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Recent developments of thermal techniques for determining electric field and polarization profiles are discussed. An experimental arrangement is introduced which allows for investigations of plane, parallel capacitor samples, as well as of unconventional sample shapes, such as cylindrical and spherical capacitors. The basis of electro-thermal techniques is very broad, providing access to the investigation of thermal (specific heat, thermal diffusivity and thermal expansion) and elastic parameters (velocity of sound), as well as of piezo- and pyroelectric properties.

Tumors of the diaphragm are rare and caused by there special localisation difficult to diagnose. We describe the case of a 31 year old man with a choristoma of the left diaphragmal crux where the localisation and genesis could only be cleared through lateral thoracotomy. Nor the CT guided puncture or the laparoscopy-although sufficient samples for the pathology could be gained-allowed the right diagnose. The importance of good diagnostic approach to select the right operative procedure-in this case the anterolateral thoracotomy-is described.

RHIC requires 288 sextupole and 72 trim quadrupole magnets. These iron poletip superconducting magnets have been constructed by Everson Electric Co. Room temperature field measurements have been completed for 75% of these magnets with acceptable results. Approximately 15% of them have been tested at 4.6 K for maximum (quench) current. The quench performance for the early magnets was good and improved to excellent during the production run. These magnets have more than 100% margin at quench.

Charged closed-cell polymer foams have been found to be highly sensitive piezoelectric materials. Charging is shown to arise from dielectric barrier microdischarges within the voids of the cellular polymer. Above the threshold voltage for breakdown in the voids, the microdischarges are evidenced by light emission from the polymer, as well as by displacement-voltage hysteresis loops. Monitoring light emission during breakdown is shown to provide a quick check for the suitability of foams for piezoelectric applications. Additionally it allows for the visualization of micropores in foams in a nondestructive way. The piezoelectric response of the foam can be switched by applying dc-voltage pulses of alternating polarity above the breakdown threshold, thereby showing the feasibility of patterning the piezoelectric properties within the film plane. Although piezoelectric foams are nonferroelectric, the experiments prove similarities to ferroelectric materials with respect to hysteresis behavior, as well as a threshold (coercive) field for switching of the polarization and piezoelectricity.

Endobronchiale Fruhkarzinome und endobronchiale Zweitkarzinome sind rontgenologisch kaum darstellbar und intraoperativ nicht palpierbar. Sie erfordern daher eine besonders exakte praoperative Operationsplanung. Bislang erfolgte die Operationsplanung ausschlieslich auf Grund von Befunden, die mittels der konventionellen Weislichtbron-choskopie erhoben wurden. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Darstellung der Operationstechnik bei endobronchialen Karzinomen, die mit Hilfe der Autofluoreszenzbronchoskopie nachgewiesen wurden. Methoden und Ergebnisse: Die Autofluoreszenzbronchoskopie ermoglicht eine deutlich verbesserte Darstellung des Ausmases der endobronchialen Tumorausdehnung. Diese neue Untersuchungstechnik beruht darauf, das es im Bereich von endoluminalen Neoplasien zu einer Ausloschung des Autofluoreszenz der Schleimhaut kommt und so bereits praoperativ das notwendige Ausmas der Resektion exakt festgelegt werden kann. Die exakte Darstellung ermoglicht dem Chirurgen parenchymsparende Resektionen (Segmentbronchus-, Zwischenbronchus-, Segmentmanschettenresektionen) unter Schonung von nicht tumorbefallenen Arealen des Bronchialbaums. Die Rekonstruktion des Bronchialsystems erfolgt durch die Reanastomisierung von Segmentbronchien unter Bildung von Neokarinen bzw. manschettenformigen Anastomosen. Die Lokalisationstechnik mittels Autofluoreszenzbronchoskopie, die Resektionsverfahren und die Rekonstruktion des Bronchialsystems werden bei verschiedenen Patienten mit endobronchialen Fruhkarzinomen und bei Patienten mit endobronchialen Zweitkarzinomen dargestellt. Schluβfolgerung: Die Autofluoreszenzbronchoskopie ermoglicht eine verbesserte Lokalisation endobronchialer Karzinome, so das in Kombination mit Rekonstruktionen auch der distalen Abschnitte des Bronchialsystems gesundes Lungenparenchym weitgehend erhalten werden kann. Der Erhalt von gesundem Lungengewebe erscheint auf dem Hintergrund des haufigen Auftretens von Zweitkarzinomen (30% nach 5 Jahren) bei diesen Patienten besonders wichtig.

