Loss of preconditioning in rabbits with vascular tolerance to nitroglycerin.

A preceding right ventricular overdrive pacing (VOP) of 500 b.p.m. for 5 min, markedly reduced the severity of global myocardial ischaemia produced by a subsequent 5-min VOP in conscious rabbits. This VOP-induced preconditioning developed in parallel with an increase in cardiac cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) content. VOP-induced preconditioning was abolished when the animals had been made tolerant to the vasodilator effect of nitroglycerin (NG). In the heart of the NG-tolerant rabbits, neither VOP nor preconditioning increased cyclic GMP content. This suggests that changes by NG tolerance of cyclic GMP metabolism may account for the loss of VOP-induced preconditioning.

Regional differences in nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of the rabbit sphincter of Oddi.

We studied the role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxation of the rabbit sphincter of Oddi by recording changes in isometric tension in response to electrical field stimulation in two series of experiments. In a first set of experiments, biliary sphincters of Oddi removed from New Zealand white rabbits were placed horizontally in an organ bath containing oxygenized, buffered (pH 7.4) Krebs solution. Contractile responses of the whole sphincter to field stimulation were determined. In the second set of experiments, sphincter of Oddi was divided into two parts and the effects of field stimulation were studied separately on areas close to the duodenal papilla (area I) and areas close to the common bile duct (area II). In the whole sphincter of Oddi, field stimulation induced an initial twitch-like contraction followed by relaxation proportional to the number of stimuli (3 and 10 stimuli at 20 Hz, 50 V, 0.1 ms). The magnitude of the contractile responses was considerably reduced by 1 microM atropine, phentolamine and oxprenolol (NANC solution). Field stimulation produced dose-dependent contractions of both segments of sphincter of Oddi in response to the same protocol as used with whole sphincter of Oddi. However, preincubation with NANC solution produced monophasic relaxations in response to field stimulation in area I, whereas area II preparations such as the whole sphincter of Oddi responded with contractions followed by minimal relaxations. Field stimulation failed to induce either contractions or relaxations in the presence of 1 microM tetrodotoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Impaired nitrergic relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi of hyperlipidaemic rabbits.

Field stimulation relaxed the sphincter of Oddi muscle rings of the rabbit after incubation with phentolamine, oxprenolol and atropine (all 1 microM). The relaxation was blocked by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (30 microM) and was reversed by 3 mM L-arginine but not D-arginine. Sphincter of Oddi preparations from hypercholesterolaemic rabbits exhibited contractions under the same conditions. We conclude that nitrergic relaxation is impaired in the sphincter of Oddi from hypercholesterolaemic rabbits.

Impaired bronchomotor responses to field stimulation in guinea-pigs with cisplatin-induced neuropathy.

Pre-treatment with cisplatin (3 mg/kg) i.p. once a day over 6 days induced sensory neuropathy as confirmed by femoral nerve conduction velocity test and significantly decreased contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (100 stimuli, 20 V, 0.1 ms, 20 Hz) in isolated main bronchial rings from guinea-pigs. The field stimulation-induced non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations, however, were amplified in rings from animals with cisplatin neuropathy. The NANC relaxation response was completely blocked by 30 microM N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in preparations from both control and cisplatin-treated animals. Superoxide dismutase (40 units/ml) was without effect on NANC relaxation in control rings, however, it substantially decreased NANC relaxation in preparations from animals with cisplatin neuropathy. These results show that cisplatin-induced sensory neuropathy is accompanied by attenuation of neural bronchoconstriction and an enhanced NANC relaxation. The latter is in part attained by an increased peripheral superoxide production.

[Partial trisomy 9 with partial retention of the long arm (author's transl)]. / Partielle Trisomie 9 mit teilweise erhaltenem langen Arm

A new case of partial trisomy 9 is reported. The characteristic clinical features consist of: 1. Microcephaly, enophthalmos, antimongloid slant of the eyes, hypertelorism, protruding ears, large nose, downward slant of the mouth corners, hypoplasia of phalanges. 2. Abnormal dermal ridge system and crease picture: irregularities of the ridge pattern of finger prints, palms and soles, a much reduced total ridge count (TRC), transverse palmar crease on both palms, underdevelopment of the C line. 3 Severe mental retardation. However, this case represents a variation of the chromosomal anomaly described so far, in as much as an important part of the long arm of the additional chromosome 9 is present.

Cochlear implantation in a patient with grand mal epilepsy.

A case is reported in which a Nucleus 22 channel intracochlear implant was used to treat a deaf Hungarian woman (aged 37 years) with a 34-year history of grand mal (GM) epilepsy maintained on carbamazepine-diazepam combination therapy who had not benefited from conventional hearing aids. Pre-operative electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve, however, exhibited a good nerve function with no evidence of abnormal waveforms in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Successful intracochlear insertion of the 22 electrode resulted in a 40 dB hearing improvement at frequencies 250-2000 Hz in the implanted ear with no signs of pathologic wave activity at either the previously recognized epileptic focus (fronto-precentral region) or indeed, in other regions of the brain at use of the implant. We conclude that intracochlear implantation per se is not a hazardous intervention in patients with fronto-precentral epileptic foci.

