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The following question serves as a starting point: “How can voice professionals stay fit in their respective occupations facing ever increasing requirements today?” Based on his expertise in physical therapy and prophylaxis for musicians at the Hochschule fur Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin, Germany, -“Physioprophylaxis” being a mandatory course at this institution - the author describes opportunities and limitations of workouts in fitness studios for singers of all genres. He also presents background information on relevant topics like training of muscular slings, the problem of muscular dysbalances and training of deep muscles.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of galactography in detecting intraductal lesions. The second request was to check the ability of galactography in determining a specific (histological) diagnosis. Methods: In this retrospective study 207 galactograms in 173 patients with unilateral or bilateral nipple discharge were evaluated. 105 cases were controlled by a follow-up of at least 3 years (group 1). 102 galactograms could be correlated with postoperative histology (group 2). Results: Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of both groups yielded values of 95 %, 87% and 90% respectively. Solitary papillomas and multiple papillomas were correctly diagnosed by galactography in 18/28 and 15/19 cases. In 9/12 cases the diagnosis of a ductal carcinoma could be correctly made. Conclusions: Galactography is able to detect or exclude an intraductal lesion with high accuracy. However, the method cannot provide exact information on the (histological) diagnosis of intraductal lesions. All these lesions have still to be operated upon. The data presented here seem to strengthen the role of galactography in the imaging work-up of breast disease, especially in case of nipple discharge. New methods like ductal sonography and MRI still have to prove their value concerning this disease.

At first time Dermatophilus (D.) congolensis-infection was diagnosed in Brandenburg in 3 sheep herds and in one horse, which had contact to diseased sheep. The causative agent was introduced from West-Germany probably. Cause of the disease was influenced by a longer rain period and by secondary infections through Staph. aureus var. ovis. The morbidity came up to 90%, the mortality of lambs was 10%. Clinical picture, diagnostic and control of the disease are described. Economical losses are caused by disturbances of the development and deaths of animals mainly. Treatment of sheep was successful with Terramycin LA or 200 mg Oxytetracycline by i.m. injection of 1 ml within 7 days. All isolated strains of D. congolensis caused beta-hemolysis and liquidation of Löffler-Medium (heated denatured serum of cattle), and gelatin and fermented glucose and fructose to acid.

An analogue device is described which is designed to analyse repetitive signals. It measures peak amplitudes, time to peak values, areas, and values at a preset time. The results can be displayed or recorded on a beat-to-beat basis, or an average can be taken over up to 31 consecutive beats.

This paper describes a microcomputer-based system that allows diagnostically relevant properties of stratified tissue sections to be objectively measured. The results of detailed nuclear image analyses are examined in the broader context of the position of nuclei within the tissue section and relative to histologic structures and each other. Quantitative measures are obtained for important morphometric and densitometric properties of individual nuclei and mitotic figures and especially for their distribution and orientation within the tissue section relative to the stratum germinativum and each other. Recorded karyometric and histometric parameters include measures of nuclear DNA content (based on optical density measurements), size, roundness, texture, shape, distance to the basal layer, angle with the stratum germinativum, epithelial height and proximate nuclear distance. Statistics generated describe normalized mitotic density as a function of depth in the epithelium, and a composite mitotic index is produced based upon weighting of these densities relative to their distance from the stratum germinativum. These properties and derived statistics may be examined as a function of epithelial depth and nuclear type and may be plotted as a function of other diagnostic features in addition to the observed stratum. The system is one part of microTICAS-STRATEX, an expert diagnostic system for the clinical evaluation of stratified tissue sections, now under development as an outgrowth of the microTICAS system. Results of measurements made with this system will be compared with site-specific and diagnosis-specific reference profiles and used in conjunction with clinical data derived from a data base at the University of Chicago of over 1.5 million patients to generate diagnostic and prognostic evaluations.

