Significance of lung contusion in mortality following polytrauma. Possibilities for therapeutic influence

Multiple trauma is often associated with blunt thoracic injuries. Especially lung contusion can result in respiratory insufficiency and therefore a higher mortality rate. In our prospective study comparing 8 multiple trauma patients with and without associated lung contusion, we found that respiratory function was already significantly disturbed (decrease of paO2/FiO2 and increase of AaDO2, a rise in extravascular lung water (EVLW) both early after trauma and also with a second peak following the 4th day. This group (LK) developed significantly more cases of respiratory distress (ARDS). The disturbance of respiratory function seen initially was interpreted as a consequence of the direct mechanical impact, leading to the formation of interstitial fluid and hematoma. The frequent development of ARDS in the LK-group probably results from a pronounced activation of cellular and humoral mechanisms and therefore an enforced injury of the pulmonary capillary bed. A significant increase of pulmonary infections or the development of sepsis was not seen in the LK-group and is probably not responsible for the higher ARDS-rate in this group.     

Transplacental IgG Subclass Concentrations in Pregnancies at Risk of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn

The relationship of haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) to the transplacental passage of the four IgG subclasses was assessed at varous gestational ages by comparing the maternal and fetal IgG subclass concentrations in 34 pregnancies at risk of HDN with those in 30 pregnancies not at risk. Higher maternal and fetal IgG1 levels were attained in pregnancies at risk of HDN than in pregnancies not at risk. In contrast, a slight decrease in maternal IgG2 and IgG4 levels occurred in pregnancies at risk of HDN, as compared with a slight rise in maternal IgG2 and IgG4 levels in pregnancies not at risk of HDN. Changes in fetal IgG2 and 4 concentrations in either type of pregnancy were very similar, showing only slight increases between the 19th and 34th week of gestation. A slight decrease in maternal IgG3 occurred in both types of pregnancy. In contrast, higher and fairly steady levels of fetal IgG3 were observed in fetuses not at risk of HDN throughout gestation, when compared with those in 'at risk' pregnancies. However, the statistical reliability of these results is not clear since only small numbers of samples were tested and because wide variations in IgG concentrations were observed. The IgG subclass concentrations in 50 paired maternal and cord blood samples were also measured and revealed that IgG1 levels were substantially higher in cord rather than maternal blood; cord and maternal IgG2, 3 and 4 levels, on the other hand, were fairly similar.     

Occupational exposure to hazardous substances and risk of cancer in the area of the mouth cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. A case-control study

A case-control study of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract conducted in Heidelberg and Giessen (FRG) provided information on occupational factors in 200 patients and 800 controls (adjusted to sex, age and area of living; 4:1 matched design). The number of subjects exposed to wood dusts, organic chemicals, coal products or to cement was significantly elevated in the tumour group. An increased risk for head and neck cancer was observed after exposition to wood dust (RR = 2,2), organic compounds (RR = 2,4), coal products (RR = 2,7) and especially to cement (RR = 4,4). The cancer risk due to cement exposition showed a positive correlation to the duration of exposition and remained significantly elevated after adjustment for alcohol and tobacco consumption.     

INCREASED RATE OF ETHANOL ELIMINATION AND ELEVATED BLOOD ACETATE IN ASTHMATICS ON CORTICOSTEROID, BETA-2-SYMPATHICOMIMETIC AND THEOPHYLLINE TREATMENT

The rate of ethanol elimination and blood acetate concentrationsafter a peroral dose of alcohol were measured in eight asthmaticpatients receiving high-dose corticosteroid, sustained releasetheophylline and beta-2-sympathicomimetic treatment and in eightnonalcoholic, healthy controls. Mean ethanol elimination rate(ER) and mean blood acetate concentration (AC) were significantly(P<0.01) higher in asthmatics (ER=134.8 ± 12.9 mg/kg/hr,AC = 1.13± 0.25 mM) than in controls (ER = 100.2 ±12.3 mg/kg/hr, AC = 0.64 ± 0.10 mM). In the asthmaticsthere was a significant negative correlation between the ageand the rate of ethanol elimination (r = –0.890, P <0.01); in the control group, however, this correlation was oflower degree (r = –0.423) and did not achieve statisticalsignificance. Enhanced ethanol metabolism in asthmatics is possiblydue to the effect of drugs. Our results suggest that ethanolelimination rate is increased in asthmatics receiving medicationand that the effect is most significant in younger age groups.     