Die Fahrtauglichkeit ist bei mittelschweren und schweren psychischen Erkrankungen sowie zu Beginn einer medikamentosen Therapie in der Regel nicht gegeben.

Die nachfolgenden Tabellen (modifiziert nach Benkert, Hippius 2000) fassen die notwendigen Kontrollen zusammen.

Die Verordnung von Psychopharmaka wahrend Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit setzt stets ein sorgfaltiges Abwagen zwischen der pra- und postnatalen Exposition des Kindes auf der einen Seite und dem Risiko der Mutter andererseits (Wiedererkrankung nach Absetzen der Medikation, verzogerte Gesundung bei Therapie ohne Psychopharmaka etc.) voraus.

Wenn moglich, sollte die Behandlung mit nur einem Psychopharmakon erfolgen,da sich der Metabolismus mehrerer psychoaktiver Medikamente, v.a. der Abbau in der Leber, wechselseitig erheblich beeinflusst, sodass bei mehreren Psychopharmaka oft Wechselwirkungen (z.B. verstarkter sedierender Effekt etc.) auftreten. Nebenwirkungen konnen bei einer Monotherapie klar zugeordnet werden.

The DNA IQ™ System is an established chemistry for DNA recovery from casework samples. Successful DNA recovery from most casework samples depends on the efficiency of extraction, which refers to removal of DNA from a solid support such as a swab or fabric cutting, and isolation, which refers to the recovery of DNA once it is extracted from the solid support. We have recently improved the performance of the DNA IQ™ System on the Maxwell ® 16 Instrument by increasing extraction and isolation efficiencies. First, we designed a new LEV plunger using a proprietary material that increases isolation efficiency. Second, we improved extraction efficiency by introducing an optimized DNA extraction buffer. In this article, we demonstrate the resulting increase in DNA yield across a variety of samples, and compare these results to data generated by organic extraction.

Recently, BH(4)-responsive phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency was reported in patients with specific mutations in the PAH gene, and it was suggested that BH(4) responsiveness may be determined by the respective genotypes. We now report on three patients with PAH deficiency and the same genotype but different responses to standardized BH(4) loading. Our results suggest that BH(4) responsiveness in PAH deficiency is at least partly independent from PAH genotype.

A photon counting pixel read-out chip for medical X-ray imaging with energy windowing is presented. It consists of 32×32 pixels of 200 μm×200 μm size, each of them contains two discriminators and two 18-bit counters. Both discriminator thresholds can be adjusted individually for good image homogeneity and a circuit has been designed to avoid threshold drift. Measurements on the noise behaviour, threshold variation and threshold drift are shown.

Piezo, pyro, and ferroelectric polymers are known since 30 years. With piezo- and pyroelectric coefficients being less than that of crystalline or ceramic piezoelectrics, polymers have found niche applications in diverse fields, ranging from sensor systems and nondestructive testing to fundamental research applications, such as photopyroelectric spectroscopy and microcalorimetry. This survey discusses the technologically important polymers polyvinylidene fluoride {PVDF} and its copolymers with trifluoroethylene {P(VDF-TrFE)}. Recent developments include the preparation and characterization of ultra-thin ferroelectric polymer films and relaxor-type ferroelectric polymers with large electrostrictive responses. Special emphasis is given to techniques for measuring the piezo- and pyroelectric activity, and to their use for the nondestructive probing of nonuniform space-charge and polarization distributions in polymer films. A few recent applications are selected which display the large potential of exploiting ferroelectric polymers.

