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Der Einsatz temporarer extrakorporaler Herz-Kreislauf- und Lungenunterstutzungssysteme hat in den letzten beiden Dekaden erheblich zugenommen: Kam im Jahr 2007 noch etwa 1 Lungenersatzverfahren auf 100.000 Bundesburger, so waren es 2014 schon 2,4:100.000. Dies liegt v. a. an den grosen technischen Fortschritten, die in den letzten Jahren gemacht werden konnten – so sind die Systeme heutzutage (und im Gegensatz zu ihren Vorgangern) klein, transportabel, perkutan implantierbar, effektiv, weitaus sicherer und teilweise auch fur den Einsatz uber einen langeren Zeitraum konzipiert. Ihr Einsatzgebiet hat sich entsprechend erweitert: Neben der Anwendung als VA(venoarterielle)-ECMO (extrakorporale Membranoxygenierung ) zur kardialen Unterstutzung wird die VV(venovenose)-ECMO heute als High-Flow-Variante beim schweren ARDS („acute respiratory distress syndrome“) und als Low-Flow-Variante (VV-ECCO2R [„venovenous-extracorporeal CO2-Removal“]) beim fuhrend hyperkapnischen respiratorischen Versagen angewendet. Mit der zweiten grosen randomisierten Studie (EOLIA) zum Einsatz der VV-ECMO bei schwerem ARDS liegt mittlerweile eine hinreichende Evidenz fur den Einsatz in diesem Indikationsgebiet vor. Die Evidenz beim hyperkapnischen respiratorischen Versagen oder zur weiteren Protektion der Lungen bei moderatem bis schwerem ARDS fehlt momentan noch, sodass moglichst viele Patienten im Rahmen von Studien behandelt werden sollten. Trotz der hohen Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass die VV-ECMO bei schwerem ARDS die Prognose verbessern kann, ist es eine invasive Therapiemasnahme, die mit schweren Komplikationen einhergehen kann und ein hohes Mas an Fachexpertise erfordert.

Due to comparatively long measurement times in PET/MR imaging, patient movement during the acquisition is likely. This leads to artefacts which have a negative impact on the visual assessment and quantitative validity of the image data and, in the worst case, lead to misinterpretations. Simultaneous PET/MR systems allow the registration of movements and enable correction of the PET data. In order to assess the effectiveness of the motion correction methods, it is necessary to carry out measurements on phantoms that are reproducibly moved. An experimental setup was developed for specific movements. An MR-compatible robotic system was used to generate rigid movements of a brain-like phantom acquired on a Siemens mMR. Different tools, either from the manufacturer or open-source software, were used to estimate and correct for motion. Different motion estimates were compared with the robot-induced motion. Results of motion correction of the PET data were evaluated by determining the segmented volume of a flask. The flask was a hotspot visible in both PET and MR, used to simulate a lesion. The experimental setup is suitable for the generation of reproducible movement patterns. The results showed the motion-corrected PET images have a decreased volume as expected. The evaluated motion correction methods produced corrected PET images that were less affected by motion.

We present the prototype of a dedicated brain Positron Emission Tomography system BPET and the results of a first NEMA (NU2-2018 & NU4-2008) performance evaluation. BPET is a modular system, based on the PETA6SE application specific integrated circuit and LYSO crystals coupled in light sharing mode to silicon photomultipliers. All electronics are integrated into the detector head, which makes the system ultra-compact. The NU2-2018 spatial resolution in the axial center in [radial/tangential/axial] direction at r=10 mm is [4.0 / 3.9 / 3.5] mm full width at half maximum. The NU2-2018 system sensitivity is 2.9 cps/kBq for the smallest energy window at the radial center. It is 8.4 cps/kBq for the largest energy window considered at r=10 cm. We further show results of a noise equivalent count rate evaluation and BPET reconstructed images from a brain image quality phantom and a 3D Hoffman brain phantom. The performance characteristics of the BPET prototype are comparable to current clinical systems. BPET is the basis for the development of a clinical low-cost ultra-compact, fully integrated brain Positron Emission Tomography system.

