Vergleich der Ergebnisse von Übereinstimmungstests bei Säulen- und Schüttelversuchen

Entsprechend dem Entwurf der Novelle der BBodSchV wurden Übereinstimmungstests nach DIN 19528 (Säulenversuch) und EDIN 19527 (Schüttelversuch jeweils mit einem Wasser/Feststoff-Verhältnis von 2 L/kg durchgeführt. Dabei wurden verschiedene mit PAK kontaminierte Böden eingesetzt. Die Ergebnisse erscheinen deutlich Bodenmatrix abhängig. Die Eluate aus dem Boden mit dem geringsten Feinkornanteil und der geringsten Sorptionskapazität enthielten die höchsten PAK-Konzentrationen, wobei bei diesem Boden die Gehalte in den Schütteleluaten deutlich über denen in den Säuleneluaten lagen

Validierung von Elutionsverfahren zur Charakterisierung der Quellstärke von Boden- und Abfallmaterialien

Mit der Novellierung der Bundes-Bodenschutzverordnung und der Einführung einer Ersatzbaustoffverordnung soll die ordnungsgemäße und schadlose Verwertung von mineralischen Abfällen im Boden bundeseinheitlich geregelt werden. Dabei sind die Erfordernisse des Boden- und Grundwasserschutzes zu beachten. In einer Reihe von F&E-Vorhaben der letzten Jahre wurden Vorschläge zur Verbesserung und Harmonisierung von Verfahren zur Bewertung des Eintrages von Schadstoffen in Boden und Grundwasser unterbreitet. Im Blickpunkt standen u.a. Elutionsmethoden zur Ermittlung der Quellstärke von schadstoffbelasteten Matrices. Vom DIN-Normenausschuss Wasserwesen, Unterausschuss „Eluierungsverfahren“ wurden auf dieser Grundlage zwei Verfahren zur Elution von Bodenmaterialien und mineralischen Abfällen mit einer Korngröße bis 32 mm erarbeitet. Dabei handelt es sich um ein Säulenperkolationsverfahren zur gemeinsamen Untersuchung des Elutionsverhaltens von organischen und anorganischen Stoffen (DIN 19528) und ein Schüttelverfahren mit einem Wasser-/Feststoff-Verhältnis (W/F) von 2 l/kg zur Untersuchung der Elution von anorganischen Stoffen (DIN 19529). Um die Normen in den gesetzlichen Verordnungen zitieren zu können, war deren Validierung erforderlich, womit die BAM durch das UBA/BMU beauftragt wurde (FKZ 370733307). Auf der Grundlage von vier Referenzmaterialien mit anorganischen Schadstoffen und PAK wurden Ringversuchen durchgeführt. Es wurden die Kenndaten insbesondere zu Wiederholbarkeit und Reproduzierbarkeit der beiden Verfahren ermittelt

A new paraclinical CSF marker for hypoxia‐like tissue damage in multiple sclerosis lesions

Recent studies on the immunopathology of multiple sclerosis revealed a heterogeneity in the patterns of demyelination, suggesting interindividual differences in the mechanism responsible for myelin destruction. One of these patterns of demyelination, characterized by oligodendrocyte dystrophy and apoptosis, closely mimics myelin destruction in acute white matter ischaemia. In the course of a systematic screening for virus antigen expression in multiple sclerosis brains, we identified a monoclonal antibody against canine distemper virus, which detects a cross‐reactive endogenous brain epitope, highly expressed in this specific subtype of actively demyelinating multiple sclerosis lesions with little or no immunoreactivity in other active multiple sclerosis cases. The respective epitope, which is a phosphorylation‐dependent sequence of one or more proteins of 50, 70 and 115kDa, is also expressed in a subset of active lesions of different virus‐induced inflammatory brain diseases, but is present most prominently and consistently in acute lesions of white matter ischaemia. Its presence is significantly associated with nuclear expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α within the lesions of both inflammatory and ischaemic brain diseases. The respective epitope is liberated into the CSF and, thus, may become a useful diagnostic tool to identify clinically a defined multiple sclerosis subtyp