A 31-year-old woman presented in the 25th week of pregnancy with ankle and pretibial oedema and increasing dyspnoea, ultimately in class IV (New York Heart Association classification). There were fine rales on auscultation and dullness on palpation over both lung bases. The heart rate was regular at 110/min. The first heart sound was very loud, and there was a mitral opening snap and a loud diastolic murmur maximal, over the cardiac apex.The ECG showed sinus rhythm at a rate of 110/min, left axis deviation, incomplete right bundle branch block and P biatriale, but no other abnormalities. Echocardiography revealed biatrial enlargement and an enlarged right ventricle as well as pulmonary systolic hypertension of 100 mm Hg. Doppler sonography demonstrated severe mitral stenosis with a calculated mitral opening area of 0.9 cm2.The symptoms improved only slightly under conservative drug treatment. The mitral valve changes, as noted sonographically, met the criteria for percutaneous transluminal balloon mitral valvoplasty (PTBMV), which was successfully performed. Afterwards the mitral opening area was 2.6 cm2 and pulmonary artery pressure gradually became normal. She was delivered without complication of a healthy child in the 39th week of pregnancy.PTBLMV is a relatively low-risk treatment in pregnant women with symptomatic mitral stenosis.

Ofil Ltd. has developed a Bispectral Visible-Solar Blind UV video imager (DayCor Camera), that is suitable for corona and partial discharges imaging in full daylight. This system detects and locates weak corona signals in full daylight by overlaying a UV video image of the corona on a visible video image of the surrounding scene. The corona that emits radiation only in the UV is visualized with the surrounding scene as background. The ability of the DayCor camera to operate in full daylight derives from the careful control of the spectral response of its UV imager, which is totally solar blind and insensitive to solar radiation. The solar blindness is achieved by using a special filter, developed by Ofil that is transparent in the solar blind UV band and is completely opaque to solar radiation. The DayCor camera detects and locates corona at noontime on HV transmission line insulators from a distance up to 100 meters with good signal to background ratio. The concept of the method is explained and illustrated in this presentation.

The presence of iron ions in the ZnSe crystal lattice influences strongly the optical absorption properties of this semiconductor. We observed three different mechanisms of the absorption: the intra-ion transitions, photoionisation transition, and interband transition. The first two mechanisms originate from the presence of iron ions in the crystal. The pressure coefficients of intra-ion transitions were determined. The pressure red shift of ionisation spectrum was attributed to the transition of an electron from the valence band to the iron level. The influence of iron on the critical pressure for the phase transition from zincblende to rocksalt structure was also established.

The problem of a risk of infection from the common use of chalices has been discussed controversially in literature. Opinions were mainly based on laboratory experiments and theoretical considerations. The authors examined bacterial counts and species existing under normal conditions after communion. For this purpose, contact samples were taken from the inside and outside of chalices at the rim. Staphylococci and alpha-haemolytic streptococci were found on all chalices examined. On more than 80%, there were apathogenic micrococci, nonhaemolytic streptococci, apathogenic neisseria and apathogenic corynebacteria as well as lactobacilli and bacilli. Staphylococcus aureus was found on 26.4% of chalices. Although the risk of infection for healthy persons from a commonly used chalice can be rated as low, it should not be underestimated for persons with reduced resistance and immunocompetence, or with reduced defences as a result of therapeutic measures. From the hygienic point of view, the most favourable approaches to avoid infection would be the use of individual chalices for all participants in the communion or the immersion of wafers or bread in wine or in grape juice by the priest (intinction).

