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Wolfgang Ch Marsch

Publications and source records attributed to Wolfgang Ch Marsch.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Intratumoral DNA stem-line heterogeneity in superficial spreading melanoma.

BACKGROUND: In primary melanomas, data on the degree of intratumoral heterogeneity to date have been lacking. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate intratumoral DNA stem-line heterogeneity in superficial spreading melanoma (SSM). METHODS: Multiple measuring fields of 54 SSMs (tumor thickness median 1.60 mm) were studied by DNA image cytometry to obtain data on the number of DNA stem lines per tumor, their ploidy characteristics, and intratumoral distribution. Results were compared with standard histopathological criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 54 SSMs were found to have two or three distinct proliferating tumor cell stem lines (1.46 +/- 0.57 per tumor). Stem lines appeared spatially separated in 22 of 23 SMMs. At least 3 measuring fields per tumor were necessary to identify all stem lines with a likelihood of 95%. DNA heterogeneity correlated with tumor thickness, but occurred in 5 of 19 cases of pT1 melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: Primary SSMs can be regarded as potentially clonally unstable with a tendency for spatial separation of tumor cell stem lines.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Paratumoral epidermal hyperplasia: a novel prognostic factor in thick primary melanoma of the skin?

There is a lack of histopathological factors to sub-stratify prognosis in pT3/4 melanoma primaries. In the presented pilot study, the prognostic significance of different clinical and histopathological parameters was studied in thick primary melanoma taking paratumoral epidermal hyperplasia (PTEH) into consideration. Of 1632 melanoma patients in the melanoma register of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in the years 1980 to 1987, 16 cases with tumor thickness (TT) of the primary > or = 3 mm, documented metastasis-free follow-up of 10+ years after primary therapy and available histologic sections were compared with an adequate recurrence control group (n = 62) by PTEH and standard prognostic parameters. PTEH was demonstrable in 15 of 16 patients of the metastasis-free group (PTEH penetration depth 1.42 +/- 0.82 mm/mean +/- SD) and 27 of 62 of controls (0.29 +/- 0.46 mm), P < or = 0.001. Of the standard prognostic parameters, TT, sex, location, and lack of nevus association also correlated with metastasis. In multivariate analysis, PTEH > or = 1 mm was the single independent parameter with the highest (negative) association to recurrence (odds ratio 52.3). Occurrence of PTEH might predict a more moderate course of disease in thick melanoma. Thus, it might become an easily determinable and effective tool to sub-stratify prognosis in thick primary melanoma of the skin. Further studies are necessary to prove these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Skin function parameters in intensive-care patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The study was performed to investigate the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and pH-value in patients in intensive care. METHODS: Forty intensive-care patients (22 men, 18 women) were included in the study. TEWL and pH-values were measured at admission, and after 24, 96 and 168 h. The areas of measurement were the forehead, the volar forearm, paraumbilical and the ventral thigh. The measurements were made under standardized environmental conditions according to the recommendations of the EMCO Group. RESULTS: Elevated values were found on the forehead compared with the other skin areas examined. There was no significant change in mean TEWL-values in any patient in the course of the study. There was also no significant influence of TEWL at the time of admission on the prognosis. The course analysis of the mean pH-values, however, showed that patients who developed a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis during the further course had a higher pH-value over the entire study period. CONCLUSION: TEWL and the pH of the skin surface could be measured at bedside in the intensive-care unit and delivered reproducible results. These parameters appear, however, to be relevant only for subgroups of patients under intensive care.

Critical Care↗
PubMed2004

Expression of epidermal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR1) depends on formation of the granular layer--analysis in diseases with parakeratotic cornification.

Ionotrope glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor type are expressed on keratinocytes and influence the intracellular calcium concentration. The importance of NMDA receptors in pathophysiological processes in the skin is, however, still unclear. Epidermal distribution patterns of NMDA receptors were investigated in dermatoses with parakeratotic cornification (psoriasis vulgaris and verrucae vulgares) and compared to the expression of filaggrin. The expression of NMDA receptors (R1 component) in paraffin-embedded normal epidermis (n = 22), psoriasis vulgaris (n = 21) and verrucae vulgares (n = 23) was examined and evaluated by means of digital image analysis. For quantitative characterization of the distribution patterns, a quotient was formed of the expression in the stratum granulosum and stratum basale ("NMDA ratio"). The distribution of NMDAR1 was compared to the immunohistochemical expression of filaggrin. Additionally the expression of filaggrin was investigated in HaCaT cells after treatment with the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. NMDA receptors were demonstrated in the epidermis of all preparations. In healthy skin, the highest receptor density was found in the stratum granulosum. This distribution pattern was basically also present in the dermatoses examined. Thus, the occurrence of parakeratosis in psoriasis vulgaris, but not in verrucae vulgares, was characterized by a significant reduction in the NMDA ratio (reduced expression of NMDAR1 in the upper epidermis). The immunohistochemical distribution of filaggrin was similar to that of NMDAR1. In HaCaT cells MK-801 suppressed the expression of filaggrin. NMDA receptors are expressed in human epidermis under physiological conditions especially in the stratum granulosum. Their reduced expression within parakeratotic epidermis in psoriasis vulgaris may be evidence of impaired intracellular calcium influx in this disease.

