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Purpose To report final 2-year outcomes with the Sentry bioconvertible inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in patients requiring temporary protection against pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and Methods In a prospective multicenter trial, the Sentry filter was implanted in 129 patients with documented deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or PE (67.5%) or who were at temporary risk of developing DVT/PE (32.6%). Patients were monitored and bioconversion status ascertained by radiography, computed tomography (CT), and CT venography through 2 years. Results The composite primary 6-month endpoint of clinical success was achieved in 97.4% (111/114) of patients. The rate of new symptomatic PE was 0% (n = 126) through 1 year and 2.4% (n = 85) through the second year of follow-up, with 2 new nonfatal cases at 581 and 624 days that were adjudicated as not related to the procedure or device. Two patients (1.6%) developed symptomatic caval thrombosis during the first month and underwent successful interventions without recurrence. No other filter-related symptomatic complications occurred through 2 years. There was no filter tilting, migration, embolization, fracture, or caval perforation and no filter-related deaths through 2 years. Filter bioconversion was successful for 95.7% (110/115) of patients at 6 months, 96.4% (106/110) of patients at 12 months, and 96.5% (82/85) of patients at 24 months. Through 24 months of follow-up, there was no evidence of late-stage IVC obstruction or thrombosis after filter bioconversion or of thrombogenicity associated with retracted filter arms. Conclusions The Sentry IVC filter provided safe and effective protection against PE, with a high rate of intended bioconversion and a low rate of device-related complications, through 2 years of follow-up.

Purpose To prospectively assess the Sentry bioconvertible inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in patients requiring temporary protection against pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and Methods At 23 sites, 129 patients with documented deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or PE, or at temporary risk of developing DVT or PE, unable to use anticoagulation were enrolled. The primary end point was clinical success, including successful filter deployment, freedom from new symptomatic PE through 60 days before filter bioconversion, and 6-month freedom from filter-related complications. Patients were monitored by means of radiography, computerized tomography (CT), and CT venography to assess filtering configuration through 60 days, filter bioconversion, and incidence of PE and filter-related complications through 12 months. Results Clinical success was achieved in 111 of 114 evaluable patients (97.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 92.5%–99.1%). The rate of freedom from new symptomatic PE through 60 days was 100% (n = 129, 95% CI 97.1%–100.0%), and there were no cases of PE through 12 months for either therapeutic or prophylactic indications. Two patients (1.6%) developed symptomatic caval thrombosis during the first month; neither experienced recurrence after successful interventions. There was no filter tilting, migration, embolization, fracture, or caval perforation by the filter, and no filter-related death through 12 months. Filter bioconversion was successful for 95.7% (110/115) at 6 months and for 96.4% (106/110) at 12 months. Conclusions The Sentry IVC filter provided safe and effective protection against PE, with a high rate of intended bioconversion and a low rate of device-related complications, through 12 months of imaging-intense follow-up.

In various tumor systems, decreased PO2 values have been demonstrated by various methods. This study addresses the question of whether tumor hypoxia can be found in cutaneous melanoma using lifetime imaging of non-invasive sensors showing phosphorescence quenched by oxygen. Twenty-three cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma (average tumor thickness 1.25 mm, range 0.5-8 mm) were examined using the SkinCam lifetime imaging system for the assessment of cutaneous PO2 levels within the tumors and in adjacent clinically normal skin. For comparison, 30 non-melanoma skin tumors were evaluated. In 15 exploitable melanoma cases, the average hypoxic difference of the lesion compared with the surrounding skin was -10 mmHg, typically associated with an inhomogeneous distribution. Only 10% of the non-melanoma lesions showed a similar hypoxia (false positives). The SkinCam equipment uses a non-invasive imaging method and provides further diagnostic hints in the assessment of benign and malignant skin tumors.

We describe a device capable of imaging distributions of surface PO2 as well as oxygen flux (e.g., into the human skin). Oxygen is monitored by a phase-angle-sensitive imaging technique using the effect of luminescence lifetime quenching of ruthenium complexes incorporated into a polymer layer system. The dyes are excited by modulated radiation of blue light-emitting diodes. The phase-shifted luminescence is detected by an intensified CCD camera. Several modulation techniques have been comparatively investigated. The obtained images correspond pixel-by-pixel to the local luminescence lifetimes, which are a direct measure for the distribution of surface PO2, or alternatively for the oxygen flux through a permeable diffusion barrier. For an illuminated sensor area of 10 cm2 and a spatial resolution of 1 mm at the sensor layer, the oxygen resolution is better than ΔPO2 = 0.3 torr in the absence of oxygen, and better than ΔPO2 = 4 torr at PO2= 160 torr.

Purpose A postmarketing surveillance registry was conducted to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the OptEase vena cava filter when used as a permanent filter. Materials and Methods This study was a nonrandomized, multicenter prospective trial with all patients receiving the OptEase vena cava filter for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE). A total of 11 clinical sites in the United States enrolled patients. A 1-month postimplantation follow-up examination was performed to determine potential filter migration and the presence of symptomatic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) or lower extremities. At 6-month postimplantation follow-up, patients were again assessed for the safety and stability of the filter and any clinical evidence of symptomatic thrombosis. Results One hundred fifty patients were enrolled in this study. Fifty-five patients (36.6%) were unable to complete all of the necessary follow-up at 6 months. At 1 month, filter migration and filter-related symptomatic deep vein thrombosis was observed in one patient each (0.9% and 0.8%, respectively). At 6 months, no new cases of filter migration or filter-related symptomatic thrombosis were observed. Filter tilting (≥15° off the IVC axis) was observed in one patient at baseline (0.7%), four patients at 1-month follow-up (3.6%), and three patients (11.4%) at 6-month follow-up. Incidental findings on follow-up radiographs included filter fracture in two patients (1.8%) at 1 month and in one additional patient (4.3%) at 6 months. There were no clinical sequelae associated with the filter fracture. Conclusions The co-primary endpoints of filter migration and symptomatic thrombus formation at 1 month had an observed frequency of 0.9% and 0.8%, respectively. These co-primary endpoints were stable and unchanged at 6 months.

