Search for Lepton Number and Flavor Violation in K^{+} and π^{0} Decays

Searches for the lepton number violating K^{+}→π^{-}μ^{+}e^{+} decay and the lepton flavor violating K^{+}→π^{+}μ^{-}e^{+} and π^{0}→μ^{-}e^{+} decays are reported using data collected by the NA62 experiment at CERN in 2017-2018. No evidence for these decays is found and upper limits of the branching ratios are obtained at 90% confidence level: B(K^{+}→π^{-}μ^{+}e^{+})<4.2×10^{-11}, B(K^{+}→π^{+}μ^{-}e^{+})<6.6×10^{-11} and B(π^{0}→μ^{-}e^{+})<3.2×10^{-10}. These results improve by 1 order of magnitude over previous results for these decay modes.

The genome sequence of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We have sequenced and annotated the genome of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), which contains the smallest number of protein-coding genes yet recorded for a eukaryote: 4,824. The centromeres are between 35 and 110 kilobases (kb) and contain related repeats including a highly conserved 1.8-kb element. Regions upstream of genes are longer than in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), possibly reflecting more-extended control regions. Some 43% of the genes contain introns, of which there are 4,730. Fifty genes have significant similarity with human disease genes; half of these are cancer related. We identify highly conserved genes important for eukaryotic cell organization including those required for the cytoskeleton, compartmentation, cell-cycle control, proteolysis, protein phosphorylation and RNA splicing. These genes may have originated with the appearance of eukaryotic life. Few similarly conserved genes that are important for multicellular organization were identified, suggesting that the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes required more new genes than did the transition from unicellular to multicellular organization.

Two-kaon correlations in central Pb+Pb collisions at 158 a GeV/c

Two-particle interferometry of positive kaons is studied in Pb+Pb collisions at mean transverse momenta <p(T)> approximately 0.25 and 0.91 GeV/c. A three-dimensional analysis was applied to the lower p(T) data, while a two-dimensional analysis was used for the higher p(T) data. We find that the source-size parameters are consistent with the m(T) scaling curve observed in pion-correlation measurements in the same collisions, and that the duration time of kaon emission is consistent with zero within the experimental sensitivity.

Antideuteron production in 158A GeV/c Pb + Pb collisions

The invariant cross section as a function of transverse momentum for antideuterons produced in 158A GeV/c per nucleon Pb+Pb central collisions has been measured by the NA44 experiment at CERN. This measurement, together with a measurement of antiprotons, allows for the determination of the antideuteron coalescence parameter. The extracted coalescence radius is found to agree with the deuteron coalescence radius and radii determined from two particle correlations.

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 4 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

The higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is an important model for identifying plant genes and determining their function. To assist biological investigations and to define chromosome structure, a coordinated effort to sequence the Arabidopsis genome was initiated in late 1996. Here we report one of the first milestones of this project, the sequence of chromosome 4. Analysis of 17.38 megabases of unique sequence, representing about 17% of the genome, reveals 3,744 protein coding genes, 81 transfer RNAs and numerous repeat elements. Heterochromatic regions surrounding the putative centromere, which has not yet been completely sequenced, are characterized by an increased frequency of a variety of repeats, new repeats, reduced recombination, lowered gene density and lowered gene expression. Roughly 60% of the predicted protein-coding genes have been functionally characterized on the basis of their homology to known genes. Many genes encode predicted proteins that are homologous to human and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins.

[Organization of telephone counseling for psychosocial emergencies. An evaluation after 12 months]

OBJECTIVE

To improve the community-based health care in the area of Bonn a telephone consulting service and a mobile crisis intervention service have been established during a two year pilot project. The regional needs and structural demands have been assessed.

RESULTS

During the first 12 months the number of calls increased from 15 in November 1996 to 76 in October 1997. In all, 432 calls were received. Most calls lasted from 10 to 30 minutes. 89% of the callers were female, 77% were in the age range between 30 and 45 years. Two-thirds of the callers had prior psychiatric treatments. Most callers suffered from loneliness and deficient coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

The prove regional demands have led to a continuation of the project and an extension of the mobile crisis intervention service.

