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Biomedical subjects

H Otto

Publications and source records attributed to H Otto.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Carcinoid tumors of the thymus. An immunohistochemical study.

Five carcinoid tumors of the thymus were screened immunohistochemically for the occurrence of neuropeptides (ACTH, calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, cholecystokinin, gastrin, neurotensin, somatostatin, substance P), as well as of serotonin, chromogranin A, and neuron-specific enolase. Most of the patients exhibited local symptoms evoked by growing tumor masses in the upper mediastinum without any clinical evidence of endocrine activity. Light and electron microscopic examination showed characteristic uniform large epithelial cells in polar or palisade arrangement, containing variable amounts of electron-dense secretory granules. Only a few of the tested neuropeptide antisera reacted with the investigated tumors. Cholecystokinin-immunoreactive cell populations were seen in all tumors. Expression of neurotensin could be observed in three neoplasms, two of which also exhibited ACTH immunoreactivity. Chromogranin A-immunoreactive cells were found in two neoplasms. Neuron-specific enolase showed strong staining in three tumors, one of the tumors also being immunoreactive for calcitonin. The results were confirmed by control reactions. Apart from the demonstration that conventional marker proteins are not reliable in identifying all carcinoid tumors, the present study proves that the visualization of neuropeptide-immunoreactive cells in thymus carcinoids does not necessarily correspond to the manifestation of the clinical symptoms. Furthermore, each of the investigated neoplasms, as also known from other carcinoid tumors, appears to be able to produce more than one hormone.

Carcinoid Tumor↗

[Clinical testing of a new blood glucose measuring system. A cooperative study at 8 centers].

The glucometer II system is a small measurement device with built-in batch-specific pressbutton calibration. The corresponding test strip "Glucostix" uses a two-color system. The blood glucose test strip can be evaluated both visually and by instrument. The precision determined in series was between 2.0% and 6.7% using control sera. The day-to-day precision was between 1.5% and 7.9%. Comparison of the methods on the basis of 781 and 109 capillary blood samples respectively revealed a good agreement between the hexokinase method or the glucose oxidase method (Beckman analyser) and the glucometer II values. The precision of measurement by the system was comparable in the two test strip batches employed. Visual reading of the test strips revealed a good agreement with the laboratory method in the hypoglycemic and normoglycemic range; at higher concentrations of blood glucose, a trend to underestimation of the measurement values was shown. The easy handling and small size of the instrument facilitates measurement of blood glucose by the patient under everyday conditions.

Blood Glucose↗

Qualitative survey analysis of thin layers of tissue samples. Heavy metal traces in human lung tissue.

A special X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method has been used for the analyses of thin layers of tissue samples. This method [called Total-Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF)] gives qualitative information about numerous trace elements of physiological and environmental interest. Microtome cuts of frozen lung tissue samples are placed on quartz glass targets and excited to X-ray fluorescence by the primary beam of a molybdenum tube. This method is of interest due to the very short time needed for sampling, sample preparation and simultaneous measurement. It could be a helpful procedure in pathological and occupational medicine if a decision has to be made as to whether or not a tissue sample is extremely dust loaden.

Dust↗

[Arthrography of the knee today].

The role of knee arthrography today is demonstrated and technical problems are discussed. Among many variants the position of the patient and the choice of contrast media play a great part in the result of the examination. Mild complications occur in 0.25% of the examinations, severe and life threatening complications are extremely rare. Diagnosis of meniscal lesions is most important for knee arthrography; arthroscopy and arthrography are complementary examinations and not mutually exclusive: combined they achieve an accuracy of 97-98%. In the same way arthrography is able to evaluate condropathy of the femoro-tibial joint, whereas accuracy of arthroscopy in the diagnosis of patellar chondropathy is much higher. Arthrography is very reliable in the evaluation of lesions of the capsule, but accuracy in lesions of the cruciate ligaments is low. Arthrography is very suitable for evaluation of Baker's-cysts, since the likelihood of threatened internal derangement of the knee is assessable. Knee arthrography is a complex and safe procedure causing very little discomfort to the patient; it has a central position in the evaluation of lesions of the knee.

Arthrography↗

[Benign and malignant breast tumors with squamous cell differentiation].

Three epidermal tumors with squamous celled differentiation are described. Two appeared as epidermoid cysts, the other was a squamous cell carcinoma in a 100 year old female patient. Epidermoid cysts of the breast are rare compared to lesions occurring in other regions of the human body. They are important, since malignant transformation is possible in 0.5 to 19 per cent of the patients. The mode of origin of squamous cell carcinomas is either metaplastic change in duct epithelium of the nipple or transformation of fibroadenomas or other, malignant tumors. Preoperative differentiation between benign and malignant epithelial cysts is almost impossible. Therefore local excision is the best treatment, since benign cysts, treated only by needle aspiration usually recur. Malignant cysts are best treated by radical amputation, because irradiation and chemotherapy are ineffective in the treatment of squamous celled lesions.