Cell Line↗
PubMed2004

Melanocytes express 3G5 surface antigen.

The 3G5-reactive ganglioside antigen (3G5 antigen) is expressed on the surface of various cell types including pericytes, pancreatic islet cells, thyroid follicular cells, and cells of the pituitary and the adrenal medulla. Expression on melanocytes has not yet been reported. We examined 148 5-microm cryosections of 12 normal skin samples and 45 skin tumors (21 melanocytic nevi, 8 malignant melanoma primaries, 4 metastases of malignant melanoma, 3 basal cell carcinomas, and 9 pigmented seborrheic keratoses) by triple fluorescence technique with the monoclonal antibody 3G5, DNA fluorochrome, and the anti-melanocytic antibody A103 (Anti-Melan-A). In normal skin, 3G5 reactivity was detected in epidermal melanocytes of 4 of 12 cases with 14.8 +/- 24.1% positive melanocytes; 20 of 21 nevi (72.2 +/- 29.1% positive nevus cells, mean +/- SD), 8 of 8 primary melanomas (83.9 +/- 12.3% positive melanoma cells), and 4 of 4 melanoma metastases (82.5 +/- 6.5% positive melanoma cells) expressed the 3G5 antigen. All tumor cells of investigated basal cell carcinoma or seborrheic keratosis were 3G5 negative. This is the first report of 3G5 antigen expression in melanocytes. The data demonstrate high expression of this ganglioside in the aggregated melanocytes of malignant or benign tumors but low or absent expression in singular melanocytes (normal epidermis, seborrheic keratoses) reflecting a different biologic state.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Hyperplasia of dermal microvascular pericytes in scleroderma.

BACKGROUND: Pericytes (PCs) are smooth muscle-like mural cells of capillaries and venules, which can synthesize matrix components and fibroblast-activating cytokines, and are thus potential mediators of pathological changes in scleroderma. In this study, alterations in microvessels were quantitatively imaged, taking PC into account for the first time. METHODS: Skin biopsies from systemic (12) and localized (14) scleroderma forms as well as age-, sex-, and body location-matched controls were examined with respect to capillary and venular densities as well as endothelial cell (EC) and PC counts using a newly developed (in respect of PC and EC) indirect collagen IV immunostaining-based method. RESULTS: Hyperplasia of the PC that doubled the microvascular PC density was the most conspicuous characteristic. In the capillaries of the upper dermal plexus of the periphery of the sclerotic zones, median ratios of PC : EC were 0.23 (controls 0.10) or 0.18 (controls 0.11) in systemic or localized scleroderma, respectively. Furthermore, an increase in capillary density in the upper dermal plexus could be demonstrated in the marginal zones of both types of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The observed PC increase in the peripheral zones of active disease supports the hypothesis of a vascular pathogenesis of scleroderma and directs the focus to microvascular PC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors influence the intracellular calcium concentration of keratinocytes.

In the present study, the distribution of ionotropic glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor type was immunohistochemically demonstrated in healthy human skin (n = 22) and healthy buccal mucosa (n = 20). Moreover, the intracellular calcium concentration of HaCaT-cells and native human keratinocytes were studied under the influence of the selective agonist NMDA and the selective NMDA-antagonist MK-801. Immunohistochemical imaging of NMDA receptors in healthy epidermis showed a positive reaction in the stratum basale, spinosum and granulosum, whereby the greatest expression was observed in the granular layer. In the mucosal preparations, the distribution of NMDA receptors was observed to be equal in all cell layers. In the cell culture (HaCaT-cells), NMDA concentrations between 25 microM and 1 mM resulted in a significant increase in the number of cells showing elevated intracellular calcium concentration. This effect could be significantly reduced by prior application of MK-801 (100 micro M). In supplementary tests on HaCaT-keratinocytes, blockade of the keratinocytic NMDA receptors with MK-801 suppressed the differentiation of the cells (expression of cytokeratin 10). The proliferation of cells was not influenced by NMDA. The investigations showed that glutamate receptors of the NMDA type have an influence on keratinocytic calcium concentration. This appears especially important for the differentiation of keratinocytes.

Calcium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiotherapy in multilocalized lymphedema-associated angiosarcoma.

We report an 80-year-old woman, suffering from a recurrence of a multilocalized lymphedema-associated angiosarcoma of the right arm. The tumor consisted of solid tumor cell formations and "classical" spongiform tumor complexes. In the tumor periphery, pathological endothelial cell proliferates on pre-existing dilated lymphatic capillaries were detectable, which, together with immunohistology (CD 31+/Desmoplakin-1-2.17+/CD 34-), supported the diagnosis of lymphangiosarcoma. Complete remission was achieved under radioimmunotherapy (54 Gy/Interferon beta). A further recurrence 3 months later outside the primary therapy fields was successfully treated with radiotherapy alone. During a follow-up observation period of 3 years, there was neither local recurrence nor metastasis. This case demonstrates for the first time the long-lasting efficacy of photon radiation in a case of histologically-defined lymphangiosarcoma. Further studies should elucidate the suitability of radio monotherapy as first-line therapy in lymphedema-associated angiosarcoma with lymphatic endothelium-like immunohistology.

Aged↗