Beam shaping and probe characterization in the scanning electron microscope

Here we demonstrate the use of nanofabricated grating holograms to diffract and shape electrons in a scanning electron microscope. The diffraction grating is placed in an aperture in the column. The entire diffraction pattern can be passed through the objective lens and projected onto the specimen, or an intermediate aperture can be used to select particular diffracted beams. We discuss several techniques for characterizing the diffraction pattern. The grating designs can incorporate features that can influence the phase and intensity of the diffracted SEM probe. We demonstrate this by producing electron vortex beams.

Advanced characterization of natural biofilm on nanofiber scaffold

Nanofiber scaffolds provide numerous advantages over common carriers engineered for microorganisms. The most important advantage is an increased speed of primary surface colonization (up to four times faster), which shortens the time required for the areal biofilm formation and optimum performance of attached microorganisms (higher efficiency of biological activity of up to twice as fast). Image analysis predicts early formation of biofilm even in beginning stages; analysis of biofilm reveals the different structures of bacterial colonies on both scaffolds (higher porosity, size, and number of bacterial colonies on nanofiber’s surface). The image analysis correlates well with determinations of dry matter (linear correlation of 0.96) and proteins (linear correlation of 0.89).

Measurement of maximum skin dose in interventional radiology and cardiology and challenges in the set-up of European alert thresholds

To help operators acknowledge patient dose during interventional procedures, EURADOS WG-12 focused on measuring patient skin dose using XR-RV3 gafchromic films, thermoluminescent detector (TLD) pellets or 2D TL foils and on investigating possible correlation to the on-line dose indicators such as fluoroscopy time, Kerma-area product (KAP) and cumulative air Kerma at reference point (CK). The study aims at defining non-centre-specific European alert thresholds for skin dose in three interventional procedures: chemoembolization of the liver (CE), neuroembolization (NE) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Skin dose values of >3 Gy (ICRP threshold for skin injuries) were indeed measured in these procedures confirming the need for dose indicators that correlate with maximum skin dose (MSD). However, although MSD showed fairly good correlation with KAP and CK, several limitations were identified challenging the set-up of non-centre-specific European alert thresholds. This paper presents preliminary results of this wide European measurement campaign and focuses on the main challenges in the definition of European alert thresholds.

[Molecular basis of Waldenström macroglobulinemia]

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare lymphoproliferative disease that is currently classified into lymphomas with incidence of 3 cases per million. This disease comprises about 1-2% of hematological malignancies and is characterized by infiltration of malignant B cells into the bone marrow and presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin IgM in serum. WM is still an incurable disease with median survival of 5 years. Molecular basis of this disease remains unclear even though deletion of 6q, trisomy of chromosomes 4 and 8, deletion of 13q and increased expression of IL-6 seem to be typical for this disease. The most important changes of microRNA are increased expression of miR-155 and decreased expression of miR-9*. This work aims to describe current knowledge about the molecular basis of this disease.

[The incidence of malignancies and surveillance of hematopoietic stem cells donors--the results of the Haemato-Oncology Department University Hospital in Plzen (Pilsen) and Czech National Marrow Donors Registry observation]

BACKGROUNDS

Granulopoesis colony-stimulating factor filgrastim is used to mobilize peripheral stem cells but there are concerns regarding an elevated risk of haematological malignancies. We analyzed the incidence of malignancies and the system of haematopoietic stem cells donor surveillance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

prospective observation of sibling donors of the Haemato-Oncology Department University Hospital in Plzen (Pilsen) and of unrelated donors of the Czech National Marrow Donors Registry (CNMDR) in 2001-2010.

RESULTS

No malignancy was observed in a group of 344 unrelated CNMDR donors, providing 753 person-years; one case of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia manifested 6 years after bone marrow donation, with leukaemia clone retrospectively detected by DNA analysis in blood samples taken prior to the marrow donation. Acute myeloid leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, renal and colorectal carcinoma were observed in a group of 84 peripheral stem cells sibling donors, providing 337 person-years observation. The respective incidence of the two haematologic malignancies was 593 cases and the expected incidence rate was 143 per 100,000. The sibling (related) donors age was significantly higher: 48 (16-75) vs. 31 (20-42) years, (p<0.0001). Significantly more lost-to-follow-up donors were among the related donors (32% vs. 3%, p<0.0001), even though active surveillance system was implemented.