Current concepts in pediatric burn care: management of burn wounds with cultured epidermal autografts

Our experience with CEA is based on 21 patients operated on from 1986 to 1991. The areas covered with CEA measured 500 cm2 to 3160 cm2. At one setting no more than 40 sheets of 40 cm2 CEA have been transplanted. The take of CEA is over 75% when applied to dermis. The same holds true when covering "deepithelialised" skin homografts on immunosuppressed patients. Scar formation has not been a problem, and the overall results have been good.

Persistent atrioventricular block in Lyme borreliosis

Cardiac manifestations are reported in 0.3%-4.0% of European patients with Borrelia burgdorferi (B.b.) infection. Usually symptoms disappear within 6 weeks. We report a case with persistent impairment of atrioventricular (AV) conduction. Diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of IgM antibodies and increase of IgG antibody titers against B.b. in serum, by isolation of the spirochete from skin biopsy material and by the typical clinical combination of erythema migrans, Bannwarth syndrome (meningoradiculitis), and complete heart block. Despite immediate antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone, first degree AV block and second degree block Wenckebach with atrial pacing at 100 beats/minute persisted for 2 years. We conclude, that Lyme carditis can cause long-standing or irreversible AV conduction defects despite adequate and early antimicrobial therapy.

[Fascioliasis of the liver. Differential diagnosis and questions of latency based on a case report]

A 49-years old female patient was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and symptoms of a shock. Four months before she had been sick and been an outpatient with slight pain in the upper abdomen and remarkable weight loss. The suspicion of perforated gall bladder was the indication to a laparotomy. A tumor on the right lobe of the liver was found. The histological diagnosis was: eosinophilic portal hepatitis with multiple eosinophilic abscesses in the liver. The parasitologic serology showed a positive test for Fasciola (liver fluke). Praziquantel in high doses was promptly effective and cured the patient. The sheep liver fluke is a common parasite of the biliary tract of herbivores all over the world, but rarely leads to a human disease. The patient had lived many decades in the South Pacific. The differential diagnoses was manifold because of the traveling habits, the clinical symptomatic and the course of the disease. The biology of the sheep liver fluke implies an infection acquired in Europe some weeks before the first symptoms of the disease.

Prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-III in AIDS risk groups in West Germany

The prevalence of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus III was determined in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk groups by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and confirmatory tests in four different areas in West Germany. Twenty-four of 28 homosexual AIDS patients (86%), 24 of 33 homosexual patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS related complex (73%), and 44 of 113 asymptomatic homosexuals at risk for AIDS (39%) were seropositive. In three groups of hemophiliacs, 8 of 35 in 1983 (23%), 25 of 65 in early 1984 (39%), and 19 of 23 in late 1984 (83%) showed positive results. Two sera from 36 polytransfused patients were also positive, whereas 36 selected blood donors, and 32 healthy laboratory and clinical personnel were all negative. Also no human T-lymphotropic virus III antibodies were detected in sera of 187 prostitutes in the Munich area.

[Ranking of cerclage in prophylaxis of premature births]

The results of 196 cases after operation for cerclage are reported. In 133 patients the operation was performed because of cervical incompetence with opening of the cervical canal without contractions. In 63 patients a prophylactic operation was performed for anamnestic reasons. In the group of cervical incompetence the operation resulted in 103 (94.5%) deliveries, 12 of which occurred before the 35th week of gestation. Following prophylactic cerclage, 46 (78.0%) pregnancies ended with a delivery. In the latter group, the rate of abortions was four times higher than in the group with cervical incompetence. In 82.6% the birth weight was higher than 2,500 g; 4.7% of the newborn only had a body weight below 1,500 g. Before performing cerclage in the 196 patients the abortion rate had been 50.5%, which dropped subsequently to 11.2%. Childbirth at term could be achieved after operation in 73.2% of the patients, compared to the previous figure of 34.4% only.