Objective: Recently, we developed [18F]FACH as the first radiolabeled inhibitor of MCTs for potential tumor imaging (1). Encouraged by the very promising results in mice, showing the specific binding/transport of [18F]FACH in kidneys combined with high in vivo stability, herein we report on the biological evaluation of this radiotracer in piglets. Methods: Biological evaluation was performed in 6 piglets (Landrace, 19.9±3.0 kg). The blocking experiments (n=3) were conducted using sodium α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (α-CHC-Na, 25 mg/kg) administered i.v. 10 min prior to tracer application. The animals were anesthesized (ketamin/midazolam) and scanned by a SIEMENS Biograph mMR PET/MRI-system up to 60 min p.i. of 295±28 MBq [18]FACH via ear vein. The reconstructed list-mode PET-data were analyzed utilizing the PMOD Software. In vivo metabolite analysis was performed using plasma isolated from arterial blood samples (5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and samples of homogenized kidney by semi-preparative radio-HPLC after deproteinization by ACN/H2O (9:1). Results: In contrast to mouse, a rather fast metabolism of the radiotracer was observed in piglet. Five and 30 minutes after injection, the intact tracer was found to represent 50±13% and 12±6% of total plasma activity, respectively. Metabolite analysis revealed 48% of intact tracer in kidney cortex at 60 min p.i. Despite the fast metabolism, the PET scan results showed comparable selective kidney uptake of [18F]FACH in piglets as in mice. The blocking experiments revealed a reduction of this uptake to about 72% after pre-injection of α-CHC-Na. Conclusion: The high kidney uptake of [18F]FACH obtained in both mice and piglets together with high inhibition by α-CHC-Na, specific inhibitor of MCT, provide evidence that the new MCT-targeting radiotracer could be proven in ongoing studies to be useful for imaging of MCTs expression with PET.

Cryoconites (“cold dust”, derived from the Greek) are aeolian sediments accumulated on glacier surfaces. In cryoconites from the surface of the Stubacher Sonnblickkees, a temperate Austrian glacier, extremely high activity concentrations of artificial and natural radionuclides were found. Artificial radionuclides stem from two clearly distinguishable sources, global fallout from the nuclear weapons testing era deposited over a period of years until roughly 1966 and the fallout from Chernobyl in 1986, which was essentially deposited as a single input during one week. Anthropogenic radionuclides identified were 137Cs, 134Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 90Sr, 241Am, 60Co, 125Sb, 154Eu, and 207Bi. The naturally occurring radionuclides detected were the long-lived radon decay product 210Pb, the primordial radionuclide 4 K and the cosmogenic 7Be. Isotopic ratios of 134Cs/137Cs and 239+240Pu/238Pu were used to separate the nuclide inventory into the contributions of the two aforementioned sources, which show varying degrees of mixing and provide information on the mixing age of the cryoconites. Since isotopic ratios of Pu often have high uncertainties due to low absolute concentrations, age estimation based on this method can be quite inaccurate. Additional information about the age of cryoconites was obtained through analysis of 210Pb, which is constantly deposited over time.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Die Diagnose einer Krebserkrankung in der Schwangerschaft ist selten, aufgrund einer Verschiebung des Alters der Erstgebärenden hin zum letzten Drittel des reproduzierfähigen Alters aber auch für Kopf-Hals-Tumorpatientinnen möglicherweise zunehmend relevant. Dabei besteht eine große Unsicherheit bezüglich des Nutzens und Risikos von diagnostischen oder therapeutischen Tumortherapiemodalitäten für das Ungeborene, sodass eine fundierte Empfehlung in diesen Fällen besonders schwer fällt. Nach neuen Literaturdaten scheint aber sogar eine multimodale Tumortherapie (Operation, Bestrahlung, Chemotherapie) trotz Schwangerschaft möglich und sollte streng gegen das Risiko einer Frühgeburtlichkeit abgewogen werden. Material und Methoden: Die Arbeit gibt eine Literaturübersicht über aktuelle Erkenntnisse zu diagnostischen Verfahren in der Schwangerschaft und zu dem Risiko von tumortherapeutischen Maßnahmen wie Bestrahlung und Chemotherapie für das Ungeborene. Die Erkenntnisse werden anhand eines konkreten Falls einer Schwangeren mit einem ausgedehnten Gehörgangskarzinom diskutiert und es werden Empfehlungen formuliert. Ergebnisse: Suffizient durchgeführte diagnostische Modalitäten erreichen die gefährdenden Uterusdosen praktisch nicht. Eine Reihe von Fallberichten und Beobachtungsstudien zeigen auch keinen Entwicklungsnachteil für die Kinder pränatal exponierter tumorkranker Mütter durch Bestrahlung oder Chemotherapie, wohingegen der langfristige Entwicklungsnachteil durch die Frühgeburtlichkeit nachgewiesen ist. Schlussfolgerung: Wenn während einer Schwangerschaft eine Tumorneuerkrankung im Kopf-Hals-Bereich festgestellt wird, erscheint auch die Durchführung einer etablierten Therapie mittels Operation und/oder Cisplatin-basierter Radiochemotherapie mit vertretbarem Risiko für das ungeborene Kind möglich.

