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Biomedical subjects

A Schulz

Publications and source records attributed to A Schulz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Adult polyglucosan body myopathy.

This report describes a sporadic late-onset myopathy in two unrelated adults which was marked by polyglucosan inclusions surrounded by abnormally structured mitochondria, the latter finding a localized, possibly reactive phenomenon. The polyglucosan material was characterized by a battery of histochemical and enzyme histochemical techniques; revealed common antigenicity with Lafora bodies, corpora amylacea and muscle fiber inclusions in types IV and VII glycogenoses; and contained ubiquitin. Additional lectin histochemical and associated digestion preparations disclosed the presence of alpha-glycosyl residues as apparently the sole carbohydrate component in polyglucosan bodies while the above mentioned common antigenicity with Lafora bodies and other inclusions suggests an additional, so far unidentified, protein component.

Atrophy

Histomorphometric analysis of bone changes in surgically proven primary hyperparathyroidism and nephrolithiasis--the importance of bone biopsy in diagnosis.

The morphologic changes in trabecular bone were studied in 60 patients with surgically proven hyperparathyroidism and in 69 patients with nephrolithiasis. The hyperparathyroid bone lesions showed substantial variation in their extent. Four, typical stages were defined. The structure of trabecular bone remained intact in most cases. Bone turnover is significantly higher in the patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Fifty percent of all patients with nephrolithiasis had bone changes similar to those found in the surgically proven hyperparathyroidism group. In 50% of so-called asymptomatic cases of hyperparathyroidism, the iliac crest biopsy is a useful supplement to clinical and hormonal data in deciding whether to operate on the parathyroid glands. In about 45% of cases, however, no definite diagnoses is possible. The determination of serum parathyroid hormone in primary hyperparathyroidism has a greater importance for diagnostic purposes than morphologic investigation of the bone biopsy.

Adolescent

Morphology of osteosarcoma: new qualitative and quantitative investigations.

Results on seven cases of osteosarcoma are reported, based on new morphologic methods and quantitative procedures. Tumor tissue was embedded without prior decalcification in plastic and sectioned. Imprint cytology preparations were produced from fresh tumor tissue, and cell nuclei were measured with an electronic image analysing computer system. The loss of differentiation seen in osteosarcomas differs among osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. The differentiation of osteoclasts, namely their resorptive characteristics, disappears relatively early. Tumor osteocytes show loss of differentiation in their osteocyte processes. The new formation of tumor bone tissue remains in the near normal range of volume density when nuclear polymorphy is limited. The formation of ground substance and mineralization are apparently closely couplet to one another, since in our cases mostly ordered osteoid seams were observed. The capacity for mineralization of bone tissue is lost with marked polymorphy. The significance of these results for diagnostic statements and therapeutic consequences will be further discussed in long term studies.

Adolescent

[The coincidence of Paget's disease and an immunoblastic sarcoma (author's transl)].

Malignant change is to be expected in about 1% of patients with Paget's disease. Usually these are osteosarcomas. Fibrosarcomas, benign and malignant giant cell tumours and chondrosarcomas are less common. The present case concerns the development of an immunoblastic sarcoma in the humerus, which was affected by Paget's disease. Only one other similar case is recorded in the literature. Other myelogenous tumours, such as plasmocytomas, are very rare in association with Paget's disease. Consequently there is no evidence for a causal connection between Paget's disease to these tumours, whereas sarcomas arising from bine tissue may be regarded as a form of malignant degeneration of Paget's disease.

Bone Marrow Diseases

Ultrastructural study of tumor cell differentiation in osteosarcoma of jaw bones.

Tw osteosarcomas of jaw bones have been studied by electron microscopy. The objectives were to examine the specific cell types in relation to functions and ultrastructural features, and to examine matrices produced by tumor cells. The osteosarcoma cells were subdivided into four cell types: anaplastic, chondroblastic, osteoblastic, and osteocytic--giant cells were not considered in the present investigation. Compared to normal bone cells, no specific sign of malignancy was found. However, tumor cells seem to lose functional abilities, i.e. a modification of matrix. Consequently, tumor matrix has altered organic and inorganic components with impairment of collagen maturation and matrix mineralization. The alteration in both processes may be related to a diminished production of proteoglycans. The cytogenic hypothesis of a tumor stem cell may be supported by the identification of anaplastic osteosarcoma cells resembling immature reticulum cells. One may speculate on transformation of this cell type as a genetically predetermined osteoprogenitor cell of malignant potential.

Adult

[Paget's disease of bone: ultrastructure and cytogenesis of osteoclasts (author's transl)].

The cytogenesis of giant osteoclasts in Paget's disease of bone was studied by means of electron microscopy. 26 iliac crest biopsies were made and divided for light and electron microscopic investigation. A special procedure was used for electron microscopic preparation of bone without previous decalcification. Paget osteoclasts are characterized by their high content of nuclei. Several nuclei may show paracrystalline inclusions pointing to a possible virus infection of these cells. Giant osteoclasts have an increased mobility and a high resorptive activity, manifest by the dissection of bone fragments from endosteal bone surfaces. Cell membrane interdigitations between mononuclear cells and osteoclasts occur as a morphologic concomitant of cell fusion. Frequent occurence of such cell membrane contacts seem to indicate an increased tendency to cell fusion among the mononuclear precursors of Paget-osteoclasts. Precursor cells are located in the pericapillary region, and morphologically resemble pericytes. The assumption of an increased rate of cell fusion amoungst the precursor cells of osteoclasts might explain the development of giant osteoclasts in this disease. Further studies of the paracrystalline nuclear inclusions of Paget-osteoclasts are necessary to determine whether this process can be considered to be a cytopathogenic effect of virus infection.

