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Vacuum multi effect membrane distillation (VMEMD) is a thermal separation process with microporous hydrophobic membranes that is able to concentrate liquids with high salt concentrations close to saturation. This document describes the technology, test runs with high concentrated salt solution, observed phenomena and experiences gathered from the testing with VMEMD modules by memsys. Salt influences the distillation process in direction to lower distillate output due to boiling point elevation of the salt water. The process proofs reliability in a 365 days long-term testing with feed at conductivities between 130′000 μS/cm and 240′000 μS/cm (approximately 9.5–22wt% salt in solution) and distillate output with less than 10 μS/cm. The testing program delivers experience for the layout of modules with high recovery ratio.

The memsys has successfully commercialized the vacuum-multi-effect-membrane-distillation (V-MEMD) module. This compact memsys module employs hydrophobic membranes as a separating medium and makes use of vacuum to enhance membrane distillation process. This novel V-MEMD module enables highly efficient heat recovery. Compared with conventional thermal desalination processes, the memsys module shows advantages in lower investment and operational cost, and higher energy efficiency. In this paper, solar and diesel heater were used as heating sources to drive the memsys V-MEMD module. The solar driven memsys system illustrates good operating performance with a flux at approximately 7 LMH on a sunny day using seawater as feed. The diesel heater driven memsys system was used to investigate the effects of heating, cooling and feed conditions on the module performance using tap water as feed at a relatively low operating temperature (45 ~ 60 °C). The results show that heating and cooling temperature are the main factors affecting flux and energy efficiency. The optimization of number of module stage and size of each stage were also studied. The experimental results show that the memsys module has great potential in increasing the Gain Output Ratio (GOR), which is one of the most important criteria for industrialization of MD technology.

We describe a 62-year-old patient with a coincidental finding of a uterine lipoleiomyoma. The patient presented with vague abdominal complaints. Computed tomography showed a large lobulated mass, with a density consistent with fat, surrounding a normal uterus. Few cases have been described. We review the histologic and clinical features of this condition and theories regarding its origin.

Das SC-Phokomelie- oder Pseudothalidomid-Syndrom (Roberts-Syndrom) ist eine seltene autosomalrezessiv vererbte Krankheit, die sich klinisch mit einer Phokomelie, einer prä- und postnatalen Wachstumsretardierung mit kraniofazialen Dysmorphien und Missbildungen (z.B. Lippen-Kiefer-Gaumenspalte, Mikro[brachy]zephalie) manifestiert, zytogenetisch eventuell mit dem Phänomen des Zentromersplittings. Beobachtet werden ausserdem Nierenmissbildungen, Herzfehler, eine Klitoris- bzw. Penishyperplasie sowie beidseitige Korneatrübungen oder andere Augenanomalien. Geistige Retardierung ist bei überlebenden Patienten häufig.

Dank der enormen Forschungsanstrengungen und -erfolge in allen Bereichen der Krebsmedizin ist die Mortalitatsrate der an Krebs erkrankten Menschen seit den fruhen 1990er Jahren rucklaufig. Von der Grundlagenforschung bis hin zur strukturierten Nachsorge der Patienten konnten in den letzten Jahrzehnten grose Fortschritte erzielt werden. Zur Behandlung von Krebserkrankungen wurden im Laufe der Jahre verschiedene Medikamente erprobt und in den Markt eingefuhrt.

Unter dem Stichwort «Patientensicherheit» werden seit einigen Jahren Aktivitaten definiert, welche zu einer systematischen Verringerung von Gefahren, welche Patienten im Zusammenhang mit medizinischen Untersuchungen und Behandlungen erwachsen konnen, beitragen sollen. Anhand einer systematischen Erfassung von Gefahrenmomenten werden Strategien entwickelt, um deren Risikopotential zu senken oder, bei Eintreten solcher Gefahrdungen, diese korrekt zu handhaben. Besonderes Augenmerk verdient die Kommunikation sowohl bei der Pravention wie auch bei der Bewaltigung eines eingetretenen Schadenfalles. Innerhalb der gesamten Medizin sind folgende Themen punkto Patientensicherheit besonders kritisch: – Nosokomiale Infekte; – Medikamentensicherheit; – Eingriffsverwechslung; – Patientenidentifikation; – Errorund Risikoanalyse (ERA); – Riskmanagement und Anforderungen an Fehlermeldesysteme; – Umgang mit Zwischenfallen; – Benchmarking Patientensicherheit. Es ist offensichtlich, dass Aktivitaten zur Erhohung der Patientensicherheit ein wesentlicher Teil des Q-Managements einer Klinik sind. Sie sind auch als Teil eines Risikomanagements zur Vermeidung von Haftungsfallen anzusehen. Letztlich dienen alle Massnahmen zur Verbesserung der Behandlungsqualitat auch der Verbesserung der Patientensicherheit. Das vorliegende Dokument beschrankt sich auf Massnahmen zur Vermeidung von Komplikationen im eigentlichen klinischen Behandlungsprozess.

