Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity Testing and the RTgill-W1 Cell Line as In Vitro Models for Whole-Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing: An In Vitro/In Vivo Comparison of Chemicals Relevant for WET Testing.

The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) fish embryo acute toxicity (FET) test was compared to the fish gill cells (RTgill-W1) in vitro assay and to the fish larvae acute toxicity test to evaluate their sensitivity for whole-effluent toxicity (WET) testing. The toxicity of 12 chemicals relevant for WET testing was compared as proof of principle. The concentrations lethal to 50% of a population (LC50) of embryos were compared to those in fish larvae and to the 50% effect concentration (EC50) in RTgill-W1 cells from previous literature.

UV index forecasts and measurements of health-effective radiation.

While erythemal irradiance as a potentially damaging effect to the skin has been extensively studied and short-term forecasts have been issued to the public to reduce detrimental immediate and long-term effects such as sunburn and skin cancer by overexposure, beneficial effects to human health such as vitamin D(3) production by UV radiation and melatonin suppression by blue visible light have attained more and more attention, though both of them have not become part of forecasting yet. Using 4years of solar radiation data measured at the mid-latitude site Lindenberg (52°N), and forecast daily maximum UV index values, an overall good correspondence has been found. The data base of solar UV radiation and illuminance has also been used to analyze effects of clouds and aerosols on the effective irradiance.

Quality of anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin plus phenprocoumon for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in cardioversion for non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Sub-analysis from the Anticoagulation in Cardioversion using Enoxaparin (ACE) trial.

Introduction: Anticoagulation in cardioversion for atrial fibrillation is performed using unfractionated heparin and oral anticoagulants. TEE-guided cardioversion, after achievement of therapeutic anticoagulation (1-3 days), may be an alternative to the traditional procedure (3-week anticoagulation followed by cardioversion). The quality of anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation has not been investigated in a randomised trial with TEE-guided cardioversion.

[Structures of the European union--possibilities for influence by medical societies].

In the EU more than 70 % of national law has already been replaced by EU law. Medical doctors are mostly not informed, how these EU-laws will pass. Many directives, regulations and decisions are important for medical doctors.

Institutions of the European Union: medical perspective.

The way through the institutions of the European Union (EU) is very difficult. The difficulties will increase with the expansion of EU to 25 member states, and even more so in the area of medical societies. Following the agenda of the EU, an efficient public health service is a responsibility of every member country.

Influence of the direct NO-donor SIN-1 on the interaction between platelets and stainless steel stents under dynamic conditions.

It was investigated whether the NO-donor SIN-1, the active metabolite of molsidomine, influenced the activation of platelets, the formation of circulating platelet aggregates, the spontaneous aggregation of platelets and the activation of the clotting system triggered by a body foreign surface in an in vitro closed-loop perfusion model. With human platelet-rich plasma at micromolar concentrations SIN-1 exerted pronounced effects on the interaction between platelets and an exogenous surface. In the absence of SIN-1, the number of circulating single platelets decreased significantly, which could be due either to the formation of circulating platelet aggregates or to the adhesion of platelets to the stent.

[The health service in the European Community. What can await in the future EU-members?].

The problems of national health system in the European Community member states and affiliating countries will be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to team doctor model, continuous medical education, social security system and disease management programme.

Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of thromboembolic complications in cardioversion--rationale and design of the ACE study (Anticoagulation in Cardioversion using Enoxaparin).

The modality and duration of anticoagulation before, during, and after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation--either with or without guidance by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)--is still an unresolved issue. Intravenous infusion of unfractionated heparin until effective anticoagulation with phenprocoumon or warfarin is used as the standard therapy. However, this approach may be associated with several days of hospitalization because of the necessity for intravenous heparin administration.

[Pharmacological bases of therapeutic tolerance].

The purpose of this review paper is to describe the various mechanisms that may lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of drugs during long-term treatment (the so-called "tolerance" or "escape phenomenon"). In addition, some precise recommendations will be made. Tolerance may be due either to degradation of the active substance by enzyme induction, as is the case e.

[Comparison of the effects of SIN-1, sodium nitroprusside and nitrate derivatives on the inhibition of blood platelet aggregation and activation of soluble platelet guanylate-cyclase].

We compared the effects of various nitrates, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), molsidomine, and its bioactive metabolite SIN-1, on platelet aggregation and on the activity of soluble guanylate-cyclase from human platelets. SIN-1 and SNP proved to be potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation and activated soluble guanylate-cyclase in contrast to nitrates and molsidomine which produced weak inhibition of aggregation and failed to activate soluble guanylate-cyclase. These results suggest a correlation between these products' inhibitory effect on aggregation and activation of guanylate-cyclase.

[The history of glaucoma].

Glaucoma has been known in medicine since Antiquity. Hippokrates described "glaykoseis" as blindness which occurs in the elderly. The English ophthalmologist Banister was the first to establish the connection between increased tension of the eyeball and glaucoma.

[The best spectacles for vehicle drivers (author's transl)].

Spectacles worn by vehicle drivers should fulfil the demands set down by DIN 58 216 standards and should furthermore be constructed in such a manner that the binocular field of vision is impaired as little as possible. In this connection, the nasal parts of the frame are particularly important. The external and internal rear-view mirrors of automobiles should be positioned within the binocular field of vision.