The demanding requirements for pixel readout electronics for high- energy physics experiments and biomedical applications are reviewed. Some examples of the measured analog performance of prototype chips are given. The readout architectures of the PIxel readout for the ATlas experiment (PIRATE) chip suited for LHC experiments and of the multi-picture element counter (MPEC) counting chip targeted for biomedical applications are presented. First results with complete chip-sensor assemblies are also shown. (12 refs).

Reasons for indoor-moisture beyond the normal level can be caused by penetrating dampness, condensation-water, and apartment misuse. A fall in the air temperature below the dew point in connection with moulding inside buildings becomes evident mostly at places like badly insulated outer-walls or room-corners. In a number of houses built between 1980 and 1983 in the so called "Plattenbauweise" (prefabricated slabs), exclusively the inner-walls were covered in mould around cracks in the walls. Examinations showed connections between the apartment and the outer-corridor with a slight exchange of air through the cracks. Warm, wet air escaped from the apartment into the outer-corridor, and cold air entered the apartment from the outer-corridor. This temporary fall below the dewpoint caused by suitable variation of temperature probably resulted in the building materials and wallpapers becoming damp, as well as the growth of mould.

Complementary medicine is being used to varying extent in all industrial countries. There are incomplete data concerning efficacy, safety and costs of such treatment, while little is known about special features and motivation of those persons who choose complementary medicine. The aim of the study was to ascertain, among patients who use complementary medicine and those who prefer traditional medicine, any differences with regard to sociodemographic, disease-related and psychological characteristics and their life-style.A total of 419 patients were studied by a standardised interview and questionnaire (168 items) and divided into two groups (group 1: those using conventional treatment [n - 197; 91 women, 106 men; average age 43.2 +/- 16.9 years]; group 2: those preferring complementary medicine [n = 222; 159 women, 63 men; average age 43.2 +/- 15.0 years]). They were recruited from specialist internal medical or generalist medical practice with or without offer of complementary medicine (additional term: natural healing methods). Statistical analysis was with Student's-t-test and the chi(2)-test [correction of gamma-test].Those patients who chose to be treated by complementary medicine clearly differed from the others with respect to sociodemographic, disease-related and psychological characteristics, as well as life-style. The patient-doctor relationship also differed between the two groups. On average those of group 2 had a higher educational level (higher education: 10.3% in group 1; 15.9 in group 2) and lower risk factors (68.9% nonsmokers in group 1, 77.8% in group 2; alcohol abstinence: 33.2 vs 46.4%). Patients in both groups preferred conventional medicine for serious diseases (cardiac infarct; tumour; AIDS).In general, those patients who choose complementary medicine have a healthier life-style. As the number of these patients is on the increase. Since as yet the efficacy, risks and costs of complementary medicine have been inadequately investigated, research in this area should be intensified.

