Die thermoelastischen Eigenschaften der Herzmuskulatur

Zusammenfassung Bei der Messung der thermischen Ausdehnung von ungedehnten oder nur wenig gedehnten tierischen Geweben mit Faserstruktur machte sich bisher die thermische Änderung des Auftriebes der Versuchsobjekte in der sie umgebendenRinger-Lösung störend bemerkbar. Um diesen Auftriebsfehler auszuschalten und somit auch an ungedehnten Geweben quantitative Versuche über thermische Ausdehnung anstellen zu können, wurde das optische Lineardilatometer vonWöhlisch dadurch verbessert, daß die Versuchsobjekte durch eine an dem festen Dilatometerarm angebrachte Quarzplatte unterstützt wurden. Die Auswirkung der scheinbaren Gewichtsänderungen auf den Dilatometerzeiger wird hierdurch aufgehoben. Eine Störung des Versuches durch die Platte findet infolge der außerordentlich geringen thermischen Ausdehnung des Quarzes nicht statt.Mit dieser Apparatur wurden erstmalig Versuche zur direkten Bestimmung der thermischen Ausdehnung der Herzmuskulatur vorgenommen. Als Versuchsobjekt dienten Streifenpräparate aus dem Ventrikel von R. esculenta. Die Versuche wurden in einem weiten Bereiche der Dehnungen (0% bis über 50%) angestellt. Es ergab sich eine weitgehende Übereinstimmung im Verhalten des Herzmuskels und des Skeletmuskels: Im Bereiche kleiner Dehnungen ist der lineare thermische Ausdehnungskoeffizient (l. th. A.K.) des erregbaren Herzmuskels negativ; an völlig ungedehnten Streifen ergab sich der Mittelwert =–(3,47±0,78) · 10^–5. Durch stärkere Dehnung kommt es wie beim Skeletmuskel und beim Nackenband zu einem Umschlagen des l. th. A.K. zu positiven Werten. Beim toten Herzmuskel ist derl. th. A.K. stets positiv.D 20.     

Immunosuppression: evolution in practice and trends, 1993–2003

Immunosuppression trends for solid organ transplantation have undergone a perceptible shift over the past decade. This period is of interest because it was during this time that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the variety of medications to allow for alternatives in immunosuppressive management. An organ-by-organ review of SRTR data identifies several important trends. Antibody induction continues to be used for the majority of kidney (70%) , simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK, 79%) pancreas after kidney (PAK, 74%), and intestine recipients (74%). It is used for under half of thoracic organ recipients and remains uncommon for liver transplant recipients (20%). The type of antibody preparation utilized has shifted from muromonab-CD3 and horse ATG to rabbit ATG and monoclonal anti-IL-2 receptor antagonists. Calcineurin inhibitors continue to be used for maintenance immunosuppression for most recipients, although there has been a shift from cyclosporine to tacrolimus. A clear transition is apparent in the choice of antimetabolite from azathioprine to mycophenolate mofetil. Although corticosteroids continue to be used as maintenance immunosuppression for most recipients prior to discharge, there is evidence that efforts of steroid avoidance protocols are having an impact across all organs, as slight decreases in their use have been observed.     

Rapid sequence treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: A pilot study

A review of the literature suggested that prolonged treatment time may lessen the probability of cure for patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. To shorten treatment time, rapid sequence treatment (RST) was devised in which chemotherapy, surgery, and irrada-tion were administered in a total treatment time of 8 weeks. Twelve patients were treated and followed 3 years or longer. Medical complications were minor. Osteonecrosis occurred in each of the first five patients and was the only major complication of the protocol. Surgical techniques were modified, and no additional patient developed osteonecrosis. No patient developed local or regional recurrence. Two patients developed distant metastases and three other patients developed second primaries. Absolute survival was 50%. Rapid sequence treatment is an aggressive and potentially hazardous protocol that yielded encouraging results in this pilot study.     

In vitro effects of Nd:YAG laser radiation on blood: A quantitative and morphologic analysis

Use of the Neodymium: yttrium -aluminum -garnet (Nd:YAG) laser to recanalize stenosed arteries may require delivery of the beam through blood. To assess the degree of hemolysis and debris formation, 54 samples of citrated whole blood were exposed to Nd:YAG laser radiation of varying powers (10, 20 and 30 watts) and duration (1, 2.5 and 5 seconds). Compared to control samples which were not subjected to laser light, there was no significant decrease in hematocrit (41 to 40.5 +/- 5%), hemoglobin concentration (13.8 to 13.8 +/- .06 g/1OO ml), or increase in "free" hemoglobin concentration. Debris weight (from .45 +/- .002 to .45 +/- .002 mg), as well as the white blood cell count, was also not significantly changed (from 5,400 to 5,200 +/- 240 WBC/cm). Light microscopy examination of debris from samples of whole blood, washed erythrocytes, and platelet-rich plasma subjected to the laser at 30 watts for five seconds failed to demonstrate the presence of membrane denaturation of blood elements, as compared with the morphologic changes observed in whole blood samples exposed to a "hot tip" rather than Nd:YAG laser radiation. Nd:YAG laser can be used intravascularly without fear of hemolysis or debris "micro-embolization" up to a power of 30 watts for five seconds.     

Polysialic acid, a unique glycan that is developmentally regulated by two polysialyltransferases, PST and STX, in the central nervous system: From biosynthesis to function

Polysialic acid is a developmentally regulated carbohydrate composed of a linear homopolymer of a-2,a-linked sialic acid residues. This unique glycan is mainly attached to the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) and implicated in many morphogenic events of the neural cells by modulating the adhesive property of N-CAM. Recently, the cDNA that encodes polysialyltransferase, which is responsible for the polysialylation of N-CAM, was successfully cloned from three mammalian species. This review focuses on the molecular cloning of human polysialyltransferase, designated PST. it then describes the number of enzymes actually required for the polysialylation of N-CAM using an in vitro polysialyltransferase assay. Comparisons between PST and another polysialyltransferase, sialyltransferase X (STX), are made and it Is demonstrated that both enzymes can independently form polysiatic acid In vitro , but that during neural development they coordinately but distinctly synthesize polysialic acid on N-CAM. The role of polysialic acid in the central nervous system is also discussed. Finally, evidence that the two polysialyltransferases, PST and STX, apparently have distinct roles in the development of neural cells is provided by using a neurite outgrowth assay.