[Sex-specific changes in body composition during weight reduction].

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether overweight men and women of comparable age, body surface area and weight would display any differences in weight loss or changes in body composition while receiving identical calorie intakes. 15 men and 15 women of mean age 46.7 (26-57) years with obesity (body mass index 29-36 kg/m2) were given a reducing diet containing 700 kcal/d for 4 weeks.

[Experiences on preclotting of vascular dacron protheses with and without addition of factor XIII (author's transl)].

Dacron vascular prostheses were preclotted with and without addition of human fibrin stabilizing factor (factor XIII). In our scanning electron microscopic examinations we found amorphous fibrin achieving a three dimensional net structure in the prostheses after addition of factor XIII.

[Dextraposition of the aortic arch combined with atresia of the left brachiocephalic truncus, a contribution to the varieties of the aortic arch (author's transl)].

We report on a case of a 62-years old woman with dextroposition of the aortic arch and an atresia of the left brachiocephalic truncus. In opposite to the varieties of the supraaortic vessels, which are in most cases occasionally seen, this patient suffered from cerebrovascular insufficiency and subclavian-steal-syndrome. We suppose, that this late manifestation of a variety of the aortic arch with an atresia of a great supraaortic vessel is caused by the brain's physiosclerosis.

[Reconstruction of the oesophagus after scarring due to swalled alkali and 22 years of gastrostomy feeding (author's transl)].

The unusual life history of a man (now 24 years old) is reported who, at two years of age, swallowed an alkaline solution which caused severe oesophageal stricture due to scarring. It required feeding by gastrostomy exclusively for 22 years. Reconstruction of the oesophagus was then performed by interposing the colon (splenic flexure).

[Complications in mediastinoscopy - a possibility of direct therapy].

Complications in diagnostic mediastinoscopy are between 0, 7 percent and 1,8 per cent. Lesions of the great vessels end letal in most cases. A possibility is reported how to treat lesions of the tracheobronchial system in emergency cases with lyophilised dura and a histoacryl-adhesive for tissue.