Late enhancement (LE) multi-slice computed tomography (leMDCT) was introduced for the visualization of (intra-) myocardial fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). LE is associated with adverse cardiac events. This analysis focuses on leMDCT derived LV muscle mass (LV-MM) which may be related to LE resulting in LE proportion for potential risk stratification in HCM.N=26 HCM-patients underwent leMDCT (64-slice-CT) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). In leMDCT iodine contrast (Iopromid, 350 mg/mL; 150mL) was injected 7 minutes before imaging. Reconstructed short cardiac axis views served for planimetry. The study group was divided into three groups of varying LV-contrast. LeMDCT was correlated with CMR.The mean age was 64.2 ± 14 years. The groups of varying contrast differed in weight and body mass index (p 0.05). In the group with good LV-contrast assessment of LV-MM resulted in 147.4 ± 64.8 g in leMDCT vs. 147.1 ± 65.9 in CMR (p 0.05). In the group with sufficient contrast LV-MM appeared with 172 ± 30.8 g in leMDCT vs. 165.9 ± 37.8 in CMR (p 0.05). Overall intra-/inter-observer variability of semiautomatic assessment of LV-MM showed an accuracy of 0.9 ± 8.6 g and 0.8 ± 9.2 g in leMDCT. All leMDCT-measures correlated well with CMR (r 0.9).LeMDCT primarily performed for LE-visualization in HCM allows for accurate LV-volumetry including LV-MM in 90% of the cases.• LeMDCT of relatively low contrast allows for LV planimetry in HCM. • The correlation of leMDCT-based LV volumetry with gold-standard CMR was excellent (r 0.9). • LeMDCT requires approximately 2.0mL/kgBW of dye to achieve acceptable contrast.

Cryoconites ("cold dust", derived from the Greek) are aeolian sediments accumulated on glacier surfaces. In cryoconites from the surface of the Stubacher Sonnblickkees, a temperate Austrian glacier, extremely high activity concentrations of artificial and natural radionuclides were found. Artificial radionuclides stem from two clearly distinguishable sources, global fallout from the nuclear weapons testing era deposited over a period of years until roughly 1966 and the fallout from Chernobyl in 1986, which was essentially deposited as a single input during one week. Anthropogenic radionuclides identified were