This study was designed to assess the interference by closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the ventricular fibrillation (VF) ECG signal in a porcine model of cardiac arrest and to elucidate which variable of VF spectral analysis reflects best myocardial blood flow and resuscitation success during CPR. Fourteen domestic pigs were allocated to receive either 0.4 U/kg vasopressin ( n = 7) or 10 ml saline ( n = 7) after 4 min of VF and 3 min of CPR. Using radiolabeled microspheres, myocardial blood flow was determined during CPR before, and 90 s and 5 min after, drug administration. Using spectral analysis of VF, the median frequency, dominant frequency, edge frequency and amplitude of VF were determined simultaneously and before the first defibrillation attempt. Using filters in order to specify frequency ranges, stepwise elimination of mechanical artifacts resulting from CPR revealed that at a frequency bandpass of 4.3–35 Hz, median fibrillation frequency has a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 100% to differentiate between resuscitated and non-resuscitated animals. The best correlation between myocardial blood flow and fibrillation frequency was found at a median frequency range of 4.3–35 Hz. We conclude that spectral analysis of VF can provide reliable information relating to successful resuscitation. In this model after elimination of oscillations due to mechanical CPR, median fibrillation frequency best reflects the probability of resuscitation success.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of graded doses of vasopressin vs. saline on median fibrillation frequency and defibrillation success in a porcine model of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING Animal laboratory in a university medical center. SUBJECTS Twenty-eight domestic pigs (body weight between 26 and 31 kg), aged 12 to 14 wks. INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN RESULTS After 4 mins of ventricular fibrillation and 3 mins of closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the animals were allocated to receive either 0.2 U/kg of vasopressin (n = 7), 0.4 U/kg of vasopressin (n = 7), 0.8 U/kg of vasopressin (n = 7), or 10 mL of saline (n = 7, control group). Using radiolabeled microspheres, myocardial blood flow rates during cardiopulmonary resuscitation-before drug administration and 90 secs and 5 mins after drug administration-were as follows in the four groups (mean +/- SEM): 18.8 +/- 0.9, 17.2 +/- 1.1, and 14.6 +/- 1.4 mL/min/100 g in the control group; 17.8 +/- 2.2, 49.6 +/- 6.3 (p < .01 vs. control group), and 29.4 +/- 3.1 mL/min/100 g (p < .05 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.2 U/kg of vasopressin; 17.1 +/- 1.0, 52.4 +/- 7.5 (p < .01 vs. control group), and 52.2 +/- 5.8 mL/min/100 g (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.4 U/kg of vasopressin; and 18.1 +/- 1.6, 94.9 +/- 9.2 (p < .001 vs. control group), and 57.2 +/- 6.3 mL/min/100 g (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.8 U/kg of vasopressin. Using spectral analysis, median frequencies of ventricular fibrillation-before drug administration and 90 secs and 5 mins after drug administration-were as follows in the four groups: 9.6 +/- 0.4, 8.5 +/- 0.8, and 7.2 +/- 1.0 Hz in the control group; 9.7 +/- 0.5, 12.9 +/- 0.8 (p < .01 vs. control group), and 12.7 +/- 0.8 Hz (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.2 U/kg of vasopressin; 10.3 +/- 0.2, 12.7 +/- 0.9 (p < .01 vs. control group), and 12.8 +/- 0.7 Hz (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.4 U/kg of vasopressin; and 10.0 +/- 0.9, 14.1 +/- 0.9 (p < .001 vs. control group), and 12.5 +/- 0.9 Hz (p < .001 vs. control group) in the group receiving 0.8 U/kg of vasopressin at the same points in time. Median frequency before the first defibrillation attempt was 12.3 +/- 0.4 Hz in the resuscitated animals (n = 19) and 8.2 +/- 1.2 Hz in the nonresuscitated animals (n = 9) (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS This study contributes to the characterization of the effect of increasing global myocardial blood flow on median fibrillation frequency after administration of graded doses of vasopressin in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation. Interventions such as vasopressor treatment that increase fibrillation frequency improve the chance of successful defibrillation.

Colloidal Ti/Fe mixed oxide nanoparticles were synthesized in aqueous solution with the Fe3+content varying from 0.05 up to 50 at% and particle diameters between 4 and 6 nm. The absorption spectra of these particles could be shifted considerably into the visible part of the solar spectrum with increasing content of ferric ions. The photophysical properties of the newly synthesized particles were examined in detail. Steady state illumination experiments showed a reversible bleaching of the absorption spectrum in the presence of a hole scavenger indicating that a negative excess charge could be stored. The origin of the bleaching was studied in detail using time-resolved flash photolysis measurements. The photocatalytic activity of the Ti/Fe mixed oxide particles was compared to that of pure colloidal TiO2 by studying the photooxidation of dichloroacetate (DCA) in acidic and alkaline media. It could be demonstrated that the incorporation of iron into TiO2 leads to an enhancement of the degradation efficiency, especially in acidic solutions. However, a release of Fe(II) was observed during the course of these detoxification reactions evincing that the newly synthesized catalyst partially photocorrodes. Strategies are suggested to suppress this cathodic process.