Seasonal variations in the diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors: a national cancer registry study in austria

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Seasonal variations in cancer diagnosis could already be demonstrated in prostate and breast cancer. The reasons for this observed seasonal pattern are still unclear. The health care system or other determinants such as the protective function of vitamin D3 in carcinogenesis could be assumed as one explanation. Testicular germ cell tumors are the most common developed malignancy among young men. The aim of our study was to investigate, for the first time, the seasonal variations in the clinical diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors. We have been able to confirm that the frequency of monthly newly diagnosed cases of testicular cell tumors in Austria has a strong seasonality, with a significant reduction in the tumor incidence during the summer months and an increase during the winter months. ABSTRACT: We conducted a retrospective National Cancer Registry study in Austria to assess a possible seasonal variation in the clinical diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). In total, 3615 testicular cancer diagnoses were identified during an 11-year period from 2008 to 2018. Rate ratios for the monthly number of TGCT diagnoses, as well as of seasons and half-years, were assessed using a quasi-Poisson model. We identified, for the first time, a statistically significant seasonal trend (p < 0.001) in the frequency of monthly newly diagnosed cases of TGCT. In detail, clear seasonal variations with a reduction in the tumor incidence during the summer months (Apr–Sep) and an increase during the winter months (Oct–Mar) were observed (p < 0.001). Focusing on seasonality, the incidence during the months of Oct–Dec (p = 0.008) and Jan–Mar (p < 0.001) was significantly higher compared to the months of Jul–Sep, respectively. Regarding histopathological features, there is a predominating incidence in the winter months compared to summer months, mainly concerning pure seminomas (p < 0.001), but not the non-seminoma or mixed TGCT groups. In conclusion, the incidence of TGCT diagnoses in Austria has a strong seasonal pattern, with the highest rate during the winter months. These findings may be explained by a delay of self-referral during the summer months. However, the hypothetical influence of vitamin D3 in testicular carcinogenesis underlying seasonal changes in TGCT diagnosis should be the focus of further research

Patterns of Antibody Binding to Aquaporin-4 Isoforms in Neuromyelitis Optica

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a severe demyelinating disease, represents itself with optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Serum NMO-IgG autoantibodies (Abs), a specific finding in NMO patients, target the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is expressed as a long (M-1) or a short (M-23) isoform.The aim of this study was to analyze serum samples from patients with NMO and controls for the presence and epitope specificity of IgG and IgM anti-AQP4 Abs using an immunofluorescence assay with HEK293 cells expressing M-1 or M-23 human AQP4. We included 56 patients with definite NMO (n = 30) and high risk NMO (n = 26), 101 patients with multiple sclerosis, 27 patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Sjögren's syndrome, 29 patients with other neurological diseases and 47 healthy controls. Serum anti-AQP4 M-23 IgG Abs were specifically detected in 29 NMO patients, 17 patients with high risk NMO and two patients with myelitis due to demyelination (CIS) and SLE. In contrast, IgM anti-AQP4 Abs were not only found in some NMO and high risk patients, but also in controls. The sensitivity of the M-23 AQP4 IgG assay was 97% for NMO and 65% for high risk NMO, with a specificity of 100% compared to the controls. Sensitivity with M-1 AQP4 transfected cells was lower for NMO (70%) and high risk NMO (39%). The conformational epitopes of M-23 AQP4 are the primary targets of NMO-IgG Abs, whereas M-1 AQP4 Abs are developed with increasing disease duration and number of relapses.Our results confirm M-23 AQP4-IgG Abs as reliable biomarkers in patients with NMO and high risk syndromes. M-1 and M-23 AQP4-IgG Abs are significantly associated with a higher number of relapses and longer disease duration