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Grundlagen Die Gefahr von klappenbezogenen Komplikationen wie Thromboembolien und die Notwendigkeit der Antikoagulation bei mechanischen Klappenprothesen fuhrten zur Entwicklung neuer operativer Techniken.

Thirty channels of EEG data were recorded prior to voluntary right or left hand movements. Event-related desynchronization (ERD) was quantified in the 8–10 Hz and 10–12 Hz bands in single-trial data and used as training input for a neural network comprised of a learning vector quantizer (LVQ). After a training period, the network was able to predict the side of hand movement from single-trial EEG data recorded prior to movement onset.

Background: By developing a standard clinical pathway, we tried to assess the cost of a coronary bypass procedure at our in institution in order to find possibilities for cost containment and financial decision-making.

Event-related desynchronization (ERD) is the short-lasting attenuation or blocking of rhythms within the alpha (beta) band. ERD is found during but also before visual stimulation. Two different types of ERD can be differentiated: one short-lasting, localized to occipital areas and involving upper alpha components; the other longer lasting, more widespread, most prominent over parietal areas and maximal for lower alpha components. The former most likely reflects primary visual processing and feature extraction, the latter is more related to cognitive processing and mechanisms of attention.

The growing application of ion beam- and plasma assisted technologies for microfa brication induced an increasing demand for “clean ion sources”. The phrase “clean sources” in that respect carries the meaning: without contaminations originating from hot filaments and/or metal surfaces. The first commercially available ion sources were based on the technology of broad beam ion sources which were originally developed for space propulsion.

A patient with short bowel syndrome as a consequence of multiple intestinal resections for Crohn's disease, had a port system implanted to improve her nutritional status. One year later she presented with fever, weakness and nighttime sweating. Metschnikowia pulcherrima Pitt et Miller was grown in blood cultures from the port system. After antifungal chemotherapy using fluconazole and removal of the implant, the patient's condition improved markedly and her fever and sweating disappeared. We conclude that Metschnikowia pulcherrima can turn into a human pathogen in patients with indwelling catheters for parenteral nutrition. Chemotherapy with fluconazole and, whenever possible, removal of the implant, appear to be adequate treatment.

Die Behandlung der koronaren Herzkrankheit hat in den letzten 20 Jahren enorme Fortschritte gebracht. Die Entwicklung der Koronarchirurgie in Osterreich und das Wirken von Prof.J. Navratil sind untrennbar miteinander verbunden. Seit Beginn der Koronarchirurgie hat der Erfolg dieser Operationstechnik die Zahl der Patienten stark ansteigen lassen. Heute sind wir mit einem Wandel in der Operationstechnik, in der Indikationsstellung sowie in der demographischen Struktur der Patienten konfrontiert, aber auch mit logistischen und gesundheitspolitischen Fragen, die zu analysieren und wissenschaftlich sowie organisatorisch umzusetzen die Herausforderung fur die Zukunft sein wird.

The use of the coronary sinus route to protect ischemic myocardium was proposed by PRATT as early as in 1898 [1]. Several investigators have since reported on beneficial effects of coronary sinus manipulations. During the first period of coronary sinus interventions, permanent coronary sinus ligation and arterialization were applied. Adverse effects such as engorgement of the venous system, hemorrhages and deterioration of cardiac performance contributed to a temporary demise of this method. Finally, with the enormous advancement of open heart surgery and especially coronary bypass grafting, coronary sinus manipulations completely lost their rationale. It is the result of advanced medical instrumentation and interventional cardiology that the coronary sinus route became once more an attractive access route to deprived myocardium. In the past, coronary sinus manipulation aimed at revascularization of ischemic zones by major surgery. Nowadays, percutaneous catheters are used to protect ischemic myocardium temporarily until ultimate revascularization is available.

Pressure controlled intermittent coronary sinus occlusion (PICSO) is performed using a catheter pump device that allows for cyclic inflation of a balloon catheter, placed into the orifice of the coronary sinus [1, 2, 3], until the coronary sinus pressure (CSP) reaches a plateau. Following the phase of inflation, balloon deflation allows coronary sinus drainage until the CSP has reached the baseline values. Previous studies have shown that this method leads to an improvement of regional myocardial function in ischemic myocardial segments [4] and to an improvement of washout measured by continuous coronary sinus blood outflow density measurements [5]. The present study was devised to evaluate the effects of PICSO on 1) myocardial perfusion during acute experimental coronary artery occlusion (LAD), and 2) on myocardial washout of metabolites.

Congestive dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP) in its clinical form [19] is characterized by a reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction to below 0.40, a distinct enlargement of the heart with increase in the left ventricular enddiastolic volume, and an increase in the cardiothoracic ratio to above 0.50 [7, 13]. Frequently the dilatation of the heart is not confined to the left ventricle, but includes the right as well.