[Copper poisoning caused by humidifiers?].

Humidifiers are rapidly contaminated with organisms and become a dangerous source of bacterial propagation unless special measures are taken. The growth of these organisms can be completely avoided by introducing metallic copper into the reservoir of humidifiers, as proposed as early as 1970 by Dean. The authors demonstrate experimentally that only nebulizers, in contrast to draw-over humidifiers and "bubblers", yield measurable quantities of copper.

Influenza A/Brazil/78(H1N1) infection in the elderly.

Although influenza A/H1N1 virus has caused both sporadic illness and epidemics throughout the world, there have been few cases and no outbreaks reported in older persons. Using a surveillance program for detection of viral respiratory tract illness, we documented an outbreak of influenza (A/Brazil/78(H1N1) infection in one floor of a chronic disease hospital. We prospectively studied all 32 patients and 16 personnel on that floor.

Semiquantitative assessment of lower limb atherosclerosis from routine angiographic images.

In the present report a score system is introduced with the aim of analysing routine angiographic images. The system consists of a vectorial score, which codes the pattern of occlusions, stenoses and plaques, and of an additive score describing the severity of the lesions visualised. The technique is suitable for computerised data analysis.

[Effect of inhibition of intestinal glucosidase on protein and energy balance in rats].

In a two-factorial balance trial two dietary protein levels of 12 and 15% the effect of a supplement of 50 mg alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (Bay g 5421) per kilogram food on nutrient digestibility, protein, and energy balance was tested in growing rats. At both protein levels the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor reduced the apparent digestibility of protein by maximal 8 and 4%, those of starch and energy only by 3 and 1%, respectively. With the low protein supply the protein and energy retention was decreased each by 13% when the inhibitor was given.

[Nutritive effects of an intestinal alpha-glucosidases-inhibition in rats (author's transl)].

In a balance trial the effect of different dietary doses of the alpha-glucosidases-inhibitor Bay g5421 on nutrient digestibility and N-balance was tested with rats. The supplements of 30, 90 and 210 mg Bay g5421 per kg of feed reduced the digestibility of starch plus sucrose by 2, 16 and 27%. The protein digestibility decreased by 5, 14 and 19%.

[Computer-assisted tomography, B-scan sonography and cerebral angiography in obliterations of the carotid artery (author's transl)].

The real-time-B-scan is a new and essential method for diagnosing carotid stenoses. Whereas computer-assisted tomography shows only a minor sensitivity for detection of obliterations of cervical arteries, B-scan sonography has high sensitivity and specificity. B-scans should be increasingly performed both after uncertain clinical and computer tomographic findings prior to angiography of extracranial cerebral vessels.

Analgesic effect of fluproquazone in postoperative patients.

In 4 double-blind, randomized, stratified, parallel group studies, single oral doses of fluproquazone (75 to 200 mg), a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic, were compared with aspirin (1,000 mg) and placebo in a total of 672 hospitalized patients with moderate or severe pain following episiotomy or other surgical interventions. A dose-dependent effect of fluproquazone which was highly significantly superior to placebo and which resembled the effect of aspirin with respect to onset, degree, and duration was noted in all studies. Fluproquazone, 100 to 150 mg, was found to be approximately equiactive to 1,000 mg of aspirin and better tolerated.

Hemodilution (HD) in patients with ischemic skin ulcers.

In 25 patients with arterial occlusive disease in the clinical stage IV according to Fontaine a hemodilution down to an average hematocrit value of 0.31 +/- 0.02 was performed.

[A comparison of radiation exposure of angiographers using an above-table or below-table image intensifier (author's transl)].

Phantom measurements in the vicinity of an angiographic installation with the image intensifier below the table and subsequently with the intensifier above the table have shown that the former arrangement produces three times as much radiation to the head, gonads and leg during screening than when the intensifier is above the table. This has been confirmed in clinical practice during angioplastic procedures in other units. There is also a factor of 2.

[X-Ray findings of the complications of central venous catheters (author's transl)].

The increasing use of central venous catheters requires knowledge of possible hazards. Complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, hematomas in the chest wall or mediastinum and pulmonary emboli caused by the catheter are easily seen on plain chest films. Cardiac tamponade, perforation of vessels, air emboli and thrombosis have to be considered as a possible cause in case of sudden deterioration of a patient.

[Utilization of alimentary ribonucleic acid in calf N-metabolism].

In order to get hints concerning the utilisation of nucleic acids in the N-metabolism of ruminants, a N-balance experiment with not yet ruminating calves was carried out. An admixture of 0, 1.875 and 3.

Attenuated influenza produced by experimental intranasal inoculation.

To assess the relative effect of natural versus experimental influenza illness on pulmonary function, we compared 43 normal adults with documented nonpneumonic influenza A infection during three outbreaks, 1974 (A/Port Chalmers/74), 1975 (A/Port Chalmers/74), and 1976 (A/Victoria/75) to 24 normal volunteers following nasal inoculation with wild-type influenza A/England/42/72, A/Scotland/74 or A/Victoria/75. In naturally acquired illness, abnormalities in small airway functiion and transiently increase airway reactivity were observed. In contrast, no such dysfunction was observed in experimentally induced illness.