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The lifetime of the 2 s 2 p D-states of B I has been determined from zero field levelcrossing, yielding τ=(2,31 ± 0,25) 10 sec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 39 women with polycystic ovaries (PCO) and a history of sterility, laparoscopic electrocautery of the surface of the ovaries was performed by a technique adapted from Gjoennaess (1984). Previous hormonal treatment with clomiphene and/or human menopausal gonadotropins had been unsuccessful in these patients, whilst 23 of them (59%) conceived within one year after surgery. Electrocautery was followed by a decrease of mean testosterone levels from 0.95 +/- 0.064 ng/ml to 0.48 +/- 0.041 ng/ml and a similar decline of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate from 2.9 +/- 0.136 g/ml to 1.6 +/- 0.165 g/ml respectively. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery is however associated with the risk of postoperative adhesion formation. Therefore we advise this form of surgery only, when hormonal therapy failed or if it presents an unacceptable high risk of hyperstimulation or a multiple pregnancy.

The combination of various possibilities for sample preparation and investigation--the tinting penetration method, the ion beam slope cutting, the light and scanning electron microscopy--allow statements at the grind after different drying of the preparation mainly to the bond but also surface and filler shape of glass-ionomer cements. The dentine in the area of enamel-dentine-junction and of superficial root area is effectively closed by Ketac-Bond. Likewise, the bond with cover filling (Visio-Molar) can be considered without gaps except a single case. Crack propagations from the cement surface seem to related to pores and occur independently of type of drying especially in case of mechanical after treatment of already hardened cavity lining [correction of underfilling] material.

The parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. It deserves special attention in regard to diagnosis and treatment. Within a period of 10 years we observed 117 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) at the University Hospitals of Ulm and Heidelberg. In five patients a parathyroid carcinoma was found, corresponding to an incidence of 4.4%. In four of five patients no clinical signs were evident preoperatively indicating a parathyroid malignancy.

The indirect measurement of arterial blood pressure according to Riva-Rocci is one of the most frequently performed medical diagnostic procedures. When properly performed, this method yields accurate readings compared with intraarterial measurements. However, measurements by means of conventional sphygmomanometers are subject to observer error and variability. Therefore, to eliminate important sources of bias (terminal digit preference of the observer, rate of inflation and deflation of the cuff), and to quantify interobserver variability, a new sphygmomanometer has been developed. The new instrument makes possible "simultaneous-blind" blood pressure readings by two observers, according to the Riva-Rocci method. Simultaneous-blind blood pressure readings were made by four observers with experience in blood pressure determination. In 448 measurements made under resting conditions, values obtained by different observers with the new device were very consistent with each other: there were no differences in 50% of systolic and 43% of diastolic measurements. Differences of more than 5 mmHg were observed only in 9% of the systolic and 11% of the diastolic measurements. In 165 measurements made during exercise, the differences between blood pressure readings by different observers were larger (more than 5 mmHg in 40% of systolic and 35% of diastolic values). This variability among observers may be substantial in blood pressure readings made in therapeutic and epidemiologic studies, even when the observers are carefully selected and trained. Compared with the conventional open measurements, blind measurements (n = 100) gave mean values 2 mmHg lower, depending on heart rate and cuff deflation rate. The new sphygmomanometer allows quantification and control of the variability among observers during both open and blind measurements.

A spectrophotometric technique for the identification of irradiated chicken (gallus domesticus) and doses ranging between 0.1 and 2.5 Mrad is described. Spectrophotometric determination of the sulfhydryl content in the animal tissue before (control) and after using 6,6'-Dithiodinicotinic acid is applied. Ionizing radiation causes a permant loss of sulfhydryl groups in the animal tissue such as chicken. Irradiation at room temperature and storing at -18 degrees C over a period of approximately one month does not show restitution or repair of the sulfhydryl loss. The dose-effect relation for this radiation-induced decrease of the sulfhydryl content can be described best by a double exponential function. Irradiation conditions, preparation of protein suspension from chicken, spectrometric investigations and other experimental details are reported. The results of all will be discussed in detail.

Preliminary results obtained in epidemiological studies are reported. The data obtained shows extensive need for psychotherapy, with marked differences between urban and rural communities. Considerations on the present situation in psychotherapy are given and suggestions made for changes in the present system of treatment.

In a study, conducted by two clinics in Berlin and Hamburg, specializing in reproductive endocrinology, the anamnestic, clinical, and laboratory data of 170 oligomenorrheic patients (menstrual intervals between 35 and 90 days) were evaluated in order to determine the frequency of possible causes of oligomenorrhea. Pathological hormone levels were found in two thirds of all patients. The order of frequency of abnormal hormone levels was as follows: hyperandrogenemia (testosterone and/or DHEA-sulfate) in 41.8%, hyperprolactinemia in 25.9%, abnormal thyroid function (TSH and/or TRH-induced TSH) in 21.7%, and hypergonadotropic FSH levels in 3.5% of all patients. There was an overlap of between two or more pathological conditions in one third of all patients. This study confirms results of a previous study in amenorrheic patients (Moltz et al., 1987 - see reference list), documenting hyperandrogenemia as the most frequent abnormality found in this group, followed by hyperprolactinemia. As can be expected, the percentage of women with no discernible abnormality was higher in oligomenorrheic patients when compared with the amenorrheic group (32.3% vs 7.7%). Furthermore, overweight patients were overrepresented in the oligomenorrheic group, while underweight patients were seen more frequently in the amenorrheic group. In view of these results of our study we recommend a detailed diagnostic follow-up in all younger patients with ovarian disorders who need to preserve their reproductive potential. This follow-up should include hyperprolactinemia, hypo-/hyperthyroidism, hyperandrogenemic and hypoestrogenemic states and exclusion of primary ovarian failure. In contrast to recommendations of WHO, issued in 1976, such diagnostic work allows an etiology oriented therapy decision and a therapy risk assessment in subgroups of patients, such as hyperandrogenemic patients, who receive clomiphene or gonadotropin treatment. Furthermore, it permits prophylactic considerations, for prevention of hirsutism and polycystic ovarian disease, struma and osteoporosis prophylaxis.

Owing to the growing density of population, urbanization, and the use of all kinds of publicly accessible facilities, the interruption of the infection chain for air-borne diseases proves particularly inadequate if no efficient prophylactic inoculations are available to combat viral infections or if no efficient chemotherapeutical measures can be adopted against bacterial infections. Equally problematic is the struggle against salmonellosis associated with the mechanized mass production and distribution of foodstuffs as well as the forms of infectious hospitalism, especially hepatitis B, which are favoured by the technical advances in the medical field. Venereal diseases prove highly resistant because the human patterns of sexual behaviour are difficult to influence. Thus the infectious diseases caused by deficient hygiene have virtually disappeared in our country, while those diseases survive or occur which are capable of profiting from the sociological changes and the technical progress of civilisation. On the whole, the mortality rate has drastically dropped while morbidity has remained more or less the same (with, however, a change in the spectrum of the infectious diseases); this is due mainly to mass inoculation and specific therapy.