[Bone scintigraphy with 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate in parodontopathy (author's transl)]

In a total of 20 patients (of these 8 without parodontopathy and 12 with parodontitis marginalis profunda), a quantitative scintigraphy of the jaw bones was carried out after application of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate with a gamma camera computer system. In 8 patients without parodontopathies, approximately the same metabolic activity in the bone was found in the os occipitale as well as in the mandible and maxilla. The 12 patients with parodontitis marginalis profunda showed in contrast to this an appreciable raised bone metabolism in the region of the affected jaw bone. This finding was in agreement with corresponding alterations in the X-ray of the jaw. The use of bone scintigraphy in marginal parodontopathies thus provides in addition to the radiological finding information on processes of bone transformation and degradation which can be registered quantitatively. Digital analysis enables control of the course of therapie.

[The normal liver-spleen scintigram with the gamma camera (author's transl)]

In 104 patients without liver disease, liver spleen scintigrams were analysed according to uniform criteria. The scintigrams were taken after application of 99mTc-sulfur colloid in at least six projections with the gamma camera and coupled data processing. As a significant difference compared to scanner scintigraphy, a non-homogeneous storage pattern is frequently also found in the healthy liver, especially in the ventral projection. Superimpositions or impressions caused by extra- or intrahepatic structures were also more frequent and more pronounced than with scanner scintigraphy. As expected, there were no appreciable differences with regard to the liver forms. The following quantitative parameters were determined (mean +/- SD): maximum vertical diameter of the liver: 199 +/- 20.0 mm, maximum horizontal diameter: 219 +/- 19.8 mm; liver area (ventral projection): 187 +/- 27.3 cm2; spleen area (dorsal projection): 55.3 +/- 15.9 cm2; index of liver size (liver area divided by the normal weight of the patient as determined from a given table): mean +/- SD = 2.69 +/- 0.58 (ventral projection); spleen area index (spleen area divded by body surface): mean = 3.03 +/- 0.81 (dorsal projection). The choice of projection did not have any appreciable effect on the area dimensions and indices, so that with super-imposition of organs these values can be determined with sufficient accuracy even from oblique projections.

[Cytological diagnosis of thyroiditis (author's transl)]

In 2347 patients fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland was performed. In 49 cases (2.1%), a final diagnosis of thyroiditis was established. Non-specific granulomatous thyroiditis occurred most frequently (n = 24), followed by lymphocytic hypertrophic thyroiditis Hashimoto (n = 18), focal lymphocytic (n = 5), atrophic lymphocytic (n = 1) and chronic fibrosing thyroiditis (n = 1). Fine needle aspiration biopsy is most suited to diagnose granulomatous thyroiditis. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis cytological investigations are superior to estimation of thyroglobulin antibodies. The cytological method is of little value for the diagnosis of atrophic lymphocytic and chronic fibrosing thyroiditis.

Das normale Leber-Milz-Szintigramm mit der Gammakamera

Bei 104 Patienten ohne Lebererkrankung wurden 99mTc-Sulfurkolloid-Szintigramme in 6 bzw. 7 Projektionen mit einer Gammakamera angefertigt. Im Vergleich mit Scanner-Szintigrammen wiesen die Szintigramme der Gammakamera wesentlich häufiger ein inhomogenes Speichermuster auf. Desgleichen waren die bei Scanner-Szintigrammen bereits bekannten überlagerungen und Impressionen bei der Kamera öfter nachweisbar. Dies zeigte sich besonders ausgeprägt bei der Darstellung der Gallenblase. Darüber hinaus wurden quantitative Maße von Leber und Milz in verschiedenen Projektionen sowie die Kolloidverteilungsrelationen zwischen re. und li. Leberlappen sowie zwischen Leber und Milz angegeben.

Knochenszintigraphie mit 99mTc-Methylen- diphosphonat bei Parodontopathien

Bei insgesamt 20 Patienten, davon 8 ohne Parodontopathie und 12 mit Parodontitis marginalis profunda, wurde eine quantitative Szintigraphie der Kieferknochen nach Applikation von 99mTc-markiertem Methylendiphosphonat durchgeführt. Hierbei fand sich bei Patienten mit Parodontitis gegenüber Gesunden eine deutlich erhöhte Knochenstoffwechselaktivität im Ober- und Unterkiefer. Die quantitative Knochenszintigraphie erlaubt somit die Früherkennung des gesteigerten Knochenstoffwechsels bei Parodontopathien sowie eine Verlaufskontrolle der Therapie.

[Special aspects of fracture healing in cranio-cerebral injuries]

This study demonstrates the changes of concentration and elimination of calcium, phosphate and zinc, as well as alteration of serum alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase especially in patients with severe brain injuries in connection with bone fractures. Because the study has not been completed, the presently acquired results should only demonstrate possible development of the examined parameters. To find out the pathogenesis of overgrowing callus in brain-injured patients, further examinations are being carried out to find the histochemical activities of alkaline and acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase and acetylcholine esterase.

Visualization of ribosomal ribonucleic acid synthesis in a ribonuclease III-Deficient strain of Escherichia coli

Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine active ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) genes in two strains of Escherichia coli: N2077, deficient in the enzyme responsible for proper cleavage of the 16S sequence from the elongating nascent rRNA transcript; and N2076, functional in ribonuclease (RNase) III activity, yet otherwise isogenic to N2077. In the strain with wild-type RNase III, double gradients corresponding to a pattern of 16S-cleavage-23S transcription were observed. However, the RNase III-deficient strain exhibited a single ribosomal gradient of approximately the same length as the combined 16S-23S gradients of the wild-type strain. When the rRNA genes were somewhat loosely packed with RNA polymerases, a few of the nascent chains in the ribosomal matrixes of the RNase III-deficient strain were cleaved, but most appeared to be unprocessed. The completed, uncleaved transcripts originating from these gradients are believed to be 30S rRNA molecules recently characterized by biochemical probes.