CONCLUSION

The development of malignancies in hematopoietic stem cells donors can naturally be expected. Related (sibling) donors are at higher risk because of their generally older age, and higher susceptibility to haematological malignancies developed within the family. The contribution of filgrastim exposure needs to be further investigated. The follow-up cooperation with related (sibling) donors is limited.

[Penetrating thoracic and abdominal injuries: diagnostic and therapeutic approach]

INTRODUCTION

Penetrating thoracic or abdominal or combined injuries are associated with high risk of life-threatening intraabdominal or intrathoracic organ injury. Most patients require acute surgery. When miniinvasive technique is available, thoracoscopic or laparoscopic intervention is indicated in hemodynamically stable patients to evaluate severity of the injury, as well as to treat the condition.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Retrospective analysis of incidence, diagnostics and treatment of penetrating thoracic and abdominal injuries and combined thoracoabdominal injuries in a Trauma centre.

PATIENTS, METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 195 patients with penetrating thoracic, abdominal or combined injuries, who were hospitalized in the FNKV (Krilovské Vinohrady Faculty Hospital) Trauma centre in Prague from 1999 to 2010, were included in the study. The study group included 177 (91%) males. Out of the total, 102 patients (53%) suffered from penetrating abdominal injuries, 71 (36%) from thoracic injuries and 22 (11%) from combined, thoracoabdominal injuries. The majority of injuries were stab injuries (173, i.e. 89% of the patients). 22 subjects, the penetrating injury was caused by shot injuries. In stable patients, MDCT has been lately used to establish the diagnosis. In 171 subjects, acute thoracotomy or thoracotomy was indicated. Patients with combined injuries of the both cavities were indicated either for thoracotomy and laparotomy or thoracophrenolaparotomy. Videothoracoscopy or laparoskopy was conducted in 21 (11%) of the subjects. During the surgical revision, two subjects exited due to ireversible hemorrhagic shock, further 2 subjects died because of septic complications following shot abdominal injuries.

CONCLUSION

Incidence of penetrating thoracic, abdominal or combined thoracoabdominal injuries is fairly rare in our country. Subjects with unstable hemodynamic conditions are indicated for acute thoracotomy or laparotomy. Miniinvasive procedures have diagnostic and therapeutic benefit in stable patients. Diagnostic thoracoscopy and laparocopy provides evidence of some injuries (diaphragm, alimentary tract). Therapeutically, miniinvasive methods may be used to manage the source of bleeding and for targeted drainage. Nonsurgical procedure is the method of choice in a selected group of hemodynamically stable patients with stab injuries, with monitoring of the patient's condition, including the use of x-ray imaging.

[Hemorrhagic complications of warfarin therapy]

INTRODUCTION

Introduction of warfarin use in prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases resulted in lower rates of thromboembolic complications, however, on the other hand, it has been associated with increased incidence of hemorrhagic complications,which often require surgical management. AIM, MATERIAL, METHODS: The aim of the study was a retrospective analysis of hemorrhagic complications in 184 patients, hospitalized in the FNKV (Královské Vinohrady Faculty Hospital) Surgical Clinic during 2000-2008, following warfarin overdose. The following diagnostic or treatment methods were used: endoscopy of the upper or lower GIT in GIT hemorrhages and spiral CT when peritoneal bleeding was suspected.

RESULTS

GIT bleeding, such as hematemesis, melena, enterorrhagy, was the commonest complication observed in 147 patients, ie. 79.9%. Upper GIT was identified as the source of bleeding in 76 subjects, i.e. 51.7%, lower GIT was the identified source in 26 subjects, ie. 17.7%, and the source remained unidentified in 45 patients, ie. in 30.6%. 10 patients suffered from soft tissue bleeding, m. rectus abdominis hematoma was detected in 7 subjects, hemoperitoneum and/or retrohemoperitoneum was identified in 8 subjects. Intestinal wall or its intestinal peritoneum was affected in 3 subjects and 3 patients suffered from liver or splenic intraparenchymal hematoma. Out of the total of 184 patients, 165 subjects were treated conservatively (89.7%), 19 subjects underwent surgery (10.3%), including 14 laparotomies for acute abdomen symptoms and 5 incisions with removal of hematomas. Overall lethality rate was 7/184, ie. 3.8%, 5 subjects undergoing conservative treatment and 2 subjects undergoing surgery exited.

