Quantitative topographical analysis of effects of single thiopental bolus on human electroencephalogram.

The aim of present study was to characterize the topographical effect of thiopental on the EEG during induction of anesthesia. A multichannel (19 channels) digital EEG was recorded in 10 patients undergoing surgical treatment. The period during induction of anaesthesia before intubation was investigated in regard to peak frequency, amplitude, topography, and amplitude in conventional frequency bands. The main findings were a slowing of the EEG with a simultaneous increase of amplitude in the predominant EEG frequency (peak frequency) during induction. The topographical analysis showed a clear change of localization of the peak frequency in the occipito-frontal direction. Berger described the effect of thiopental on electrical cortical activity as early as 1933. Since then, many studies have investigated its influence on the EEG, but few have tried to characterize the effects of topographical changes in a quantitative way.     

Effect of cholesterol deprivation on piglet small intestine and serum lipids

Using the neonatal piglet, the effects of dietary cholesterol deprivation on growth, intestinal enzyme activity, intestinal and hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), and serum lipid were studied. Six litters of piglets were randomly assigned to one of two feeding regimens: restricted (800 ml of formula/24 h) versus unrestricted (1,200 ml of formula/24 h). Within litters, piglets were separated by sex, then randomly assigned to a formula containing low cholesterol (less than 2 mg/dl) or high cholesterol (145 mg/dl). Piglets were fed for 2 weeks. Male piglets in the restricted low cholesterol group gained significantly less weight per milliliter of formula than the restricted high cholesterol males. No effect was observed in the females. Microvillus membrane lactase activity was greater in males fed a high versus low cholesterol diet. Intestinal and hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activities and serum lipid profiles showed a trend toward compensation for dietary cholesterol deprivation but did not differ statistically between the cholesterol-fed versus -deprived groups. It is concluded that dietary cholesterol deprivation in the male neonatal pig causes alterations in growth, but no other statistically significant responses were detectable in this study.     

Passive electrical properties of motoneurons in aged cats following axotomy

The objective of this study was to determine whether the aging process influences the changes in the electrophysiological properties of motoneurons that occur as a consequence of axotomy. Accordingly, using intracellular recording and stimulating techniques, the basic electrical properties of control (unaxotomized) and axotomized spinal cord motoneurons of aged cats were determined. Compared with control motoneurons, axotomized motoneurons exhibited increases in input resistance (R_in), membrane time constant (τ_b) and the equalizing time constant (τ_c). While the electrotonic length (L) remained unchanged, axotomy induced a decrease in the total cell capacitance (C_cell. The post-axotomy reduction of C_cell indicates that the motoneuron surface area was reduced and the increased membrane time constant indicates that there was an increase in membrane resistivity (R_m). The post-axotomy conservation of L accompanied by an increase in R_m suggests that aged axotomized motoneurons undergo geometrical changes. Furthermore, calculations based on cable theory suggest that the diameter of the equivalent cylinder (d) decreased following axotomy, whereas the equivalent cylinder length (l) remained unaffected. It is concluded that axotomy produces significant alterations in the soma-dendritic portion of aged spinal motoneurons, as indicated by the changes found in their passive electrophysiological properties, and that the pattern of the response that occurs in axotomized motoneurons of adult cats is also present in axotomized motoneurons of aged animals.     

Reversal of gelatin-impaired wound healing in rats by exogenous fibronectin.

Animal experiments have shown that administration of gelatin results in a deprivation of plasma fibronectin (FN) and impaired wound healing. For further elucidation of these findings a therapy study with purified human FN was performed in rats. Fifty animals received a standard burn injury of 1% body surface and were divided into five experimental groups. Positive controls given no further treatment or treated with solvent only served for estimation of normal healing. For a negative control, 10 animals received three intraperitoneal injections of gelatin (58 mg/kg body wt) on Days 0, 1, and 2 after injury. They exhibited a striking lack of plasma FN (Day 1) and a significant delay of wound contraction (Days 7 and 14). In the therapy groups each administration of gelatin was followed by an intraperitoneal or intracardiac injection of FN (58 mg/kg body wt) 1 hr later. In these animals the negative effect of gelatin upon plasma FN and wound contraction was prevented. According to this study wound healing is menaced by FN deficiency and can be optimized by substitution of exogenous FN.     

Bilateral subclavian steal syndrome: Treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement

A 66-year-old man presented with bilateral subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) due to proximal subclavian artery occlusions. He was treated by percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) and stent implantation in the left subclavian artery and by PTA alone in the right subclavian artery. We could demonstrate that interventional treatment of symptomatic bilateral SSS is possible. If PTA alone is insufficient, stent implantation should be considered.     

Association of human polyomavirus JC with peripheral blood of immunoimpaired and healthy individuals

JC virus (JCV) infection is regularly asymptomatic in healthy individuals. In contrast, in immunocompromised individuals, highly activated virus replication may lead to PML. Peripheral blood cells (PBCs) are found to habor JCV DNA in healthy and diseased individuals and it is discussed that they might be responsible for dissemination of the virus to the central nervous system (CNS) during persistence. To better understand the role of JCV DNA in PBCs for persistent infection and pathogenesis, the authors characterized the extent of JCV infection in Ficoll-gradient purified blood cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs]) of healthy and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. Virus activation in PBMCs from healthy JCV-infected individuals was found at a rate of 0% to 38% at low polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sensitivity. In progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) patients, a stronger signal was found, indicating increased virus activation. JCV DNA was regularly detected in T and B lymphocytes and in monocytes at low levels. However, granulocytes were shown to be the predominant reservoir of JCV DNA harboring high copy numbers. Although the overall distribution of viral genomes holds true for the population studied, in the individual, a markedly changed pattern of distribution can be found.     

Results of a double blind study of 89-strontium therapy of skeletal metastases of prostatic carcinoma

Forty-nine patients were treated with either 3×75 MBq ⁸⁹Sr or saline as placebo. Analysis of results 1 to 3 years after therapy revealed the ineffectiveness of ⁸⁹Sr to relieve pain from metastases. Unexpectedly, a higher survival rate was found after Sr application (46% vs 4% after 2 years). Covariate analysis underlines the effect of ⁸⁹Sr therapy on life expectation.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy of rheumatoid shoulder and elbow

Surgical Principles Radical arthroscopic synovectomy of rheumatoid shoulder and elbow. Revised Version from: Operat. Orthop. Traumatol. 4 (1992), 112–129 (German Edition).