Showing papers by "University of Kiel published in 1982"
TL;DR: This chapter discusses the chemistry, metabolism, and biological functions of sialic acids and the biosynthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid is briefly reported and more attention is given to the enzyme reactions modifying this compound.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the chemistry, metabolism, and biological functions of sialic acids. Interest in the sialic acids has rapidly increased in recent years, especially because of the reorganization of their involvement in the regulation of a great variety of biological phenomena. The occurrence of sialic acids in plants has never unequivocally been established, although some positive reports exist. The acylneuraminic acids can be released from their glycosidic linkages either by dilute (aqueous or methanolic) acids or sialidases. The unequivocal determination of sialic acids occurring in low concentrations in many biological materials is rather difficult, and this explains the many errors that have been made in this field. The biosynthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is briefly reported in this chapter and more attention is given to the enzyme reactions modifying this compound. Little information is available about the role of the modifications of sialic acid resulting in a species- and tissue-specific distribution of different N,O-acylated and O-methylated sialic acids.
1,008 citations
TL;DR: Production of mouse monoclonal antibodies against the Hodgkin cell line L428 was described and one hybridoma antibody was found to be specific for H and SR cells of all Hodgkin's lymphomas tested and a minute, but distinct new cell population in normal tonsils and lymph nodes.
Abstract: The origins of the neoplastic cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma1, the Hodgkin (H) and Sternberg–Reed(SR) cells, are still obscure, and these cells appear to carry no markers found on any population of normal cells2,3. However the recent establishment of permanent Hodgkin cell lines3,4 has led to the search for tumour-specific antigens and/or for membrane markers on H and SR cells which may indicate the normal equivalent cells. Here, we describe the production of mouse monoclonal antibodies against the Hodgkin cell line L428. One hybridoma antibody, Ki-1, was found to be specific for H and SR cells of all Hodgkin's lymphomas tested and a minute, but distinct new cell population in normal tonsils and lymph nodes.
833 citations
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: In this paper, a synthesis of the Neogene and Quaternary evolution of paleoenvironments along the continental margin of the eastern Atlantic Ocean is presented to show that oceans and land respond in a complementary way to global climatic events and mechanisms.
Abstract: The sediments of the eastern Atlantic contain excellent historical records of the patterns of oceanic and atmospheric circulation in the subtropics. This is particularly the case at the low relief northwest African continental margin which favors unrestrained interaction of the land- sea climatic system and which forms a schematic, vertical cross section through the ocean from the equator to Mediterranean latitudes. Our synthesis of the Neogene and Quaternary evolution of paleoenvironments along this margin tries to show that oceans and land respond in a complementary way to global climatic events and mechanisms.
372 citations
TL;DR: A comparison of the two activity parameters suggests that anaerobic metabolism is more important during the winter (February and March) than after input of the bloom, and that the vertical transport of particulate organic matter via sedimentation can only explain 25% of the benthic activity in the shallow water ecosystem of the Kiel Bight.
Abstract: The response of benthos to sedimentation of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Kiel Bight (Western Baltic Sea) is described in terms of biomass (ATP) and activity (heat production and ETS-activity). Input of the bloom (11.5 g C m-2) over a period from March 25 to April 19, 1980 to the sediment surface was in the form of cells and fresh phytodetritus as indicated by low C/N ratios (≦7) and high energy charge values (0.78). Benthic microbial activity was immediately stimulated by this input as heat production doubled and the activity of ETS tripled over winter values within 12 d in the absence of a significant increase in ambient temperature. A comparison of the two activity parameters suggests that anaerobic metabolism is more important during the winter (February and March) than after input of the bloom. Meiofauna was not able to take part in the first activity outburst. Benthic ATP-biomass (excluding macrofauna) doubled in late April due to microbial production, and doubled again in early May when meiofauna started reproductive activity. For macrofauna a general statement was not possible, although the sediment surface feeder Macoma baltica commenced a build up of glycogen and lipid resources immediately following bloom input whereas Nephtys ciliata, feeding on sediment and small macrofauna, showed a less pronounced and delayed effect from this input. An energy budget based on heat production measurements was calculated. A daily heat loss of the benthic community of 21.7 KJ m-2 d-1 (35.5 KJ m-2 d-1) was found, when a depth of 3 cm sediment (5 cm) was assumed. Heat production of macrofauna contributed less than 5% of this activity. The input of the bloom was “burned” within 21 (13) d. Preliminary estimations for an annual budget suggest that the vertical transport of particulate organic matter via sedimentation can only explain 25% (15%) of the benthic activity in the shallow water ecosystem of the Kiel Bight. This indicates the presence of other sources of organic carbon such as benthic primary production or other transport processes providing carbon to the sediments.