Aged↗

Trace analysis to determine heavy metal load in lung tissue. A contribution to substantiation of occupational hazards.

A routine method to determine the presence of partly environmentally relevant trace elements Al, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in lung tissue is described. The stages of process are preparation of samples conforming to the analysis material, decomposition, and subsequent trace determination by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results obtained from 125 samples show that chemical analysis is an effective aid in identifying and substantiating occupational risks.

Aluminum↗

[Value of plain x-ray procedures in the diagnosis of ocular muscle paralysis].

Out of 444 patients with paralysis of the eye muscles 187 were examined by plain X-ray films, 144 of were reviewed in order to address the question, whether the X-ray examination was able to elucidate etiology and pathogenesis of the paralysis. Of 444 patients we found positive results in only 14 per cent. Among traumatic, tumorous or inflammatory lesions we found positive results in 47 to 84 per cent of the patients, so that there was reasonable influence on the following diagnostic procedure. Plain films were rarely able to establish a definite diagnosis suitable for therapy. By comparison, computed tomography delivers additional information, so that special procedures could be omitted. In spite of that plain films of the skull should be the first step of the diagnostic algorithm, because they give the right direction to the subsequent expensive procedures.

Humans↗

Papillomavirus DNA in human tongue carcinomas.

Seven biopsies from different carcinomas of the tongue were analyzed for human papilloma virus (HPV) sequences by Southern blot analysis. After hybridization with various types of human papilloma viruses, 3 tumors were found to be positive. Whereas DNA from one tumor hybridized with HPV 2 DNA under conditions of high stringency, the 2 other positive biopsies contained HPV 16 DNA. All positive tumors revealed high copy numbers of the respective DNA. The cleavage pattern of the HPV-2-positive tumor differed from the established HPV 2 prototypes. Minor differences from the HPV 16 prototype were also noted in one of the HPV-16-positive tongue carcinomas.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Pathology of pleural mesothelioma.

Macroscopic and microscopic details of benign and malignant mesotheliomas are discussed in connection with indications for localization and frequency. Of special significance are malignant mesotheliomas of the pleura and the peritoneum resulting from exposure to asbestos which had often taken place several decades earlier. It is especially important to objectify the exposure to asbestos by means of histological and pulmonary dust investigations in those cases where the occupational anamnesis is vague or questionable.

Asbestos↗

[Radiation-induced scars in mammography].

Six patients with radiation scars are described. In each case the diagnosis was confirmed histologically in five cases corresponding mammograms were available. The histological appearances of radiation scars are described and the radiological features are presented. These lesions can be diagnosed mammographically in vivo. Macroscopically differentiation from a scirrhous carcinoma is not possible and therefore a radiation scar must always be excised; this also leads to definitive cure. On mammographic screening the incidence is 0.5 to 0.9 per thousand. The significance of radiation scars depends on the fact that they are pre-cancerous and therefore are equivalent to the early diagnosis of a carcinoma with the possibility of a complete cure.

Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous↗

[Correlation of roentgen picture and lung function testing within the scope of silicosis evaluation].

The chest roentgenograms codified according to the 1980 ILO classification and the lung function tests of 100 persons with silicosis have been compared with each other. The results show that, with a higher degree of dissemination and a growing size of nodes, there is a statistically significant tendency to increasing gravity of pathological results of resistance and the arterial blood gas analysis. A correlation between the degree of dissemination and the size of nodes to other lung function parameters (vital capacity, intrathoracic gas volume) cannot be finally established. Furthermore, neither coding as category B nor the employment of the symbols em (emphysema) and tb (tuberculosis) allow conclusions to be drawn about the results of lung function tests. The poor correlation is caused on one hand by the insufficient description of the morphological parameters important for function, due to the restricted classification. On the other hand there is little correlation between chest roentgenogram and lung function, as lung function in anthracosis is essentially influenced by obstructive bronchitis, which has only a loose connection with silicosis.--Lung function must be the central point in the process of forming an opinion. Chest roentgenograms are important for clarifying the causes of pathological changes and allow a simple observation of progress.

Airway Resistance↗

[Morphology and roentgenology of asbestosis].

The different sequelae of lung and pleura resulting from the inhalation of asbestos dust are discussed in detail, taking into consideration the improvements in dust-control measures. The use of Lung Dust Separation and Investigation and Radiological Classification of Pneumoconioses (ILO 1980) with regard to diagnostics is critically reviewed. Certain problems of compensation for asbestos-induced neoplasms are pointed out with special reference to the regulations of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Asbestosis↗