Diffusion of Xenon and Nitrous Oxide into the Bowel

Background: Nitrous oxide diffuses easily from blood into air filled spaces. Xenon is also a relatively insoluble gas, like nitrous oxide. Therefore, the authors measured xenon diffusion into obstructed bowel segments during xenon anesthesia and compared this with nitrous oxide and nitrogen diffusion.

Methods: Twenty-one pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs were randomly assigned to three groups to receive either xenon-oxygen, nitrous oxide-oxygen, or nitrogen-oxygen (75%-25%), respectively. In each animal, four bowel segments of 15-cm length were isolated. A pressure-measuring catheter was inserted into the lumen, and 30 ml of room air was injected into the segments. Anesthesia with the selected gas mixture was performed for 4 h. Pressure in the segments was measured continuously. The volume of gaseous bowel content was measured on completion of the study.

Results: The median volume of bowel gas in animals breathing nitrous oxide was 88.0 ml as compared with 39.0 ml with xenon anesthesia and 21.5 ml in the nitrogen-oxygen group. After 4 h of anesthesia, the intraluminal pressures in the nitrous oxide group were found to be significantly greater than in the control group and in the xenon group.     

Prevalence and incidence of Parkinson's disease in Europe.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview on the prevalence and incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in selected European countries. BACKGROUND: PD is a common disease of unknown etiology. Accurate information on the epidemiology of PD is critical to inform health policy. An aging population will lead to more patients with PD; thus, the high financial burden PD places on society will increase. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies on the prevalence and incidence of PD in the following European countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. Only published studies were included. Abstracts, reviews, meta-analyses and letters to the editor were excluded. There were no language restrictions. Data were extracted using a standardized assessment form, and evidence tables were used to systematically report and compare the data. RESULTS: Of 39 identified studies, most (87%) reported estimates of PD prevalence rates, while only a few (13%) reported estimates of PD annual incidence rates. Crude prevalence rate estimates ranged from 65.6 per 100,000 to 12,500 per 100,000 and annual incidence estimates ranged from 5 per 100,000 to 346 per 100,000. No publications could be identified for Austria or the Czech Republic. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The observed variations in prevalence and incidence rates may result from environmental or genetic factors, but might also be a consequence of differences in methodologies for case ascertainment, diagnostic criteria, or age distributions of the study populations. The comparability of existing studies is limited.     

Shape, movement and function of neutrophil granulocytes

Evidence that distinct types of shapes and movement can be induced by different neutrophil-activating agents like the chemotactic peptides and PMA is reviewed. Front-tail polarity seems to be preferentially associated with locomotion, whereas non-polar cells with surface projections show preferentially pinocytosis. The following partially hypothetical concept on neutrophil shape changes has been derived from these experiments: Neutrophils are capable to perform distinct types of movements depending on the stimulus or stimuli. Distinct movements are preferentially associated with distinct functions such as locomotion, pinocytosis or others. The underlying cytoskeletal changes may differ accordingly.     

Farbreaktionen und Chemische Bestimmungsmethoden von Keimdrüsenhormonen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Alternative methods for reduction of blood loss during elective orthognathic surgery.

Bimaxillary orthognathic surgery and genioplasty are frequently performed to correct dentoskeletal anomalies in otherwise healthy young patients. Until 1990 homologous blood transfusions were routinely necessary for these procedures. The present study describes a protocol of blood-saving measures that was adopted and tested on a continuous sample of 127 patients treated between 1994 and 1997. The protocol comprises acute normovolemic hemodilution, controlled moderate hypotension, positioning the surgical field above the heart level, cell saving, intraoperative homeostasis, preoperative autologous blood donation, administration of recombinant erythropoietin, and acceptance of a low hematocrit perioperatively. This study shows that homologous blood transfusions may be avoided intraoperatively by following the protocol described.     

Analgetika und laxantien als risikofaktoren für krebs der ableitenden Harnwege—Ergebnisse der Berliner Urothelkarzinom-Studie (BUS)

In eine retrospektiven Fall-Kontrol-Studie (1990–1995), der Berliner Urothelkarzinom-Studie (BUS), wurden Analgetika und Laxantien als Risiken für die Entwicklung von Urothelkarzinomen im Nierenbecken, Ureter und Harnblase untersucht. Speziell für Nierenbeckenkarzinome konnten substanz- und dosisspezifische Risiken antipyretischer Analgetika meist in Form von Kombinationsschmerzmitteln ermittelt werden. Bewertet wurden die schmerzstillenden Wirkstoffe Phenacetin, Paracetamol, Acetylsalicylsäure und Pyrazolone. Neu ist der Nachweis eines Krebsrisikos durch Laxantien für die ableitenden Harnwege vom Typ Kontaktlaxans (auch Stimulanz genannt) sowohl mit chemischen als auch mit pflanzlichen anthranoidhaltigen Wirkstoffen. Die anthranoidhaltige Plfanze Sennes zeigt die höchsten Risikowerte. Laxantien sowie die antipyretischen Analgetika gehören zu den typischen Selbstmedikationspräparaten, die mit hohen Absatzanteilen auf dem Arzneimittelmarkt vertreten sind. Die vorliegende Studie leistet somit einen neuen Beitrag zur Bewertung von Risiken durch die Selbstmedikation. Für die Bewertung des Krebsrisikos von Laxantien werden weitere Studien gefordert.