A series of CuO/CeO2 and inverse CeO2/CuO catalysts are prepared by the surfactant-templated method and characterized via XRD, HRTEM, H2-TPR, SEM, XPS, in situ XRD, in situ UV–Vis and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. It is found that there are two kinds of surface sites in the CuO–CeO2 system, including CuO surface sites for CO chemisorption and CeO2 surface sites with oxygen vacancies for oxygen sorption. The active sites for CO oxidation are located on the contact interface of two-kind surface sites and the lattice oxygen can make a significant contribution to the CO-PROX reaction. The resistance to H2O and CO2 is related to BET surface area, the crystallite sizes of CuO and the reduction behavior of catalysts. The Ce4Cu4 and Ce4Cu1 catalysts exhibit the best resistance against H2O and CO2.

A novel catalyst material for the selective dehydrogenation of propane is presented. The catalyst consists of 1000 ppm Pt, 3 wt % Ga, and 0.25 wt % K supported on alumina. We observed a synergy between Ga and Pt, resulting in a highly active and stable catalyst. Additionally, we propose a bifunctional active phase, in which coordinately unsaturated Ga3+ species are the active species and where Pt functions as a promoter.

Die Diagnose einer Krebserkrankung in der Schwangerschaft ist selten, aufgrund einer Verschiebung des Alters der Erstgebärenden hin zum letzten Drittel des reproduzierfähigen Alters aber auch für Kopf-Hals-Tumorpatientinnen möglicherweise zunehmend relevant. Dabei besteht eine große Unsicherheit bezüglich des Nutzens und Risikos von diagnostischen oder therapeutischen Tumortherapiemodalitäten für das Ungeborene, sodass eine fundierte Empfehlung in diesen Fällen besonders schwer fällt. Nach neuen Literaturdaten scheint aber sogar eine multimodale Tumortherapie (Operation, Bestrahlung, Chemotherapie) trotz Schwangerschaft möglich und sollte streng gegen das Risiko einer Frühgeburtlichkeit abgewogen werden.Die Arbeit gibt eine Literaturübersicht über aktuelle Erkenntnisse zu diagnostischen Verfahren in der Schwangerschaft und zu dem Risiko von tumortherapeutischen Maßnahmen wie Bestrahlung und Chemotherapie für das Ungeborene. Die Erkenntnisse werden anhand eines konkreten Falls einer Schwangeren mit einem ausgedehnten Gehörgangskarzinom diskutiert und es werden Empfehlungen formuliert.Suffizient durchgeführte diagnostische Modalitäten erreichen die gefährdenden Uterusdosen praktisch nicht. Eine Reihe von Fallberichten und Beobachtungsstudien zeigen auch keinen Entwicklungsnachteil für die Kinder pränatal exponierter tumorkranker Mütter durch Bestrahlung oder Chemotherapie, wohingegen der langfristige Entwicklungsnachteil durch die Frühgeburtlichkeit nachgewiesen ist.Wenn während einer Schwangerschaft eine Tumorneuerkrankung im Kopf-Hals-Bereich festgestellt wird, erscheint auch die Durchführung einer etablierten Therapie mittels Operation und/oder Cisplatin-basierter Radiochemotherapie mit vertretbarem Risiko für das ungeborene Kind möglich.

