Laser welded vascular anastomosis

Summary A comparative study was undertaken to investigate the application of a specially adapted microsurgical Neodymium Yag Laser system with a wavelength of 1,319 m and a CO₂ laser system for laser assisted microvascular end-to-end anastomosis (LAMA) of the rat femoral artery. Conventionally sutured anastomoses served as controls. Postoperative investigations included patency tests, light microscopy and tensile strength measurements. Both laser systems seem to be equally suitable for LAMA: The patency rates do not differ from those of sutured anstomoses and formation of microscopically small aneurysms occurred predominantly in control animals and only once in laser groups. The clamp time needed for LAMA was half the time that was needed for sutured anastomoses. Wound healing in all groups was similar with less fibrotic reactions and less foreign body granulomas in laser groups. At all intervals tensile strength was significantly higher for sutured anastomoses while differences between the CO₂- and the ND: Yag-laser groups were not statistically significant. Potential applications in urology include microvascular anastomoses in erectile dysfunction, pediatric and reconstructive urology.Contains parts of a dissertation     

Ultrasound screening for hip dysplasia in neonates

In a pilot study, hip development in 615 newborn children was assessed sonographically. Distinct dysplasia was found in 2.3%, and an intermediate "physiologically immature" hip development was noted in 13%. The number of controls and expenses would greatly increase if all physiologically immature hips were followed until they reached maturity. To reduce the number of unnecessary control and to facilitate assessment, we propose the use of "cut-off values" in a screening program for newborns.     

Activation of inflammatory systems during cardiopulmonary bypass

"Whole body inflammation" induced by cardiopulmonary bypass may play a role in the pathogenesis of postoperative complications after open-heart surgery. The inflammatory response, in terms of complement activation and release of granular proteins from neutrophil granulocytes, was investigated in six patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery. Complement activation was demonstrated as well as substantially increased plasma levels of lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase--two granulocyte factors. The activation of inflammatory systems probably takes place on the artificial surfaces of the extracorporeal device. The biocompatibility of these components therefore should be further studied.     

Objective and subjective effects of remoxipride, alone and in combination with ethanol or diazepam, on performance in healthy subjects

Effects on human performance of remoxipride (RX), an antipsychotic drug of substituted benzamide structure, were studied in a randomized double-blind crossover trial where 12 young healthy volunteers took at 1 week intervals single oral doses of placebo or remoxipiride 100 mg both alone and in combination with 15 mg diazepam (DZ) or 0.8 g/kg ethanol (EtOH). Objective (digit symbols, tracking, choice reaction, flicker fusion, Maddox wing, body balance, memory) and subjective (visual analogue scales, questionnaire) tests were administered at baseline and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6 h post-treatment.     

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in 137 patients aged 70 years or older: a retrospective European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lymphoma Group Study

The results of a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) retrospective study on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in elderly patients (greater than or equal to 70 years of age) seen in Europe in 1984 are reported. A precodified form was sent to 55 European institutes in order to evaluate the incidence of NHL in the elderly with regard to natural history, treatment-related toxicity, response, and survival. Thirteen institutes participated in the study. One hundred thirty-seven cases of NHL were observed in the elderly during 1984, making up 28% of the total number of NHL seen in those institutes. The median age was 77 years; 21% of the patients had favorable (low-grade) and 73% unfavorable (intermediate- and high-grade) histology, according to the Working Formulation. Stage at presentation was localized (I and II) in 60% and advanced in 37% of the patients. Most of the physicians used standard therapy regimens at reduced doses, from the beginning of the treatment. Sixty patients (44%) underwent a "conservative" treatment (one or two antineoplastic drugs or local field radiotherapy) and 77 (56%) an "aggressive" treatment (polychemotherapy regimens or extended field radiotherapy). Response was similar between the two treatment groups, but severe and lethal toxicity was significantly higher among patients treated with aggressive therapy. Prospective randomized studies are clearly needed to define the optimal treatment in elderly patients with advanced unfavorable NHL.     

Differences in DNA-fingerprints between remission and relapse in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

DNA "fingerprint" (DNA-F) analysis, based on the polymorphism caused by numeric variations in the tandem repeats of minisatellite areas of the human genome, has a potential capacity to reveal even minor genomic changes. In this study we have applied DNA-F to the detection of residual disease in leukemia. In order to identify normal and leukemic cell populations, we used two molecular probes: Jeffrey's minisatellite probes and M13 wild type phage probe, which detect different sets of polymorphic fragments in the human genome. Comparison of varying minisatellite fragments between remission and relapse was performed by Southern blot hybridization in seven patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The results suggest that Southern hybridization with DNA "fingerprint" probes can prove to be a sensitive method in the detection of minimal residual disease in ALL.     