Aged

Advances in the morphological diagnosis of bone tumours: cytology, cytochemistry, acrylate embedding and electron microscopy (author's transl).

An exact morphological diagnosis of bone tumours is the prerequisite for selective treatment. In a given case this may present great difficulties, partly because of the rarity of a tumour group and thus lack of experience, partly faulty removal of the specimen and unsatisfactory further technical handling. Progress can be expected only by widening the spectrum of methods by using modern morphological tests. In a programme using imprint cytology, cytochemistry, rapid section, histochemistry, paraffin, non-decalcified embedding in acrylate and electron microscopy it was demonstrated in 78 cases of bone tumour (seen over a period of two years) that with these tests, especially cytology, cytochemistry and non-decalcified acrylate histology, significant improvement can be obtained in the morphological diagnosis of bone tumours. In addition, new lights on cytogenesis and pathogenesis of these tumours and possible points of attack of cytostatic treatment are provided.

Adolescent

Odontogenic myxoma - clinical concept and morphological studies.

Our experience with the odontogenic myxoma of the mandible is presented. Although it is a benign, slow growing neoplasm, it is locally aggresive. Patients rarely complain of any symptoms produced by this tumor. Morphological studies included enzymes histochemistry, as well as light and electron microscopy. Two major types of tumor cells were identified. One resembled a mature fibroblast, while the other had the morphological and functional criteria of a so-called myxoblast. We would recommend therapy comprising wide resection and consecutive primary osteoplasty.

Adolescent

A reliable method of preparing undecalcified human bone biopsies for electron microscopic investigation.

Undecalcified preparation of bone tissue for electron microscopic investigation depends on an adequate embedding method. A low viscosity resin proved to comply with the particular conditions as there is good infiltration of specimen by the monomer medium and also sufficient hardness of the polymerization product. Both properties stabilize the transition of soft tissue to mineralized bone surface; thus reproducible results of good quality are obtained in ultra-thin sectioning. A special preparation technique of human bone biopsies for simultaneous light and electron microscopic investigation has been developed. The method is based on experiences with approximately 300 iliac crest biopsies in metabolic and endocrine bone disorders.

Biopsy

[Histomorphometric studies on the influence of long-term calcitonin therapy on osteodystrophia deformans Paget].

Bone alterations in Paget's disease, have been studied by histomorphometrical evaluation iliac creat bone biopsies before and after long-term treatment with human ans salmon calcitonin. Therapeutic effect was controlled from 12, up to 48 months. All-together 28 bone biopsies were taken from 9 patients (aged 46 to 71 years) with Paget's disease of their os ileum. The biopsies were prepared for histological examination without previous decalcification, cut, stained and quantitatively analysed at the light microscopic level. By means of a point counting method we determined the parameters of bone structure, bone formation and bone resorption. Before therapy was started, trabecular bone alterations could be observed which were typical for Paget's disease of bone as there were bulky trabeculare, increased remodelling surfaces and giant osteoclasts. Following treatment with calcitonin a dramatic reduction of bone remodelling surfaces and a normalization of bone structure occurs. Considering our previous electon microscopy findings, a reduction of the number of osteoclasts as well as their nuclear content, might be explained by an inhibitory effect of calcitonin on cell fusion of osteoclastic precursor cells. In 2 cases, an interruption or hormonal treatment of 5 to 12 months, presented no risk of losing the therapeutic effect.

Aged

[Central giant cell granuloma. Histochemical and ultrastructural study on giant cell function (author's transl)].

Multinucleated giant cells in giant cell granuloma are formed by cell fusion of capillary pericytes. In our present study we tried to analyze cell function and activity by histologic, histochemical, and electronmicroscopic examination of giant cells. Lysosomal enzymes such as acid phosphatase and amino-peptidase were found in giant cells which is in agreement with former work. By their lysosomal system giant cells are proved phagocytic. In addition, giant cells being localized at trabecular surfaces of newly formed woven bone may develop osteoclastic functions. The enzymatic and funcational resemblance of giant cells and multinucleated osteoclasts points to the possibility of a similar cytogenesis of both cell types.

Bone Resorption

[Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxycalciferol and bone histology in renal osteodystrophy (author's transl)].

Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and 25-hydroxycalciferol (25(OH)D) serum levels were determined in 32 patients with renal osteopathy, they were correlated with the results of bone biopsy and other clinical parameters. iPTH was closely related to bone histology, it did not correspond to serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase, but the correlation to serum phosphate was statistically significant. 25(OH)D levels were not related to the histological findings of osteomalacia or increased bone resorption, while a correlation between the vitamin D metabolite and serum calcium could be observed. Since iPTH and 25(OH)D levels exhibited a significant correlation, an inhibitory effect of 25(OH)D on parathyroid gland function in renal failure was discussed.

Alkaline Phosphatase

[Central giant cell granuloma: histochemical and ultrastructural study on its histogenesis (author's transl)].

Until now numerous studies on central giant cell granuloma of jawbones have not been able to reveal the histogenesis of this tumourlike lesion. The aim of the present investigation in two surgically proven cases was to study this question by means of histochemical and electron-microscopic methods. Rather similar histochemical properties were shown in giant cells and pericytes of capillary sproute penetrating the granuloma. Cell fusion occurred between both cell types as was observed by electron microscopy. The process of cell fusion is defined by characteristic interdigitations of cell membranes. Therefore pericytes are believed to be the stem cells of multinucleated giant cells in giant cell granuloma. The abundance of giant cells usually occurring in the granuloma might be explained by plenty of capillary sprouts made up by clusters of pericytes. The factors inducing the pericytic cell fusion process are still unknown. The question arises whether cytogenesis of giant cells in giant cell granuloma might be similar in other giant cell lesions or even in the development of multinucleated osteoclasts.

Adult