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Asymptomatic men (N = 114) 50 years of age or older had screening for colorectal neoplasia with flexible sigmoidoscopy followed by colonoscopy regardless of the sigmoidoscopic result. Our study objective was to determine the prevalence of patients having isolated adenomatous polyps in a proximal colonic segment in the absence of a distal index neoplasm within reach of the sigmoidoscope. Through the combined use of sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, adenomatous polyps were detected in 47 of 114 individuals (41%). A total of 88 adenomas was found. Seventeen patients had isolated neoplasms in proximal colonic segments in the absence of distal adenomas. These patients represented 15% of screened subjects (17 of 114) and 20% of individuals who lacked adenomas on sigmoidoscopy (17 of 84). The majority of proximal neoplasms were small (less than 1.0 cm), tubular adenomas. Flexible sigmoidoscopy may be ineffective for screening asymptomatic men for neoplasia. However, it remains to be determined if a 20% miss rate (for those with a normal sigmoidoscopic examination) is significant and whether small proximal adenomas are worth finding.

The morphology of the rat colonic basement membrane was studied under control conditions and after induction of secretion by distension in the Ussing chamber. The basement membrane was visualized by removing the epithelium with the aid of Ca2+ chelation combined with vibration. Specimens with and without metallic coating were studied with SEM and TEM, respectively. The surface of the basement membrane in the surface region of the epithelium, i.e. between the mouths of the crypts, is rough. In contrast, the deeper parts of the crypts have a rather smooth basal lamina, which is finely pleated. Fenestrations of the basal lamina with a diameter of 0.5-1 microns were found frequently at the surface region, but less frequently in the crypts. Fenestrations with diameters larger than 2 microns were never observed. After the distension experiments and long-time incubation in vitro (5 h), the size of the fenestrations remained unchanged, however, their number increased compared to the controls.

In 321 women with the symptoms of a stress-incontinence we tried to find out if specific methods can reform the diagnostic. By clinical tests an urinary incontinence could be shown only in 71.1%. The results from urethrocystography (169 patients) and simultane measuring of pressure in urethra and urinary bladder (222 patients) are compared with the results of the clinical examination of urine incontinence. According to the method used, the urethrocystography was corresponding with the positive clinical test between 75.9 and 93.5%, the measuring of the pressure in 87.4%. In negative clinical tests a stress-incontinence could be diagnosed or be excluded by combined radiological, tonometrical and endoscopical examinations. Urethrocystography and simultane measuring of pressure complement one another, they are no competitive methods. Our investigations further showed that the upper urogenital tract is cooperating in stress-incontinence. In the infusion-urogram 19.7% of the patients showed signs of chronic pyelonephritis, 15.3% had no urinary insufficience. 22.6% were suspect to have a chronic pyelonephritis. Finally the worth of diagnostic methods on therapeutic actions is discussed.

In spruce stands on quartz-porphyry sites raw humus is formed on strongly acid, calcium and phosphorus-deficient soils which were treated with lime, phosphate, and ammonium nitrate individually and in combined form. The most favourable microbiological and chemical effect was attained by CaNP fertilization, which is suitable for raising the yield of spruce stands with simultaneous amelioration of raw humus. The long-term effect of the phosphate is bound to simultaneous liming which ensures the persistence of phosphorus in the A0 horizon. The nitrification-based nitrate content of the soil is increased in the variants CaNP, CaNP and, to a somewhat lesser extent, also in NP. Simple treatment with N hardly raises the bacteria content, the combinations CaN, NP, and particularly CaNP, on the other hand, gave a favourable effect. Germination number and number of species of actinomycetes are also furthered most effectively by CaNP. The percentage of fungi in the total number of germs is reduced by fertilization without negatively influencing the species spectrum. Liming has a negative effect on the absolute germination number of the fungi, treatment with N gives a positive effect. The metabolism conditioned by microbes in the raw humus is not activated by N, moderately by NP, and strongly by CaNP.

In the heavily fume-damaged spruce stands on crest sites in the eastern parts of Erzgebirge the composition of microbe population and organic matter conversion in the A0 horizon can be positively changed with a lasting effect by fertilization using CaNP. Ammonification, nitrification, urea transformation, and decomposition of cellulose are enhanced by the increased occurrence of bacteria and actinomycetes. As a result of fertilization acidity was reduced from pH (KCl) 3.0 to 3.6 as a maximum. The influence of the nutrient status is clearly manifest in the humus form (raw humus in the case of quartz porphyry, mull-resembling moder in the case of basalt), but scarcely in the chemical and microbiological properties of the Of subhorizon. No pronounced effect of the SO2 fallout on the microbiological conditions in the A0 horizon was observed. The increased soil fertility after application of Ca and P can lead to an increased and a more stable yield of wood only under certain conditions.