Herzoperationen wegen Herztumoren in Deutschland – Ergebnisse eienr Umfrage für das Jahr 1996

Zusammenfassung Zahlen zur H?ufigkeit von Herztumoren im operativen Krankengut liegen bisher für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland nicht vor. Um einen entsprechenden überblick für das Jahr 1996 zu erhalten, wurde allen 77 herzchirurgischen Zentren der Bundesrepublik Deutschland ein standardisierter Fragebogen zugesandt. Daten von 65 der 77 Herzzentren (=84%) waren schlie?lich verfügbar: 187 Patienten waren wegen Myxomen, lediglich 44 wegen nichtmyxomat?sen Tumoren, davon 28 wegen malignen prim?ren oder sekund?ren Herztumoren, operiert worden. Im Jahr 1996 waren somit 0,32% (231/72 763) der Eingriffe mit Herz-Lungen-Maschine (erfa?t 72 763 von insgesamt 87 372) wegen eines Herztumors vorgenommen worden. Ausgehend von diesen operativen Daten liegt die Inzidenz ausschlie?lich der prim?ren Tumoren des Herzens zumindest bei 3 Tumoren pro 1 Million Einwohner pro Jahr (253 Tumoren/81,814 Millionen Einwohner). Wenn auch kleine Tumoren asymptomatisch und unentdeckt bleiben k?nnen, wird heute doch die Mehrzahl prim?rer kardialer Tumoren durch Echokardiographie, Computer- und Kernspintomographie bereits zu Lebzeiten des Patienten diagnostiziert, und diese Patienten werden in aller Regel einer Operation zugeführt. Somit werden gut 0,3% aller Eingriffe mit Herz-Lungen-Maschine in Deutschland wegen Herztumoren durchgeführt, wobei es sich weit überwiegend um Myxome handelt. Eingegangen: 23. September 1997, Akzeptiert: 11. Februar 1998     

Experiments on the nature of the signal that induces spinal neuroplastic changes following a peripheral lesion.

This study aimed at identifying the signal(s) that elicit myositis-induced neuroplastic changes in background activity and responsiveness of spinal neurones. It is based on previous data suggesting that in dorsal horn neurones, responsiveness to peripheral input on one hand and background activity on the other are probably controlled by different mechanisms. In anaesthetized rats, myositis was induced in the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle and the activity of single dorsal horn neurones was recorded in segment L3. Impulse traffic and axoplasmatic transport in dorsal roots L4 and L5 were selectively blocked by lignocaine or vinblastine for various time periods relative to the induction of the myositis. The results show that the main triggering signal for the myositis-induced changes in both responsiveness and background activity is the altered impulse activity in primary afferent fibres. In contrast, 'no axonally transported chemical signal controlling the discharge behaviour of dorsal horn neurones was found. However, the time course of the electrical signals that cause the myositis-induced changes in background activity and responsiveness is different. For changes in responsiveness, a rather narrow time window of 2 h directly after induction of the myositis existed, during which the impulses from the inflamed muscle must reach the spinal cord. Accordingly, to prevent the increase in responsiveness, the electrical input had to be blocked during the first 2 h; a block of the same duration at another time had no effect. The change in background activity seems to be due to a continuous input from the inflamed muscle which adds up over the hours. Therefore, with regard to background activity, blocking the electrical signals is effective at any time, but only a block of long duration has a significant effect.