Cochlear implantation of a Hungarian deaf and blind patient with discharging ears suffering from Behçet's disease.

A case is reported in which a Nucleus 22 channel intracochlear device was implanted a deaf/blind Hungarian adult with discharging ears suffering from Behçet's disease. Preconditioning surgery was employed three months prior to the implantation procedure to ensure a sterile, dry protected environment for the electrodes. One month after implantation, the patient exhibited excellent auditory discrimination capability at the time of the first switch on. We suggest that some deaf/blind individuals may serve as very good candidates for intracochlear implantation.

[Development of the frontal sinuses]. / Zur Entwicklung der Stirnhöhlen.

Variability studies on frontal sinuses, covering the age range from childhood to adulthood have been neglected in literature up to now. On a total of 215 children and youths from 3-17 years (117 boys and 98 girls), the growth rate of the frontal sinuses had been examined. The difference between males and females proved to be quite interesting. The frontal sinuses of girls increase evenly in size during the years, whereby from 1-5 years the development runs parallel with boys and girls. From 8-12 years the growth rate of male frontal sinuses is very low, causing a retardation of growth on boys in comparison to girls. After that period, however, a substantial acceleration of the growth rate takes place, so, that at the age from 14-15 years the frontal sinuses of the males have surpassed the female ones referring to size. At the age of 18 years the forming of frontal sinuses can be considered as finished.

[Data collection of form and ridge variations of the human palate]. / Zur Befunderhebung der Form- und Faltenvarianten des menschlichen Gaumens.

In order to permit uniform notation and evaluation of palatinal form and palatinal ridges a morphological recording schedule including a revised methodology is introduced. By means of actual case reports the general validity of including palatinal form and ridge variation with forensic paternity expertises as well as the advantage of the schedule proposed is demonstrated. However, also the usefulness of the schedule for intra- and interpopulation and family studies is stressed by the authors.

[Results of dermatoglyphic studies in the Roussy-Lévy syndrome]. / Ergebnisse von Hautleistenuntersuchungen beim Roussy-Lévy-Syndrom

Dermatoglyphics performed on the three persons with fully developed RLS as well as on those with partial symptomatology revealed a striking agreement as to their pappilary systems and the characteristic deviation from the norm: irregularities on the pattern of the ridges of the finger and toe prints and on the soles and palms, a much reduced "total ridge count" (TRC), predominant bow patterns on the toe prints, grid-and reticularpatterned white lines on the soles and palms, loop proliferation on the soles and special shapes of the transverse palmar crease.

Preparation, reconstruction and interpretation of seven human skeletons from the late Bronze age (urn-field-culture) found at a storage pit in Stillfried/March, lower Austria.

In the first published paper "Stillfried-Archäologie-Anthropologie" (Felgenhauer, Szilvássy, Kritscher & Hauser 1988) emphasis of study was laid on morphological, metric and radiological analyses of the 7 skeletons from the late Bronze age (urn-field-culture) found at a storage pit in Stillfried/March in Lower Austria. The present publication deals with the methods of reconstruction of this spectacular discovery. When the skeletal material was disinterred in 1976 it was decided to make appropriate arrangements for an in-situ-presentation at a later stage. After the preparatory work and the scientific investigations were concluded, an in-situ presentation of the 7 skeletons was placed as a key-exhibit in the anthropological displays in the Natural History Museum in Vienna. The 7 skeletons represent three grown-ups and four children i.e. a man about thirty years of age, a woman of forty and one of forty five years of age, as well as a girl of nine and three boys eight, six and three years of age. The reconstruction of this outstanding discovery demanded not only an answer to the genealogical question but also an interpretation of the circumstances of death making use of forensic evidence. Additionally, the personal state of the seven individuals, their physical shape, state of health, and their racial attachment were discussed.

Specific dermatoglyphic patterns: a characteristic manifestation of acantholytic dyskeratotic dermatoses.

Palmar and finger prints were obtained in patients with acantholytic dyskeratotic dermatoses. Identical patterns were found with Darier's disease, Grover's disease, Galli-Galli disease, acrokeratosis verruciformis of Hopf, and warty dyskeratoma. Because dermatoglyphic patterns are a genetically determined individual characteristic, we propose that acantholytic dyskeratotic dermatoses with identical dermatoglyphic patterns are variable manifestations of a single disorder, despite their broad spectrum of clinical manifestations.

Estimation of chronological age in man based on the spongy structure of long bones.

Estimation of chronological age in man from the spongy structure of long bones is demonstrated. The proposed method can be applied in the living and on skeletons in forensic and historical anthropology. Scoring is always based on radiographic or direct observation of structure, density and age related changes on the spongiosa and the cortex in the proximal parts of humerus and femur. On numerous cadavers of known age, sex and provenience of the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Vienna, Austria, seven morphological stages were differentiated which are characteristic for seven age classes, each of ten years width. These stages are described and demonstrated graphically and in photographs. The capacity of the method is illustrated in two examples.

