In-vivo signal transmission using an intra-corporal RF transmitter.

In clinical routine, measurements of human physiological parameters are very important. In this paper, a study of RF transmission from the inside to the outside of a biological body is described. In the course of this work, an overview of the state of the art of wireless biotelemetry and the basics of biological tissue attenuation are given. In addition, several prototype transmitters were designed and developed with frequencies ranging from 50 to 700 MHz. With these transmitters a study of an in-vivo transmission was run to measure realistic attenuation values of a living biological subject. In the evaluation phase, a prototype transmitter was placed in the esophagus, near the heart, of a narcotized living pig. This allows demonstrating the transmission out of an animal with human-like tissue properties. The results show a possible transmission at 58, 119, 240, 418 and 672 MHz with acceptable loss.

[Ileocoecal intussusception of the terminal ileum caused by a carcinoid tumor]. / Ileozökale Invagination bei Karzinoidtumor des terminalen Ileums.

Intussusception of the intestine is a frequent reason for intestinal obstruction in infants; the course is acute but the causes are often not recognizable. In adults intussusception is the cause for bowel obstruction in only 1% of cases. The course is subacute and in over 90% a benign or malignant process in this part of the intestine is found. We report the case of a 45-year-old male with abdominal discomfort, increasing over weeks. The preoperative ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen revealed the typical finding of ileocoecal intussusception. An ileocoecal resection was performed. The histopathological workup showed a small carcinoid tumour of the terminal ileum.

[Actinomycosis of the pelvis with an indwelling IUD]. / Aktinomykose des Beckens bei liegendem IUP.

Infection with actinomycosis israeli (an anaerobic, gram-positive bacterium) presents as chronic inflammation with tendency to fibrosis and suppuration with formation of external sinuses. Cervicofacial, thoracic and abdominal forms of the disease made up 95% of cases of actinomycosis. A 53-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a pelvic mass which was thought to be malignant. A laparotomy was performed and the histologic examination showed actinomycosis. The patient first received penicillin followed by tetracyclin and the pelvic mass shrunk. One year later no more mass was detectable. We think that the IUP in place over years is the source for this infection.

[Treatment of tumors of the small intestine. Clinical results of 31 years/review of the literature]. / Die Behandlung der Dünndarmtumoren. Klinische Ergebnisse aus 31 Jahren/Literaturübersicht.

Tumours of the small intestine differ from gastric or colonic neoplasms because of their low incidence rate and the occurrence of histologic entities rarely seen in other gastrointestinal locations. In our institution 67 patients with small intestinal tumours were treated through 1960 to 1991, including 19 carcinomas, 15 carcinoids, 13 sarcomas and 7 lymphomas. In patients with symptomatic disease, the correct diagnosis was achieved preoperatively in 43%. Small bowel enema and CT were the most effective diagnostic procedures. Emergency laparotomy was necessary in 44%. The rate of curative tumour resections rose from 23% during 1960-1983 to 67% during 1984-1991.

[Thoracic neurinoma: a rare tumor of the posterior mediastinum]. / Das thorakale Neurinom: ein seltener Tumor des hinteren Mediastinums.

Neurogenic tumors of the thorax are seen mainly in young adults and children. Most of them are small, benigne, unilateral and extraspinal. Benign lesions are always almost asymptomatic, the malignant ones symptomatic. It must be sure preoperative, whether the tumor has an intraspinal component. In case of the benign neurogenic tumors, the anatomical extension is more important than the histological type of tumor, intraspinal canal extension makes necessary a combined surgical-neurosurgical procedure. Recurrence of a benigne lesion is unusual, prognosis of malignant neurogenic tumors of the thorax is poor.

[Clinical aspects and therapy of Boerhaave syndrome]. / Klinik und Therapie des Boerhaave-Syndroms.

We report of a case of spontaneous rupture of the Oesophagus (Boerhaave's-Syndrome) from a 56 year old female alcoholic, who was soon operatively treated. First the patient was explored by a left thoracotomy, the rupture was sutured from abdominal and butressed with the gastric fundus and a feeding jejunostomy was established. Because of postoperatively complications the patient was treated with haemofiltration. The way was prolongated because of severe obstructive airway disease, the patient left intensive care after 22 days.

[Tracheal rupture in long-term ventilation--a rare surgical problem]. / Trachealruptur bei Langzeitbeatmung--ein seltenes chirurgisches Problem.

Our patient sustained a laceration of the membranous portion of the trachea with massive subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax after long-term intubation. The patient was successfully operated on within two hours. The importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment in the event of this rare complication and the different causative factors are outlined. The surgical and perioperative ventilation problems are discussed.

[Angiomyolipoma of the kidney. Value of diagnosis in acute hemorrhage]. / Das Angiomyolipom der Niere. Stellenwert der Diagnostik bei der akuten Blutung.

We report about a severe retroperitoneal bleeding of a ruptured angiomyolipoma of kidney. Despite of maximal diagnostic effort including CT and angiography it was not possible to find the exact diagnosis preoperative. The extensive bleeding did not allow to resect only the tumor, nephrectomy was necessary.

Impact of glucose self-monitoring on glycohemoglobin values in a veteran population.

Twenty-one diabetic patients who self-monitored their glucose levels (via either reflectance meter or visual strips) were compared with 17 closely matched patients who did not monitor their levels. Mean age, duration of diabetes, ancillary illnesses, hospitalizations, and diabetes complications (number and type) did not statistically differ between the two groups. Over the 3-year interval of the retrospective study, there were no differences in glycohemoglobin values between the groups. We conclude that self-monitoring of blood glucose levels alone did not improve the mean amount of glycemia in these patients. Alternative strategies must be developed for use in concert with self-monitoring technology to improve its effectiveness.