CONCLUSION

Uncontrolled warfarin administration may cause serious, even life- threatening complications. Therefore, patients undergoing warfarin therapy should be adequately informed about potential complications and regular INR monitoring is required.

Characteristic differences between the growth of man and the other animals

The method Dynamic Phenotype of Body Mass or of the body height was used for the interpretation of growth in children and adolescents from birth to the age of 18 years. Modelling of the body mass growth curve in boys by means of Dynamic Phenotype of Body Mass is expressed in the form of three individual curves which are compatible with the three I, C, P, components of Karlberg's body height growth curve. However the Dynamic Phenotype of Body Mass is based on the direct use of the measured biological values as input parameters of the simulated growth curve e.g. body mass in the origin of the growth curve (GO, kg), the genetic limit of body mass (GLi, kg) inherited from parents and the inherited physiological potency to produce the appropriate body mass increase (dG max, kg/d) in conditions of adequate nutrition and in convenient environment. The components I, C, P, of children and adolescents growth curve do exhibit principal difference in comparison with the growth curves of the other mammals. This difference is characterized by the long lasting (C) component with extremely slow body mass increase indicating the very low growth velocity of body mass growth. This long lasting (C) component of childhood postpones the puberty component (P) from the infancy component (I). This phenomenon makes the principal difference between the body mass growth in man and that of other mammals where immediately after the short episode of postnatal growth follows puberty, sexual and corporeal maturity. Some primates carry out the body mass growth similar to man. The method of Dynamic Phenotypes may be helpful for investigation of the brain's function ontogeny in relation to neural and humoral regulatory mechanisms of body mass growth during childhood and transition into puberty.

Insitu bioaugmentation of nitrification in the regeneration zone: practical application and experiences at full-scale plants

Nitrification is the rate-limiting process in the design of activated sludge process. It is especially unstable during the winter season (when the temperature of activated sludge mixed liquor drops below 13 degrees C). It is therefore difficult to meet the ammonia effluent standards in winter. The common way to compensate for low nitrification rates at low temperatures is to increase sludge retention time (SRT). However, the increase of SRT is accompanied by negative factors such as elevated sludge concentration, higher sludge loading of secondary clarifiers, formation of unsettleable microflocs, etc. The low performance of nitrification at low temperatures can also be compensated for by enhancing the nitrification population in activated sludge. This paper describes such a method called bioaugmentation of nitrification in situ. This procedure takes place in a so-called regeneration tank, which is situated in the return activated sludge stream. The results of the operation of two wastewater treatment plants with regeneration zones are described in this paper, together with some economic evaluation of the bioaugmentation method.

Successful solution for high nitrogen content wastewater treatment from rendering plants

Specific composition of wastewater from rendering plants requires a sophisticated approach to treatment. COD content up to 10 g/l and nitrogen up to 2.5 g/l leads to many difficulties during treatment with activated sludge process. Performance of such wastewater treatment plants is generally very unstable: severe problems with filamentous and viscous sludge bulking occur due to macronutrient deficiency, nitrification is often inhibited by high ammonia and nitrite content, no sufficient carbon source for denitrification is available, and high temperatures up to 40 degree C negatively influence treatment processes. Appropriate control of pH, temperature, biocatalytic nutrient dosage, suitable external carbon source and restriction of inhibitory effects led to the successful operation of four wastewater treatment plants in the region reaching required effluent standards TIN = 60 mg/l and COD = 200 mg/l.

Performance intensification of Prague wastewater treatment plant

Prague wastewater treatment plant was intensified during 1994--1997 by construction of new regeneration tank and four new secondary settling tanks. Nevertheless, more stringent effluent limits and operational problems gave rise to necessity for further intensification and optimisation of plant performance. This paper describes principal operational problems of the plant and shows solutions and achieved results that have lead to plant performance stabilisation. The following items are discussed: low nitrification capacity, nitrification bioaugmentation, activated sludge bulking, insufficient sludge disposal capacity, chemical precipitation of raw wastewater, simultaneous precipitation, sludge chlorination, installation of denitrification zones, sludge rising in secondary settling tanks due to denitrification, dosage of cationic polymeric organic flocculant to secondary settling tanks, thermophilic operation of digestors, surplus activated sludge pre-thickening, mathematical modelling.