289 citations
TL;DR: Monoclonal antibodies OKT11 (γ1) andOKT11A (γ2) are described and appear to have similar binding specificities and bind, in immunofluorescence, with >95% of infant thymocytes, staining both cortical and medullary cells.
Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies OKT11 (gamma 1) and OKT11A (gamma 2) are described and appear to have similar binding specificities. They bind, in immunofluorescence, with greater than 95% of infant thymocytes, staining both cortical and medullary cells, 65-80% of blood lymphocytes and selectively stain the T cell-dependent paracortical areas of tonsil. A small proportion (9-12%) of bone marrow lymphocytes stain, but this population excludes the terminal transferase-positive cells. Both the gamma 1 and gamma 2 antibodies stain the surface membrane Ig-negative lymphocytes in blood and tonsil and are to block sheep E rosette formation (to normal or leukemic T cells). In contrast, other monoclonal anti-T reagents tested (OKT1, OKT3, OKT4, OKT6, OKT8, OKT9, OKT10) did not block E rosette formation. E rosette formation and OKT11 bindings are coincident on T-ALL cell lines and both are trypsin-sensitive. In a series of 145 leukemias and 26 leukemic cell lines investigated, only leukemias with a T cell phenotype including E rosette positivity were reactive with OKT11 and OKT11A. OKT11A binds to a polypeptide of approximately 50 000 molecular weight on thymic lymphocytes. This structure may carry the recognition site for sheep erythrocytes. These antibodies provide additional useful markers for T cell analysis and are of potential therapeutic value.
268 citations
TL;DR: There is a close histogenetic relation between MESA with or without autoimmune disease and certain malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of B type, namely, LP immunocytoma and B-immunoblastic lymphoma.
Abstract: Forty-five cases of myoepithelial sialadenitis (MESA) were investigated histologically, immunologically, and clinically. Two patients with clinical evidence of Sjogren's syndrome were also included in the study, though salivary gland biopsies showing MESA were not available. A total of 16 patients had Sjogren's syndrome or another type of autoimmune disease. In 42 cases of MESA, so-called proliferation areas composed of immunoblasts and lymphoplasmacytoid cells were found. The proliferation areas were small and circumscribed in 16 cases, and extensive and confluent in 26 cases. All the confluent proliferation areas analyzed with the immunoperoxidase (PAP) method showed a monotypic immunoglobulin pattern (predominantly IgM/κ). Extrasalivary malignant lymphoma with the same histologic and immunohistologic features as the confluent proliferation areas was found in 14 patients. Thus, this type of MESA is called “manifest malignant lymphoma”. The tumor was classified as LP immunocytoma in 23 patients, and as LP immunocytoma transforming into immunoblastic lymphoma in three patients. One patient developed nodal B-immunoblastic lymphoma. The term “early lymphoma” is suggested for MESA with circumscribed proliferation areas showing a monotypic immunoglobulin pattern (usually IgM/κ), because extrasalivary malignant lymphoma developed later in four of the patients with this type of MESA. The two patients with only clinical evidence of Sjogren's syndrome also showed extrasalivary malignant lymphoma (LP immunocytoma in one case and immunoblastic lymphoma in the other). There is a close histogenetic relation between MESA with or without autoimmune disease and certain malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of B type, namely, LP immunocytoma and B-immunoblastic lymphoma. The interval between the appearance of salivary gland enlargement and the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma varied from 1.5 to 12 years. Generalization of malignant lymphoma led to death in 11 cases.
208 citations
TL;DR: Based on the histological findings, the term “histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration” is proposed and some clinical and histological features indicate the possibility of an underlying viral infection.
Abstract: Twenty-seven cases of an unusual necrotizing lymphadenitis previously described only in Japan are reported as occurring in West Germany (23 cases), Iran (1 case), Italy (1 case), Korea (1 case) and Spain (1 case). The lesion frequently develops in the cervical lymph nodes of young women. It is characterized by infiltration of the cortex and/or paracortex by large collections of proliferating histiocytes and is devoid of granulocytes. Complete or, more often, incomplete necrosis of lymphoid tissue is seen in all cases. In cases with incomplete necrosis, the histiocytes are interspersed with pyknotic cells and nuclear debris. Based on the histological findings, the term “histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration” is proposed. Lesions to be considered in a differential diagnosis are malignant histiocytic neoplasms and necrotizing lymphadenitis with granulocytic infiltration, which is seen in lupus erythematosus and bacterial infections. The aetiology of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration is still unclear. Some clinical and histological features indicate the possibility of an underlying viral infection.