To analyze the efficacy of interventions in acute dysfunctional hemodialysis fistulas, if intervention is performed immediately as recommended by European Best Practice Guidelines for Hemodialysis.Over 3 years, all (n = 280) patients with an acute dysfunctional hemodialysis fistula were immediately referred to angiography, irrespective of the time of day. Angiography and, if possible, interventional revision (n = 241) were performed. Three groups of interest were established: interventionalist's experience (high/low), time of day (routine hours: 7 am-4 pm/emergency hours: 4 pm-7 am), lesion type (stenosis/fibrosclerotic occlusion/thrombotic occlusion/combined stenosis+thrombotic occlusion). For statistical analysis corresponding success rates, chi-square tests (p0.025) and logistic regression analysis (p0.05) were calculated.The total success rate was 62 % (149/241). The success rates were: interventionalist experience high/low 71 % (79/111)/54 % (70/130), p = 0.022; time of day routine/emergency hours 68 % (93/136)/53 % (56/105), p = 0.017; lesion type stenosis/fibrosclerotic occlusion/thrombotic occlusion/combined stenosis+occlusion 82 % (94/104)/39 % (13/33)/18 % (6/33)/59 % (36/61), p0.001. Relevant variables due to logistic regression analysis were high experience and the lesion types stenosis and combined stenosis+occlusion with odds ratios 2.300 (p = 0.012), 12.053 (p0.001), 3.189 (p = 0.003).Unrestricted implementation of immediate interventions in acute dysfunctional hemodialysis fistulas requires permanent availability of experienced interventionalists. The lesion types fibrosclerotic occlusion and thrombotic occlusion offer poor success rates for interventional revision.

Alumina-supported Pt is one of the major industrial catalysts for light alkane dehydrogenation. This catalyst loses activity during reaction, with coke formation often considered as the reason for deactivation. As we show in this study, the amount and nature of carbon deposits do not directly correlate with the loss of activity. Rather, it is the transformation of subnanometer Pt species into larger Pt nanoparticles that appears to be responsible for the loss of catalytic activity. Surprisingly, a portion of the Sn remains atomically dispersed on the alumina surface in the spent catalyst and helps in the redispersion of the Pt. In the absence of Sn on the alumina support, the larger Pt nanoparticles formed during reaction are not redispersed during oxidative regeneration. It is known that Sn is added as a promoter in the industrial catalyst to help in achieving high propene selectivity and to minimize coke formation. This work shows that an important role of Sn is to help in the regeneration of Pt, by providing nucleation sites on the alumina surface. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy helps to provide unique insights into the operating characteristics of an industrially important catalyst by demonstrating the role of promoter elements, such as Sn, in the oxidative regeneration of Pt on γ-Al2O3.

The paper presents data on the geographic and geological conditions of modern sedimentation in Lake Untersee, the largest lake in East Antarctica. Geochemical and sedimentation data indicate that the leading mechanism providing Al-Si sedimentary material to the surface layer of the bottom sediments is the seasonal melting of the Anuchin glacier and the mountain glacier on the southeastern face of the valley hosting the lake. The strongly reduced conditions in the lowermost 25 m of the water column in the smaller of the two depressions at the lake bottom were favorable for the enrichment of the bottom sediments in bacteriogenic organic matter, Mo, Au, and Pd. The H2S-contaminated water facilitates the significant enrichment of the sediments only in redox-sensitive elements able to migrate in the form of anionic complexes and precipitate (coprecipitate) as sulfides.

A novel catalyst material for the selective dehydrogenation of propane is presented. The catalyst consists of 1000 ppm Pt, 3 wt % Ga, and 0.25 wt % K supported on alumina. We observed a synergy between Ga and Pt, resulting in a highly active and stable catalyst. Additionally, we propose a bifunctional active phase, in which coordinately unsaturated Ga3+ species are the active species and where Pt functions as a promoter.

Androblastomas of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors of the ovaries are classified into the group of sex cord stromal tumors and represent an extremely rare form of tumor (0.2% of all ovarian tumors) in women. Their malignant potential is lower than that of epithelial ovarian cancer. They cause signs of virilization, although these are not obligatory. In many cases secondary amenorrhea is the only symptom of the disease. This leads to an intensive search for the source of the disorder. Frequently only the elevated production of androgens gives a preoperative clue to the tumor type. The recommendation to include the measurement of androgen levels in the routine diagnosis of secondary amenorrhea must therefore be endorsed. The tumors are usually sonographically identifiable; in differential diagnosis, hyperandrogenemia of other origins (e.g., Cushing's disease, adrenal hyperplasia, pituitary adenoma, other causes of ovarian and adrenal androgen hypersecretion, intersexuality, medically induced androgenization) have to be ruled out. In view of the good prognosis, the therapy of choice consists simply in adnexectomy of the affected side. With regular measurement of serum androgen levels an effective control of the course of the disorder is possible. A conclusive pathological diagnosis is difficult as heterologous tumors and mixed tumors exist and, furthermore, other tumor types are capable of imitating Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors.

