Stressors in renal transplant recipients at six weeks after transplant.

The purpose of this study is to identify stressors that renal transplant recipients report experiencing 6 weeks posttransplantation and compare them with stressors reported by Hayward et al. (1989). The sample consists of 48 adult renal transplant recipients.

[Danger in cave diving].

A diving accident fatal for two divers, that occurred in the Blautopf-cave near Ulm, FRG, is reported. The circumstances fundamental in precipitating the fatal outcome are discussed. As a consequence accident- or life insurance coverage has become one of the prerequisites to obtain the official permit to dive in this cave.

An archaebacterial cell-free transcription system. The expression of tRNA genes from Methanococcus vannielii is mediated by a transcription factor.

Our understanding of the mechanism of RNA biosynthesis in archaebacteria is limited, due in part to the inability of purified RNA polymerases to transcribe purified genes accurately in vitro. In the present study, we show that cell extracts of Methanococcus vannielii and Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus purified by gradient centrifugation synthesize a distinct transcript from templates harboring a cloned homologous tRNA(Val) and tRNA(Arg) gene. The in vitro transcripts initiate with GTP at the same sites as in Methanococcus cells.

[An unusual cause of hepatic abscess].

We report the case of a liver abscess resulting from the intra hepatic migration of a toothpick coming from the stomach.

Influence of carvedilol and propranolol on coronary blood flow.

A total of 17 patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease and at least one stenosis blocking greater than or equal to 70% of the left anterior descending or circumflex artery were included in a double-blind, randomized study. They received either 5 mg carvedilol or 6 mg propranolol intravenously. Heart rate, aortic pressure, mean coronary sinus pressure and coronary flow (thermodilution) were measured and coronary resistance and the rate-pressure product were calculated before and 25 min after injection.

[Principles of acute management of the severe diving accident].

The basics of the acute management of severe diving accidents are outlined by means of 25 patients (20 patients presented with decompression sickness, 5 suffered from a barotrauma of the lungs with consecutive air embolism) treated at our facilities. Contrary to widespread notion, disturbed vital functions have to be treated by intensive care measures, prior to the definite recompression therapy. These are: (1) Treatment of generalized or localized tissue hypoxia secondary to bubble-generation; (2) puncture of a (valvular-) pneumothorax after a pulmonary barotrauma; (3) haemodynamic stabilization when cardiac or spinal shock is present; (4) improvement of the rheological situation.

An instrument to identify stressors in renal transplant recipients.

The purpose of this study was to create a reliable, valid instrument to identify the major stressors experienced by new transplant recipients and to establish baseline data. Sixty transplant recipients (85% of sample) responded to a mailed questionnaire. From a list of 44 possible stressors the subjects self-reported the possibility of rejection as the major stressor.

An archaebacterial promoter sequence assigned by RNA polymerase binding experiments.

To identify an archaebacterial promoter sequence, nuclease protection studies with the purified RNA polymerase of Methanococcus vannielii were performed. The enzyme binds specifically both at protein-encoding (hisA and methyl CoM reductase, component C) and tRNA-rRNA genes. The binding region of the RNA polymerase extends from 30 base pairs (bp) upstream (-30) to 20 bp downstream (+20) from the in vivo transcription start site.

Coronary hemodynamics during left and right coronary arteriography with an ionic and nonionic contrast medium.

The direct effects of ionic amidotrizoate (iodine content 370 mg/ml, osmolality 2.1 osmol/kg) and nonionic iopamidol (iodine content 370/ml, osmolality 0.8 osmol/kg) on the coronary circulation were intraindividually compared in 10 patients suffering from coronary heart disease.

An archaebacterial RNA polymerase binding site and transcription initiation of the hisA gene in Methanococcus vannielii.

