Gerd Gross

Analysis of benign and malignant urogenital tumors for human papillomavirus infection by labelling cellular DNA

A total of 268 biopsies from the genital region was screened for the presence of human papillomavirus DNA. The specimens included carcinoma of the vulva, vagina, cervix, corpus uteri, ovaries and penis, and Bowens carcinomas, Bowenoid papuloses, Bowens disease, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN I to III), Buschke-Löwenstein tumors, a cervical polyp, decidua, endometrium and histologically normal biopsies. Of 45 carcinomas, 18 contained either HPV 16 and/or 18 and 3 HPV 6-related sequences.In a few individual biopsies double or even triple infections were noted. Unusual was the presence of HPV 2-related DNA in one biopsy from Bowens disease, whereas 2 condylomata acuminata contained HPV 3-related DNA and one contained HPV DNA related to a group of epidermal HPVs found in epidermodysplasia verruciformis lesions.

Acanthosis nigricans maligna

Im Jahre 1890 wurde eine „eindrucksvolle, mit papillomatoser Wucherung und Pigmentierung einhergehende Dermatose“ sowohl von Janovsky als auch von Pollitzer beschrieben. Unna, dem der Fall von Pollitzer schon 1884 bekannt war, schuf fur dieses Krankheitsbild den Begriff „Acanthosis nigricans“. 1893 bezeichnete Darier diese Hauterkrankung als „Dystrophie papillaire et pigmentaire“. Auch die Bezeichnung „Melanodermie papillaire“ und „Keratosis nigricans“ weisen auf dasselbe Krankheitsbild hin.

Effect of Oral Aromatic Retinoid (Ro 10-9359) on Human Papilloma Virus-2-Induced Common Warts

Persisting human papilloma virus (HPV) 2 induced common warts of a chronic lymphatic leukemia patient were orally treated with aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 (Tigason). Clinically, the lesions improved rapidly. Virus-specific cytopathogenic effects (CPE), virus particles and viral DNA were no longer detectable. Therapy was discontinued because of the development of a liposarcoma, which led to a complete relapse of the cutaneous lesions. HPV-2 specific parameters, CPE and viral DNA, were restored. Comparison of the restriction enzyme cleavage patterns revealed that warts before and after therapy contained the same HPV-2 subtype. The implications of the observation on the effect of Tigason on virus-induced papillomas are discussed.

Sexually transmitted infections and sexually transmitted diseases

History.- Epidemiology of STI.- Behavioural Aspects.- The Normal Genitalia: Structure and Physiology.- Bacterial Infections.- Viral Infections.- Ectoparasites.- Protozoan Infections.- Fungal Infections.- STD and Travel Medicine.- Therapy.- Prevention/Vaccines.- Novel Diagnostic Methods.- Non STI-Related Dermatosis in Female and Male Patients.- Sexually Transmitted Infections in Pediatrics, Perinatology and Reproduction.- Female Genital Mutilation and Risk for Transmission of STIs.- The Role of Circumcision in Preventing STIs.- Other Genital Infections.- Sexual Abuse.- Psychosocial issues.- Physical Barrier Methods and Microbicides.- Economic and Political Issues Associated with Sexually Transmitted Diseases.- Index.

Epidermal growth factor receptors in different skin tumors.

Specific binding of 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor (EGF) was measured in 62 skin tumors of different severity. Within a group of 28 benign tumors, 11 of 15 condylomata acuminata were receptor positive, whereas the investigated mesenchymal tumors and normal skin as a control were receptor negative. 6 of 18 basal cell epitheliomas bound EGF specifically. In the group of precancerous and malignant skin tumors, 7 of 8 squamous cell carcinomas had the highest number of EGF binding sites and a high affinity state, whereas 5 malignant melanomas were receptor negative. The clinical relevance of these findings is not yet clear due to the short follow-up of the patients.

Antibodies to human papillomavirus type 11 virus-like particles in sera of patients with genital warts and in control groups

We analysed by ELISA a total of 478 human sera for the presence of antibodies to HPV-11 virus-like particles. The sera were obtained from patients with current genital warts (group CO), from males attending the hospital for fertility disorders (group MA), from blood donors (group BD) and from patients hospitalized for reasons unrelated to HPV infections (group HO). Antibody prevalence was higher in male patients of group CO (23.0%) as compared to males of groups MA (3.2%; P < 0.0001), HO (5.3%; P = 0.01) and BD (16.7%; NS). In addition, there was a significant difference in antibody titre between the males of group CO compared to group MA. Within the whole sample the absorbance of sera from females was higher than in specimens from males (P < 0.0001). A small subset of the sera was also tested by radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA). There was good agreement between the data obtained by ELISA and RIPA.

Genital Warts Do Not Respond to Systemic Recombinant Interferon Alfa-2a Treatment during Cannabis Consumption

The case of a 22-year-old man suffering from genital warts is described. The lesions responded completely to recombinant interferon alfa-2a only after discontinuation of cannabis consumption. Cannabis was detected using the enzyme immunoassay/1-trans-tetrahydrocannabinoid method in urine. Southern blotting of frozen genital wart biopsy material revealed papillomavirus type 11 DNA, the amount of which increased significantly during interferon treatment. The final clearing of lesions after discontinuation of cannabis consumption implicates that the drug-induced impairment of cellular immunity was reversible. It is concluded that drug abuse and especially cannabis consumption may play some role in the world-wide increase in genital papillomavirus disease and in the high number of recalcitrant courses of genital warts.

Condylomata acuminata und andere HPV‐assoziierte Krankheitsbilder von Genitale, Anus und Harnröhre

© Springer Medizin Verlag • Journal compilation

Association of HPV with human genital tumors

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are clearly responsible for the induction of genital lesions like condylomata acuminata, bowenoid papules, and flat condylomas. Moreover, the DNA of particular virus types (HPV 16 and 18) is found in a substantial number of invasively growing squamous cell carcinomas of the genital tract, suggesting an etiologic involvement of these viruses in tumor development. Since HPV 16 and 18 as well as other papillomaviruses (HPV 6 or 11) usually present within the benign genital warts can be found in dysplastic lesions of the uterine cervix known as putative precancerous lesions, determination of the virus type might be of diagnostic relevance. Since no type-specific serologic reagents are available, viruses can be identified by nucleic acid hybridization using radioactively labeled HPV DNAs that have been molecularly cloned as probes.

Induktion multipler melanozytärer Nävuszellnävi bei zwei Kindern mit malignen hämatologischen Systemerkrankungen und Chemotherapie-bedingter Immunsuppression

ZusammenfassungEs wird über 2 Kinder berichtet, bei denen es nach Einsatz unterschiedlicher Polychemotherapieschemata aufgrund onkologischer Erkrankungen (akute lymphoblastische Leukämie bzw. Non-Hodgkin-Lymphom) zum Auftreten zahlreicher NZN kam. Ursächlich für die Induktion der Naevuszellnaevi scheint kein substanzspezifischer Mechanismus zu sein, sondern die durch die Chemotherapie bedingte Immunsuppression. In der Literatur finden sich Mitteilungen über ein vermehrtes Auftreten melanozytärer Neubildungen im Zusammenhang mit Therapie -oder Erkrankungs-bedingten Zuständen von Immunsuppression.SummaryTwo children developed multiple melanocytic naevi after polychemotherapy administered for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in one and for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the other. Induction of naevi does not seem to be related to specific agents used in chemotherapy, but rather to the immunosuppression resulting from multiple-agent chemotherapy. There are reports in the literature of both intrinsically and iatrogenically immunosuppressed patients who have developed multiple melanocytic naevi.