[Temporal change of the disc in normal adults (author's transl)].

We have recently proposed a procedure called stereochronoscopy which allows the detection of temporal changes in the disc by stereoscopic observation of exactly centered fundus pictures. We show that this procedure can also be applied in a slightly modified form to fundus pictures that are not specially centered, although with less precision. Using this technique we were able to show on material covering 10 years (50 eyes) that the discs of healthy adults do not as a rule change over a period of at least 8 years.

The positive inotropic effect of phenylephrine in the presence of propranolol. Increase in time to peak force and in relaxation time without increase in c-AMP.

The effects of phenylephrine on the shape of the contraction curve and on the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (c-AMP) content were studied in electrically driven (frequency 0.2 Hz) cat papillary muscles. All experiments were done in the presence of 1 micron propranolol in order to minimize interference from beta-adrenoceptors.

[Surgical therapy in diverticular disease of the large bowel].

Operative proceeding, postoperative complications and postoperative mortality in 97 selective and 44 emergency operations for different states in diverticular disease are reported. In states of uncomplicated, chronically recurrent inflammation, one-stage resection is indicated. General condition of the patient and severe complicated diverticulitis may require two- or three-stage therapy.

[Diverticulitis of the colon, indications and results of surgery (author's transl)].

155 operations performed on patients with diverticulitis of the colon at the Department of Surgery, University of Mainz Medical School, were analyzed retrospectively. Mortality was 5.4% in elective surgical interventions.

[Preliminary results of preoperative radiotherapy in carcinoma of the rectum (author's transl)].

Preliminary results were evaluated in patients with carcinoma of the rectum of whom 33 had preoperative radiotherapy and 23 were treated by operation only. The tumour stage was T2-4 NX MO in all patients. There was no significant difference between the groups as to postoperative mortality, would healing, and postoperative admission time.

[Hemobilia, a rare and dangerous postoperative complication].

3 cases of severe postoperative hemobilia are reported, one patient with an echinococcus cysticus of the liver, two others after surgical procedures on biliary tract. Diagnostic means as cholangiography, coeliacography, scanning of the liver and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were not possible because of the massive bleeding. In those cases, if no other sources of bleeding are found, only esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy can leed to the correct diagnosis.

[The future of cataract surgery].

In relation with the 1974 course of 'pseudophakia' organised by C. D. Binkhorst and J.