Ischemic colitis. Comparison of surgical and nonoperative management.

A retrospective review of 18 patients with ischemic colitis is presented. Patients who developed ischemic colitis following abdominal aortic surgery were excluded, as were patients in whom the diagnosis was made on clinical grounds only. The diagnosis was confirmed in each case either by proctosigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema, surgery, or autopsy.

The radiology of chronic neck pain: sequelae of occult traumatic lesions.

Occult traumatic lesions of the cervical spine usually involve the smaller, posterior elements of the vertebrae. Chronic neck pain associated with these lesions is intermittent and of variable severity, but with patterns that are fairly characteristic of the osseous lesions. Similarly, the long-term radiographic sequelae occur in fairly predictable patterns.

[Osmolarity parameter and kidney function of polytraumatized intensive care patients].

Improved possibilities in prediction of renal failure after polytrauma would possibly improve the survival rate of this severe posttraumatic complication. Our clinical investigation was carried out in 27 patients suffering from severe trauma. We intended to achieve early recognition of acute renal failure by osmolality measurements after polytrauma.

[Blunt neck trauma--the danger of secondary respiratory insufficiency].

It is very difficult to properly assess a lesion of the kind represented by the contuse trauma of the neck, if such assessment has to be effected at the site of the accident. It is a characteristic feature of such a trauma that even hours or days after the accident, acute respiratory insufficiency may suddenly appear if there is an interruption of continuity of the respiratory tract. X-ray and endoscopic findings are mandatory directly after the accident even if it looks as though there are only few signs or symptoms.

The synthesis of prostaglandins from persistent proliferative endometrium.

The pattern of prostaglandins (PGs) synthesized by persistent proliferative endometrium of women with excessive menstrual bleeding (greater than 50 ml) associated with anovulatory cycles was compared to endometrium collected from women with normal menstrual blood loss (less than 50 ml). Levels of PGF2 alpha in normal and persistent proliferative endometrium were lower than the levels of PGF2 alpha found in normal secretory endometrium (P less than 0.005 for both normal and persistent proliferative endometria).

Metabolic profile of hippocampal regions after bilateral ischemia and recovery.

Microanalysis methods were used to determine the effect of bilateral carotid occlusion on net levels of energy metabolites in discrete cellular regions of the hippocampus and dentate gyrus of the Mongolian gerbil. Glucose, glycogen, ATP and phosphocreatine levels were not decreased after one minute of bilateral occlusion. Three minutes of ischemia, however, produced a dramatic fall in net levels with no further decrease observed at fifteen minutes.

[On the use of physostigmine in anesthesia and intensive care].

Physostigmine is an antidote in cases of overdosage with intravenous anaesthetics such as dehydrobenzperidol, benzodiazepines and ketamine. It is also useful in antagonizing drug induced comas of different origin particularly in cases of acute intoxication with tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol. We discuss our therapeutic observations in anaesthesiological and intensive care patients.

The exaggerated supine oblique view of the cervical spine.

The technique of the 60 degree supine oblique view is described together with anatomic skeletal studies of this projection. The view is convenient for emergency room radiography and useful in other clinical radiography. The view separates widely the anterior and posterior portions of the vertebrae in a side to side projection.

Isoniazid induced seizures and cerebral cortical and cerebellar energy metabolism.

Isoniazid is a useful chemical convulsant in that metabolic events associated with the preseizure state can be easily examined. In the present study, net levels of glucose, glycogen, ATP, and phosphocreatine were measured using enzymatic techniques in control mice, and in those injected with isoniazid. Results from this study showed a differential effect of isoniazid on cells from the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum.

[Perioperative opiate analgesia (author's transl)].

22 patients undergoing gynaecological surgery were given general anaesthesia supplemented by epidural morphine during and after the operation. The fentanyl requirements during the operation were significantly lower than they were in a control group and postoperative administration of analgesics could be dispensed with. The method is particularly suitable for patients at risk because less anaesthetic agents are needed.

Prostaglandin synthesis in the endometrium of women with ovular dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

The endogenous concentrations of prostaglandins F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha) and E (PGE) were measured during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in the endometrium from 14 women with unexplained menorrhagia (measured menstrual blood loss in excess of 50 ml) and 15 women with normal menses (blood loss 50 ml or less). Although there was no significant difference in the PGF 2 alpha/PGE ratio between the two groups, this ratio was significantly lower in the endometrium from eight of the women whose blood loss exceeded 90 ml (p less than 0.05).

A role for prostacyclin (PGi2) in excessive menstrual bleeding.

The synthesis of prostanoids from arachidonic acid incubated with endometrium alone or together with myometrium was studied in women with excessive menstrual blood-loss (range 57--186 ml, median 86 ml). Production of prostaglandins F2 alpha, E2, and D2 was similar to that observed for the endometrium of women with normal periods (range 5--50 ml; median 11 ml). However, the endometrium from women with excessive menstrual blood-loss was more effective than endometrium from women with normal menstrual blood-loss at enhancing the production by a control preparation of myometrium of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin.

Catechol oestrogens stimulate and direct prostaglandin synthesis.

We have tested the action of a catechol oestrogen -2,3,17 beta-trihydroxy oestra-1,3,5 (10)-triene (2-OH oestradiol) in stimulating prostaglandin (PG) production by an homogenate of rat uterus. Marked and dose dependent stimulation was observed in PGF2 alpha and PGE2 production using 20-250 microM concentrations of catechol oestrogen; a concentration of 250 microM 2-OH oestradiol resulted in a 23 fold increase in PGF2 alpha production with a 50% reduction in the synthesis of 6-keto PGF1 alpha. Tryptophan, catechol and glutathione were without effect on PGF2 alpha and PGE2 production whereas adrenalin stimulated the production of all PGs, although the increase was less than that seen with 2-OH oestradiol.

Suppression of concentration of endometrial prostaglandin in early intra-uterine and ectopic pregnancy in women.

Concentrations of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and prostaglandin E (PGE) were measured in endometrium from 18 women with ectopic pregnancies. In the nine pregnancies not associated with vaginal bleeding or an intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD; intact ectopics), concentrations of PGF2 alpha (12.8 +/- 7.

The effect of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone on prostaglandin production by human endometrium maintained in organ culture.

Endometrium collected from 18 normal women at various stages of the menstrual cycle was maintained in organ culture for periods of 6 days. Both prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and PGE were detected in medium from late proliferative (days 10-14; n = 13) and late secretory (days 20-26; n = 5) endometria cultured in the absence of exogenous steroids. During the first 48 h in culture, the output of PGF2 alpha by secretory endometrium was significantly greater than that of proliferative tissue.

The effect of unconjugated bilirubin on regional cerebellar energy metabolism.

Many previous studies have examined the effects of unconjugated bilirubin on cerebral energy metabolism. The results have been equivocal largely because the samples for assay included contiguous less affected tissue. The present study was undertaken to obviate this problem.

Differential production of prostaglandins within the human uterus.

The ability of broken cell preparations of human endometrium, myometrium and a mixture of endometrium and myometrium to convert 14C arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PG's) was compared. Endometrium metabolished arachidonic acid predominantly to a mixture of PGF2 alpha and PGE2. A similar weight of myometrium showed relatively little activity, the major product identified was 6 oxo PGF1 alpha.

Symmetrical anteroposterior projections of the sternoclavicular joints with motion studies.

A radiographic technique is described for the symmetrical visualization of the sternoclavicular joints in the anteroposterior projection. A short focal-spot patient distance is used with an ultra-fine focal-spot tube, so that differential magnification projects the sternoclavicular joints to either side of the thoracic spine. The supine position is comfortable for the symptomatic patient.

Unilateral lateral mass compression fractures of the axis.

Lateral mass compression fractures of the axis involve compression of the pedicle and displacement of the overlying facet, with or without an accompanying fracture of the odontoid. These unilateral fractures are not rare. Correlation is made between clinical cases and cadaver material with analysis of microradiographs.