Background During hypotensive states, angiotensin II augments reflex activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of this vasoconstrictor on myocardial blood flow and plasma catecholamine concentrations during and after CPR. Methods and Results After 4 minutes of ventricular fibrillation and 3 minutes of open-chest CPR, 14 pigs (24 to 26 kg) were randomized into two groups receiving either saline (n=7) or 0.05 mg/kg angiotensin II (n=7). Arterial plasma catecholamine concentration was measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography. Organ blood flow was measured with radiolabeled microspheres. During CPR, after drug administration, left ventricular myocardial blood flow was significantly higher in the angiotensin II–treated group than in the control group. During CPR, median epinephrine concentrations before and 90 seconds and 5 minutes after drug administration were 63.0, 35.2, and 22.5 ng/mL, respectively, in the control group and 63.2, 139.8, and 154.2 ng/mL, respectively, in the angiotensin II group ( P P P P Conclusions During CPR, angiotensin II appears to increase coronary perfusion pressure and myocardial blood flow, not only by direct peripheral arteriolar vasoconstriction via angiotensin II receptors but also by inducing a massive catecholamine release with adrenergic peripheral vasoconstriction.

This paper is concerned with the identification of the nonlinear restoring force characteristic of a rubber mounting that is part of an oscillator which is subjected to harmonic force excitation. A linearity test is successfully applied to the experimental data to detect the nonlinear behaviour of the system. It is shown that the results of linear system identification depend on the level of excitation force applied. Furthermore, the frequency response functions of the identified linear models only poorly match the measured ones. In consequence, a parametric nonlinear spring characteristic is introduced into the linear model. It is demonstrated that only one set of parameters is required to explain the system behaviour at different levels of excitation force. Also, each of the measured frequency response functions is matched more closely by the calculated frequency response of the nonlinear model.

Contact regulation thermography is one of the unconventional medical diagnostic procedures, and is based on the individual adaptive behavior of the subject with respect to temperature. Its proponents believe that a specific medical diagnosis can be established on the basis of varying temperature differences. Studies carried out to date have produced mixed results. The increasing use of this procedure, not only in complementary medicine, makes it necessary to undertake a critical examination of the method. Care-providing physicians should question their patients about other unconventional medical diagnostic procedures to which they have been submitted, and inform them about the dubious nature of non-evaluated methods.