Gene localisation of the PGM1 enzyme system and the Duffy blood groups on chromosome No. 1 by means of a new fragile site at 1p31.

During routine paternity testing an apparent maternal exclusion was suggested by the PGM1 enzyme system (mother PGM1 1, child PGM1 2) and by the Duffy system (mother Fy(a-b+), child Fy(a+b-]. To clarify these findings chromosomal analyses and anthropological investigations were carried out. The possibility that the child had been mistakenly identified after birth could be eliminated. Chromosome analysis of the child showed a fragile site on one chromosome No. 1 at 1p31, a position supposed to carry the PGM1 and the Duffy loci. Although the father of the child is unknown, paternal origin of the fragile site is unlikely on account of the coincidence of the structural aberration with the missing expression of the maternal PGM1 and Duffy alleles thought to be located at the chromosome region involved. Thus localisation of the PGM1 and Duffy loci on 1p31 seems to have been achieved in an unusual way. The two loci appear to be closely linked.

[Age determination based on the structure of the proximal parts of the humerus and femur]. / Zur Altersbestimmung anhand der Struktur der proximalen Anteile von Humerus und Femur.

Founded on known forensic material a diagram of 7 classes is presented, which allows age determination by means of proximal parts of humerus or femur. The method might be used on direct view of the bones or on x-ray photographs. Therefore it can be employed on the living as well. Factors which might affect the outcome are discussed.

Mechanism of vasodilation by cochlear nerve stimulation. Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Rabbit aortic rings pre-contracted with 1 microm phenylephrine were exposed to organ fluid of isolated guinea pig cochleas which had been subjected to electrical field stimulation (FS, 50 Hz, 50 V, 0.2 ms over 2 min). This resulted in an endothelium-dependent relaxation of the vessel rings sensitive to glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+channel blocker. Tetrodotoxin (1 microm) added to the cochlear fluid blocked the vasorelaxant effect of cochlear FS and it attenuated vasorelaxation when added to aortic rings. The relaxation response paralleled an increase in the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in both cochlear and vascular organ fluids from undetectable pre-stimulation values to 0.12+/-0.029 and 0.44+/-0.051 n m, respectively. We conclude that CGRP possibly contributes to cochlear nerve stimulation-induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation.

[The acute phase of leber's optic nerve atrophy (author's transl)]. / Uber die akute Phase det Leberschen Optikusatrophie

Optic atrophy and typical visual field defect were found in two brothers some months following a rapid decrease in visual acuity. The optic disc was hyperemic and edematous, furthermore microangiopathy, hemorrhages, and papilloedema were present in the ocular fundus of the third brother some days after an acute loss of central vision. In the present study the pathogenic and differential diagnostic significance of the acute phase of Leber's optic neuropathy is discussed. Considering the fundus changes in the acute phase and the course of the disease, the authors tend to reject the idea of a hereditary systemic disease of the nervous system. The hereditary factors should be searched neither in the nerve tissue nor in the ectodermal system.

[Heredo familial areflectoric dystasie. Roussy-Lévy-Syndrome (author's transl)]. / Hereditäre Areflektorische Dystasie. Roussy-Lévy-Syndrom

The Roussy-Lévy-Syndrome in a 12 years old girl is described and its relation to other heredofamilial ataxias is discussed. The kindred of our patient was studied as well. Information about 21 family members could be collected; 11 of them also suffered from RLS. Additionally for the first time in literature, dermatoglyphic patterns in these patients have been investigated.

Cochlear implantation in osteogenesis imperfecta.

A case is reported in which a Nucleus 22 channel intracochlear implant was applied to a Hungarian woman (age 50 yr) with profound deafness associated with osteogenesis imperfecta. Successful intracochlear insertion of the 22 electrodes resulted in a 70 dB hearing improvement at frequencies 250-2000 HZ. Nevertheless, a characteristic facial twitching appeared upon activation of electrodes 9-13. Inactivation of these electrodes abolished the non-acoustic nerve excitation with preservation of acoustic performance. Osteogenesis imperfecta may involve a state of risk for non-acoustic nerve activation in cochlear implant patients possibly resulting from a reduced impedance to current spread by abnormal bone tissue. This, however can be overcome by simple programming manoeuvres.

Involvement of glibenclamide-sensitive potassium channels in vasorelaxation by cochlear nerve stimulation.

Rabbit aortic rings relaxed with an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate and cyclic adenosine monophosphate content in response to exposure to organ fluid of isolated cochleas of the guinea pig following field stimulation (50 Hz, 80 V, 0.2 ms). Relaxations were blocked by 30 microM N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester added to the vessel rings. This inhibitory effect was reversed by 3 mM L-arginine. Removal of the vascular endothelium also blocked the relaxation response. Glibenclamide attenuated vasorelaxation in a concentration-dependent manner. We conclude that cochlear nerve stimulation induces an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation involving activation of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels.