Position resolution of the prototype AGATA triple-cluster detector from an in-beam experiment

AGATA belongs to a new generation of gamma-ray detector arrays for nuclear spectroscopy at present in its final stage of development. The detectors of these new arrays will be based on 36-fold electronically segmented coaxial germanium diodes operated in position sensitive mode. An in-beam test of the AGATA prototype triple cluster detector was carried out with the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of such detectors and in order to measure the most sensitive parameters for their overall performance. An inverse kinematics reaction was performed, using a (48)Ti beam at an energy of 100MeV, impinging on a deuterated titanium tat-get. The results from the analysis of the experimental dat…

Majorana parameters of the interacting boson model of nuclear structure and their implication for 0νββ decay

Spectroscopy of nuclei approaching the proton drip-line using a secondary-fragmentation technique with the RISING detector array

An experiment utilizing a double fragmentation reaction was performed to study isobaric analogue states in A similar to 50 nuclei approaching the proton drip-line. gamma-ray spectroscopy will be used to identify excited states in the neutron-deficient nuclei produced in the second fragmentation reaction. Excited state level schemes will be obtained, through comparison with states in their well-known mirror partners, along with information on Coulomb effects through measurements of the Coulomb energy differences between isobaric analogue excited states. The validity of isospin symmetry for nuclei approaching the proton drip-line can also be investigated and the information gained will aid in…

Low target birth weight or growth retardation? Umbilical Doppler flow velocity waveforms and histometric analysis of fetoplacental vascular tree

Objective: The placental vascular architecture of small-for-gestatonal-age fetuses seems to have an impact on the flow patterns in the umbilical arteries. Study Design: Blood flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical arteries were measured by Doppler ultrasonography in nine small-for-gestational-age fetuses with elevated systolic/diastolic ratios of the umbilical arteries, seven small-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal flow patterns, and 14 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses with normal flow patterns. After delivery histomorphometric placental investigations were performed. Results: Reduced end-diastolic flow velocities were significantly associated with both a reduction of vascula…

Magnetresonanztomographie in der Diagnostik des Kollumkarzinoms. Computertomographische und histologische Korrelation

The value of magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix was studied in a prospective series of 20 patients. The results were compared with those of computed tomography and with the clinical findings. The diagnosis depended on the postoperative histology. Gynaecological examination proved superior to imaging methods in determining the extent of local tumour spread. Tumour involvement of the regional lymphatic system was better demonstrated by MRT than by CT. Exact staging proved inadequate with both these methods and the new imaging methods have not produced any changes in operative planning or technique.

Histometric investigations of placental villi in cases of unexpected fetal acidosis.

It is not unusual that, after an apparently uneventful pregnancy and birth, postpartal analysis of fetal blood unexpectedly reveals the presence of peripartal acidosis, a finding that is inexplicable on the basis of routine observation of the placenta. Using computer-assisted histometric procedures, it is possible to make a quantitative assessment with respect to the maturity and differentiation of villi, thus casting light on the functional anatomy of these structures. 89 single-birth pregnancies were grouped in accordance to the pH of blood in the umbilical artery (pre-acidosis, acidosis, non acidotic). In acidotic newborns, there is an absolute reduction in the surface area of the placen…

Basic and Clinical Relevance of Hormonal Influence in Breast Cancer

In the Federal Republic of Germany breast cancer has a leading place among malignant tumors in women. Genital and breast cancers account for 32% of all female deaths from malignant neoplasias. The distribution of types of cancer is as follows: breast 52%, uterine cervix 9%, corpus uteri 4.5%, adnexae 19%, and other sex organs 15.5% (Maas and Sachs 1972; Schmidt-Matthiesen 1975, Vorherr 1980). Besides general epidemiological factors such as geographical distribution, dietary factors, age distribution, familial disposition, and socioeconomic influences, possible hormonal components are discussed in connection with the etiology of breast cancer (Fischedick and Lux 1977; Henderson et al. 1974; …

Zum Problem des prätherapeutischen Staging des Carcinoma Colli Uteri

In a prospective study of 20 cases, the importance of nuclear magnetic resonance as a diagnostic tool in cervix carcinoma was investigated. The results were compared with those of the Computer tomography as well as with those of the clinical examinations. The histology served as "Standard". In the evaluation of the local tumor invasion the gynecological examination appeared to be the most important. The involvement of regional lymph nodes was detected more accurately by the NMR as compared to CT. The exact clinical staging was not achieved by either method; thus these new diagnostic methods do not alter the planning and the technique of the operation.

