Isoprinosine in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis type B.

21 patients with chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B) were treated for 1-2 years with isoprinosine, while another 18 patients served as control group. All patients were initially DNA polymerase (DNAp) and HBeAg positive. Nine (43%) treated patients became persistently negative for DNAp, seroconverted to anti-HBe and showed histological remission on follow-up biopsy. Among simultaneously followed controls 5 (28%) lost DNAp and 4 (22%) also lost their HBeAg. However, only 2 (11%) seroconverted to anti-HBe. Histological improvement was seen in 5 (28%) controls. Thus, it seems that isoprinosine may exert a beneficial effect on the course and outcome of CAH-B.     

Ultrasonic examination of the prostate, with rating apparatus for tumor recognition (author's transl)]

The prostate was examined by ultrasonic waves to diagnose tumorous changes of the organ. We scanned directly from the abdominal wall through the full bladder (transvesical). The classification of the resulting B-pictures is based on patterns that are specific for normal, adenomatous, or cancerous tissue. The results show that adenomas and carcinomas are recognizable in 85% of the examined patients by ultrasonic waves and can be differentiated from normal prostate tissue. Keywords: Ultrasonics, Prostate, Recognition of Tumors.     

Evaluation of a new lid implant for rehabilitation of the paralyzed eye

BACKGROUND: Since 1999 the platinum chain is being used as implant to correct lagophthalmos, which promises, due to its flexibility, lower postoperative complications. The lack of mandatory results reported in the literature, prompted us to survey all surgeons using the platinum chain in order to learn of the complications they had experienced. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 30 surgeons to survey results and complications associated with the implantation of the platinum chain to treat lagophthalmos. Complications like contouring, migration and extrusion of the implant occurred. RESULTS: Complications observed were bulging of the implant in 12 cases (5,7 %), 4 migrations of the implant (1,9 %), in 7 cases a frank extrusion (3,3 %), a ptosis of the upper eyelid in 8 cases (3,8 %), a corneal astigmatism in 3 cases (1,4 %) and in one case an infection of the upper eyelid (0,5 %). In 2 cases (0,9 %) the patients lamented a mechanical irritation of the upper eyelid. CONCLUSION: Implantation of eyelid weights is a straightforward and reversible procedure for the surgical therapy of lagophthalmos. Through the use of the platinum chain as implant the postoperative complications are to be regarded as small in total. With that the effectiveness of the procedure can be increased compared to rigid gold implants.     

HEPES inhibits contractile responses of canine basilar artery .

Abstract

N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N’-2-ethanesulphonic acid (HEPES) is a commonly-used buffer. This study determined the effect of HEPES on contractility of the dog basilar artery and tested the hypothesis that HEPES inhibits vasoconstriction ofisolated arterial segments by generating H² O₂ . Rings ofdog basilar artery with or without endothelium were suspended under isometric tension and contracted with Kel, serotonin, or prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in bicarbonate or HEPES buffer. Addition of HEPES, 30 mmoll^-1, before or after contraction with Kel, serotonin or PGF2α significantly decreased maximal tension in rings with or without endothelium. Preincubation with HEPES buffer, 10 mmoll^-1, significantly decreased maximal contractions to each agonist in rings with endothelium and to Kel and serotonin in rings without endothelium. HEPES, 30 mmoll^-1 , noncompetitively inhibited concentration-contraction curves to increasing concentrations of each agonist in rings with or without endothelium. Inhibition by HEPES was completely reversible with washing. The inhibitory effects of HEPES on responses to each agonist in rings with endothelium were significantly less in the dark or after coincubation with catalase. Unlike HEPES, effects of H20 2 were endothelium-dependent in that H₂ O₂ caused contractions in rIngs with endothelium and relaxations in rings without endothelium. 5-(N,N’-dimethyO-amiloride and 4,4’diisothiocyanataostilbene- 2,2’-disulfonic acid did not affect contractility in this preparation. These results show that HEPES exerts significant inhibitory effects on arterial smooth muscle contractility. The mechanism does not involve endothelium-dependent relaxation, effects on chloride channels or the sodium-hydrogen exchanger or generation of H₂ O₂ by HEPES in the light. [Neural Res 1997; 19: 527-533]