Similar endothelium-dependent relaxation, but enhanced contractility, of the right gastroepiploic artery as compared with the internal mammary artery.

The right gastroepiploic artery is an alternative coronary bypass graft. The excellent graft function of the internal mammary artery has been related to its physiologic properties, particularly to endothelial function. Isolated artery rings were suspended in organ chambers for recording of isometric tension.

[Effect of electrically powered dental devices on cardiac parameter function in humans].

Electrically powered devices represent a hazard for patients with cardiac pacemakers. The aim of the present investigation was an in vivo evaluation of possible interactions between electrically powered dental instruments and the function of artificial pacemakers in humans. In 26 patients with artificial pacemakers, different dental instruments were applied, including air scaler, ultrasonic curets, electric pulp tester and electrotome.

Characterization of a second promoter for the mouse liver/bone/kidney-type alkaline phosphatase gene: cell and tissue specific expression.

The second leader exon and the relative promoter of the mouse liver/bone/kidney-type alkaline phosphatase gene were identified and characterized. The transcription initiation site was determined by S1 mapping analysis. The differential expression of the two alternatively spliced transcripts was assessed in cell lines of different origin and in various tissues by polymerase chain reaction and RNase mapping analysis.

[Developments in mitral valve surgery].

Between 1987 and 1990 we operated on 104 patients for mitral valve disease. If possible the valve was reconstructed according to CARPENTIER's technique: 8 of 28 stenotic, 43 of 57 regurgitant and 2 of 7 mixed lesions were repaired. Twelve patients underwent re-replacement of a previously inserted mitral prosthesis.

Retinoic acid induces liver/bone/kidney-type alkaline phosphatase gene expression in F9 teratocarcinoma cells.

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) induces alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by 3-8-fold in murine F9 teratocarcinoma cells, in parallel with their differentiation towards primitive endoderm. The elevation of ALP activity is associated with increases in the amounts of liver/bone/kidney-type ALP protein and the respective transcript. These effects of RA are due to activation of ALP gene transcription rather than to an increase in the half-life of the mRNA.

[Emergency surgery for PTCA complications: tactics and results].

Incidence, risk and results of emergency coronary bypass surgery after failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) have been analyzed in a retrospective study. Failed PTCA has been defined as visible pathology (dissection, occlusion) of the dilated vessel associated with acute chest pain and ECG changes. From 3-1-1987 to 11-30-1990, 23 patients of 433 (5%) underwent emergency surgery for failed PTCA (19 male, 4 female, mean age 55 +/- 8 years).

[Use of the right gastroepiploic artery as a coronary bypass graft. Indications, technique and early results].

435 isolated coronary artery procedures have been performed between January and December 1989 at the HerzZentrum Hirslanden. In 93% of the cases, one or two internal mammary arteries (IMA) and in 7%, saphenous vein grafts only were used as a bypass conduit. In 12 patients, the right gastroepiploic artery (RGE) was used as a free (3) or pedicled (9) graft to the posterior surface of the heart.

Isolation and characterization of the mouse liver/bone/kidney-type alkaline phosphatase gene.

The gene coding for the mouse alkaline phosphatase expressed in liver, bone, kidney and placenta (liver/bone/kidney-type alkaline phosphatase, L/B/K-ALP) was isolated and characterized. This gene consists of 12 exons and it is at least 49 kb long. The first two exons are separated by a long intron which is at least 32 kb in size, whereas the other exons span within the remaining 17 kb.

Refinement of the Iowa Self-Assessment Inventory.

Two samples of older respondents (N = 1,153 and N = 420) were used in the refinement of the Iowa Self-Assessment Inventory (ISAI). Factor analyses based on data obtained from these samples resulted in modification of the original six-scale inventory to an inventory of seven scales: economic resources, anxiety/depression, physical health, alienation, mobility, cognitive status, and social support. The original ISAI was shortened from 120 to 56 items.

[Heart center surgery in the private hospital: heart surgery in the hospital with covering physicians].

