Physiological and molecular aspects of the inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria

This paper reviews progress made in elucidating the inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria at the physiological and molecular levels. Emphasis is placed on the mechanism of inorganic carbon transport, physiological and genetical analysis of high-CO(2)-requiring mutants, the polypeptides induced during adaptation to low CO(2), the functional significance of carboxysomes, and the role of carbonic anhydrase. We also make occasional reference to the green algal inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism.

Wound-factor-induced and cell cycle phase-dependent expression of 9E3/CEF4, the avian gro gene

The gro genes encode for secreted proteins with sequence homologies to inflammatory mediators. Little is known about the function of these proteins or their regulation. The chicken gro (9E3/CEF4) is expressed abundantly in the cells of proliferating cultures but at very low levels in confluent cultures. In vivo, this gene is expressed in connective tissue and overexpressed at sites of injury, especially in areas of neovascularization. Here we provide a bridge between these observations by examining in culture the effect on 9E3 expression and DNA synthesis induced by cell damage and by addition of factors known to be released on wounding. We mimicked wounding by scraping swaths across confluent cultures of embryonic fibroblasts and determined the time dependence of expression of 9E3 mRNA and incorporation of 3H-thymidine. We find that 9E3 is (1) transiently expressed after "wounding" or serum-stimulation; (2) expressed in a cell cycle phase-dependent manner; it is triggered during the G0-G1 transition or early in G1 and subsides during S-phase; and (3) stimulated to high levels by a-fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), bFGF, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), and TGF beta, to intermediate levels by platelet-derived growth factor and not stimulated by epidermal growth factor. We also find that cells that are constantly cycling do not express 9E3, indicating that they skip either the portion of the cell cycle where 9E3 is induced or that they constitutively express a repressor of transcription or an RNA-degrading enzyme. Taken together, these observations suggest that the product of this gene could play more than one role in vivo. For example, in normal tissues the 9E3 protein could be involved in the exit of cells from the resting stage, whereas during wound healing the secreted protein or its cleavage products also could play a role in angiogenesis.

Characterization of two insertion sequences, IS701 and IS702, from the cyanobacterium Calothrix species PCC 7601

We describe the characterization of two insertion elements, IS701 and IS702, isolated from Calothrix species PCC 7601. These insertion elements were cloned from spontaneous pigmentation mutants. Both show the characteristics of typical bacterial insertion sequences, i.e. they present long terminal inverted repeats and they duplicate target DNA upon insertion. These elements share no homology with the only other cyanobacterial insertion sequence described so far, IS891. At least 15 copies of IS701 and 9 copies of IS702 were detected by hybridization experiments in the Calothrix 7601 genome. Their occurrence in several cyanobacterial strains is also reported.

[Microscopic studies of the skin of the Turkish angora goat. II. Functional morphology of the hair follicle]

The study supplies a detailed description of the development, morphology and function of anagen hair follicles in the Turkish Angora goat. In this connection, the formation of the hair root and the epithelial root sheaths is of specific interest. Furthermore, the intensive structural alterations and disintegrative processes occurring during the catagen phase are presented. The telogen hair follicle development is also referred to with special regard to typical structural and functional features.

[Family-oriented after-care as a means of rehabilitation and secondary prevention for children with cancer and their families]

In a prospective longitudinal study 44 families, where one child had a cancer disease, were questioned about the effect of family oriented change in the physical condition of the patients and their parents, improvement of the psychic state of health of the patients and their brothers and sisters, improvement of the measured depressive general attitude of the fathers and mothers and a positive change in the relationship between the spouses. Apart from the medical aftercare the spare-time and pedagogical offers of the clinics where the most appreciated and the most frequented by the parents and the children.