Undifferentiated small-cell hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare malignant tumor of childhood. The cell of origin is supposed to be a pluripotential, probably entodermal, stem-cell. Differential diagnosis of this type of HB is difficult among the group of small round and blue cell malignant tumors of children. The immunohistochemically determined coexpression of cytokeratin 8, 18, and 19 and of vimentin and actin, regularly in the absence of alpha-fetoprotein expression may be diagnostically helpful. We present the case of an undifferentiated small-cell HB of a 15-month-old girl with agenesis of the right kidney. As morphological peculiarity the tumor presented disseminated histiocytic giant cells.

We report on a 43-year-old man with a primary sarcoma of the liver. The patient was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of dyspnea, abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, diarrhea, and fever. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly. Increased laboratory values were found for gamma-GT, LDH, CA 125, and NSE, but not for aspartate and alanine aminotransferase. Computed tomography presented a tumor in the right lobe of the liver. Venous cavography revealed a caval tumor thrombus reaching up to the right atrium. Major liver resection combined with replacement of the vena cava inferior was proposed, but before operation the patient complained about shortness of breath. Spontaneous fragmentation of the tumor thrombus with consecutive embolization of the lungs was suspected. Despite lysis therapy the patient died because of right ventricular failure. Autopsy revealed a tumor measuring 8 cm in diameter, which was located in the right lobe of the liver and invaded the inferior vena cava. Because of multiple tumor aggregates seen in the left and right main pulmonary arteries acute tumor embolization of the lungs was regarded as cause of death. Histologically the tumor was composed of bizarre giant cells surrounded by irregular spindle cells. The positive immunoreactivity pattern of the tumor cells for vimentin, lysozym, and CD68 justified the diagnosis of a malignant fibrous histocytoma (MFH) of the liver.

Many transplant centers reject donor livers with severe steatosis (> 60%) due to the increased risk of primary graft dys- or nonfunction. However, the discrepancy between available donor organs and the rising number of transplant candidates is still unacceptable, because of the death of patients who are on the waiting list. Therefore, marginal donor livers are accepted increasingly to fight this dilemma. Our experience after transplantation of steatotic donor livers shows a recovery tendency with decreasing steatosis after primary graft dysfunction.

The Budd-Chiari syndrome is one cause of portal hypertension with multiple etiology and different therapeutic interventional strategies. We report on a 23-year-old female patient who developed de novo liver tumors 33 months after portocaval shunting for acute Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Zusammenfassung Bei der Anwendung offener radioaktiver Stoffe fur die Therapie ist bei der Festlegung der zu applizierenden Aktivitat neben dem gewunschten biologischen Effekt auch das Risiko einer schadigenden Nebenwirkung zu berucksichtigen. Hierfur muβ die zu erwartende Strahlenexposition verschiedener Organe und des ganzen Korpers abgeschatzt werden. Die Strahlenexposition wird u. a. von der individuellen Biokinetik des verwendeten Radiopharmazeutikums bestimmt. Am Beispiel eines Patienten mit kompletter Niereninsuffizienz wird gezeigt, welches Ausmaβ der biokinetische Einfluβ auf die Strahlenexposition des Ganzkorpers und einzelner Organe erreichen kann.

