[Persistent carotid-basilar anastomosis: arteria proatlantica in ipsilateral aplasia of the vertebral artery and contralateral hypoplasia]. / Persistierende karotidobasiläre Anastomose: Arteria proatlantica bei ipsilateraler Vertebralarterienaplasie und kontralateraler-hypoplasie.

We report on a rare case of aplasia of the left vertebral artery, while the basilar artery is supplied by the proatlantal artery, a persistent carotid-basilar anastomosis. The right vertebral artery appears to be hypoplastic.

Interaction of dichloromethane and ethanol in rats: toxicokinetics and nerve conduction velocity.

The influence of a single combined administration of ethanol (174 mmol/kg per os) plus dichloromethane (1.6, 6.2, or 15.6 mmol/kg p.o.) on blood concentrations of the tested substances and of carboxyhemoglobin, and on nerve conduction velocity was studied in rats. The blood alcohol concentration was not influenced significantly by dichloromethane. The single high dose of ethanol completely inhibited the carboxyhemoglobin concentration increase due to dichloromethane, but did not prevent the dichloromethane-induced decrease of nerve conduction velocity. It produced initially lower, then higher concentrations of dichloromethane in blood than values seen after administration of dichloromethane per se. Rats treated with ethanol plus dichloromethane showed a more pronounced decrease of nerve conduction velocity compared with rats administered dichloromethane only.

[Neuropathies following carbon monoxide poisoning]. / Neuropathien nach Kohlenmonoxidvergiftungen.

According to the experiments carried out in animals, impairments of the peripheral nerves can, with a certain regularity, also be expected in patients in the presence of the respective high degree of carbon monoxide intoxications without clinical paralytic symptoms being detectable in every case. The changes in the motor nerve conduction velocity in our patients and in animal experiments are still found over a prolonged period of time after the acute intoxication.

[Animal experiments and clinical observations on poisoning with metallic mercury]. / Tierexperimentelle und klinische Beobachtungen zur Intoxikation durch metallisches Quecksilber.

Albino rats of an own culture strain exposed to mercury were investigated electroneurographically. A disturbance of the motor nerve conduction of the ischiadic and the tibial nerve could not be established after one year. Workers exposed to mercury of two chemical plants of the district of Halle were examined neurologically and electrophysiologically. The motor nerve conduction was measured on eight peripheral nerves. The measuring values above all deviate from the normal value up to 10% more infrequently up to 20% or more.

[Electromyography of eye muscles in myasthenia gravis]. / Elektromyographie der Augenmuskeln bei Myasthenie.

The importance of the combination of electromyographic examination and the Tensilon test in the diagnosis of Myasthenia gravis pseudoparalytica of the eye muscles is discussed. After intravenous injection of Tensilon in ocular myasthenia, an activity increase is found in the electromyogram, even when the motor effect on the diseased muscle is not recognisable. Myopathies and peripheral neurogenic paresis do not respond to Tensilon.

Effect of dichloromethane on the sciatic motor conduction velocity of rats.

There is a correlation between dichloromethane dosis (X) of 1--6 mmole/kg administered i.p. to rats and the sciatic motor conduction velocity (Y): Y = 57.1--1.091 X. The correlation coefficient 'r' is 0.437 (p less than 0.01). Presumably, the decrease of nerve conduction velocity is caused by the endogenous carbon monoxide production due to dichloromethane biotransformation.

Results of electromyographical and electroneurographical investigations concerning syringomyelia.

16 patients suffering from syringomyelia were checked for additional peripheral nerve lesions. On voluntary effort, often in conformity with the decrease of muscle strength, a moderate rarefication of the discharge patterns was apparent. Fasciculation potentials were common. Motor conduction velocities of the median and ulnar nerve were in the normal range in cases without additional peripheral nervous lesion at the elbow or the carpal. Depending on the severity of the peripheral nervous lesion, we found the duration of the muscle action potentials increased.

Motor nerve conduction velocity after carbon monoxide or m-dinitrobenzene poisoning following elimination of the poisons.

24 hrs after acute carbon monoxide or m-dinitrobenzene poisoning (about 60% CO-Hb or Met-Hb) the sciatic motor conduction velocity of rats is significantly reduced by 33% and 16% respectively. Whereas 48 hrs after methemoglobinemia the nerve conduction is normal, a retardation is detectable even 4 weeks following carboxyhemoglobinemia. Also, 4 weeks after single carbon monoxide intoxication producing a mean CO-Hb content of 19%, the motor conduction velocity is significantly decreased. This effect may be useful for detection of carbon monoxide intoxication after elimination of the poison. The results show that there are carbon monoxide effects independent of blockade of hemoglobin.