Cell scrapings from 552 consecutive women attending the colposcopy outpatient unit were examined by radioactive isotopic DNA hybridisation using the Dot-Blot technique, and by conventional Papanicolaou-smear cytology. In 315 out of these patients, punch biopsies were submitted for histological examination. HPV DNA-sequences were detected in 72% (n = 167) of 232 cytologically diagnosed CIN cases and in 77% (n = 97) out of 126 histological diagnoses of CIN. The proportion of HPV positive cases increased proportionally to the grade of CIN. The frequency of HPV type 6/11 decreased proportionally to the grade of the CIN, and HPV type 16/18 increased at the same time. The most frequent HPV type was 16/18 (26.3%), followed by the HPV types 31/33/35 (16.3%) and 6/11 (4.2%). Furthermore, HPV positivity was detected in 16.5% of patients with negative cytologic smears, in 21.7% of those with negative histology and in 8.9% of women with both negative histology and cytology. Histological and moreover cytological criteria of HPV infection decreased dramatically and proportionally inverse to the grade of the CIN. These changes were not followed entirely by HPV positivity. The discrepancy between HPV positivity (66.1%/67.6%) and morphological evidence of HPV infection (cytology 4.9%, histology 21.6%) was higher in CIN III than in lower grade CIN. Neither cytology nor histology is able to detect all HPV-related cervical lesions. Hybridisation techniques are helpful in the detection of latent HPV infections as well as of CIN lesions have been missed either by cytology or by histology or both. Thus both morphological methods are supplemented by HPV hybridisation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The increasing incidence of drug abuse in central Europe leads to a growing number of children with intrauterine drug exposure. During pregnancy various risks affect these children. Postnatally severe symptoms of withdrawal are observed frequently. The psychosocial development is endangered. Between 1986 and 1990 30 drug dependent women attended the obstetric department of the University Hospital Basel during pregnancy. The data of 21 children born to mothers drug dependent at birth were evaluated. 11 children were born in 1990. 12 mothers received Methadon, 10 were polydrug abusers. Positive serology was found for hepatitis in 18, for HIV-infection in 9 women. 6 babies were premature, 8 were small for gestational age. 20 newborns presented withdrawal symptoms which required a mean hospitalization time of 45 days. Tonic and/or clonic seizures were observed in 6 neonates. In 9 other children some symptoms were suspicious of seizures. EEG recordings were pathological in 10 of 12 infants. For the control of withdrawal symptoms 16 children received pharmacological treatment for a mean duration of 61 days. Neurodevelopmental examinations were performed in 14 children at an average age of 22 months. Neurological findings were pathological in 2 children. 3 had mild, 2 had severe mental retardation, 5 presented with behavioural disturbances. Our data are compared with those of the literature. Therapeutic proposals for children of drug dependent mothers are presented. The impact of methadon programs on the exposed children is discussed.

A rare case of a pregnancy of a 34-year old IV gravida/II para is reported, which ended in the 19 th week with the rupture of a rudimentary horn of the uterus bicornis unicollis. Histopathological examination showed a placenta accreta. Two years after this event spontaneous birth of a boy resulted without any pathological findings of the placenta. Basing on the literature, the significant roles played by ultrasonic investigation as well as by serum-AFP-screening are pointed out.

Medical specialization has increased in the last few years. Meanwhile, different centers (breast, fertility, etc.) have been opened. Also dysplasia (colposcopy) clinics and units are currently discussed. The reasons are the new differentiated procedure for CIN/SIL, VAIN and VIN, the smaller number of female patients per physician and the poor quality. The concentration on specialists is said to help improve quality and could also save costs. Under certain conditions, the dysplasia unit or clinic could be the ideal setting for the triage of patients with lower genital tract disorders.

We present a patient in the 30th week of gestation with adnexal torsion, which was treated by laparotomy with oophorectomy. After 2 days, we had to perform a cesarean section because of bowel obstruction. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment of adnexal torsion in pregnancy and compare laparoscopic management with laparotomy. By reviewing the literature, we evaluate the conservative therapy by detorsion employing Doppler sonography.

The Roberts-SC phocomelia syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder clinically manifested by tetraphocomelia, pre- and postnatal growth retardation, and craniofacial abnormalities (skull, eyes, lip, and palate), accompanied at times by centromer puffing and splitting, renal abnormalities, heart defect, clitoral or penile enlargement, and bilateral corneal opacities. Mental retardation is common in surviving patients.