The long Tramp from Cellular Pathology to Molecular Pathology

Background: The Charite is a well known and one of the biggest University Hospital in Germany. Its Institute of Pathology was founded in 1831, and took part in all changes and modifications of diagnostic surgical pathology. Herein, it forms the basis to describe the history and development of molecular pathology from its early beginning. The appearance of biological structures at microscopic levels forms its fundament, similar to additional tissue theories which have been derived from cellular pathology. Theories of pathology: Theories of pathology frequently describe reaction patterns, and try to explain the relationship between disease and its visible manifestation. They have entered pathology in the 20th century. To name some of them:  theory of inflammation [Heinrich Schade 1924, [1], pathology of relations [Gustav Ricker (1924), [2], intercellular pathology [Tivadar Huzella (1937), [3]. Derivatives: The observation of principal identity of biological meaningful elements can be agglutinated to a ‘general theory of live’ and its manifestation. All of the investigated elements posses the same regularities, which are altered, destroyed or newly built by external influences such as disease, physical and psychological forces. Not all magnification levels that display with these elements are of the same significance. Already Virchow suggested that ‘smaller elements (molecules) might be responsible for changes that are visible ‘in larger elements’ (at cellular level).  The reflection on these ideas can be associated with the implementation of molecular techniques which has been developed in the 20th century and are still ongoing today. Perspectives: Thus, cellular and molecular pathology can be integrated under one umbrella. This umbrella will lead to newly man-formed structures, such as artificial DNA and gene components or functional chip implantations

Obituary of Professor Dr. med. Heinz David (*)

This obituary of Professor Dr. med. Heinz David describes his work at the Institute of Pathology, Charité, Berlin, Germany, and his former and later life. His former life is characterized by the doom of young children whose family had to escape the Red Army for more than one thousand kilometers at the age of a teenager. They had to wander in a completely destroyed Germany until they found a home and settled down in the small town Neuruppin of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The scientific details of his career and as well as his fall from the mighty position in the GDR pathology society and his later life are described by a staff member and his interim follower (H. Guski) and by a ‘Western’ colleague and friend (K. Kayser) from both points of view, that of inside and that of outside the former communistic society. Therefore, this article is more than just an obituary. It demonstrates the impact of working conditions such as of equipment, social environment and communication on science, and specifically on surgical pathology

Zwischen Markt und Mystik. Die Künstlerproblematik in Gogol´s „ Portret"

Günther H. Zwischen Markt und Mystik. Die Künstlerproblematik in Gogol´s „ Portret". In: Guski A, Schmid U, eds. Literatur und Kommerz im Russland des 19. Jahrhunderts. Basler Studien zur Kulturgeschichte Osteuropas. Vol 8. Zürich: Pano; 2004: 361-376

Etiology and Pathogenesis of Sudden Cardiac Death

BACKGROUND AND DEFINITION: This article contributes to the current state of knowledge in etiology and pathogenesis of sudden cardiac death (SCD). SCD is a well - defined disease entity which recently approved international guidelines address (cardiac death within 1 hour). ETIOLOGY: The condition of coronary arteries contributes to common causes of SCD. Stenotic coronary artery sclerosis (80%) has been reported in most cases. In non-coronary causes (15%), cardiomyopathies (CMP) are frequently found, and alcoholic CMP dominates the CMP cohort. Genetically related causes are comparatively rare (5%). PATHOGENESIS: In pathogenesis, only the consecutives of coronary ischemia have been extensively studied, in contrast to non-coronary causes. Herein, only some (mostly infectious) forms of myocarditis have been investigated in detail. The pathogenesis of different causes of SCD is less well studied. These include pathologic changes of adrenergic and cholinergic heart nerves, of intra- and extra-cardiac ganglia and of the conduction system. Morphological changes that clearly explain SCD are still difficult to reproducibly detect in clinical-pathologic and forensic autopsy diagnosis because these lesions might morphologically at first manifest after 1 hour or even later. This statement holds particularly true for detecting early ischemic heart muscle cell deaths being the most common cause of SCD. CONCLUSIONS: The reported methods and special staining have proven to be less suitable for routine diagnostics. Attempts are now undergoing to solve the problem by the use of specific antibodies. They provide evidence of immunoreactivity of ischemic damaged cardiomyocytes which can be detected even after prolonged postmortem lay times

