Determination of Dissolved Oxygen in Heterogenous Systems Particularly in Emulsions and Oily Liquids

The content of dissolved oxygen was determined by four independent methods in a series of non-aqueous or heterogenous systems. The Lex-O₂-Content Analyzer represents a fast and simple apparatus that employs a coulometric oxygen assay with Hersch cell detection. A comparison of the results with different methods demonstrates the reliability of the Lex-O₂ in the determination of oxygen dissolved in heterogeneous or non-aqueous systems. Therefore, this apparatus can be recommended for the measurement of oxygen in oxygenator or perfusion fluids, as well as in blood substitutes or other oxygen transporting systems.     

Efficacy of misoprostol (twice daily dosage) in acute healing of duodenal ulcer

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of misoprostol taken twice daily for the healing of duodenal ulcer. Three hundred thirty patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer participated in a multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial comparing placebo with misoprostol 200 μg and 400 μg twice daily for up to four weeks. Patient characteristics were similar in all three treatment groups. Ulcers were between 0.3 cm and 2.0 cm in length. Healing was determined by endoscopy at two weeks; if ulcers were not healed, endoscopy was repeated at four weeks. All patients were given Al(OH)₃ antacid (up to 54 meq a day) to be used as needed for pain. Healing rates at four weeks for a total of 280 evaluable patients in the three treatment groups were as follows: misoprostol 400 μg bid, 65.4%; misoprostol 200 μg bid, 52.9%; and placebo, 42.2%. Misoprostol 400 μg bid was superior to placebo (P=0.002) in healing ulcers. However, the healing rate for misoprostol 200 μg bid did not differ significantly from placebo. The percentage of nonsmokers who healed at four weeks was higher than that of smokers in both misoprostoltreatment groups, although the difference was not analyzed for statistical significance. There were no differences in antacid consumption or pain relief among the three experimental groups during the study. Diarrhea was the most common side effect but was mild and self-limiting, occurring in 8.9%, 5.9%, and 1.8% of the misoprostol 400 μg, 200 μg, and placebo groups, respectively. These results indicate that misoprostol 400 μg, 200 μg, and for four weeks is effective and safe for the treatment of duodenal ulcers.     

Chemical,radiochemical, and radionuclide purity of eluates from different commercial fission99Mo/99mTc generators

Seven⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators (using fission⁹⁹Mo) obtained from seven different manufactures were studied in 1984 and 1985 to test the quality of the eluates. We present the findings concerning the elution efficiency, radionuclide purity,⁹⁹Mo breakthrough, radiochemical purity, pH, and aluminium content of the eluates. One generator was overloaded with⁹⁹Mo by about 40%, while one generator had^99mTc yields of only about 80%. The eluates generally (although with some exceptions) exhibited a high and satisfactory radionuclidic purity and good radiochemical purity. The low-level determination of⁹⁹Mo break-through using a commercially available dose calibrator with a⁹⁹Mo assay shiled indicated a misleadingly high⁹⁹Mo content. All of the eluates had pH values of between 5.0 and 5.5, and the aluminium content was always below the detection limit of 1 g per milliliter of eluate. The generators performed well and proved their capability of functioning as reliable sources of sodium pertechnetate Tc99m. In all cases, the pertechnetate produced met the requirements of the European Pharmacopeia.This report is based on work conducted within the scope of a research poject devised by the Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany (Hammermaier et al. 1985). The present report reflects the opinions of the authors and does not necessarily express the views of the Federal Ministry of the Interior     

Relationship of success in classical immunotherapy to the relative immunorejective strength of the tumor

Six tumors of varying immunorejective strengths were used to compare the response of their isogenic hosts to standardized regimens of immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy. The tumors were generated spontaneously or induced chemically [with 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (CAS: 57-97-6)], virally (with murine leukemia virus), or radiogenically (with strontium-90). The hosts were C57BL/6J or BALB/cByJ mice. Immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy were performed with isogenic irradiated tumor cells, with Corynebacterium parvum, or with both. The results of challenge experiments were quantified as the doses of viable tumor cells that produced 50% tumor deaths for immunized and for control mice. The results for these quantitative "classical" immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy experiments were consistent with two theses: that only immunorejective tumors give positive results with classical immunotherapy and that classical immunoprophylaxis is more effective than classical immunotherapy when identical materials are used for immunizations. These results have important consequences for the clinical use of classical immunotherapy.     

Autonomie in der Offenen Kinder- und Jugendarbeit fördern – Ergebnisse eines partizipativen Evaluationsprojekts

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Partizipation zu ermöglichen ist Teil des Auftrags der Offenen Kinder- und Jugendarbeit. Dazu gehört die Einbindung der...     

Cellular Immunity in COVID-19 Convalescents with PCR-Confirmed Infection but with Undetectable SARS-CoV-2–Specific IgG

We investigated immune responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among a group of convalescent, potential blood donors in Germany who had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sixty days after onset of symptoms, 13/78 (17%) study participants had borderline or negative results to an ELISA detecting IgG against the S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2. We analyzed participants with PCR-confirmed infection who had strong antibody responses (ratio >3) as positive controls and participants without symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and without household contact with infected patients as negative controls. Using interferon-γ ELISpot, we observed that 78% of PCR-positive volunteers with undetectable antibodies showed T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2. We observed a similar frequency (80%) of T-cell immunity in convalescent donors with strong antibody responses but did not detect immunity in negative controls. We concluded that, in convalescent patients with undetectable SARS-CoV-2 IgG, immunity may be mediated through T cells.     

Active Case Finding of Current Bornavirus Infections in Human Encephalitis Cases of Unknown Etiology,Germany, 2018–2020

Human bornavirus encephalitis is a severe and often fatal infection caused by variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) and Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1). We conducted a prospective study of bornavirus etiology of encephalitis cases in Germany during 2018–2020 by using a serologic testing scheme applied along proposed graded case definitions for VSBV-1, BoDV-1, and unspecified bornavirus encephalitis. Of 103 encephalitis cases of unknown etiology, 4 bornavirus infections were detected serologically. One chronic case was caused by VSBV-1 after occupational-related contact of a person with exotic squirrels, and 3 acute cases were caused by BoDV-1 in virus-endemic areas. All 4 case-patients died. Bornavirus etiology could be confirmed by molecular methods. Serologic testing for these cases was virus specific, discriminatory, and a practical diagnostic option for living patients if no brain tissue samples are available. This testing should be guided by clinical and epidemiologic suspicions, such as residence in virus-endemic areas and animal exposure.     

Cystatin C predicts renal function impairment after partial or radical tumor nephrectomy

International Urology and Nephrology - To test the value of preoperative and postoperative cystatin C (CysC) as a predictor on kidney function after partial (PN) or radical nephrectomy (RN) in...     

Efficacy of vaccination with StroVac for recurrent urinary tract infections in women: a comparative single-centre study

International Urology and Nephrology - To assess the efficacy of prophylaxis for urinary tract infections (UTI) in a two-year follow-up in women with StroVac compared to a therapy with...