Correlation between central somatosensory conduction time, blood flow velocity, and delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

In this retrospective study of 67 aneurysmal patients, the predictive role of central conduction time (CCT) on vasospasm occurrence evaluated by means of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and the correlation of CCT to blood flow velocity measured simultaneously in postoperative course were studied. Data about the clinical state of patients at the time of admission (Hunt Hess scale), severity of subarachnoidal hemorrhage on initial CT scan (Fisher grade), timing of surgery (acute or delayed), outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale), severity of vasospasm graded by highest mean blood flow velocity (BFV) during the entire clinical course and CCT values measured at admission (preoperatively), then postoperatively (one day after surgery) and simultaneously with later TCD investigations were collected from the files. Interhemispheric difference of CCT was also calculated. The results showed that CCT at admission was not predictive for vasospasm. CCT measured either at admission or on the first postoperative day did not differ significantly in the different grades of vasospasm. Similar results were obtained in the acute and in the late operated group of patients. The results also suggest that increased CCT and interhemispheric difference at the time of admission indicate a worse prognosis, but this can be related to higher surgical risk rather than to a higher incidence of late ischemic deterioration. Simultaneous CCT and TCD examinations demonstrated that coincident and statistically significant (p < 0.01) increase of actual CCT (6.7 msec) was found only in the severe grade of vasospasm (BFV 200 cm/s). The authors discuss the role of CCT and TCD monitoring in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

[An improvement in the amniotic fluid collection technique]

OBJECTIVE

Elaboration of a maximally safe and comfortable technique of collection of amniotic fluid (AMC).

DESIGN

For practice.

SETTING

Gyncentrum Ltd., Hloubĕtínská 3, Praha 9, Dept. of Medical Genetics GENNET, Klimentská 1, Praha 1.

METHOD

In 81 patients AMC was performed using a needle with an external diameter of 0.53 mm, by the sampling system Vacutainer of Becton-Dickinson Co.

CONCLUSION

The method elaborated by the authors appears to be perspective for use in invasive procedures in the sphere of prenatal diagnosis.

Antithrombotic effect of platelet glycoprotein Ib-blocking monoclonal antibody Fab fragments in nonhuman primates

Platelet adhesion in arterial blood flow is mainly supported by the platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP) Ib, which interacts with von Willebrand factor (vWF) that is bound to collagen at the site of vessel wall injury. Antibody 6B4 is a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) raised against purified human GPIb. MoAb 6B4 inhibits both ristocetin- and botrocetin-induced, vWF-dependent human platelet agglutination. MoAb 6B4 furthermore blocks shear-induced adhesion of human platelets to collagen I. We studied the antithrombotic effect of this inhibitory murine MoAb 6B4 in a baboon model of arterial thrombosis. When injected into baboons, intact IgG and its F(ab')(2) fragments caused almost immediate thrombocytopenia, whereas injection of the Fab fragments alone did not. Fab fragments were subsequently used to investigate their in vivo effect on platelet deposition onto a thrombogenic device, consisting of collagen-rich, glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium (0.6 cm(2)), at a wall shear rate ranging from 700 to 1000 s(-1). Baboons were either pretreated with Fabs to study the effect of inhibition on platelet adhesion or treated 6 minutes after placement of the thrombogenic device to investigate the effect on interplatelet cohesion. Pretreatment of the animals with bolus doses ranging from 80 to 640 microgram/kg Fab fragments significantly reduced (111)In-labeled platelet deposition onto the collagen surface by approximately 43% to 65%. Only the highest dose caused a significant prolongation (doubling) of the bleeding time. Ex vivo ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination was equally reduced. Treatment with a bolus of 110 microgram/kg Fab fragments after a thrombus was allowed to form for 6 minutes had no effect on further platelet deposition. We therefore conclude that Fab fragments or derivatives of inhibitory anti-GPIb antibodies may be useful compounds to prevent thrombosis.

