[Development of paralytic scoliosis in myelomeningocele].

Among other things the probability of developing a scoliosis in myelomeningocele depends on the patients age, the neurological level of lesion and the localisation of the vertebral arch defect. This study tries to analyse the influence of these factors in 465 patients with MMC and paralytic scoliosis. The results show, that the patients age and the neurological level of lesion are the most important factors for the development of paralytic scoliosis.

Humoral and cell-mediated immune response against human retinal antigens in relation to ocular onchocerciasis.

Autoimmune mechanisms are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of the chorioretinal changes in ocular onchocerciasis. The humoral autoimmune response was determined by measuring serum levels of autoantibodies, directed against human S-antigen and interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) using an enzyme immunoassay. The cell-mediated immune response to these antigens and a crude retinal extract was investigated by means of a two-step migration inhibition factor assay.

Absence of humoral autoimmunity in peripartum cardiomyopathy. A comparative study in Niger.

The authors report a humoral immunity study in 39 black Nigerian women with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) assay, evaluation of serum immune complexes (immunonephelemetric method) and of heart muscle autoantibodies (indirect immunofluorescent double layer technique in heart muscle of the rat) were made. Forty breastfeeding black Nigerian women without cardiac disease were the controls.

[Neuro-endocrine carcinoma of a Bartholin's gland].

This is a case of a 38 year old woman in whom a small basophil cell tumour occurred with inguinal and iliac lymph node metastases followed by pulmonary metastases and extension of the tumour into the vagina and the bladder. The patient died eight months after having started multiple chemotherapy and radiotherapy with telecobalt. Extra studies were carried out ten years later on the cells.

Expression of synaptophysin in the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12.

Expression of the integral membrane protein of small synaptic vesicles, synaptophysin, was investigated in the pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 using a quantiative dot immunoassay. Specific synaptophysin contents of the cultures varied with cell density, high levels being observed in densely seeded dishes and/or after some days of subculturing. Northern blot analysis revealed these cell density-related changes in synaptophysin protein contents to result partly from corresponding alterations in mRNA levels.

Comparison of monophasic with single and dual capacitor biphasic waveforms for nonthoracotomy canine internal defibrillation.

Monophasic and single capacitor and dual capacitor biphasic truncated exponential shocks were tested in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs with use of a nonthoracotomy internal defibrillation pathway consisting of a right ventricular catheter electrode and a subcutaneous chest wall patch electrode. Seven dogs weighing 20.2 +/- 0.

Advances in noninvasive bone measurement.

Several noninvasive measurement methods are used for evaluation of metabolic disease. Single-photon (125I) scans of the peripheral skeleton are useful in some diseases but are ineffective in osteoporosis (even on the distal radius or os calcis) because they cannot predict spinal or femoral density. Also, peripheral measurements show high percentages of false negatives, that is many patients with fractures have normal peripheral density.

[Basic studies of ultrasound surgery. VIII. Experimental animal studies of power ultrasound surgery of the swine pancreas].

The technique of the power ultrasound was tested in vitro and in vivo in 20 porcine pancreas. Simultaneous temperature measurements and laboratory tests do not produce any restriction. Enzymatic disorders were provable adequate to the clinical course.

Whole-body MR imaging and spectroscopy with a 4-T system.

The clinical potential and limitations of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy at 4 T were investigated with the use of a newly constructed system, which has been in use since January 1987. The magnet has a warm bore that measures 1.25 m in diameter, and its homogeneity in a sphere with a diameter of 50 cm is better than +/- 2.

Comparative efficacy of monophasic and biphasic truncated exponential shocks for nonthoracotomy internal defibrillation in dogs.

Pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs were studied to determine the relative efficacy of monophasic and biphasic truncated exponential shocks employing a nonthoracotomy internal defibrillation pathway that consisted of a right ventricular catheter electrode (cathode) and a subcutaneous chest wall patch electrode (anode). In part 1 of the experiments, six dogs (19.6 +/- 1.

Correction for scattered radiation and other background signals in dual-energy computed tomography material thickness measurements.

Both beam hardening and the detection of scattered radiation cause nonlinearity errors in x-ray computed tomography (CT), leading to artifacts and CT number inaccuracies. Dual-energy measurements can be used to correct beam hardening effects to a high degree of accuracy. However, in the imaging of thick body sections the transmitted intensity of the primary beam is low, making scatter the most significant cause of CT number inaccuracy.

Strength-duration curves of fixed pulse width variable tilt truncated exponential waveforms for nonthoracotomy internal defibrillation in dogs.

Six anesthetized dogs (wgt 19.6 + 1.1 kg) underwent defibrillation trials using truncated monophasic pulses of 2.

[Occupationally-induced progressive scleroderma and the heart].

A 60-year-old man with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) had worked as underground miner in ore mining for 26 years with intensive exposure to crystalline silica. The PSS was acknowledged as an occupational disease. Parallel to the progress of the PSS there developed disturbances of the conduction system and cardiac rhythm with left heart failure.

Mycetoma in the Republic of Niger: clinical features and epidemiology.

Mycetoma is a common disease in the Republic of Niger. In two hospitals 133 cases were observed. The major site of lesions was the foot.

In vitro excystation and subsequent axenic growth of Giardia lamblia.

Six fresh Giardia lamblia strains were isolated by in vitro excystation and subsequent culturing of excysted parasites in bile-supplemented BI-S-33 medium. The cysts passed in faeces appeared to differ in structure when observed using differential interference contrast microscopy. Sometimes the enclosed organisms were closely applied to the cyst wall; in most stool specimens, however, the parasites were separated from the cyst wall by a space.

Concurrent parasitic infections among patients with onchocerciasis and controls in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Research was performed into the prevalence of concurrent parasite infection among 23 patients with onchocerciasis and 13 onchocerciasis-negative controls in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Stools, urine sediments and bloodsmears were examined for ova, parasites and microfilariae. Results showed the presence of Hookworm, Schistosoma mansoni, Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides.

[Tuberculoma of the heart. Contribution of echography. Apropos of a case].

An 18-year old woman was admitted to hospital with signs of right heart failure and atrial tachycardia. Ultrasounds showed a tumoral mass in the tricuspid valve. Post-mortem examination revealed that the mass was a tuberculoma obstructing the tricuspid orifice.