Different Proliferation Patterns in Breast Cancer: AgNOR Measurements in ER-Negative and ER-Positive Tumor Cells

The relation between estrogen receptors (ER) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in situ within human breast cancer cells was analyzed. For AgNOR measurements in 49 invasive breast carcinomas, a new reproducible staining method for dual demonstration of ER and AgNORs was applied. Quantitative AgNOR variables were determined in ER‐positive and ER‐negative tumor cells by digital image analysis. The relationships between AgNOR parameters of ER‐positive and ER‐negative cells and other prognostic factors of breast cancer [Bloom–Richardson‐Grading and growth fraction (Ki‐67 index)] were investigated. A higher AgNOR content in ER‐negative cells and a special clustering phenomenon in ER‐positive tumor cells were found. Correlation with other criteria of malignant potential could be exclusively demonstrated for ER‐negative cells. ER‐negative cells of breast cancer can be characterized as the more malignant and possibly prognosis‐dictating cell fraction. Thus, ER‐negative cells probably contribute more to the progression of the tumor disease and furthermore to the prognosis than ER‐positive cells. We recommend measurement AgNORs exclusively in ER‐negative cells of breast cancer

Development of a Multi-Sensor Concept for Real-Time Temperature Measurement at the Cutting Insert of a Single-Lip Deep Hole Drilling Tool

The mechanical energy resulting from cutting processes is turned almost completely in thermal energy, which encourages thermal procedures, such as diffusion, leading to higher wear in the cutting tool and thus to higher temperatures. Furthermore, high temperatures influence the properties of the marginal zones in the workpiece. In this presented work, the in-process temperature of a cutting insert during single-lip deep hole drilling (SLD) is investigated. Therefore, a sensor-integrated tool with resistance temperature detectors (RTD) placed beneath the cutting insert is developed. First, the thermal properties of the cutting insert are adjusted to fit the assembled tool. Afterwards, a CEL-Simulation is obtained to examine the temperature distribution at the cutting edge of the SLD-tool. The temperatures calculated by simulation can be compared to the in-process temperatures of the sensor integrated tool. Because of the usage of a cooling lubricant, simulated temperatures can be varied with a factor to fit the experimentally measured temperature curves. The highest temperature during the process appears at the outer edge of the cutting insert. By knowing the thermal properties, the maximum process temperatures for the deep hole drilling operation are to be calculated. The results represent a contribution to an interdisciplinary research project “Surface Conditioning in Machining Processes” (SPP 2086) of the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Guski H: Different proliferation patterns in breast cancer: AgNOR measurements in ER-negative and ER-positive tumor cells. Anal Cell Pathol 2000

The relation between estrogen receptors (ER) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in situ within human breast cancer cells was analyzed. For AgNOR measurements in 49 invasive breast carcinomas, a new reproducible staining method for dual demonstration of ER and AgNORs was applied. Quantitative AgNOR variables were determined in ER-positive and ER-negative tumor cells by digital image analysis. The relationships between AgNOR parameters of ER-positive and ER-negative cells and other prognostic factors of breast cancer [Bloom-RichardsonGrading and growth fraction (Ki-67 index)] were investigated. A higher AgNOR content in ER-negative cells and a special clustering phenomenon in ER-positive tumor cells were found. Correlation with other criteria of malignant potential could be exclusively demonstrated for ER-negative cells. ER-negative cells of breast cancer can be characterized as the more malignant and possibly prognosis-dictating cell fraction. Thus, ER-negative cells probably contribute more to the progression of the tumor disease and furthermore to the prognosis than ER-positive cells. We recommend measurement AgNORs exclusively in ER-negative cells of breast cancer