Transcription initiation of the hisA gene in vivo in the archaebacterium Methanococcus vannielii, as determined by nuclease S1 and primer extension analyses, occurs 73 base pairs (bp) upstream of the translation initiation site. Binding of M. vannielii RNA polymerase protects 43 bp of DNA, from 35 bp upstream (-35) to 8 bp downstream (+8) of the hisA mRNA initiation site, from digestion by DNase I and exonuclease III.

Inhibitory effect of oral WEB 2086, a novel selective PAF-acether antagonist, on ex vivo platelet aggregation.

WEB 2086 is a novel PAF-acether antagonist, whose pharmacological action in man has only been preliminarily defined. Twelve healthy male volunteers received oral doses of 5, 30 and 90 mg and over the following 24 h inhibition of 5 x 10(-8) M PAF-acether-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo was studied as an indicator of pharmacological activity. WEB 2086 inhibited PAF-acether-induced platelet aggregation in all the doses tested, with the maximum effect 1 to 2 h after administration.

Diagnosis of adult respiratory distress syndrome with Tc-99m human serum albumin and portable probe.

A gamma-camera and computer were used to measure pulmonary accumulation of technetium-99m human serum albumin in 15 patients who met the criteria for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and in ten asymptomatic patients. The ratio of lung to blood-pool activity increased in ARDS patients, but did not change in nonARDS patients. Lung to heart measurements by a portable probe with scaler correlated well with those obtained simultaneously with the gamma-camera and computer: probe measurements over 60 min increased significantly (p less than .

[Hyperbaric oxygenation--a sensible adjunctive therapy in malignant external otitis].

This study shows the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation as an adjunctive therapy in malignant external otitis on the basis of three cases: one stage I, one stage II, two stages III (according to Ganz). Due to the successes achieved, and basing on a comparative study of the literature, we can conclude, even without a control group, that hyperbaric oxygenation exercises a positive influence on the reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the external auditory canal, and on the symptoms of pain and regeneration of cerebral nerves injured with a broad-spectrum allergy to antibiotics, even the exclusive application of the hyperbaric oxygenation proved successful.

Quantitative analysis of the cervical spinal canal by computed tomography.

Computed tomography measurements of the AP diameter, width, and cross-sectional area of the bony cervical canal were derived from cervical spine examinations of fifty-two normal adults. These quantitative parameters were then used to evaluate 80 patients with various cervical abnormalities to determine the clinical usefulness of the measurements. With the exception of spinal stenosis, quantitative cervical canal analysis was found to be of limited usefulness since normal measurements frequently occurred in the presence of significant cervical pathology.

Liposomes as carriers of iodolipid radiocontrast agents for CT scanning of the liver.

We studied the potential of liposomes to deliver oil soluble radiocontrast agents to the liver and have developed a new preparation for CT liver scanning. The preparation consists of Ethiodol with a large amount of phospholipids. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was done for this lipid preparation, and the spectra show that the lipids are in the bilayer liposome configuration.

Computed tomography evaluation of pheochromocytoma in pregnancy.

Two cases representative of the spectrum of the problem of pheochromocytoma in pregnancy are presented. One patient was typical of many cases of pheochromocytoma not diagnosed until delivery, with resultant maternal and fetal death. Computed tomography accurately preoperatively localized a pheochromocytoma involving the organ of Zuckerkandl in the second patient, with subsequent uncomplicated removal of the tumor during a cesarean delivery.

[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy of anaerobic brain abscesses following tonsillectomy].

This study describes the clinical course of a 31 year old woman who developed multiple anaerobic brain abscesses six days after tonsillectomy, followed by hemoparesis and dysarthria. In spite of craniotomy, repeated punctures and drainage of pus and high dose local and systemic antibiotics, there was an obvious deterioration in the patient's condition. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was tried as a last resort.

[Replacement of the peritoneal dialysis catheter in persistent peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis].

The replacement of the peritoneal dialysis was performed in 18 cases of persistant peritonitis in patients treated with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis. This method brought the first sterility of the culture of the dialysate within 48 hours after surgery in 83.3% of the cases.