[Value of inpatient after-care in coping with illness by tumor patients]

In a panel study consisting of two interviews within one year with 100 patients of the Chirurgische Universitätsklinik of Heidelberg it was tried to evaluate the use and the success of impatient aftercare for cancer patients and their coping with disease. The knowledge concerning disease and therapy turned out to be a more important criterion as for the participation in the 'Kur' than severity of disease, age and sex. A high degree of suffering and a relatively stable psyche were prerequisites to productive coping with the disease. The success of coping as well as the success of the treatment at a sanatorium cannot be implicitely objectified. In individual cases rather than with statistical methods, it was possible to identify risk patients who need intensive care. All in all, the 'sanatorium arrangements' gave a high degree of subjective satisfaction. Their positive effects were made evident in a 'sanatorium behaviour', which seems to be characteristic for cancer patients.

Chemotherapy of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma with a combination of adriamycin and DTIC or adriamycin and ifosfamide

Between 1982 and 1986, 38 patients with soft tissue sarcomas were treated with a combination of ADM/DTIC (group A), another 45 (group B) received ADM/IFO between 1986 and 1990. Clinical characteristics were comparable in both groups. Remission rate was 34% in group A and 43% in group B. Duration of remission was 10 months and median survival 13 months in both groups. Toxicity, especially myelotoxicity, was severe without marked differences between both groups. We conclude that adriamycin/DTIC and adriamycin/ifosfamide are both active regimens in metastatic soft tissue sarcomas, nevertheless, overall prognosis remains poor.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of head and neck masses

One hundred eighty-two fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of head and neck masses performed between the years 1981 and 1987 were studied retrospectively. Seventeen FNAs were unsatisfactory. Of the remaining 165, 148 (90%) were followed up with either surgery or clinical follow-up of at least 12 months' duration. Seventy-one of these aspirates were malignant. Fifty-six cases of metastatic carcinoma and 13 cases of lymphoma were diagnosed. The positive predictive value for metastatic carcinoma and lymphoma was 100%, and the sensitivities were 92% and 100%, respectively. For benign salivary gland lesions, the positive predictive value was 94%, whereas for malignant lesions it was 100%. One case of carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma was missed by FNA. No complications were associated with FNA. We conclude that FNA is a safe and accurate technique, well suited to the in-office evaluation of neck masses of differing causes.

[Therapy costs at the hospital]

The inflation in hospital financing has fallen off. The new regulations brought in with the health reform law (Gesundheitsreformgesetz) could help to cut hospital running costs and lead to a more economical form of medical treatment. At present a prognosis of these cost reductions is not possible. The new list of charges for medical treatment (Bundespflegesatzverordnung) brought in by the government in 1986 also has helped in reducing expenditures. Especially the requirement for self-budgeting and performance-costing has lead to a reduced inflation rate in medical treatment costs. An effective control of medical treatment costs demands more management not only in administrative but also in medical areas as well. Improving hospital economy must not automatically lead to a reduction in the quality of the service provided.

[Secondary malignomas following radiotherapy of breast carcinoma: a case report]

Numerous cases of radiation-induced malignoma have been described, where the radiation osteosarcomas are placed in the foreground. In this article a case of a female patient is described who developed not only a radiation-induced osteosarcoma but also a thyroid gland carcinoma after a previous postsurgical mamma carcinoma whereby the irradiation dose of the radiation sarcoma is about 64 Gy and for the thyroid gland carcinoma about 12 Gy.

Status report of fast neutron therapy in the Department of Radiotherapy at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf

Since 1976 710 patients were treated with fast neutrons at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. Since January 1984 154 patients with soft tissue sarcomas (250 patients with soft tissue sarcomas since 1976), 20 patients with advanced and low grade tumors of the paranasal sinuses and 43 patients with adenoid cystic carcinomas were treated with fast neutrons. Our results and reports from several centers indicate a gain from fast neutron therapy for low grade soft tissue sarcomas, osteosarcomas (G1 and G2), for highly differentiated salivary gland tumors, and some other rare low grade tumors as malignant chordomas, chondrosarcomas, pencil gliomas or desmoid tumors.

Fast neutron radiotherapy for advanced malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses

The radiotherapy of advanced and low grade tumors of the internal nose and paranasal sinuses is still a problem. The results of neutron therapy of 20 patients with advanced and low grade tumors are presented. These patients were treated between July 1977 and October 1988. The mean age of patients is 53 years. Ten patients had adenoid cystic carcinomas, three patients squamous cell carcinomas, one patient a mucinous cell carcinoma, two patients a low grade adenocarcinoma and four patients low grade sarcomas. Mean follow-up is 16 months. Local control could be achieved in eleven cases. The results show that adenoid cystic carcinomas, low grade adenocarcinomas and sarcomas benefit from neutron therapy.

Results of fast neutron therapy of adenoidcystic carcinomas of the head and neck at the neutron facility Hamburg-Eppendorf

Between July 1977 and March 1988, 31 patients with an adenoidcystic carcinoma were treated with fast neutrons of a 14 MeV-DT-generator at our department. Primary locations were: parotid gland eight cases, paranasal sinus five cases, submandibular gland five cases, trachea four cases and other locations nine cases. The median follow-up of our patients was 16 months. Most of the patients had advanced tumors. The calculated local control rate is 65% at two years.

[Microscopic studies of the skin of the Turkish Angora goat. I. Skin layers]

The study describes basic structural aspects of the integumental layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) of the Turkish Angora goat. The results have been obtained by light- and electronmicroscopical methods. Central topics are measurements of layer thickness as related to annual season and life period, as well as typical criteria of integumental layer construction as connected with the hair cycle. Remarkable is a trimerous organization of the dermis and cyclic changes in the thickness of the stratum adiposum of the hypodermis. The findings are discussed with regard to comparable observations from other domestic mammals.

[The process of patient education of cancer patients at a surgical clinic]

In order to clarify the controversial issue of informing cancer patients of their condition, the following questionnaire was administered to 41 patients with cancer, and 106 patients with other conditions. The questions were: How often and in what form will cancer patients be informed about the nature of their illness? What types of reactions followed? How often did hopelessness and suicidal phantasies arise? What type of support system was the most helpful? The result showed that 90% of all patients wanted to be informed; 85% of the patients with cancer reacted with great anxiety: an increased loss of hope and risk of suicide was not encountered; the most important support system is the family and the patient's trust in the doctor.

[Radiotherapy results in malignant tumors of the inner nose and paranasal sinuses with special reference to neutron therapy]

Radiotherapy in advanced and highly differentiated tumors of the inner nose and the paranasal sinuses is a particular challenge. A report is given about indication, performance and results of neutron therapy in 16 patients treated between 1976 and 1987 at the Radiological University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. Neutron therapy proves to be of great efficiency, especially in case of adenoid cystic carcinomas as well as highly differentiated adenocarcinomas and sarcomas.

Neutron therapy of soft tissue sarcomas and status report from the Radiotherapy Department of the Hamburg University Hospital

After change of management at the Radiotherapy Department of the University of Hamburg also a change in treatment policy resulted. Of 72 patients treated since then 63 had soft-tissue sarcomas (at 83 localisations) and 13 adenoid-cystic carcinomas, only ten were treated for other indications. Neutrons only were applied in contrast to many boost applications in the past. The total doses administered were between 13.6 and 16 Gy and the doses per fraction between 0.8 and 1.2 Gy depending on tumor mass and localisation. To compare the treatment modalities all earlier treated patients with soft tissue sarcomas were reexamined and the results critically compared to earlier reported ones. There were considerable differences in the side effects found now and reported earlier. Moderate or severe fibrosis was found in 13% of the cases who received less than 13.4 Gy and in 54% of the cases who received a higher total dose. In the new series up to now only in 15 cases local recurrences and in eleven cases distant metastases occurred. Nothing can be yet said on the late effects.

Results of fast neutron therapy of adenoid-cystic carcinomas of the head and neck at the neutron therapy facility Hamburg-Eppendorf

Between 1977 and 1987, 30 patients with adenoid-cystic carcinomas of the head and neck region were treated, at the Hamburg-Eppendorf neutron therapy facility, with a 14 MeV-DT-generator. The present review deals with 15 patients treated before October 1986 e.g. with follow up longer than one year. These results, although preliminary, tend to confirm that fast neutrons is the best irradiation modality of adenoid-cystic carcinomas of the head and neck region, especially when surgery is not possible, or cannot be radical.