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We have identified the protein import receptor MOM19 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria. MOM19 is exposed on the outer membrane surface and present in the mitochondrial receptor complex. Antibodies raised against MOM19 strongly inhibited the import of preproteins into isolated yeast mitochondria. Fab fragments prepared from the antibodies showed the same inhibitory effect. By using mutant mitochondria, which lacked the second import receptor MOM72, we found that the import of preproteins via MOM19 did not require the presence of MOM72. We conclude that MOM19 is required for preprotein translocation across the yeast mitochondrial outer membrane and is able to function independently of the receptor MOM72.

In a period of 13 years 978 cases of severe head injuries were operated on in our clinic. An analysis of the medical reports includes injuries of the superficial dural sinus (39 cases = 4%): among these injuries of the anterior and central part of the superior sagittal sinus (66 per cent), injuries of the transverse sinus (18 per cent), injuries of the posterior part of the superior sagittal sinus (8 per cent), and combined injuries of different dural sinuses (8 per cent). Clinical data, i.e. the causes of accident, radiological examination results, intracranial lesions, operation techniques and outcome are analysed and discussed. The analysis of cases with dural sinus injuries shows a high mortality rate (total mortality rate: 16 patients = 41%; intra-operative mortality rate: 8 patients = 20%).

Within the scope of catamnestic investigation and a follow-up examination 170 fractures of the cervical spinal cord, operated in a period of 8 years, were explored. Dependent on the neurological starting point the length of stay in hospital, the time of temporary disablement and the results of social rehabilitation were evaluated. The examination results are appraised.

918 patients were operated because a severe head injury in our Neurotraumatological Clinic during a period of 12 years. 733 patients (80 per cent) could been evaluated as well with regard to the Glasgow Coma Scale and the Glasgow Outcome Scale as analysed in four diagnose groups corresponding to the period of live. Patients with epidural haematoma and open head injuries showed a better forecast than patients with acute subdural haematoma. Those with contusion of the brain and less than 8 points in the Glasgow Coma Scale or those in a higher age had a bad prognosis.

Indications for and results of the intrathecal infusion test including 50 patients with chronic disturbances of the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid are presented and discussed. The computer-aided infusion test permits in 93 per cent a reliable differentiation between patients with a normal-pressure hydrocephalus and those with cerebro-atrophic processes. Functional checking of the valve systems is a further indication for the intrathecal infusion test. In patients with a classical pressure hydrocephalus or subdural hygromas, however, we do not see an indication for this invasive examination procedure.

The authors stress the advantage of the operative treatment of fresh lesions of the cervical spine versus conservative treatment. The anterior approach after Cloward with additional osteosynthesis of the adjacing vertebrae proved to be superior.

Compared with a control group, cholesterol and triglyceride values are significantly elevated (chi2 = 14.52 and 21.65) in patients with odontogenous cysts. No statistically significant difference could be established in terms of the enzyme work-up (lipase). No statistically significant differences could be established in fractions of protein metabolism via electrophoresis.

ICP monitoring appears not to be essential for the prognosis of head injury patients, but it may be of some clinical value in association with the neurological status and other clinical data. The results of ICP measurement show that a high level in brain pressure and the poor outcome have a better correlation with one another than a lower level of brain pressure and a good recovery.

Resting-, exercise and 24-h-ECG tracings of outpatients were examined for cardiac arrhythmias and were analyzed for age-dependent phenomena in the range between 20 and 100 years. Typical of higher age was especially the combination of different arrhythmias, in particular the simultaneous occurrence of slow and fast disturbances, which, of course, makes medical therapy difficult. Since ventricular arrhythmias, when classified according to Lown, have a better prognosis in the age group above 70 than between 40 and 70 years, antiarrhythmic drugs should be prescribed with extreme caution to older people and should be limited to exceptions which are detailed in this study.