Biocompatibility and structural stability of a laminin biopolymer.

Polylaminin (polyLM) is a polymerized form of the extracellular matrix protein laminin obtained upon pH acidification. Here microscopy and spectroscopic tools are used to study the cell compatibility and the structural stability of polyLM, aiming at establishing its robustness as a biopolymer for therapeutic use. PolyLM is cell compatible as judged by the efficiency of attachment and neuritogenesis.

Three-dimensional spiral CT angiography in the detection of cerebral aneurysm.

Purpose: The value of CT angiography in the detection and evaluation of aneurysms was compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Material And Methods: Seventeen patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or with known or suspected aneurysm were investigated by means of spiral CT angiography, which included 3D reconstruction. These findings were compared with those at DSA.

Five years of stereotactic radiosurgery at the University of Tübingen--a critical review of the method.

At the University of Tübingen a Linac based stereotactic system for radiosurgery has been used since 1991. The floorstand system (SRS 200, Phillips) developed at Gainsville is used in combination with a Cosman Roberts Weels system by Radionics. The floorstand enables the gantry to be rotated vertically and the table to be rotated in the horizontal plane.

Primary Candida albicans empyema associated with epidural hematomas in craniocervical junction.

The case of a 27-year-old patient with chronic candida empyema in the craniocervical junction is presented. Occlusive hydrocephalus at admittance, primary subdural candida empyema, and recurrent epidural bleedings are the outstanding features in the clinical course. Despite intact immunity this patient acquired primary candidosis of CNS.

[Massive foreign body reaction after intraocular penetration of hot, liquid plastic].

Patient: A 32-year-old male had an injury of his right eye by hot liquid plastic (Ultradur R). Intraoperatively, the eye was found broadly penetrated and filled up by more than 50% with ragged pieces of plastic. Computed tomography three days after wound closure revealed remaining foreign body material.

Spontaneous gas-forming bacterial myonecrosis caused by group B streptococci and peptostreptococci.

We present the case of a patient who spontaneously developed a severe gas-forming infection involving the voluntary muscles of both thighs. The organisms responsible were group B beta-haemolytic streptococci together with peptostreptococci. Following surgical and medical treatment, the patient fully recovered.

[Pneumatosis coli--a rare complication of cytostatic therapy].

Recurring paroxysmal abdominal pain developed in a 19-year old woman suffering from acute lymphatic T-cell leukaemia, during induction chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, cytarabine and mercaptopurine. Both the plain radiograph and CT of the abdomen showed pathognomonic intramural gas accumulations and free air below the right diaphragm, pointing to pneumatosis coli. There was marked pancytopenia (leucocytes 800/microliters,haemoglobin 7.

[The clinical value of contrast CT in lymph node staging in the neck region].

Pre-treatment CT examinations of 333 patients with squamous carcinomas in the head and neck region have been analysed. Two hundred and six patients had lymph-node metastases and lymph-node staging was ascertained. The criteria for metastatic involvement were lymph node size greater than 15 mm.

[T-staging of tongue and mouth floor tumors: comparison of ultrasonography and computerized tomography].

A comparison was made between the pretherapeutic CT and ultrasound findings of 43 patients with tumors of the oral tongue and the floor of the mouth. Two tumors of the edge of the tongue (T1) each were not diagnosed by computed tomography and by sonography. In three cases a more precise determination of the tumor size was achieved by sonography.

[NMR tomography of the shoulder joint: clinical experiences with the saturation pulse technic].

High zoom factors for MRT of the shoulder joint can lead to disturbing artifacts. The use of special saturation coils can improve longitudinal magnetisation of the central image, making it possible to produce artifact-free images of the shoulder with high resolution. Two normals and 20 patients with the rotator cuff syndrome, as well as other inflammatory and neoplastic processes, have been examined.