A description is presented of the microTICAS video-based microphotometer/computer system, which has been designed and implemented to provide an inexpensive means for the rapid assessment of DNA ploidy patterns. The design goal was to provide a low-cost, easily serviced unit capable of providing useful clinical results and that would be easy and convenient to use. The resulting system achieves those ends as well as providing a flexible research tool that can be extended with appropriate programming to perform a wide range of tasks. The major parts of the microTICAS system are the microscope/optical system, the video camera with its control unit, the video data digitizer, the frame buffer and display monitor and the small host computer. Commercially available components were chosen for these system components and have been assembled into a system with only a minimum of modifications. The resulting system can be configured to be compatible with both North American and European standards.

Computer processing of microscopic imagery of cervical lesions can provide novel quantitative diagnostic information. Interpretation of this information, from the level of the image itself to that of diagnostic truth, calls for the use of appropriate data structures. The resolution of the problems of diagnostic consensus and truth may be furthered by the use of these techniques in conjunction with diagnostic expert systems. The impact of our expanded ability to differentiate and to extract diagnostic and prognostic information will lead to changes in the way we practice clinical pathology. Technologic advances have now made it possible to perform quantitative measurements in a very rapid fashion as a practical part of routine clinical pathology activity.

A set of preparatory steps has been developed for the processing of clinical samples from the female genital tract onto microscopic slides suitable both for machine assessment and for regular microscopic evaluation. These steps involve the depositing of the cell sample in a collection fluid, the semi-automatic adjustment of cell concentration to about 30,000 cells per milliliter through a combination of transmittance and light scatter measurements, the dispersion of the sample by syringing, and the deposition of the cellular content onto microscope slides by centrifugation. These steps were designed so as not to allow loss of cells--except the lysis of erythrocytes--with the understanding that this condition entails the presence of 4--10 per cent cell aggregates in the final preparation.

A preliminary model of a real time processing system, the TICAS-RTCIP (for Taxonomic Intra-Cellular Analytic System--Real Time Cell Identification Processor) has been disigned and is being tested under operational conditions, proving the substantial advantages of employing a network of microprocessors operating in parallel. The system is designed only to demonstrate the feasibility, while more extensive development and biologic testing will be required to assess general applicability to automated uterine cytology.

Some of the clinical capabilities of an inexpensive, microcomputer-based DNA-cytometry system are described. A variety of applications is illustrated: ploidy assessment, which provides significant information for the management of patients with tumors from almost any organ site; quality control of cytologic and histologic diagnoses; determination of tumor heterogeneity; monitoring of cell profile changes during therapy; and quantitation of immunocytochemical staining.

The treatment of Hürthle-cell tumors of the thyroid is controversial because of their rarity and the inconsistent histopathologic criteria for their diagnosis. In order to obtain more objective criteria for the management of Hürthle-cell tumors, the nuclear DNA content of cells from 20 cases was measured with the MicroTICAS system and the correlation between the DNA distribution patterns and the clinical and histopathologic findings was evaluated. Three main DNA patterns were found: euploid, polyploid and aneuploid. The euploid or polyploid Hürthle-cell tumors came from patients who did not develop distant metastases or recurrence whereas the aneuploid variants came from patients who died of their disease and/or developed distant metastases and recurrence. Various correlation analyses were performed between DNA ploidy and age, sex, size of tumor, growth pattern, pleomorphism, invasion and metastases. Our data suggests that an aneuploid DNA pattern or one with a large percentage of aneuploid nuclei with DNA content exceeding 5N may predict eventual metastases or recurrence from Hürthle-cell tumor.

Recent advances in digital electronics have made it possible to put together videophotometry systems capable of practical DNA ploidy measurements at a relatively modest cost. Such a system, based upon the IBM PC microcomputer and other "off-the-shelf" components, is now operational in our laboratory. This paper discusses the design considerations that went into the development of the software for this system. It examines the choices, constraints and tradeoffs involved in such a software engineering project and considers the practical implementation of image processing algorithms and a user-friendly interface. An overview is given of the modular, menu-driven software through which the system is controlled, along with a description of normal operational flow.