Based upon the experiences at the "Herzzentrum Hirslanden" Zurich it is demonstrated that heart surgery and invasive cardiology, including cardiac catheterization and PTCA, can readily be performed by surgeons and cardiologists in private practice at a private hospital not receiving any government funds. The needs for additional heart surgical beds in the greater area of Zurich is confirmed. Manpower needed and necessary apparative infrastructure are discussed and present activities at the "Herzzentrum Hirslanden" illustrated.

[Blood saving measures in heart surgery].

Retransfusion of mediastinal shed blood after cardiopulmonary bypass has markedly reduced requirements of homologous blood or blood products. It also decreased the incidence of early reoperation for bleeding. The additional use of a cell saver has not further reduced blood requirements but it improved the patient's perioperative water balance.

Incidence, prevalence, and variables associated with low back pain in staff nurses.

The morbidity, lost work time, and interference with effective work due to low back pain are markedly underestimated when only employee health service data are used. Injured subjects averaged more years of generic, orthopedic, and rehabilitation nursing experience than the non-injured group. Of the studied nurses who experienced work related low back pain within the past 6 months, 78% did not report it to management.

Isolation and characterization of variant cDNAs encoding mouse tyrosinase.

Two different cDNA clones encoding mouse tyrosinase (monophenol oxygenase, E.C. 1.

Lumbosacral plexus lesions: correlation of clinical signs and computed tomography.

Neurological signs and computed tomographic morphology were compared in 60 patients. The primary neurological deficit was most commonly located in the sacral (n = 31) or lumbar plexus (n = 23) and was most commonly caused by a neoplasm (n = 40). In 78% of the patients it correlated with the lesions detected by computed tomography (CT).

[Surgical treatment of type I and II dissecting aortic aneurysms].

Over a period of 15 years, 89 patients (70 male, 19 female) aged 15-76 (mean 48) underwent surgery for acute (64) or chronic (25) dissecting aneurysm type I or II. Early mortality was 18% (16 patients); 8 patients died late (2.8% per year); 8 patients had to be reoperated because of late complications on the aorta.

[Pre- and postoperative conditions in the self evaluation of 3 groups of surgical patients].

This article studies the self-assessed pre/postoperative course of the psychological condition of 3 patient groups (hernia, aorto-coronary bypass and cancer patients) and healthy controls. Some consequences for clinical work are discussed.

[Heart surgery in patients older than 70 years].

Between 1980 and 1983, 103 patients over the age of seventy (average 72.5 years) underwent cardiac surgery. It comprised 41 aortic valve replacements, 11 mitral valve operations, 7 aortic and mitral valve procedures, 18 valve replacements with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting, 17 coronary revascularizations, 7 operations for VSD after acute myocardial infarction and 2 procedures for dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta.

[Coronary reoperation--yes or no?].

From 1979 to April 1984, 51 patients were reoperated on for postoperative angina pectoris. Three patients died early and 4 late. The cause of death was cardiac in all cases.

The DNA content of cerebral cortex neurons. Determinations by cytophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography.

Previous work from our laboratories has indicated that the DNA content of rat cerebral cortex neurons increases postnatally to a level of slightly above 3c, where 2c denotes the diploid DNA complement. We have re-evaluated this concept by using various cytophotometric assays and a novel high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The latter consists of digesting the DNA in isolated neuronal nuclei by a mixture of DNA-degrading enzymes followed by analysis of the resulting deoxynucleosides by HPLC.

Determinants of early and late results of repair of atrioventricular septal (canal) defects.

The anatomic and functional characteristics of 310 consecutive patients undergoing repair of atrioventricular (AV) septal defects were studied. The characteristics of the six leaflets of the common (139 patients) or two-orifice (171 patients) AV valve are described. Interventricular communications were present in 156 patients and major associated cardiac anomalies in 73 (tetralogy of Fallot 20, double-outlet right ventricle nine, and others).