Formation of thrombin-antithrombin III complex using polyamide and hemophan dialyzers.

The recently developed ELISA for the thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) is a sensitive, specific, and simplified means of detecting intravascular coagulation. For further evaluation of the thrombogenicity of a polyamide (P) and a Hemophan (H) hollow-fibre dialyzer a cross-over study was done in ten stable patients on maintenance hemodialysis. At the same doses of heparin (mean bolus of 30 U/kg bw and maintenance doses of 86 U/kg bw), thrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were significantly lower using H. At the end of dialysis TAT was significantly higher in H (mean +/- SEM before HD 3.57 +/- .56, at 240 min 14.9 +/- 6.5 ng/ml, p less than 0.05, Wilcoxon-test) than in P (before HD 4.36 +/- .98, at 240 min 8.95 +/- 3.0 ng/ml, p less than 0.05 H 240 vs. P 240, Wilcoxon-test). Visible clotting was more pronounced in the H filter. Among other favourable features of blood compatibility the polyamide/polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer with a hydrophilic/hydrophobic microdomain structure has less thrombogenicity. The modified cellulosic membrane H has advantages in complement activation and leukocyte depression, but thrombogenicity seems less favourable since the incorporated diethyl-amino-ethyl groups with their positive charge bind and inactivate negatively charged heparin.     

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Molecular characterization of mumps virus strains circulating during an epidemic in Eastern Switzerland 1992/93

Summary Ten mumps virus isolates recovered during an epidemic in Switzerland between Autumn 1992 and Spring 1993 were compared by nucleotide sequence analysis of the SH gene. The isolates were found to belong to two distinct yet closely related wild type strains in a newly identified European mumps virus lineage.     

Über multiple Sklerose und herdförmige Enzephalitis

Ohne ZusammenfassungHerr Dr. Sioli konnte auch bei erneuter Untersuchung mit Spirochätenfärbung und Bielschowsky-Färbung keinen andern Befund als früher erheben. Die Zahl der Achsenzylinder in den Herden ist nur in geringem Maße verringert.     

Pharyngeal swallowing in patients with paresis of the recurrent nerve

Pharyngolaryngeal function during swallowing was investigated cineradiographically in 22 patients with paresis of the recurrent nerve. Nineteen of these patients (86%) had defective closure of the laryngeal vestibule: 10 patients had defective apposition of the corniculate cartilages, (paresis of the oblique cricoarytenoid muscle), 9 patients had defective apposition of the arytenoid cartilages, (paresis of the interarytenoid muscle), 13 patients had defective movement of the epiglottis (paresis of, i.a. the thyrohyoid muscle), 1 patient had defective closure of the subepiglottic portion of the vestibule (paresis of the thyroepiglottic muscle), 2 patients had defective closure of the supraglottic portion of the vestibule (paresis of the superior ventricular segment of the thyroarytenoid muscle). Five patients with immobility of the epiglottis also had paresis of the pharyngeal constrictor musculature indicating paresis of the superior laryngeal nerve. Our investigation has shown that patients with paresis of the recurrent nerve who present with dysphagia with or without aspiration should be examined cineradiographically for pharyngolaryngeal function during swallowing.     

Volatile constituents of the dried leaves of Cassia angustifolia and C. acutifolia (Sennae folium)

The official drug Sennae folium (obtained from Cassia angustifolia and/or C. acutifolia) was found to contain small amounts of volatiles (0.047% based on dry weight) which were analyzed in detail by GC and GC/MS. More than 200 compounds could be detected, 122 of them were identified, representing about 90.7% of the peak area of the total mixture. The volatile constituents can be classified into monoterpenoids (8.8% for sample A and 34.6% for B), sesquiterpenoids (4.2% and 4.0%, respectively), phenylpropanoids (4.2%/15.2%), fatty acids and esters (54.3%/14.2%), and miscellaneous compounds (19.3%/22.7%). Apart from hexadecanoic acid which was strong in both samples (36.8%/9.7%), the occurrence of menthol, geranylacetone, and (E)-anethole is of interest.