's disease. Besides a constant involvement of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, all cases of Alzheimer's disease show a large amount of amyloid in the medial septal nucleus, in the diagonal band nucleus and in the substantia innominata which is correlated with neuronal loss in these areas. These amyloid deposits in the basal forebrain are due to congophilic angiopathy associated with plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The distribution of amyloid deposition in the basal forebrain is restricted entirely to those neuronal clusters which represent the origin of cholinergic innervation of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Immediately adjacent structures are not affected. These findings suggest a pathogenetic role of amyloid deposition in the mechanism of degeneration of the cholingeric basal forebrain system.