A semi-automatic system for the analysis of ecocardiographic tracings (author's transl)]

A semi-automatic system is described for analysis of echocardiographic traces of the left ventricle. Filtering interpolating and averaging processes are discussed and the overall accuracy evaluated. The program is able to calculate ventricular indexes (strake volume, ejection fraction, circumferential velocity of fiber shortening), continuous functions (istantaneous ventricular diameter and volume, wall thickness, velocity of cavity compression and dilation) and, correlating the echo data with pressure values, circumferential stresss and ventricular compliance. Pressure is obtained along the ejection phase only from the carotidal pulse calibrated by means of the brachial pressure values. Advantages and limits of the method are discussed.     

A new procedure for keratometry (author's transl)

The principle of construction of a keratometer is explained which shows digitally the radii of curvature of the cornea obtained by automatic optical measurement and processed by an inbuilt computer.     

A new contrast-medium (author's transl)

Infusion urograms were carried out on 2 groups of 100 in-patients each. The first group had injections of Conray FL 36, the second of Conray FL. Contrast in the early phase after 7 minutes was better with Conray FL 36 than with Conray FL. At later stages there was no clear difference.     

Manifestation of diabetes (author's transl)]

Material of research: 350 cases of diabetes mellitus. The time between the manifestation of diabetes mellitus and the onset of retinopathy is reduced in two cases: with diabetes manifesting itself (a) at the age of puberty, (b) after the age of fifty. The retinopathy appears as "retinopathia simplex" (in all its different subvarieties) and as "retinopathia proliferans". Out investigation showed a gradual decrease in the benign forms of the retinopathia simplex with advancing years--from twenty to sixty--of diabetic manifestation, with retinopathia proliferans simultaneously gaining ground. With diabetes manifesting from sixty on, retinopathia proliferans dwindles to insignificance; there remains an indefinite form of retinopathia simplex.     

Malignant degeneration in a parapontine epidermoid (author's transl)]

A case of malignant degeneration in a right parapontine epidermoid cyst giving rise to leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in a 57 year old woman is presented. The malignant tissue had infiltrated the right cerebellar hemisphere and produced a symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, a change in the psychological state of the patient, and an acute conus and cauda syndrome following metastasis implantation. Only eight unequivocal previous reports of malignant transformation of intracranial epidermoid cyst have been reported in the literature with metastases in four.     

Butterfly-shaped dystrophy of the macula (author's transl)]

The authors report a rare form of pigment dystrophy of the macula in a 17-years-old patient, which was diagnosed on the basis of characteristic ophthalmoscopic changes. Results obtained from an analysis of all the patients relations pointed to a familial occurrence of these changes. Up till now a similar case has been described only by Deutman and co-workers (1970) as "Butterfly-shaped pigment dystrophy of the fovea".     

Surgical treatment of lymphoedema (author's transl)]

Aetiology, pathogenesis, staging and the conservative and operative treatment of the lymphoedema are discussed. Only in 14 to 22% of all lymphoedema an operative treatment is required. Operative treatment is only indicated after the failure of conservative treatment. The latent (stage I) and the reversible (stage II) lymphoedema rarely demand an operation. Only the lymphovenous shunts or lymphadenovenous shunts may be indicated in stage II. In the irreversible lymphoedema (stage III) and in the elephantiasis (stage IV) the following operations have been developed: ligature of ectatic lymphtrunks, peripheral lymphovenous and lymphadenovenous shunts, skin-flap transplantations, free or pediculated transplantation of the greater omentum, lymphangioplastic operations (Thompson-operation) or excisional operations (Servelle-operation). The therapeutic principles of these operations are shown and late results are discussed.     

Chronic laryngitis and carcinoma (author's transl)]

35 cases of continuous series of 841 laryngeal cancers were studied separately. Those patients had already been suffering from hoarseness for more than 2 years, in the average for 9 years. Many of these patients had been examined and treated by inhalations, and biopsies were taken because of a chronic laryngitis. Clinically in half of the cases a big carcinoma could be found. In 10 cases a chronic laryngitis had been diagnosed; in spite of the preceeding examination by microlaryngoscopy in 4 cases, however, the carcinoma could only be proved by histologic examination. The histologic examinations of the specimens regularly displayed an extended field of epidermisation of the laryngeal mucosa following chronic laryngitis, In these fields of epidermisation the carcinoma developed multicentrically and--in the early stages--mostly showed a covering-like, minutely infiltrating growth. Disseminated dot-like cancer-focuses in the epidermisation field and cancer buds arising from the basal layers of an intact covering of the hypertrophic epithelium could be observed several times. Chronic-hypertrophic laryngitis seems to favour the development of cancer within some patients (promoting factor), it even might accelerate it. As in about 6% of all the vocal cord cancers a preexistent chronic laryngitis is proved by history and clinical findings each patient with a chronic hypertrophic laryngitis must be examined by microlaryngoscopy as well as histological examinations and must be constantly observed.     

Staphylogenic food poisoning in a children's home (author's transl)]

Disease affected a group of 56 children in a children's convalescent home. In the samples taken from the stomach as well as in the samples of the vomit brought up by the affected children, in which the remains of porridge oats were recognizable, cluster cocci were identified in the microscopic preparations. The latter were classified by culture growing and lysotypy into various staphylococcal phagotypes. These staphylococci were identified as enterotoxin A and enterotoxin C2 formers. Stains of staphylococci isolated from swabs taken from the throat, nose and hands of the persons engaged in the preparation of the porridge oats were of the same staphylococcal phage groups. Consequently it would appear that these persons contaminated the oats. The oats had been left overnight at about 2.5 centigrade and were served to 58 children at 7.45 in the morning. Around 9.30 the first cases presented. By about 12.00 their number had risen to 56. However, 24 hours later 41 children were again free from complaints despite the initial shock-like nature of the life-endangering conditions (vomiting, diarrhoea, circulatory disorders).     

Metabolism of phenylbutazone in the liver (author's transl)]

The object of the investigation was to study the capacity of the liver to metabolize drugs under diversified conditions (cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholestasis in alcoholics, in diabetics as well as in eplieptics treated with barbiturates) as well as the possibility of inducing this function. To accomplish this we determined the half-life of Butazolidin. Only in cirrhotics it was shown that the capacity to metabolize Butazolidin was reduced. Induction with barbiturates increased hepatic captation of the drug but did not modify the biotransformation of the same. This is attributed to the development of a "hypoactive hypertrophy" of the reticuloendothelium.     

Stab wounds of the brain. A case report (author's transl)]

The case history is presented of a 10-year-old boy who stabbed himself accidentally during play with a knife which penetrated deep into the temporal lobe of the brain via the orbit. The child was fully conscious on admission to hospital without any obvious neurological signs. The knife was removed surgically and the immediate postoperative findings of ptosis, chemosis and slight restriction of movement of the left eye regressed rapidly.