Über die Agglutinationskraft menschlicher Blutsera für Arten der Typhusgattung und der Coligattung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Morbidity and mortality associated with chronic airway disease are expected to continue to rise over the coming years. Accordingly, increased attention will need to be directed toward the diagnosis and treatment of COPD in the elderly population. Cessation of cigarette smoking should be pursued in all patients regardless of age. The goals of bronchodilator therapy are to reduce respiratory symptoms and to improve functional capacity without causing adverse effects. In addition, supplemental oxygen, phlebotomy for polycythemia, general exercise training, and specific respiratory muscle training may further augment exercise tolerance. Complications of COPD, such as upper respiratory infections and right heart failure, should be recognized early and treated appropriately. Implementation of a pulmonary rehabilitation program, as discussed in the next article, should complement medical therapy in the treatment of elderly patients with COPD.     

The aging lung

Structural changes occur in the respiratory system with advancing age. Lung elasticity decreases, stiffness of the chest wall increases, and respiratory muscle strength declines. These alterations contribute to gradual, but progressive, reductions in forced vital capacity, expiratory flow rates, diffusing capacity, gas exchange, ventilatory drive, and respiratory sensation. Cigarette smoking accelerates the age-related decline in flow rates. Understanding the effects of aging on the lung is important in order to distinguish pathologic changes from changes that are part of the normal aging process.     

Magnetic resonance angiography of abdominal vessels: early experience using the three-dimensional phase-contrast technique

Based on three-dimensional acquisition of three sequences sensitive to one flow-direction, abdominal magnetic resonance phase-contrast angiography (MRA) was performed in 13 volunteers and 20 patients. The subjects received no antiperistaltic medication and were allowed to breath normally during the three acquisition periods of 11 minutes. The frequency of demonstration of the normal aorta, superior mesenteric and right and left renal arteries was 100%/100%/91%/100%, and of the inferior vena cava, splenic, superior mesenteric and portal veins was 92%/67%/92%/100%, respectively, whereas other abdominal vessels were seen less constantly. In renal artery stenosis or occlusion, MRA detected eight out of nine pathological arteries, missed only a minimal stenosis and was never false positive. In all 10 cases of portal hypertension, MRA demonstrated the venous collaterals detected by conventional angiography and in six cases showed more collaterals, particularly paravertebral vessels. A Budd-Chiari syndrome was investigated as well. If the accuracy of MRA can be proved in larger studies, it may become an important diagnostic tool in evaluating abdominal vascular pathology, such as renal artery stenosis or portal hypertension.     

Osteotome sinus floor elevation using Choukroun's platelet-rich fibrin as grafting material: a 1-year prospective pilot study with microthreaded implants.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective study was to document, radiographically, changes in the apical bone levels on microthreaded implants placed in subsinus residual bone height, according to a bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation technique with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as grafting material. STUDY DESIGN: Implants were placed using PRF as grafting material in the bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation (BAOSFE) technique. The survival rate at abutment tightening (6 to 12 weeks of healing) and at 1 year was calculated. The radiographic analysis determined on consecutive radiographs: 1) the mean residual bone height (RBH) under the maxillary sinus at implant placement; and 2) the change in endosinus bone level. Mean and standard deviation were used to assess the endosinus bone changes in the mesial and distal implant sides at 1 year. RESULTS: Between December 2004 and June 2005, 20 consecutive patients were included in the study after bone height measurement by periapical radiographs. Patients included 14 women (70%) and 6 men (30%) with a mean age of 54.8 +/- 11.1 years, range 35 to 73 years; they were treated with 35 Astra Tech implants (Astra Tech Dental Implant System; Astra Tech, M?lndal, Sweden) fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The mean healing time before abutment tightening was 8.3 +/- 1.4 weeks (range 6-12 weeks); by this time, 1 implant was mobile and was removed. At 1 year, all implants were clinically stable and the definitive prostheses were in function, resulting in a survival rate of 97.1%. Nineteen implants (55%) were 11 mm long, 6 implants (17%) were 9 mm, 5 implants (14%) were 8 mm, and 5 implants (14%) were 13 mm. The RBH was measured after implant placement on the radiographs on both implant sides. The mean RBH was 6.5 +/- 1.7 mm: 6.3 +/- 1.3 on the mesial side and 6.7 +/- 2.0 mm on the distal side. Measurements of the changes in the endosinus level on the mesial and distal sides showed that all implants gained endosinus bone. The mean endosinus gain was 3.2 +/- 1.5 mm: 3.5 +/- 1.4 mm on the mesial side and 2.9 +/- 1.6 mm on the distal side. The lowest bone gain was 0.9 mm and 0.1 mm on the mesial and distal sides, respectively. The highest gain was 5.8 mm and 5.2 mm on the mesial and distal sides, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The BAOSFE procedure with PRF as grafting material can lead to an endosinus bone gain. Despite a limited RBH, a healing period of 2-3 months was found to be sufficient to resist a torque of 25 N.cm applied during abutment tightening. At 1 year, formation of a new recognizable bone structure delimiting the sinus floor was identified radiologically and led to a predictable implant function.