Wound healing and complementary therapies: a review

A series of five innovative experiments conducted by Wirth et al. which examined the effect of various complementary healing interventions on the reepithelialization rate of full thickness human dermal wounds was assessed as to specific methodological and related factors. The treatment interventions utilized in the series included experimental derivatives of the Therapeutic Touch (TT), Reiki, LeShan, and Intercessory Prayer techniques. The results of the series indicated statistical significance for the initial two experiments and nonsignificance or reverse significance for the remaining three studies. This review article examines the methodological designs of the series of studies, along with the TT practitioners' phenomenologically based journal reports, to provide potential contributing correlative factors for the differential results obtained. These factors include: (1) methodological design restrictions, (2) a transference/inhibitory effect (3) the influence of experimental assistants, (4) healer visualization /imagery techniques, (5) variations in subject populations, and (6) a potential cancellation effect. While the placebo controlled double-blind methodological designs used in the series were as stringent as those used in other fields of scientific inquiry, the overall results of the experiments were inconclusive in establishing the efficacy of the treatment interventions for accelerating the rate of reepithelialization of full thickness dermal wounds.     

Modula: A language for modular multiprogramming

This paper defines a language called Modula, which is intended primarily for programming dedicated computer systems, including process control systems on smaller machines. The language is largely based on Pascal, but in addition to conventional block structure it introduces a so-called module structure. A module is a set of procedures, data types and variables, where the programmer has precise control over the names that are imported from and exported to the environment. Modula includes general multiprocessing facilities, namely processes, interface modules and signals. It also allows the specification of facilities that represent a computer's specific peripheral devices. Those given in this paper pertain to the PDP-11.     

The use of modula

Three sample programs are developed and explained with the purpose of demonstrating the use of the programming language Modula. The examples concentrate on the uses of modules, concurrent processes and synchronizing signals. In particular, they all focus on the problems of operating peripheral devices. The concurrency of their driver processes has to occur in real time. The devices include a typewriter, a card reader, a line printer, a disk, a terminal with tape cassettes and a graphical display unit. The three programs are listed in full.     

Veränderungen der Epidermisdicke und des 3H-Thymidin Labelling Index in der Epidermis nach Applikation von Pharmaka in zeitlicher Abhängigkeit vom Therapiebeginn

Alterations in Thickness of Epidermis and ³H-Thymidin Labelling Index in Epidermis after Application of Drugs in Course of Time after Beginning of Therapy The actions of drugs on the epidermis can lead to the following reactions: 1. Atrophy with diminished cell proliferation, 2. Proliferation acanthosis with thickening of the epidermis and increased cell proliferation, 3. Retention acanthosis with thickening of the epidermis; the cells remain for a longer time in a prolonged phase of DNA synthesis. The time course of these reactions proves to be different in investigations with three typical agents: 1. 5-fluorouracil leads to a reduction of cell proliferation with a greatly delayed onset, and to epidermal atrophy; 2. TWEEN 60 brings about a rapid and sustained intensification of cell proliferation and an epidermal thickening of rapid onset and which persists up to the 36th day; 3. Coal tar leads to a prolongation of the DNA synthesis time which has a rapid onset but then fades away quickly; there is a peak of epidermal thickening somewhat later in time.     

Abdominal pain, fresh blood in the anus

A 60-year-old lady with type II diabetes, arterial hypertension and 'melancholia' was treated with Lithium, a neuroleptic (Leponex) and an ACE inhibitor (Reniten). She was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain, subfebrile temperatures, diarrhea and hematochezia. The radiological and sonographic examinations showed a thickened wall of the left hemicolon. Colonoscopy revealed a sharply delineated segment with pronounced inflammation in the descending colon and the proximal sigmoid colon, suggestive for an ischemic colitis. Histology of the inflamed colon was compatible with this diagnosis. Under suspended enteral feeding and antibiotic therapy the symptoms disappeared within two weeks, and a control colonoscopy six weeks later was completely normal. 1 1/2 years later the patient suffered from a second episode of ischemic colitis exactly a the same site. Again, complete cure was achieved by conservative treatment.     

Technique of handling neonatal blood samples for zinc analysis

Short segments of Chemfluor flexible Teflon tubing (2.38 mm ID) previously coated with sodium heparin (1,000 units/ml) serve as ideal containers in which blood from neonates can be collected for zinc analysis. The ends of the tube are plugged with Teflon TFE round beading so that the sample comes in contact only with Teflon and the risk of contamination is minimized. The heparin coating facilitates easy collection of the sample and separation of plasma by centrifugation. It does not contribute zinc to the specimen.     

Analysis of velocity sedimentation techniques in cell separation. Influence of apparative and sample properties on separative power, resolution and sensitivity

In the present investigation the velocity sedimentation technique was analysed with respect to separation resolution, power and sensitivity. It was found that apparative modifications do not influence the resolution, which is a function of the contribution of apparative errors to the dispersion. A surprisingly small parameter of 0.15 was determined and it seems unlikely that this value can be improved. On the other hand an apparative modification is presented which improves the separation power and makes sample loading independent of the gradient filling. If cells (from rat bone marrow) were separated, a several times higher dispersion for a given cell volume was observed than was due to the apparative error. It was concluded that density variations were the major source of this dispersion. Since cell volume and density apparently show independent variations within a biological cell population the cell density cannot be disregarded if velocity sedimentation profiles are discussed in physical terms as is often done.