Since the first reports some three decades ago, the chemistry of pincer metal complexes has seen a tremendous development with impact on materials chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, bioorganometallics, and, presumably most significantly, on (catalytic) bond making and breaking processes. The remarkable progress is due to a large extent to the well-defined nature and tunability of the pincer ligand which allows the reactivity of the metal center to be modified and eventually tailored to specific needs. This Perspective summarizes the achievements in employing pincer complexes for mediating and catalyzing the cleavage of typically unreactive bonds such as C–H, C–C, C–E, and E–H bonds, arguably one of the most spectacular applications of pincer chemistry.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to assess the effects of a modified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique that consists of both active compression and active decompression of the chest (ACD CPR) versus standard CPR (STD CPR) on myocardial and cerebral blood flow during ventricular fibrillation both before and after epinephrine administration. METHODS AND RESULTS During a 30-second period of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, 14 pigs were randomized to receive either STD CPR (n = 7) or ACD CPR (n = 7). Both STD and ACD CPR were performed using an automated pneumatic piston device applied midsternum, designed to provide either active chest compression (1.5 to 2.0 in.) and decompression or only active compression of the chest at 80 compressions per minute and 50% duty cycle. Using radiolabeled microspheres, median total myocardial blood flow after 5 minutes of ventricular fibrillation was 14 (7 to 30, minimum to maximum) STD CPR versus 30 (9 to 46) mL.min-1 x 100 g-1 with ACD CPR (P < .05). Median cerebral blood flow was 15 (10 to 26) mL.min-1 x 100 g-1 with STD CPR and 30 (21 to 39) with ACD CPR (P < .01). When comparing STD with ACD CPR, aortic systolic (62 mm Hg [48 to 70] vs 80 [59 to 86]) and diastolic (22 [18 to 28] vs 28 [21 to 36]) pressures, calculated coronary systolic (30 [22 to 36] vs 49 [37 to 56]) and diastolic (18 [16 to 23] vs 26 [21 to 31]) perfusion pressures, end-tidal CO2 (1.4% [0.8 to 1.8] vs 2.1 (1.8 to 2.4]), cerebral O2 delivery (3.1 mL.min-1 x 100 g-1 [1.5 to 4.5] vs 5.3 [3.8 to 7.5]), and cerebral perfusion pressure (14 mm Hg [4 to 22] vs 26 [6 to 34]) were all significantly higher with ACD CPR: To compare these parameters before and after vasopressor therapy, a bolus of high-dose epinephrine (0.2 mg/kg) was given to all animals after 5 minutes of ventricular fibrillation. Organ blood flow and calculated perfusion pressures increased significantly in both the STD and ACD groups after epinephrine. The differences observed between STD and ACD CPR before epinephrine were diminished 90 seconds after epinephrine but were again statistically significant when assessed 5 minutes later, once the acute effects of epinephrine had decreased. No difference in short-term resuscitation success was found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that ACD CPR significantly increases myocardial and cerebral blood flow during cardiac arrest in the absence of vasopressor therapy compared with STD CPR

Based upon the hypothesis that vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) may increase vascular resistance during ventricular fibrillation, the effects of this potent vasoconstrictor were studied in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation. Vasopressin therapy was compared to epinephrine by randomly allocating 14 pigs to receive either 0.045 mg/kg of epinephrine (n = 7) or 0.8 U/kg of vasopressin (n = 7) after 4 min of ventricular fibrillation and 3 min of open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation. During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, myocardial blood flow before and 90 s and 5 min after drug administration was 57 +/- 11, 84 +/- 11, and 59 +/- 9 mL.min-1 x 100 g-1 (mean +/- SEM) in the epinephrine group, and 61 +/- 5, 148 +/- 26, and 122 +/- 22 mL.min-1 x 100 g-1 in the vasopressin group (P < 0.05 at 90 s and 5 min). At the same times, mean cardiac index was not significantly different between the groups. After drug administration, coronary venous PCO2 was significantly higher and coronary venous pH was significantly lower in the epinephrine as compared to the vasopressin group. All pigs in both groups were resuscitated and survived the 2-h observation period. We conclude that vasopressin improves vital organ perfusion during ventricular fibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Vasopressin seems to be at least as effective as epinephrine in this pig model of ventricular fibrillation.

A 26-year-old patient presented with epigastric pain of sudden onset and severe puffy swelling of both legs and forearms. An irregularly shaped nodular filling defect on selective jejunal films, severe hypoproteinemia, low IgG concentration, and lymphopenia were suggestive of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy, and the patient was placed on a low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides. This initially improved his condition, but some weeks later he developed obstructive ileus of the small intestine. On laparotomy yellowish to whitish deposits were found to be present in some segments of the small intestine and a fist-sized mass 100 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure was resected without complications. Histologically, the submucosal lymphatics were dilated, and the jejunal wall showed extensive pseudocystic, intramural submucosal lymph edema with secondary bleeding and tight stenosis of the jejunal lumen. During the 14-month follow-up time after discharge the patient has been asymptomatic and working, on no treatment other than a low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides.

The design of a panoramic viewing system and its application to cavity inspection and measurement are discussed, along with the general properties of a special panoramic annular lens (PAL). Various examples are described, showing how the PAL can be used for simple inspection or for precision contouring of interior walls of cavities using techniques such as moire, holointerferometry, and Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI).