190 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared experimental basal spacings with dL/n-plots to determine the average charge density of 25 vermiculites and found that the high-charged vermicules (≥ 0.8 eq/(Si,Al)4O10) with paraffin-type interlayers follow a straight line in the dL /n plots.
Abstract: The broad charge heterogeneity typical of nearly all smectites is not necessarily characteristic of vermiculites. In addition to vermiculites with pronounced heterogeneity, minerals with no or only limited charge heterogeneities are known. Layer charge and charge heterogeneity of 25 vermiculites were determined by alkylammonium ion exchange. The comparison of experimental basal spacings with dL/n-plots provided a simple determination of the average charge density. The spacings of high-charged vermiculites (≥0.8 eq/(Si,Al)4O10) with paraffin-type interlayers follow a straight line in the dL/n-plots. Lower-charged vermiculites were recognized by stepwise increasing spacings due to mono-, two-, or three-layer chain packings. Charge heterogeneity produced a superposition of the dL/n-curves for different charges, and the basal reflections of some of the alkylammonium derivatives became nonintegral.
183 citations
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: The discovery and the widespread occurrence of the sialic acids in mammalian tissues has been correlated with a range of different biological functions (see chapter J), and the known spectrum of derivatives covered in this chapter continues to expand.
Abstract: The discovery and the widespread occurrence of the sialic acids in mammalian tissues (Blix 1936, Klenk 1941) has been correlated with a range of different biological functions (see chapter J) which continues to expand. Although the literature on sialic acid occurrence is large (Gottschalk 1960, Blix and Jeanloz 1969, Tuppy and Gottschalk 1972, Schauer 1973, Ng and Dain 1976), it has been essentially limited to the vertebrates and some examples from the Echinodermata and Bacteria. Only one survey of sialic acid distribution in different phyla has been published (Warren 1963). Current data on sialic acid structure is compiled in Table 1, introducing the known spectrum of derivatives covered in this chapter.
168 citations
TL;DR: The chemistry, mineralogy, and stable isotope composition of this hydrated calcium carbonate phase, its environment of formation, and its mode of precipitation confirm the properties variously attributed to hypothetical precursors of the glendonites and thereby greatly expand their use in paleoceanographic interpretation.
Abstract: Large euhedral crystals of calcium carbonate hexahydrate were recovered from a shelf basin of the Bransfield Strait, Antarctic Peninsula, at a water depth of 1950 meters and sub-zero bottom water temperatures. The chemistry, mineralogy, and stable isotope composition of this hydrated calcium carbonate phase, its environment of formation, and its mode of precipitation confirm the properties variously attributed to hypothetical precursors of the glendonites and thereby greatly expand their use in paleoceanographic interpretation.
166 citations
TL;DR: This method for determination of the number and position of O-acetyl substituents in sialic acid residues is very powerful for structural analysis of underivatized carbohydrate chains derived from glycoconjugates.
Abstract: A number of naturally occurring and synthetic, partially O-acetylated derivatives of N-acetylneuraminic and N-glycoloylneuraminic acids have been investigated by 360-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy. O-Acetylation causes strong downfield shifts for the resonances of neighbouring sugar-skeleton protons. The chemical shifts of these resonances, together with their characteristic multiplet shapes, can be used for localisation of the position of O-acetyl substituents in the molecule. The number of such substituents in the molecule can be inferred from the number of acetyl-methyl singlets, which also have characteristic resonance positions. This method for determination of the number and position of O-acetyl substituents in sialic acid residues is very powerful for structural analysis of underivatized carbohydrate chains derived from glycoconjugates. This is demonstrated for the oligosaccharide N-acetyl-4-O-acetylneuraminosyl-(alpha 2 leads to 3)-lactose isolated from echidna milk.
TL;DR: The specificity of the placenta peptidase is similar to that of post-proline dipeptidyl peptidases from other sources, and Phenylalanylprolyl-beta-naphthylamide is the best substrate among various synthetic peptide derivatives.