Immunohistochemical Detection of Hormone Receptors in Breast Carcinomas (ER-ICA, PgR-ICA): Prognostic Usefulness and Comparison with the Biochemical Radioactive-Ligand-Binding Assay (DCC)

In a prospective study conducted since 1983, the hormone-receptor status of primary breast carcinomas was investigated using immunohistochemical (ER-ICA, PgR-ICA) and biochemical (DCC) methods. The degree of immunohistochemical staining was evaluated according to the immunoreactive score (IRS) devised by Remmele and Stegner [Frauenarzt 28, 41-43 (1987)]. The findings obtained using the biochemical radioactive-ligand-binding assay (cutoff level, 20 fmol/mg) and those obtained using qualitative immunohistochemical methods were in agreement in 72.5% (ER-ICA) and 72.2% (PgR-ICA) of cases. For the 789 cases of primary breast carcinoma examined, postoperative data were available for a mean follow…

Morphological, immunohistochemical and biochemical characterization of 6 newly established human ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Six permanent human tumor cell lines (OV-MZ-1 to 6) were established from 6 patients with serous adenocarcinomas of the ovary. These cell lines were derived from both solid tumors and ascites, from pre-treated and untreated patients, and are available over a range of in vitro passage numbers. The tumor cells grow its monolayers and develop foci of “piled-up” cells in confluent cultures. Flow cytophotometry showed that all the lines exhibited DNA hyperdiploidy with DNA tetraploidy in one cell line and DNA aneuploidy in the other cell lines. The mean population doubling time ranged from 24 to 52 hr. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the tumor cells of all cell lines exhibited…

Role of Chiral Two-Body Currents in Li6 Magnetic Properties in Light of a New Precision Measurement with the Relative Self-Absorption Technique

A direct measurement of the decay width of the excited ${0}_{1}^{+}$ state of $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ using the relative self-absorption technique is reported. Our value of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma},{0}_{1}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{1}_{1}^{+}}=8.17(14{)}_{\mathrm{stat}.}(11{)}_{\mathrm{syst}.}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ provides sufficiently low experimental uncertainties to test modern theories of nuclear forces. The corresponding transition rate is compared to the results of ab initio calculations based on chiral effective field theory that take into account contributions to the magnetic dipole operator beyond leading order. This enables a precision test of the im…

Intraarterielle präoperative Chemotherapie fortgeschrittener Zervixkarzinome

Three patients suffering from very advanced primary cancers of the cervix uteri (FIGO II B or III B) were treated. By preoperative selective perfusion of both uterine arteries, using cis-platinum alone, a distinct reduction of the tumour volume was achieved. This was demonstrated clinically and also by CAT scan and NMR technique. The elevated serum CEA and SCC levels decreased to normal values. The histomorphology of the Wertheim-Meigs specimens revealed no tumour invasion of the initially infiltrated parametria. This treatment modality has been developed to minimise the toxic side effects of the inductive (neo-adjuvant) chemotherapy for cervical cancers.

Usefulness of immunohistochemical staining for p53 in the prognosis of breast carcinomas: correlations with established prognosis parameters and with the proliferation marker, MIB-1.

Mutations of the p53 gene often result in the overexpression of p53 protein. Previous studies have suggested that the function of p53 and its mutant protein forms may be linked with the disease course of patients with a breast carcinoma. In the present study, we tested 462 primary breast carcinomas for the presence of p53 antigen using immunohistochemical methods employing antibodies against the clone, DO-1. These tumors were also immunohistochemically stained using the monoclonal antibody, MIB-1, in order to demonstrate the presence of Ki67. Comparison of the presence of p53 with other prognostic parameters revealed highly significant negative correlations with estrogen- and progesterone-r…

Gadolinium-DTPA (Magnevist®) als Kontrastmittel für die Galaktographie

Laser cooling of stored relativistic ion beams with large momentum spreads using a laser system with a wide scanning range

New results on laser cooling of stored, bunched, relativistic ion beams are presented. For the first time it has been possible to cool an ion beam with large momentum spread without initial electron cooling or scanning of the bunching frequency by using a single cw laser system.