Attempts to define the minimal serum level of vitamin A required for normal visual function in a patient with severe fat malabsorption

A case with severe malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins is described. The malabsorption developed after an intestinal bypass operation due to morbid obesity. Night blindness occurred as the first symptom of vitamin A deficiency. The cone visual sensory threshold was elevated about one log unit and the rod threshold abot two and a half log units. No changes of the a- and b-waves of the electroretinogram (ERG) was observed. However, during the initial phase of very low serum reninol level (0.21 mumol/l) the summed amplitudes of the oscillatory potentials (OPs) were lower. After parenteral therapy with vitamin A the night blindness disappeared and the dark-adapted rod and cone threshold sensitivity recovered to normal. However, the time-course of rod adaptation first reached normal levels after 5 months. The amplitudes of the OPs of the ERG response returned to normal when the serum retinol level had increased close to normal. Serum retinol levels of 0.7 mumol/l or higher were always associated with normal or close to normal dark-adapted rod sensitivity. However, a normal serum retinol level (> 0.95 mumol/l) and a normal dark-adapted rod threshold sensitivity were not always associated with a normal time-course of the rod adaptation. It is concluded, that the maintenance dosage of vitamin A must be individualized and that patients who have undergone jejuno-ilea bypass surgery must be carefully monitored for vitamin A deficiency by both serum levels and dark adaptation measurements.     

The handling of five amines by the extraneuronal deaminating system of the rat heart

Summary The handling of five amines by the extraneuronal deaminating system was studied in perfused hearts of rats (pretreated with reserpine; COMT and neuronal uptake inhibited). Hearts were perfused with 50 nmol/l ³H-noradrenaline for 30 min, in the presence of increasing concentrations of unlabelled (–)-adrenaline, (–)-noradrenaline, dopamine, tyramine and 5-HT. IC₅₀'s were determined as those concentrations of unlabelled amines which halved the steady-state rate of deamination of ³H-noradrenaline. After correction for changes in the tissue/medium ratio for ³H-noradrenaline, half-saturating outside concentrations were obtained. They increased in the order (–)-adrenaline (15 mol/l) — tyramine — dopamine — noradrenaline —5-HT (53 mol/l). The V _max for extraneuronal deamination was determined for ³H-(–)-adrenaline, ³H-(–)-noradrenaline and ³H-dopamine, as well as (by HPLC and electrochemical detection) for tyramine and 5-HT. It was low for (–)-adrenaline, intermediate for (–)-noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-HT, high for tyramine. For the three catecholamines the half-saturating outside concentrations of the extraneuronal deaminating system clearly exceeded those for the extraneuronal O-methylating system of the same organ (see Grohmann and Trendelenburg 1985), although the two enzymes appear to co-exist in the same cells, so that the same transport system is involved.Abbreviations COMT catechol-O-methyl transferase - DOMA dihydroxymandelic acid - DOPEG dihydroxyphenylglycol - 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine - MAO monoamine oxidase Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 176) Send offprint requests to U. Trendelenburg     

The behaviorally active peptide ACTH 4-10: Measurement in plasma and pharmacokinetics in man

Summary A specific radioimmunoassay for the quantitative measurement of ACTH 4-10 and a procedure for its extraction from plasma have been developed.Its pharmacokinetics was studied in eight healthy male volunteers given ACTH 4-10 125 µg/kg body weight as a bolus i.v. injection, by infusion and intranasally. Following the i.v. bolus, plasma levels rapidly declined biexponentially, with half-lives of 0.39±0.05 min for the -phase and 3.84 ± 1.5 min for the -phase (mean±SD). The constant rate i.v. infusion yielded steady-state levels between 0.74 and 5.06 ng/ml plasma. Administered as intranasal spray, absorption of intact ACTH 4-10 was low and variable (maximal bioavailability 7.6%).The results are discussed in relation to the dose-dependent effects of ACTH 4-10 on the auditory evoked potential.     

The value of a zero power intraocular lens

An intraocular lens with a reversed optic and with haptics angulated forward presses the posterior capsule more posteriorly than other types of lenses. This position is thought to be important even in eyes that do not need intraocular lenses for optical reasons, such as eyes with high axial myopia (because of their increased tendency to postoperative retinal detachment) and eyes with postoperative capsular fibrosis. "Zero lenses" were implanted in seven eyes. The lenses had a convex posterior surface and a concave anterior surface which were parallel. The position of the posterior capsule, measured with ultrasound, was 4.9 mm to 5.8 mm (mean 5.5 mm) behind the anterior corneal surface. In two fellow eyes without a lens (after planned extracapsular cataract extraction), the posterior capsule was 4.1 mm and 4.3 mm behind the anterior corneal surface.