Abstract: Human placenta is surprisingly rich in post-proline dipeptidyl peptidase activity. Among various cell fractions, microsomes have the highest specific activity. A homogeneous enzyme preparation is obtained in a six-step purification procedure. The final preparation appears homogeneous upon dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis, but analytical isoelectric focussing reveals various active bands with isoelectric points in the range of pH 3–4. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing about 30% carbohydrate. Treatment with neuraminidase lowers the isoelectric points but does not reduce the heterogeneity of the band pattern. The subunit molecular weight is 120000 as estimated by dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis, whereas Mr of the native enzyme is > 200000, as can be concluded from gel filtration experiments.
The purified dipeptidyl peptidase cleaves various synthetic and natural peptides, including substance P, kentsin, casomorphin and a synthetic renin inhibitor. In general, the specificity of the placenta peptidase is similar to that of post-proline dipeptidyl peptidase from other sources. Phenylalanylprolyl-β-naphthylamide (Km= 0.02 mM, V= 92 U/mg) is the best substrate among various synthetic peptide derivatives. Only peptides with a free N-terminal amino group and proline, hydroxyproline, or alanine in position 2 of the N-terminal sequence are cleaved. However, X-Pro-Pro-… structures, e.g. as in bradykinin, are not attacked.
1 mM bis-(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate or 1 mM diisopropylfluorophosphate completely inactivate the peptidase within 30 min at 30°C (pH 8). The peptidase is also completely inhibited by 1 mM Zn2+ and by other heavy metals.
TL;DR: Observed diversities within and between protoplastderived clones are interpreted as expressions of variation during the development of the regenerants.
Abstract: Plants were regenerated from protoplast fusion experiments with haploid Solanum tuberosum L. and an atrazine resistant biotype of the normally susceptible S. nigrum L. Sixty clones which were unlike the parents were selected by types of hairs and leaf pigmentation of young shoots and characterized by: chromosome numbers, response to atrazine, branching, hairs of the calyx, shapes and pigmentation of leaves, and morphology of flowers. Twenty five clones showed vegetatively stable differences from the parental clones; enough combinations of mixed characters suggested the clear origin from fusants of at least nine clones. Observed diversities within and between protoplastderived clones are interpreted as expressions of variation during the development of the regenerants.
TL;DR: An extensive field experiment on benthic colonization was carried out at 20 m depth in the western Baltic between December 1975 and December 1978, showing strong seasonal oscillations in all statistics reflected best a certain maturity of the community.
TL;DR: The trophic relationships between meiobenthic harpacticoids and juvenile predatory fish were investigated in a shallow lagoon on Bermuda, finding that the feeding pressure exerted by the fish on theHarpacticoid populations is negligible.
Abstract: The trophic relationships between meiobenthic harpacticoids and juvenile predatory fish were investigated in a shallow lagoon on Bermuda. Harpacticoids represent an essential food source for the juveniles of several demersal fish species. Juveniles up to 3 cm length of one fish species feed exclusively on harpacticoids. Meiobenthic harpacticoids are therefore an important component of food chains leading to higher trophic levels. However, the feeding pressure exerted by the fish on the harpacticoid populations is negligible.
TL;DR: Polypeptide-hormone producing cells were localized in the alimentary tract and cerebral ganglion of Ciona intestinalis using cytochemical, immunocytochemical and electron-microscopical methods and the possible functions of the peptides as neurohormones, neuroregulators and neuromodulators are discussed.
Abstract: Polypeptide-hormone producing cells were localized in the alimentary tract and cerebral ganglion ofCiona intestinalis using cytochemical, immunocytochemical and electron-microscopical methods.
TL;DR: In this paper, the development trends of state activities in the case of the Federal Republic of Germany are presented and possible impacts on real economic growth are analysed, and the negative correlations between some kinds of public expenditures and the growth rate of real GNP should not be taken in proof of the growth-retarding effects which might ensue from increasing state activities.
Abstract: The growth of the public sector in the post-war period and the consequences of this development for economic growth is a strongly disputed subject of economic theory and policy. In this paper the development trends of state activities in the case of the Federal Republic of Germany are presented. The structure of public expenditures as well as the tax structure are taken into consideration and possible impacts on real economic growth are analysed. The negative correlations between some kinds of public expenditures (or taxes) and the growth rate of real GNP should not be taken in proof of the growth-retarding effects which might ensue from increasing state activities. It seems to be more likely that state activities have induced shifts of resources from the formal into the informal economy. Politicians should be aware that some measures of economic policy conventionally proposed will strengthen the movement into the informal economy, thus intensifying the current problems within the public budgets as well as in the social security system.
