Explicit episodic memory for sensory-discriminative components of capsaicin-induced pain: immediate and delayed ratings.

Pain memory is thought to affect future pain sensitivity and thus contribute to clinical pain conditions. Systematic investigations of the human capacity to remember sensory features of experimental pain are sparse. In order to address long-term pain memory, nine healthy male volunteers received intradermal injections of three doses of capsaicin (0.

Cortical representation of experimental tooth pain in humans.

Cortical processing of electrically induced pain from the tooth pulp was studied in healthy volunteers with fMRI. In a first experiment, cortical representation of tooth pain was compared with that of painful mechanical stimulation to the hand. The contralateral S1 cortex was activated during painful mechanical stimulation of the hand, whereas tooth pain lead to bilateral activation of S1.

Detection of pooled secretions above endotracheal-tube cuffs: value of plain radiographs in sheep cadavers and patients.

Objective: Mechanical ventilation is thought to increase the risk of nosocomial pneumonia by permitting leakage of bacteria-laden gastro-oropharyngeal secretions into the upper airways. The goal of this study was (a) to validate radiographic signs of pooled secretions above endotracheal-tube cuffs (supracuff liquid) in an animal model and (b) to determine whether suctionable pooled supracuff liquid can be identified on bedside radiographs of intubated patients.

Materials And Methods: Diagnostic criteria for supracuff liquid were initially validated by three radiologists interpreting 162 randomized radiographs made in an intubated sheep cadaver.

[Drain fistulography. Radiological sphincter identification in high anal fistulae].

To warrant permanent surgical cure of high anal fistulae, while avoiding at the same time faecal incontinence due to inadvertent division of the puborectalis muscle, distinction between a trans- and suprasphincteric fistula track is essential. This differentiation is often crucial, since digital rectal palpation and conventional fistulography tend to be unreliable. Therefore we developed a radiological technique of imaging the anorectal fistulous track, "drain fistulography".

[X-ray measurement of the level of rectal carcinomas and its dependence on the functional status of the pelvic floor].

The influence of the various functional states of the pelvic floor on the radiological assessment of the tumour levels and the distant tumour-free distance in rectum neoplasms was investigated. The parameters "anal canal length", "anorectal angle" and "impression of the puborectalis muscle" were measured in lateral distant views of the rectum in a series of healthy controls (n = 160). In addition, these parameters and the "distant tumour-free distance" were measured in patients with rectal cancer (n = 40).

[The percutaneous catheter drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts].

The results of CT/US-guided percutaneous drainage in 35 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts are reported. 27 patients recovered without surgery and no further treatment was required. 8 patients required a subsequent surgery due to recurrence.

[The ultrasonic diagnosis of an ulnar nerve lesion in the sulcus area].

The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in ulnar nerve irritation syndrome was evaluated. 7 patients were examined and compared to a control group of 5 healthy persons. We correlated pathological changes with clinical signs and symptoms, nerve conduction velocity and with the operation report.

Sonographic demonstration of septicaemia with gas-forming organisms after liver transplantation.

Sepsis with gas-forming organisms, e.g. Clostridium perfringens and anaerobic streptococci occurred in three of 120 liver-transplant recipients (2.

Obliterations of the proximal subclavian artery: to bypass or to anastomose?

A clinical series has been analysed to determine which of two similar, extrathoracic "extraanatomic" methods of treating proximal blocks of the subclavian artery is the superior option. From 1975 until 1988 direct carotid-subclavian anastomosis was used in 32 patients and carotid-subclavian bypass in 19. There were no statistically significant differences for the probability of postoperative survival (p less than 0.

[Balloon dilatation of benign esophageal stenoses].

Benign stenoses of the oesophagus have been conventionally treated by endoscopic bougienage and were operated on in case of failure. Now that balloon catheters with large balloon diameters are available, interventional radiological dilatation of enteric strictures can be easily performed. In case of eccentric high-grade stenosis with or without blind loop, stenosis is often easier to manage and associated with less risk with an angiographic guide wire and catheter than by endoscopy.

[Angiography following liver transplantation].

39 angiographic studies performed on 34 out of 150 patients following a total of 159 orthotopic liver transplantations until the year 1989 were reviewed in retrospect. All of the studies were carried out within a period of two months after transplantation (1-45 days). Angiographic techniques remain the "gold standard" for the assessment of vascular problems after liver transplantation.

[Pneumothorax in intensive care patients. The value of tangential views].

In 55 intensive-care patients an additional tangential view of the chest was taken to demonstrate or exclude a pneumothorax in patients with sudden deterioration of gas exchange and negative ap-chest x-ray, if there was a suspicion of pneumothorax or a confirmed small pneumothorax in the ap-view. In 14 of 42 cases (33.3%) with negative or suspected ap-chest x-ray the tangential view revealed a pneumothorax.

Lymphoid follicular hyperplasia in excluded colonic segments: a radiologic sign of diversion colitis.

Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) studies showed lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (LFH) in excluded colonic segments after colostomy in 12 of 40 patients. In most patients with LFH, more than 80% of the excluded colon was affected. In eight patients, regression of LFH was demonstrated with DCBE studies after reanastomosis.

Endoscopic tube implantation for the palliation of malignant esophageal stenosis.

One hundred endoscopic tube implantations were carried out on 95 patients with malignant esophageal stenosis. Palliative treatment was performed in 43% of cases because of the advanced stage of the tumor, and in 57% of cases because of risk factors which made resection inadvisable. Clinical mortality was 16%, with six deaths caused by technical complications (perforation, arrosion bleeding), and ten by cardiopulmonary problems.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis following liver transplantation].

Realtime and duplex sonography were used routinely for the postoperative and long-term follow-up of liver transplantation patients. In the early postoperative period 90 patients exhibited diffuse (67.7%) and focal (33.

[Sonography of gallbladder carcinoma. Correlation with surgical findings in 60 cases].

60 patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder were staged preoperatively by sonography (staging scheme by Nevin and TNM scheme of the UICC). This was correlated with the operative and histopathological findings. The tumour was diagnosed by sonography in 70% of the patients, 15% were diagnosed at operation and 15% histopathologically.

[Sonographic staging of pancreatic cancer. Report of 100 cases].

The ultrasound studies of 100 patients with proven pancreatic carcinoma were reviewed and correlated with the intraoperative and pathoanatomic findings. Ultrasound had a sensitivity of 87% in detecting the malignant lesion. The extension of the tumour and the infiltration of peripancreatic structures and visceral vessels was interpreted correctly in 85% of the cases.

Dislocated Atkinson tubes: removal and repositioning with a balloon catheter.

Atkinson tubes are inserted endoscopically for palliation of obstructing esophageal carcinoma. A technique was developed to reposition or remove dislocated tubes that involves the use of a dilation balloon catheter. The technique was successful in treating three partially dislocated tubes and one of two completely dislocated tubes (tubes completely dislodged into the stomach).

[Incidence and prognostic significance of pulmonary artery thromboses in patients with acute respiratory failure: a study of 106 patients using bilateral pulmonary balloon occlusion angiography].

In 106 patients suffering from acute respiratory failure of different severity 157 bedside balloon occlusion pulmonary angiographic studies have been performed through a pulmonary artery catheter to assess the frequency and extent of intravascular occlusive disease. The vascular alterations in acute respiratory failure impair the prognosis essentially. The decreasing pulmonary vascular cross-section causes a greater pulmonary vascular resistance and consecutive pulmonary artery hypertension and finally right heart failure.