Laser cooling of relativistic heavy-ion beams for FAIR

Laser cooling is a powerful technique to reduce the longitudinal momentum spread of stored relativistic ion beams. Based on successful experiments at the experimental storage ring at GSI in Darmstadt, of which we show some important results in this paper, we present our plans for laser cooling of relativistic ion beams in the future heavy-ion synchrotron SIS100 at the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research in Darmstadt.

Minimal invasive Therapie bei peritonealer Leiomyomatose

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare benign disease characterised by the presence of multiple intraabdominal nodules, consisting of benign smooth muscle. LPD has only been found in women, predominantly in their late reproductive age. There is a very high association with excess exogenous and endogenous female gonadal steroids, specifically oestrogen and progesterone. Since it is grossly indistinguishable from diffuse carcinomatosis of the peritoneum, several unnecessary radical procedures have resulted. We describe the 44th documented case and the first case of minimal invasive surgery in a 42-year-old women with peritoneal leiomyoma on the right pelvic wall and uterine s…

HIV und Schwangerschaft: Risiken der Übertragung und therapeutische Möglichkeiten

Die Rate der vertikalen Ubertragung von HIV im Rahmen einer Schwangerschaft liegt in Europa bei etwa 14% aller HIV-infizierten Schwangeren. Risikofaktoren sind: 1. Virusmenge gemessen an p-24-Antigenamie und Hohe der HIV-RNA-Serumkonzentrationen, 2. Abfall der CD4-Lymphozyten unter 600/µl, 3. Chorioamnionitis und 4. Zeitintervall zwischen Blasensprung und Entbindung. Stillen und vaginale Entbindung erhohen die HIV-Infektionsrate des Kindes. Durch antiretrovirale Therapie mit Azidothymidin (Retrovir®) in einer Dosis von 500 mg/Tag wird die vertikale Ubertragung um 67% reduziert. Teratogene oder mutagene Nebenwirkungen sind bisher nicht nachgewiesen worden. Die Progression der HlV-Infektion d…

Immunohistochemical evaluation of growth fractions in human breast cancers using monoclonal antibody Ki-67.

We performed immunohistochemical analyses of 568 breast/cancer specimens using Ki-67, a monoclonal antibody specific for a nuclear antigen present in proliferating cells. The specimens were divided into three groups (I-III) according to the proportion of Ki-positive cells detected. These findings were compared with features of tumor extension as well as with certain prognostic variables. There was no detectable correlation between Ki-67 reactivity and either tumor size or node involvement. In contrast, a statistically significant correlation was found between Ki-67 reactivity and tumor grading, in that G-I tumors had small growth fractions, while a high proportion of G-III tumors exhibited …

Scientific Proceedings Second International Symposium on Cytostatic Drug Resistance

Sn108studied with intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation

The unstable neutron-deficient Sn-108 isotope has been studied in inverse kinematics by intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation using the RISING/FRS experimental setup at GSI. This is the highest Z nucleus studied so far with this method. Its reduced transition probability B (E2;0(g.s.)(+)-> 2(1)(+)) has been measured for the first time. The extracted B(E2) value of 0.230(57)e(2) b(2) has been determined relative to the known value in the stable Sn-112 isotope. The result is discussed in the framework of recent large-scale shell model calculations performed with realistic effective interactions. The roles of particle-hole excitations of the Sn-100 core and of the Z=50 shell gap for the E2 po…

C-erbB-2-oncogene expression in breast carcinoma: Analysis by S1 nuclease protection assay and immunohistochemistry in relation to clinical parameters

The c-erbB-2 mRNA was detected by the S1 nuclease protection assay and Northern blotting in breast cancer tissues. In contrast to the Northern blot analysis which has been used in all recent publications concerning c-erbB-2 expression on the level of RNA, the S1-nuclease protection assay has distinct advantages with respect to sensitivity, reproducibility, and handling of radioactive probes. We compared the expression of c-erbB-2 in 120 breast carcinomas which were operated in the years 1989-1990 on the level of the mRNA (S1 nuclease protection assay) and the protein (immunohistochemistry), respectively. In general, results obtained with both methods were in good agreement. Only minor diffe…