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: The wide occurrence of sialic acids in nature is an indication of their great biological importance.
Abstract: The wide occurrence of sialic acids in nature is an indication of their great biological importance. As is described in other chapters in this book, the identification of the sialic acids was pioneered in several laboratories, while the biosynthetic mechanism of sialic acid formation was elucidated essentially by the work of Roseman’s and Warren’s groups in the United States (see Roseman 1962, Warren 1972, Schachter and Roden 1973, McGuire 1976, Schachter 1978).
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied sedimentation in the mesohaline shallow water ecosystem of Kiel Bight from February to June 1980 and found that sedimentation was a function of resuspension.
TL;DR: Using efficient subprograms for generating uniform, exponential, alid normal deviates, the new algorithm is much faster than all competing methods.
Abstract: of Poisson Deviates Distributions Samples from Poisson distributions of mean # _> 10 are generated by truncating suitable normal deviates and applying a correction with low probabdity. For p < 10, inversion is substituted. The method is accurate and it can cope with changing parameters p. Using efficient subprograms for generating uniform, exponential, alid normal deviates, the new algorithm is much faster than all competing methods.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the compressional and shear-wave velocities in typical crustal and mantle rocks over a cubic anvil apparatus over a range of constant confining pressure up to 6 kbar and temperatures ranging from 20-750°C. Velocity anisotropies observed in some plutonic and metamorphic rocks at high confining pressures and high temperatures correlate well with preferred lattice orientation of the constituent major minerals.
TL;DR: The calculation of volume fractions in nervous tissue is a method often used in neuroanatomy and ontogenetic studies and problems concerning aging, as well as after experimental procedures, volume fractions are calculated in order to quantify the results.
TL;DR: The findings in this study can be explained by ephaptic transmission between axons in the neuromas or by retrograde sprouting of the fibers in the nerve for considerable distances or by both processes.
TL;DR: A modification of the rejection technique begins by sampling from the normal distribution, being able to accept and transform the initial normal observation quickly at least 85 percent of the time.
Abstract: A suitable square root transformation of a gamma random variable with mean a ≥ 1 yields a probability density close to the standard normal density. A modification of the rejection technique then begins by sampling from the normal distribution, being able to accept and transform the initial normal observation quickly at least 85 percent of the time (95 percent if a ≥ 4). When used with efficient subroutines for sampling from the normal and exponential distributions, the resulting accurate method is significantly faster than competing algorithms.
TL;DR: An immunoperoxidase technique for labelling cryostat tissue sections which is routinely used in the authors' laboratories both in the initial screening of hybridoma culture supernatants, and also during the subsequent cloning and growth of antibody-secreting cell lines.
TL;DR: Analysis of filtered particulate matter after water extraction and exhaustive hydrolysis showed that healthy plankton cells produced large quantities of high energy nitrogen compounds centred around glutamine and its degradation products, which seems to be characteristics feature of the Antarctic ecosystem.
TL;DR: Biopsies from 25 patients with primary malignant lymphoma in the salivary region were investigated morphologically and the clinical findings were analysed: non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma was diagnosed on 21 biopsies and Hodgkin's disease on four: all patients were of stages I or II.
Abstract: Biopsies from 25 patients with primary malignant lymphoma in the salivary region were investigated morphologically and the clinical findings were analysed. Cases showing myoepithelial sialadenitis or Sjogren's syndrome were not included. The tumour was localized in the parotid region in 21 cases and to the submandibular region in four cases. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was diagnosed on 21 biopsies and Hodgkin's disease on four: all patients were of stages I or II. The most frequent type of malignant lymphoma was the centroblastic-centrocytic type; sclerosis was found in all but one of these 15 cases. Polymorphic immunocytoma was diagnosed in two cases, centroblastic lymphoma in two cases and immunoblastic lymphoma in two cases. In eight patients, the lymphomas definitely originated in intraglandular lymph nodes; in 10 other patients, the lymphomas might have developed in intraglandular lymph nodes. It was not possible to determine the origin of the lymphoma in the other seven cases. The prognosis was relatively favourable.
TL;DR: It is concluded that N-glycoloylneuraminic acid occurring in food cannot be used directly for the biosynthesis of glycoconjugates, which is important from an immunological point of view.