A flexible organic triad consisting of two perylene bisimide antennas covalently linked to a [60]fullerene by flexible spacers has been synthesized and studied by electrochemistry, steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. We found that π-π-stacking of the two antenna subunits has considerable impact on the photophysics of the system and leads to a reduction of the effective light-harvesting efficiency of the assembly. This finding is important for light harvesting in flexible materials based on the dye antenna-fullerene concept.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene of 110 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from the south-west of Germany was screened for 12 different mutations. This analysis resulted in an identification of 79% of all CF mutations and a complete genotype in 66% of the families. The most common mutation found was delta F508 (67%). Another 5 mutations accounted for a further 12.5% (4% G542X; 3% R553X; 3% N1303K; 2% 1717-1 G--A; 0.5% G551D) whereas 6 mutations (R117H, A455E, delta I507, S549I, S549N, and R1162X) were not found. Fifty-four (49%) patients were delta F508 homozygotes and 18 (16.5%) were compound heterozygotes for delta F508 and one of the rarer mutations. These frequencies differ slightly from those found in the north of Germany and considerably from those reported from the south of Europe, which seems to be consistent with a north to south decline of the relative abundance of delta F508. Two patients, age 6 and 25 years, were compound heterozygotes for G542X and N1303K. The clinical features of the 6 year old were characterised by severe gastrointestinal and as yet only mild pulmonary complications whereas the 25 year old manifested severe pulmonary and gastrointestinal symptoms indicating that the N1303K mutation of the C-terminal CFTR nucleotide binding fold significantly impairs protein function in both the pancreas and the lungs.

Standard phase-displacement equations, used for both double exposure and real time holo-interferometry, are combined with the geometrical mapping and optical characteristics of panoramic annular lenses to accurately measure surface displacement on the interior wall of a pipe. In this approach, one panoramic annular lens is used to illuminate the surface with coherent light, and the resulting intensity distribution is holographically recorded through a second panoramic annular lens. Interference fringes are obtained in real-time by comparing holograms recorded before and after the pipe is displaced. The annular images and the holographic fringes are acquired and stored digitally in a computer system. Image transformation algorithms are applied to remove optical distortions in the holographic pattern and fringe loci are compared to those predicted on the basis of theory.

Objectives The use of complementary and alternative medicine such as herbal medicine is common among Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of two herbal remedies used in the treatment of IBS. Methods IBS patients were randomly assigned in this randomised, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial to one of three treatment groups: 1.) Curcuma xanthorriza 60 mg daily (curcuma group) (n=24), 2.) Fumaria officinalis 1500 rng daily (fumitory group) (n=24) and 3.) placebo (n=58). The study treatment was applied three times a day for 18 weeks. The main outcome parameters were changes in global patient ratings of IBS-related pain and distension on a visual analogue scale (0–50 mm) between baseline and at the end of treatment. Additional outcome parameters included global assessments of changes in IBS symptoms and psychosocial stress caused by IBS. Results 106 patients (mean age 48±12 years, 63% women) were included in the intention-to-treat group. IBS-related pain decreased by −0.9±11.5 (mm±SD) in the fumitory group, −0.3k9.9 in the placebo group and increased by 2.0±k9.5 in the curcuma group (p=0.81). IBS-related distension decreased by −1.4±12.5 in the curcuma group, −2.12±9.2 in the placebo group and increased by 0.3±9.3 in the fumitory group (p=0.48). Additionally, the global assessment of changes in IBS symptoms and psychological stress due to IBS did not differ significantly among the three treatment groups. Conclusion Results of this trial showed that neither Curcuma nor Fumaria had any therapeutic benefit over placebo in patients with IBS. The use of these herbs for the treatment of IBS cannot be recommended.

20013 Background: The liver is the predominant site of metastases in the majority of patients with uveal melanoma. Response rates to systemic chemotherapy are low and median survival is very short ...