Wooded biocorridors substantially improve soil properties in low-altitude rural benchlands.

This study examines soil properties in 30- and 60-year-old agricultural biocorridors and provides a comparative overview with neighbouring farmland. Both mixed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from six farmland/biocorridor study areas to assess a wide spectrum of physical, hydrophysical, chemical and biological soil properties. Biocorridor soils were characterised by higher water retention capacities, porosity, aeration and soil carbon stock, the latter increasing with depth.

Spatial lag effect of aridity and nitrogen deposition on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) damage.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a widespread tolerant forest tree-species; however, its adaptability to environmental change differs among sites with various buffering capacity. In this study, we compared the spatial effects of aridity index (AI) and nitrogen deposition (ND) on biomass density in natural and man-made pine stands of differing soil fertility using geographically weighted multiple lag regression.

Discrimination between acute and chronic decline of Central European forests using map algebra of the growth condition and forest biomass fuzzy sets: A case study.

Forest decline is either caused by damage or else by vulnerability due to unfavourable growth conditions or due to unnatural silvicultural systems. Here, we assess forest decline in the Czech Republic (Central Europe) using fuzzy functions, fuzzy sets and fuzzy rating of ecosystem properties over a 1×1km grid. The model was divided into fuzzy functions of the abiotic predictors of growth conditions (F including temperature, precipitation, acid deposition, soil data and relative site insolation) and forest biomass receptors (F including remote sensing data, density and volume of aboveground biomass, and surface humus chemical data).

Generalised spinal cord atrophy, Chiari-I malformation, and syringomyelia.

Objectives: To report the simultaneous occurrence of generalised spinal cord atrophy, Chiari-I malformation, and syringomyelia.

Setting: Vienna, Austria.

Case Description: An 83-year old woman presented with predominantly lower limb and distal tetraparesis, diffuse wasting, spasticity of both lower limbs, contractures, and severe kyphoscoliosis.

Spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage without hypertension in non-mosaic 45X Turner's syndrome.

Cerebral haemorrhage without hypertension, arteriosclerosis or clotting defect has not been reported in patients with Turner's syndrome before. In a 51 year old female patient with non-mosaic Turner's syndrome, acute aphasia and right-sided hemiplegia occurred, due to left-sided basal ganglia haemorrhage. The history for hypertension was negative, blood pressure was normal throughout hospitalisation as well as during 24 h monitoring, and all tests for secondary hypertension were negative.

Construction of chromosome-specific DNA libraries covering the whole genome of field bean (Vicia faba L.).

Recombinant DNA libraries were constructed for seven chromosome types isolated from two translocation lines of field bean (Vicia faba L.) with reconstructed karyotypes. The chromosomes were selected so that the set of libraries covers the whole V.

Stable xenon CT in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease.

Xenon-enhanced CT (XeCT) is a method of measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Although it is used for acute and perioperative assessment the ability of XeCT to show hypoperfused areas in vivo, as compared with morphological imaging modalities other than noncontrast CT, is not defined. Correlation with MRI helps to define the smallest detectable hypoperfused area.

Functional imaging of effects of fragrances on the human brain after prolonged inhalation.

Beside olfactory or trigeminal stimulation of chemosensory receptor-cells some results in published literature suggest that fragrances show a direct affect on the brain. The effect of the fragrance 1,8-cineol, which was described in literature as 'stimulating', on regional and global cerebral blood flow (rCBF and gCBF) in the human brain after prolonged inhalation was investigated. The results show an increase of global-CBF without preference to primary or secondary olfactory centres after an inhalation-time of 20 min.

Tension headache and the cervical spine--plain X-ray findings.

The aim of the present study was to investigate if there is any causal connection between plain X-ray findings of the cervical spine and tension headache. We evaluated the X-rays of the cervical spine of 243 patients, in 91 of which the diagnosis was "tension headache", in 102 "headache not fulfilling the criteria of tension headache" and in 50 "spondylogenic complaints without headache". We compared these three groups with regard to frequency and severity of radiologically assessable changes of the cervical spine and found that patients with tension headache had normal findings significantly more often and significantly less often functional or organic changes or both than patients of the other two groups.

[Therapy of juvenile angiofibroma].

We describe 12 juvenile angiofibromas treated predominantly by surgical excision. The course of the disease and therapy are analysed. Four interventions on 3 patients were done after pre-operative embolization.

[Transarterial EEG in superselective cerebral angiography].

Transarterial EEG-recording is a complementary method to surface and depth-techniques. In 8 patients having superselective angiography because of diagnosis or therapeutic manoeuvres transarterial EEG-recording was performed. There were only few artefacts and no clinical side effects.

[Angiologic, neurologic and orthopedic findings in vibration exposed chain saw operators].

The present study was designed to evaluate and correlate angiological, neurological and orthopaedic findings in lumberjacks, professionally exposed to vibration by chain-saws with a frequency of 40 to 120 Herz. Raynaud's phenomenon was diagnosed in 16 of 33 subjects. The nerve conduction velocity was delayed in 13 of 32 lumberjacks, the sulcus nervus ulnaris syndrome was diagnosed in 41%, the vibration threshold was abnormal in 10/32 cases.