Abstract: N-Glycoloyl-d-[2-14C,9-3H]neuraminic acid enzymically prepared from sodium [2-14C]pyruvate and N-glycoloyl-d-[6-3H]mannosamine by N-acetylneuraminate lyase in 52% yield was orally administered to 20-day-old fasted mice. In the course of 6 h 98% of the total radioactivity belonging to the originally administered N-glycoloyl-neuraminic acid was resorbed from the intestine and appeared in the urine. 6 h after application total 0.7% of the 3H and 0.5% of the 14C radioactivity were recovered in blood, liver, spleen, kidney and brain. The difference between the 14C and the 3H quantities was detected as exhaled 14CO2. After intravenous injection of N-glycoloylneuraminic acid into rats, 90% of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine within 10 min corresponding to the originally applied substance. After 6 h, 1.3% of the 3H and 1% of the 14C radioactivity were left in blood and in liver, spleen, kidney and brain.
An efficient preparation of 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydroneuraminic acid from N-acetylneuraminic acid is described, as well as the synthesis of a tritium-labelled 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid. The unsaturated neuraminic acid derivative behaved similarly to N-glycoloylneuraminic acid after oral and intravenous application. 99% of the radioactivity orally administered was resorbed from the intestine and excreted in the urine without chemical alteration in the course of 6 h. About 1% of the radioactivity administered orally to mice and 1.7% of the same compound administered intravenously to rats were still found in blood, liver, spleen, kidney and brain after this time.
The results suggest that the small amount of N-glycoloylneuraminic acid retained in the organism was at least partially cleaved by N-acetylneuraminate lyase. The high excretion rate of unchanged 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and the fact that it does not act as a substrate for the lyase supposes that there is no further metabolism of this sialic acid under the conditions described. It may be concluded from these observations that N-glycoloylneuraminic acid occurring in food cannot be used directly for the biosynthesis of glycoconjugates, which is important from an immunological point of view. The results presented here are compared with those obtained after application of double-labeled N-acetylneuraminic acid in former studies [U. Nohle and R. Schauer (1981) Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 362, 1495–1506].
TL;DR: Four patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia and one malignant teratoma refractory to conventional chemotherapy were treated with high doses of cytosine arabinoside (HD ARA‐C), and no severe toxicity emerged even after repeated applications.
Abstract: Four patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia and one malignant teratoma refractory to conventional chemotherapy were treated with high doses of cytosine arabinoside (HD ARA-C). They received up to 12 cycles of 1.8 to 3 g/m2 every 12 hours applied by 2-hour infusions. A total of 55 HD ARA-C infusions was performed. All leukemic patients responded. A complete clearance of blasts from the bone marrow was observed in two patients following 8-12 cycles of 3 g/m2. However, relapses occurred after three and seven weeks, in one case with resistance to HD ARA-C. The patient with malignant teratoma did not respond. No severe toxicity emerged even after repeated applications. Adverse reactions included moderate nausea and vomiting (4 patients), diarrhea (2 patients), hepatic dysfunction (1 patient), bone pain (1 patient), blurred vision (1 patient), conjunctivitis (1 patient), and exanthema with partial epidermiolysis (1 patient). Granulocytopenia occurring between 3-8 days after having started the therapy, subsided within 4-25 days. Plasma levels of ARA-C and the metabolite uracil arabinoside (ARA-U) were monitored. At steady state plasma concentrations of ARA-C were 32-97 microM (8-24 micrograms/ml). ARA-C disappeared from the plasma mono- or biphasic with a terminal half-life (t50%) of 7.8-12.6 minutes. The total clearance (Cl) of ARA-C varied between 1.7 and 2.9 liters/kg . h, and the distribution volume (Vss) between 0.44 and 0.86 liters/kg. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of ARA-C reached 10-15% of steady state concentrations in plasma.
TL;DR: Clinical and histopathological features of two cases of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney are presented and histological criteria for differential diagnosis from other malignant renal tumors of childhood and adolescence are discussed.
Abstract: Clinical and histopathological features of two cases of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney are presented. One of these cases was also studied by electron microscopy. Histologically, both tumors consisted of an admixture of undifferentiated polygonal or elongated cells and cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm frequently containing hyaline globular structures. Ultrastructurally, these cytoplasmic inclusions were composed of large masses of actin-size and intermediate-size filaments. The poor prognosis of this type of tumor is emphasized and histological criteria for differential diagnosis from other malignant renal tumors of childhood and adolescence are discussed.