Zusammenfassung Ziel: In dieser Studie wird geprüft, ob die Normwertverteilung von Hirn-perfusionsmarkern bei Erwachsenen auf Kinder in der Altersgruppe von 4 bis 15 Jahren übertragen werden kann. Methoden: Bei 23 Kindern (Gruppe I) im Alter von 4-15 Jahren (MW 11 ±3 Jahre) ohne Anhalt für hirnorganische oder zerebrovaskuläre Erkrankungen wurden SPECT-Untersuchungen mit Tc-99m-ECD durchgeführt. Als Kontrollgruppe (Gruppe II) dienten 10 Erwachsene (Alter 27-56 Jahre, MW 45 ± 10 Jahre). Die Auswertung erfolgte semiquantitativ mit Normierung der lokalen kortikalen Aktivität auf die des Zerebellums (= 100%). Ergebnisse: In Gruppe I ergab sich im Vergleich zu Gruppe II durchweg eine höhere kortikale Aktivität, die größten Unterschiede waren parietal (107,6 ± 9,8 vs. 84,1 ± 12,4%), frontal (97,7 ± 6,7 vs. 79,4 ± 8,9%), links temporal (99,7 ± 7,4 vs. 84,9 ± 10,1 %) und im zingulären Kortex (112,1 ±9,1 vs. 95,9 ± 10,1%, p

Background/Aims: Liver/kidney microsomal antibodies have been noted in liver disease of different etiology, e.g.in autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis C and D virus infection and in drug-induced liver disease. Unlike these, acute hepatitis of unknown etiology associated with high-titer liver/kidney microsomal-1 antibodies (cytochrome P450 2D6) is reported in identical twin brothers. Methods: Patients were studied using chemical, biochemical, serological and immunological methods, as well as liver biopsy. Results: The acute icteric episodes were followed by spontaneous remission with complete normalization of liver function tests and liver histology. During the acute phase, serum titer for liver/kidney microsomal-1 antibodies (detected by inidrect immunofluorescence, ELISA and Western blot analysis) was exceedingly high and decreased gradually thereafter. Hepatitis C and D virus infection were excluded by repeated serological testing; exposure to drugs or chemicals was not evident. Concomitant autoimmune disease was not detectable. HLA typing for class 1 and 2 antigens was positive for the HLA haplotype DQ2, but negative for HLA B4, B8, DR3 and DR4. Conclusions: The present observations might suggest a hitherto unreported form of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology, distinct from other liver diseases in which liver/kidney microsomal antibodies have been described so far.

18 consecutive patients suspected of and treated for an acute scaphoid fracture were examined by lowfield MRI. This showed 11 fractures while seven scaphoids were considered normal. T1 weighted images showed a fracture as an area of decreased signal intensity. Two radiologically obvious fractures produced normal MR images. These fractures proved to be the result of old trauma. A wide spectrum of additional traumatic lesions in the wrists, not detected by routine X-ray analysis, were also demonstrated. These included seven fragmented triangular fibrocartilages (TFC), torn scapho-lunate ligaments in four cases and one torn triquetro-lunate ligament. Bone bruises of other carpal bones and seven other carpal fractures were also detected. Low field MRI can be used to show scaphoid fractures and allows diagnosis of additional or simulating lesions.

Cryoconites are airborne sediments which accumulate on the surface of glaciers. In samples of cryoconites a temperate Austrian glacier high activity concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclides were found, which stem from global and Chernobyl fallouts. Radionuclides identified were 137 Cs, 134 Cs, 238 Pu, 239+240 Pu, 90 Sr, 241 Am, 60 Co, 154 Eu, 207 Bi, and 125 Sb. Given the approximately known isotopic ratios, Cs and Pu can be separated into the contributions of either source of origin. Published 137 Cs/ 134 Cs and 239+240 Pu/ 238 Pu ratios were used for the discrimination of the Dachstein-glacier cryoconites according to their origin from global or Chernobyl fallout. Two different groups of cryoconites were identified, an older population dominated by nuclear weapons fallout and a younger one with predominant Chernobyl fallout. With those data a simple model was formulated to demonstrate the transition and mixing of these two populations on the glacier surface.