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Unlabelled: Clinical examination and Doppler ultrasound were performed in 31 children after repair of coarctation of the aorta. Median postoperative follow-up period was 4.5 years. The aim of our study was a comparison of different operation techniques and suture materials. In 16 infants subclavian flap repair had been performed using polydioxanone absorbable sutures (PDS) in 8 cases and polypropylene (Prolene) sutures in the other 8 cases. Resection and end-to-end repair had been carried out in 8 infants using PDS and in 7 using Prolene sutures. Doppler-echocardiographically derived gradients across the reconstructed aorta were significantly lower in infants operated with the subclavian flap technique (p < 0.05). The length of the arm on the side of the subclavian flap operation was shorter (median 1.2 cm), but there were no signs of ischaemic complications. Using PDS sutures the aortic arch and the aortic isthmus were each morphologically significantly wider in both operation techniques. Noninvasive two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated good anatomical repair and no anastomotic aneurysm formation after aortic repair using polydioxanone., Conclusion: Regarding the doppler-echocardiographically derived gradients in the anastomotic region this intermediate follow-up study reveals better results using the subclavian flap technique; absorbable polydioxanone sutures favour normal growth of the anastomotic site without vascular complications.

Complement-requiring neutralizing antibodies to herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV 1) in titres from 2 to greater than 16 were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 47% senile patients with various forms of dementia, but in none of mentally retarded adolescents and adults suffering from various neurologidal diseases. Also the incidence of HSV 1 serum antibodies in elevated titres (larger than or equal to 512) was increased in senile demented patients (61%) as compared with persons in normal senium (31%), normal adults (15%), mentally retarded adolescents (17%) and prisoned felons with low IQ (45-47%).

Chlorpromazine (CHP) in a concentration of 8.3 microgram per ml medium inhibited attachment and multiplication of CEC and of various cell lines. The same CHP concentration applied to grown CEC monolayers inhibited the growth of TBEV but not the growth of HHV 1, while interferon was slightly stimulated. The clinical course of fatal subcutaneous TBEV infection in mice was not affected by daily CHP treatment while brain and serum interferon were stimulated. Antibody formation in TBEV infected or HHV 1 immunized mice was not affected significantly by CHP application. The following data were obtained in a longitudinal study on 28 hospitalized schizophrenic patients: 89 percent of them revealed at least some serological findings which indicate an actual HHV 1 infectious process-elevated NAB titers, high ratio between complement requiring and complement not requiring NAB titers. A low interferon activity was observed in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 93 percent and 14 percent patients, respectively. No regular correlation between HHV 1-NAB-both complement requiring and complement not requiring-and of interferon on one side and between hospitalization. CHP treatment and electroconvulsive therapy on the other side has been observed.

When electroconvulsive therapy without anticonvulsive premedication was administered to male psychiatric patients, serum prolactin (PRL) increased regardless to the rather high initial values due to the chlorpromazine treatment. Maximal levels were found 30 min after current application, yet 60 min after electroshock the serum PRL values were declining against pre-shock levels. Infusion of 30 mg of phentolamine during 40 min prior to electroshock was without any effects on the PRL response. The obtained data indicate that even a 5-fold higher initial serum level of PRL fails to inhibit the stress-induced hormone release and that alpha adrenergic receptors scarcely play a role in this response.

The effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on plasma glucagon, insulin and glucose levels was studied in 5 male psychiatric patients. Plasma glucagon level was significantly increased 30 min after ECT with mild increase of plasma glucose, and insulin levels remained unchanged. Infusion of 40 g of glucose during 20 min prior to ECT led to a blockade of plasma glucagon response. Administration of glucose in bolus of 25 g I.V. immediately after ECT was followed by the same suppression of glucagon response, moreover, the glucose stimulation of insulin secretion after the ECT was reduced when compared to glucose administration alone (without ECT). These results indicate that the inhibitory role of glucose on pancreatic glucagon release is operating also in stress. However, the glucose-induced insulin secretion after ECT was suppressed as in other stress situations.

A marked increase in the rate of admission of children with burns and scalding has been observed since 1977 at the Paediatric Hospital of Vienna University. The average age of 94 patients admitted between 1982 and 1986 was 2.2 +/- 2.1 years. An analysis of the age group 1 to 2 years revealed that burns with an extent of up to 10% of the body surface were seen in 18% of patients, up to a body surface of 20% in 18%, and more than 30% of the body surface in 5.3%. Among the entire group of 94 patients 32.9% had burns of up to 10% of the body surface, 41.4% of up to 20%. Written information as to primary care at the place of injury or in the nearest hospital was obtainable in only 35 out of 94 patients (38%). 21.1% of all patients had a raised temperature on the day of admission to this hospital as a consequence of a negative fluid balance. However, only 4 patients (4.2%) out of the 94 were transferred because of fever and/or septicaemia. Guidelines are proposed as to primary care at the site of trauma and during transport to hospital on the basis of a survey of the literature.