[Embolization therapy of cavernous hemangiomas].

Hemangiomas are the most frequent tumors found in newborns, but mostly regress by the age of 7. Spontaneous progression and such complications as hemorrhage, disseminated intravascular coagulation (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome), threatened cardiovascular decompensation, and threatened interference with vital functions are rare and must be treated. Embolization therapy is a new therapeutic approach: vascular malformations and hemangiomas with pronounced arteriovenous shunts are treated by selective arterial embolization of the most peripheral branches of the supplying blood vessels.

[Treatment strategy of malignant bone tumors of the spine].

In patients with big, tumorous changes in the vertebral bodies, conservative measures like radiotherapy, medical therapy, and external support measures are often no longer applicable. As a result of the instability of the spinal column, most of the patients are bedridden and in great pain. Signs of root compression occur frequently, as do incipient or incomplete transverse lesions.

[Reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier in the chemotherapy of malignant gliomas].

The concept of a blood brain or blood tumour barrier blocking the passage of lipid insoluble cytoreductive drugs from blood into brain-tumor, leads to a protocol of intraarterial injection of high dose methotrexate (MTX) during reversible, osmotic blood brain barrier disruption (BBBD). Malignant Gliomas of grades III and IV in 9 patients and one primary CNS-lymphoma in one patient have been treated in 2 to 5 sessions per patient with BBBD plus polychemotherapy (MTX, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine). Median progression free intervals (PFI) which are still in continuation are 12.

[Aneurysm of the ampulla of Galen. Nosologic reflections and endovascular therapy].

Nosologic concepts distinguish three types of aneurysm of Galen's ampulla: true aneurysms, related aneurysms, false aneurysms, whatever the type the majority of these malformations can be treated by the endovascular approach, frequently the most effective alternative therapy. Experience acquired during treatment of intracerebral arteriovenous angioma allows perfect control of direct, high output arteriovenous fistula by injection of pure isobutyl cyanoacrylate. Occlusion of shunts should be combined with prevention of consequences, that is to say extensive venous thrombosis.

Blood brain barrier modification and chemotherapy. Interventional neuroradiology in the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Postoperative interventional neuroradiology was performed in patients with malignant gliomas to increase target efficacy of chemotherapy. In 8 glioma patients the blood brain or blood tumor barrier was reversibly opened by intraarterial injection of hyperosmolar fluid (Mannitol 25%). One additional patient had primary lymphoma of the central nervous system.

[Diagnosis of an aneurysm of the great cerebral vein of Galen using duplex sonography].

The combination of two-dimensional sonography of the skull and pulsed Doppler measurements (= Duplex-scan-technique) was used to detect an aneurysm of the vein of Galen in a three months old infant, who presented with clinical signs of congestive heart failure. Excellent correlation of sonography with computed tomography and intravenous digital subtraction angiography could be demonstrated. A short review of the pathological and clinical findings of this lesion is given.

[Balloon catheter technic and embolization--new therapeutic approaches in cerebral and spinal blood vessel malformations].

Balloon catheter and embolization techniques continue to gain importance in the therapy of cerebral and spinal vascular malformations. These methods are applied either preoperatively to improve outset conditions for the operation or as an independent therapeutic measure to partially or completely bypass the malformation. So far the balloon catheter and embolization techniques are applied only within a limited field.

[Digital subtraction myelography--a preliminary report on the use of the digital subtraction technic in myelography].

Preliminary examinations with digital subtraction myelography revealed the possibility of saving up to 70% of water soluble contrast medium compared with usual myelographic procedures, thereby reducing the risk of neurotoxic adverse reactions.

[Paroxysmal brain stem ischemia in a combination of thoracic outlet syndrome with contralateral subclavian steal syndrome].

Mechanical irritation of the right subclavian artery in the scalenus region and stenosis of the contralateral subclavian artery in combination with hypoplasia of the vertebral artery led to recurrent neurological symptoms in a 41 year-old female patient. Sudden loss of consciousness, episodes of dizziness, vomiting and paraesthesiae occurred as a result of manoeuvres involving turning the head and lifting the right arm. A significant blood pressure difference between both arms and a stenotic bruit were found.

[Correlations between the clinical symptoms of cerebral ischemia and its angiographic findings].

Statistical correlations were sought between the clinical data, the neurological signs and the results of angiography in 224 patients who had had panangiography for cerebral ischaemia. With advancing age there is an increase in the incidence of stenosis, but not of occlusion in the cervical portion of the carotid artery. Patients who suffer from peripheral or coronary occlusive artery disease have a higher incidence of stenosis and occlusion of the cervical carotid artery, but most are clinically silent.

[Value of digital subtraction angiography in extra-anatomic bypass].

DSA is a well-established diagnostic procedure. A special indication and technique was employed in the application of DSA, using a low-dose contrast medium in 11 patients with extra-anatomic arterial reconstructions (3 axillofemoral, 4 femoro-femoral suprapubic cross-over bypasses, 4 obturator bypasses). This approach has not been previously described in literature.