Trichloroacetamidines, a new class of positive inotropic agents.

A series of trichloroacetamidine derivatives, obtained by addition of amines to trichloroacetonitrile, was evaluated for positive inotropic activity on isolated cat heart papillary muscles. Increased contractility, not antagonized by beta-adrenergic blockade with sotalol or reserpine pretreatment, was observed in this assay with a variety of N-substituted trichloroacetamidine derivatives. More extensive pharmacological studies with the 3-indolylmethyl analogue 2 showed that this amidine in dogs, 5 mg/kg iv, produced a positive inotropic effect more pronounced than that of ouabain, 50 microgram/kg iv. Several of the trichloroacetamidines were found to be inhibitors of guinea pig kidney and calf heart Na-K-dependent ATPase and to have specificity for these enzymes different from that of ouabain. Bacterial mutagenic activity was observed with three members, 2,3, and 12, of the series.     

Diagnostischer Wert der Siderophagen im Liquorcytogramm

The demonstration of siderophages in the cerebrospinal fluid is a very reliable diagnostic tool for identifying hemorrhage in the subarachnoid space and ventricular system. Siderophages are found 4 days after spontaneous or traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and persist in some cases up to 120 days, which makes them a reliable indicator of a previous hemorrhage. These findings are the result of an investigation in which 110 samples of cerebrospinal fluid, obtained from 105 patients, were examined for siderophages by the membrane filtration method.     

Polyneuropathie als Leitsymptom eines γ-G-Plasmocytoms

Summary A 79-year-old female patient was hospitalized because of polyneuritis and polyradiculitis. In this case it could be made likely that polyneuritis and polyradiculitis were due to the paraproteinemia accompanying the plasmacytoma, a relationship only rarely described to date.     

Consideration of ergonomic aspects in the development of a new endoscopic navigation system

During the development of new navigation systems, the ergonomic aspects of the accompanying software are seldom taken into account. The VN system is a navigation system working with real and previously stored neuroendoscopic images. The latter enable the module to execute virtual back movement, e.g. in case of bleeding. Several other modules are offered. The aim of the study was the ergonomic analysis of different modules and their learning curves in cadaveric heads. The endoscope was navigated by the neurosurgeon while another person operated the computer. A total of 128 experiments were performed with two software versions. When the landmark tracking module was used, a real learning curve could be observed. By contrast, testing the measurement module did not produce a learning curve. A significant reduction of the time required by the three modules investigated could be observed with software version 2. The module for virtual back movement works best with a minimum time of 20 s for image storage. During machine-human interactions ergonomic software use is important, especially if operative procedures are performed.     

Traditional v. modified dietary patterns and their influence on adolescents' nutritional profile

Korea has experienced exceptionally rapid economic developments. Even though the country has managed to maintain aspects of its traditional diet, dietary habits are changing, especially among adolescents. This study was carried out to identify prevailing dietary patterns among Korean adolescents and to compare the nutrient intakes and dietary behaviours between the patterns. A 3 d diet record, collected from 671 Korean adolescents aged 12-14 years in Seoul, Korea, was assessed. By cluster analysis, subjects were classified into a modified (69.9 %) and a traditional (30.1 %) dietary pattern group. The modified group consumed more bread, noodles, cookies and pizza/hamburgers compared with the traditional group, which consumed mainly rice and kimchi (fermented cabbage). The modified group had significantly higher intakes of all nutrients. It had a higher total daily energy intake (7719 kJ), a higher daily energy intake from fat (29.8 %) and a higher cholesterol intake (326 mg/d), compared with the traditional group (6686 kJ, 24.8 % and 244 mg/d, respectively). The modified group was more likely to consume fast foods, fried foods and carbonated beverages even though they consumed more fresh fruits and milk, while the traditional group was more likely to have a rice-based diet and not to skip breakfast. These results suggest that monitoring dietary behaviours of adolescents, especially in a society experiencing a nutrition transition, is necessary in order to identify both negative and positive changes in respect of risk factors for nutrition-related chronic diseases as well as for undernutrition.     

Anatomische und biomechanische untersuchungen zur femurmarknagelung

Zusammenfassung An einer röntgenanatomischen und morphologischen Vorstudie von insgesamt 390 Femora japanischer Individuen wird die Markraumarchitektur besonders im Bereich der physiologischen Enge, dem sogenannten Markraumisthmus, untersucht. Diesem Bezirk kommt besondere Bedeutung bei der Fixation eines intramedullären Kraftträgers zu, da nur hier ein formschlussüger Kontakt des Implantates mit der Markhöhle erwartet werden kann. Als wichtigstes Ergebnis finden die Untersucher, daß der Durchmesser des Markraumisthmus' auf dem ap-Bild um 2 mm kleiner ist als auf dem seitlichen Röntgen bild, weshalb beim Aufbohren der Markhöhle 2 mm Zugabe zum ap-Durchmesser notwendig ist, um einen kreisförmigen Querschnitt zu erzielen. Weiterhin konnte nachgewiesen werden, daß die Vorbiegung des AO-Marknagels nicht der zumindest in Japan zu erwartenden Antekurvation des Femurs entspricht. Verschiedene Versuche an 4 im Handel befindlichen Marknagelmodellen geben Aufschluß über deren elastische Eigenschaften.Um die Forderung nach möglichst großflächigem Kraftschluß zwischen Marknagel und Markraum zu erfüllen, wird ein neuer Nagel (Okayama-Nagel) vorgestellt, der verbesserte querelastische Eigenschaften aufweist and selbst noch fiber den unmittelbar zylindrisch aufgebohrten Markraumbereich hinaus in Kontakt mit der Knochenröhre tritt.

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Anatomical and biomechanical considerations for medullary nailing

Summary By using X-ray films of 390 adult femurs and 15 cadaveric femurs of Japanese origin, and by measuring successive cross-sections the authors have made morphological and statistical analyses of the shape of the femoral medullary canal. These studies suggest new dimensions for the diameter of the reamer and the amount of contact area between nail and inner cortex. Furthermore it was found that the physiological antecurvature of the femur on the lateral view does not correspond with the prebending of the AO-nail. The authors made some mechanical experiments on four types of nails which are widely used today.As a consequence of these studies, the authors developed a new elastic nail for trial (Okayama-nail). This new type of nail greatly increases the area of contact with the inner femoral cortex. Obviously this nail satisfies better all of Kuentscher's originally mentioned requirements an intramedullary nail.