Das Liquid-oxygen-System (LOX)

By oxygen concentration measurements (Oximeter Oxydig Dräger, Lübeck) in the EC 145 helicopter two oxygen transport and application systems were compared. The new liquid oxygen system (LOX) for the oxygen therapy was assessed in an application observation. For physical reasons fluid oxygen evaporates during the stand-by phase and an increased concentration (22.8% O₂) in the exhaust valve of LOX arises. On the other hand a high oxygen concentration (22.7% O₂) was measured in the operation mode of the conventional pressure flask gas system (GAS). No increased concentration could be measured within the helicopter cabin (HEMS, PAX) comparing both oxygen systems. For transport and application of oxygen with a very big reserve for the air dependent intensive transport the results show that LOX is a sure low pressure system (3.4 bar).     

Polymerizable amphiphiles, 2. Micellization of 1-O-3-(4-vinylphenyl)propyl-β-D-glucopyranose

1-O-3-(4-Vinylphenyl)propyl-β-D -glucopyranose ( 1 ) undergoes in water a closed association under formation of N-mers. The unimer/N-mer association is directly visible in the Schlieren pattern of ultracentrifugal synthetic boundary experiments. Association numbers and mass-concentration-based equilibrium constants of association were calculated from the variation of N-mer concentrations with unimer concentrations and from the concentration dependence of inverse apparent average molar masses as measured by both vapor phase osmometry and sedimentation equilibrium. Association numbers were also calculated from the combination of sedimentation coefficients with diffusion coefficients, sedimentation coefficients with intrinsic viscosities, and diffusion coefficients with interinsic viscosities as well as from the dependence of apparent mass-average molar masses on inverse apparent number-average molar masses. All methods gave in general different association numbers and equilibrium constants. The effect, which was not found for other non-ionic amphiphiles, is probably due to the existence of consecutive equilibria between the unimer and a low molar mass P-mer which associates to a higher molar mass R-mer. Viscosity data are in agreement with the picture of a spherical micelle for the dominant P-mers with about 10 water molecules per glucose residue. The micellization of 1 is both enthalpy- and entropy-driven, in contrast to the micellization of 1-O-octyl-β-D -glucopyranose which is a strictly entropy-driven process.     

Prophylaxis and treatment of bladder dysfunction after Wertheim-Meigs operation: the positive effect of early postoperative detrusor stimulation using the cholinergic drug betanecholchloride

The efficacy of betanecholchloride in the postoperative treatment of bladder dysfunction is controversial. We therefore performed a comparative study on the effect of this therapy for the prophylaxis of detrusor hypotonia after Wertheim-Meigs operation. Forty patients with cervical cancer FIGO stage Ib/IIa were divided into two study groups. The control group (24 patients) only received betanecholchloride if the residual urine persisted above 50 ml after the 10th postoperative day. The study group (16 patients) received 50 mg betanecholchloride three times a day from the 3rd postoperative day onward. In this group postoperative catheter treatment, and consequently hospital stay, were significantly shorter (9.6 versus 13.3 days and 15.5 versus 18.6 days). The residual urinary volume normalized faster (8.0 versus 13.0 days) and the rate of cystitis was lower (18.8 versus 25%). According to our study, a prophylactic application of the parasympathomimetic drug betanecholchloride diminishes postoperative complications associated with bladder dysfunction after Wertheim-Meigs operation. EDITORIAL COMMENT: Bladder dysfunction plays an important role after radical hysterectomy. The authors present data indicating improved and quicker resumption of bladder function following radical hysterectomy with early administration of betanecholchloride, versus use of the medication only when indicated by elevated postvoid residual. Although the study is not a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial, the patients who received beta-necholchloride from postoperative day 3 had significantly decreased postoperative catheter treatment, earlier resumption of adequate bladder emptying defined as a postvoid residual of less than 50 ml, decreased incidence of bladder infection and shorter hospital stay. This information is encouraging for this subset of patients, who characteristically are at high risk for long-term bladder dysfunction. Further studies in this area are needed to clarify therapeutic options to improve patients’ quality of life, specifically in regard to bladder function following treatment of their cancer.     

Pregnancy in patients with visceral lupus erythematosus, with special reference to kidney involvement

Of 44 female patients with lupus erythematosus visceralis after and with manifestation of the disease, respectively, in eight women ten pregnancies developed, out of them three viable births between the 33rd and 40th week of pregnancy, one stillbirth in the 37th week of pregnancy, one miscarriage in the IIIrd month of pregnancy and five interruptions of pregnancy. It is reported on the course of the disease and pregnancy of five women, taking into particular consideration the lupus nephritis. With the help of the literature and on the basis of own experiences course of the lupus erythematosus visceralis and lupus nephritis during pregnancy, the influence of the lupus erythematosus visceralis on pregnancy and development of the child, peculiarities of the treatment of lupus erythematosus visceralis during pregnancy as well as questions of prevention and interruption of pregnancy are discussed. Finally is tried to draw universal conclusions.     

Effects of microbial stimulation on the number, size and activity of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) structures in the pig.

The development of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) was investigated in the pig, which is a species in which BALT is not found constantly. Different routes of contact with a specifically lung-pathogen bacterium Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae were tested. Pigs, selected by bacteriological screening methods and the number of granulocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), were infected by aerosol. They were compared to previously enterally immunized pigs using active and inactivated bacteria. The development of BALT after the infection was compared to that in pigs with a single enteral, or no, contact with the bacterium. BALT was less frequent in these groups than in the infected pigs. Previously immunized pigs developed the highest number and the largest BALT with the most prominent morphological signs of activation. Immunization with living or inactivated bacteria did not cause histological differences. BALT was preferentially located around bronchioli and small bronchi. Additional BALT predominantly occurred in the walls of larger bronchi. Definite compartments of T and B lymphocytes were not found in immunohistological studies of BALT. It was concluded that the development of BALT can be induced by different modes of microbial stimulation.