Conventional lifetime imaging requires rather complex and expensive instrumentation, like lasers and intensified CCD−cameras. We demonstrate that an array of light-emitting diodes and a directly gatable CCD−camera can be alternatively used for special applications as, for example, imaging of oxygen concentrations on a surface covered by an optical sensor. The suitability of low-cost devices is in this case favored by the microsecond decay times and the spectral properties of highly luminescent ruthenium(II) complexes. For an illuminated sensor area of 5 cm2 and an aimed spatial resolution of 1 mm, oxygen resolution was better than ΔPO2 = 0.4 Torr in the absence of oxygen and ΔPO2 = 2.5 Torr at PO2 = 100 Torr.

Gegrundet wurden die Sparkassen fur die kleinen Leute, um sie zum Sparen anzuhalten und ihnen eine Moglichkeit fur die sichere Aufbewahrung ihres „Notgroschens“zu bieten. Von daher war es eine wohlmeinende Obrigkeit, die die Sparkassen grundete, fur die Sicherheit der Spareinlagen garantierte, die Sparkassen mit Privilegien nicht zuletzt steuerlicher Art ausstattete. Das Sparkassenwesen hat sich, nicht zuletzt aufgrund des Vertrauens zu ihm, enorm ausgeweitet, so das es heute in Deutschland den grosten Sektor im Bankenwesen darstellt. Langst sind die Sparkassen zu Universalbanken geworden, zu beinahe ganz normalen Banken, miteinander auf den verschiedenen Ebenen des Staates verflochten, um den immer weiter gestiegenen Anforderungen gewachsen zu sein. Forderungen nach ihrer Privatisierung werden immer wieder laut, zumal sich die Gewahrtrager von ihrem Verkauf hohe Einnahmen zur Sanierung ihrer Schulden und fur eine kraftige Standortpolitik erhoffen. Doch die Verauserung dieses „ Tafelsilbers“ware ein einmaliger Akt, und was weg ist, ist fur immer weg.

Der Fall des Frankfurter Immobilienunternehmers Dr. Jurgen Schneider ist noch unvergessen, dessen Pleite rund 2,5 Milliarden DM an Forderungen offen lies, davon die Halfte zulasten der Deutschen Bank bzw. einer ihrer Tochter. Auch wenn das fur eine Grosbank, gemessen an deren Gesamtkreditvolumen, nur „peanuts“gewesen sein mogen: der Schaden ist gros, nicht zuletzt was das Ansehen des Kreditgebers angeht. Gewahren die Banken zu leichtfertig Kredite, lassen sie sich beeindrucken durch allzu selbst-bewuste Unternehmer, deren Image, das auch durch den Umfang ihrer Geschaftstatigkeit gepragt wird? Was mus getan werden, um vergleichbare Falle in Zukunft zu verhindern? Wie muste z.B. ein wirksameres Verfahren zur Prufung der Bonitat von Kreditkunden und zur Kontrolle der Praxis der Kreditgewahrung aussehen? Red.

The quality of the local blood microcirculation and the cutaneous “respiration” are important factors in the diagnosis of circulatory disturbances, which may arise as a consequence of a number of clinical diseases. Some of the more important are smokers leg, burns, ulcerations, or tumors of the skin.

This paper reports the main results of an empirical research project dealing with the prognosis and surveillance of corporate credit risks. In the course of the research programme both quantitative (balance sheet analysis, current accounts data analysis) and qualitative (assessment of management) methods were applied. Each of the three parts of the project is independently usable However, the combined application of the three approaches avoids deficiencies of using only one of the components and improves the early detection of credit risks.

Durch eine verbesserte Bergmann-Grafe-Kondensation, bei der das Reaktionswasser durch azeotrope Destillation entfernt wird, konnten aus Brenztraubensaure und mehreren Saureamiden einige neue α-Acylamino-acrylsauren dargestellt werden. An α-Acetamino- und α-Phenylacetamino-acrylester lassen sich in einer Michael-Addition Verbindungen mit beweglichem Wasserstoff anlagern. Es wurden auf diese Weise Glutaminsaure, γ-Nitro-leucin und Isohistidin synthetisiert.

The capability of fiber-optic light guides to transmit a variety of optical signals simultaneously has been exploited to construct an optical fiber sensor for measurement of both oxygen and carbon dioxide. The oxygen-sensitive material (a Kieselgel-adsorbed fluorescent metal-organic complex) and the CO/sub 2/-sensitive material (an immobilized pH indicator in a buffer solution) are entrapped in a gas-permeable polymer matrix that is attached to the distal end of the fiber. Both indicators have the same excitation wavelength (in order to avoid energy transfer) but quite different emission maxima. The two emission bands can easily be separated with the help of interference filters and give independent signals. Oxygen can continuously be determined in the 0-200 Torr (0-26.6 kPa) range with +/- 1 Torr accuracy and CO/sub 2/ in the 0-150 Torr (0-20 kPa) range with +/- 1 Torr. The accuracy is higher at low partial pressure, so that the detection limits are at approx. 0.5 Torr in both cases.

Durch Einwirkung von Chlorwasserstoff und Schwefelwasserstoff aut Methyl-athyl-keton, Monochloraceton bzw. Diketen wurden Tris-[thio-methyl-athyl-keton]. Bis-thioacetonyl-sulfid bzw. β-Thio-butanthiolsaure-anhydrid erhalten.