Psychobiological impact of ethnic discrimination in Turkish immigrants living in Germany.

Perceived ethnic discrimination has a negative impact on health. One of the key mechanisms may be a dysregulation of stress-responsive systems. Our aims were to investigate whether (1) acute face-to-face ethnic discrimination induces a stress response, and (2) to compare long-term endocrine functioning between immigrants and nonimmigrants.

Semi-quantitative assessments of dextran toxicity on corneal endothelium: conceptual design of a predictive algorithm.

Dextran is added to corneal culture medium for at least 8 h prior to transplantation to ensure that the cornea is osmotically dehydrated. It is presumed that dextran has a certain toxic effect on corneal endothelium but the degree and the kinetics of this effect have not been quantified so far. We consider that such data regarding the toxicity of dextran on the corneal endothelium could have an impact on scheduling and logistics of corneal preparation in eye banking.

Pectus excavatum: echocardiography and cardiac MRI reveal frequent pericardial effusion and right-sided heart anomalies.

Aims: In patients with pectus excavatum (PEX), echocardiographic assessment can be difficult. There are little data on the impact of the chest deformity on echocardiographic findings and comparison of data obtained by echocardiography (echo) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in PEX.

Methods And Results: In a prospective study, cardiac anomalies in PEX were analysed by echo and compared with CMR in consecutive patients with PEX referred for echo.

Are there alterations of neuroendocrine and cellular immune responses to nutrients in women with irritable bowel syndrome?

Objectives: The goal was to investigate the neuroimmune axis in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by analyzing the neuroendocrine and cellular immune responses to nutrient load.

Methods: In the fasting state and 20, 40, 70, and 100 min following nutrient load, blood samples were collected and cardiovascular recordings were accomplished in 15 female IBS patients and 15 healthy women. Plasma norepinephrine, prolactin, cortisol, and growth hormone were analyzed, and blood pressure and heart rate responses were measured.

Upper extremity aneurysms.

Five cases of upper extremity aneurysms are reported in 4 male and 1 female patients. Four were of traumatic and one of arteriosclerotic origin. Diagnosis and treatment are discussed.