Treatment of carcinoma in situ: evaluation of 1609 cases

In 1609 cases of carcinoma in situ, various methods of treatment were adopted: primary irradiation (22 cases), radical hysterectomy (11), simple hysterectomy (418), cervical amputation (83), ring biopsy with cervical curettage (63), and conization alone (1012). The outcome was related far less to the method of treatment than to the reliability of the primary diagnosis. If the latter was based only on colposcopically directed punch biopsies or cervical curettage, even with ring biopsy, 2.1% of patients died of cancer. In patients treated by hysterectomy, the vaginal approach resulted in 4 times fewer recurrences than did the abdominal approach, because of visualization of the extent of the lesions. Best results were obtained after conization with serial step-sectioning of specimens. Among 634 cases treated by conization with total removal of the lesion, there were no recurrences.

[Influence of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on the course of acute viral hepatitis (author's transl)]

A double-blind study was conducted in four hospitals to test the effect of (+)-cyanidanol-3 (Catergen) on the course of acute viral hepatitis. Activities of a number of enzymes, bilirubin levels and gamma-globulin concentrations, as well as elimination of HBs antigen in blood were measured serially in 73 patients with viral hepatitis, 37 being treated with the drug, 36 patients receiving a placebo. In addition, liver biopsies before and after treatment were compared (19 patients treated, 23 patients on placebo). There was no significant difference between the treatment and placebo groups with regards to morphological and biochemical changes.

[Legionnaires' disease in Germany (author's transl)]

In February 1979 a 51 year old man fell will in Munich, displaying symptoms of an influenza-like illness which developed into pneumonia. The patient died eight days later of circulatory collapse which failed to respond to treatment, accompanied by high temperature, leucopenia and agranulocytosis. Typical rods detected in the lung tissue and histological sections by immunofluorescence indicated the possibility of a Legionella pneumophila infection. The pathogen isolated from the lung tissue on CYE agar was identified as L. pneumophila, serogroup I. The diagnosis was confirmed by the CDC, Atlanta. This is the first time this organism has been isolated in Central Europe from a case with a fatal outcome.

[Results of the conservative management of carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix by conization (author's transl)]

From 1958 to 1969 conizations for carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix were carried out in 683 women. In 523 cases no further therapy was instituted immediately. Step serial sections of the conization specimens showed that carcinoma in situ was completely removed in 346 (66.2%) of the cases. In 177 (33.8%) of the cases, the excision of the atypical epithelium was incomplete or not with certainty complete, by the conization. Of these patients 43 women were older than 45 years. Follow-up examinations after conization with complete removal of all atypical epithelium showed that only one case showed again a pathological epithelium. In this case, hysterectomy for an adnexal tumor four years after conization showed a mild dysplasia of the endocervix. Follow-up examination of the cases with incomplete or possibly incomplete conization showed no further pathological finding in 90% of the cases. In 19 (10.7%) of the women, atypical epithelium reappeared after varying lengths of follow-up. In 4 women, invasive carcinoma had developed and in 2 women, microinvasive carcinoma had developed. Following operative treatment, further follow-up examinations in these patients were negative. Conization of the uterine cervix with complete removal of all atypical epithelium is shown to be adequate treatment for carcinoma in situ. In cases with incomplete or not with certainty complete removal of atypical tissue by conization, individual follow-up is necessary. If further pregnancies are desired the small risk of observation is justifiable. Diagnosed persistence of atypical epithelium is an indication for a hysterectomy. Hysterectomies are also necessary if the patient does not comply adequately with the follow-up protocol.

[Long term results after Latzko operation for vesico-vaginal fistula]

The Latzko operation for the closure of a vesico-vaginal fistula is still not well enough known. Urologists have voiced doubts about the functional quality of the late results after this operation. Pouches in the bladder wall which could lead to infection and stone formation are said to occur frequently. Follow-up studies regarding this question are not known. Therefore the patients treated at the University Hospitals Erlangen-Nuernberg and Graz between 1962 and 1972 were subjected to a standardized follow-up protocol. Of 37 women who had the Latzko operation, 24 women returned for a follow-up examination. 19 women had no intermittent urinary tract disease and the follow-up results were normal. In many instances a scar corresponding to the previous fistula could not be detected on cystoscopy. Immediately after the operation, one patient had a recurrent fistula and has not been re-operated. Four women had significant urinary tract findings or had intermittent urinary tract disease. These complications were possibly due to the operation in one case and likely due to the operation in a second case. Our findings suggests that the Latzko operation is the method of choice for the treatment of the typical post-hysterectomy vesico-vaginal fistula.