The metabolic network of Lactococcus lactis: distribution of (14)C-labeled substrates between catabolic and anabolic pathways

Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118 was grown in a simple synthetic medium containing only six essential amino acids and glucose as carbon substrates to determine qualitatively and quantitatively the carbon fluxes into the metabolic network. The specific rates of substrate consumption, product formation, and biomass synthesis, calculated during the exponential growth phase, represented the carbon fluxes within the catabolic and anabolic pathways. The macromolecular composition of the biomass was measured to distribute the global anabolic flux into the specific anabolic pathways. Finally, the distribution of radiolabeled substrates, both into the excreted fermentation end products and into the different macromolecular fractions of biomass, was monitored. The classical end products of lactic acid metabolism (lactate, formate, and acetate) were labeled with glucose, which did not label other excreted products, and to a lesser extent with serine, which was deaminated to pyruvate and represented approximately 10% of the pyruvate flux. Other minor products, keto and hydroxy acids, were produced from glutamate and branched-chain amino acids via deamination and subsequent decarboxylation and/or reduction. Glucose labeled all biomass fractions and accounted for 66% of the cellular carbon, although this represented only 5% of the consumed glucose.

[Preparation trauma in stomatology]

In this paper authors deal with the causes of preparation trauma in stomatology. They have studied effects of high temperature on human cells cultured in vitro. Based both on literature data and on their own experience they summarize basic principles of preparation which prevent preparation trauma. They summarize how to eliminate as much as possible factors that damage hard dental tissues and pulp.

[Physical, chemical and biological aspects of treatment of pathological changes in hard dental tissues]

The methods of preparation of dental tissues, treatment of the dentine wound and filling materials, which replace the hard dental tissues, are discussed to evaluate their features in toward the requirements for biological harmlessness. Based on the literature data, their own clinical and practical experiences, the authors have found that none of the currently used preparation methods as well as supports or filling materials are fulfilling the biological treatment requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of this fact, and adjust the medical procedures in such a way to avoid the harmful effects or to suppress then as much as possible until the ideal preparation procedures and filling materials will be developed.

[Biological aspects of materials recommended as alternatives to amalgams]

Evaluation of biological properties of filling materials used as an alternative to amalgams shows that none of the tested materials possess the required biological properties. It is therefore necessary to search for new and better filling materials.

10 years experience in performing Shouldice operation

206 male patients were operated for primary direct and indirect inguinal hernia, or both, by Shouldice technique at general surgical departments of Madadeni Hospital, Newcastle, South Africa, Pásztó Hospital and Szolnok MAV Hospital, Hungary between 1986 and 1996. Mean age was 51 yrs +/- 15 yrs (17-91 yrs). The operations were performed by the original way of Shouldice described that type of hernia repair in 1945. 175 patients had spinal and 31 patients had local anesthesia with intravenous fluid and sedation respectively. Studies indicate that collagen metabolic dysfunction plays a major rule in the etiology of groin hernia. Until this is more clearly defined, surgeons will continue to repair groin hernias constitute 15% of operations in general surgery. In approach to groin hernia, the best view for examination of the inguinal region can be obtained by Shouldice technique to decide the proper surgical intervention to repair groin hernia. With low recurrence rate and rapid rehabilitation, author reports 2% of recurrence rate, the Shouldice operation highly recommended.

[Fatal sepsis due to long-term use of intrauterine device]

The author describes the case history of 36 years of age woman who developed generalised peritonitis with multiple abscesses in liver and brain having worn intrauterine device under no control by gynecologist for more than 15 years. During acute surgical intervention, abscess of the liver and interintestinale abscesses, were evacuated with excision of dead tissues. The patient underwent also oophorectomy with continuous postoperative peritoneal lavage and had been treated in intensive care unit for four days. She recovered, her bowel movement restored, her temperature returned to normal but she suddenly died due to cerebellar impactment caused by brain-abscess.

[First Hungarian experiences with positron emission tomography (PET) studies. Members of the PET working group]

Diagnostic investigations commenced on the 28th of June 1994 in Hungary's and Central Europe's first PET Centre at the University Medical School of Debrecen. The Centre is equipped with a GE 4096 Plus whole body PET scanner. A metabolic tracer, 18F-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), was used in the investigations. During the first 15 months 249 PET investigations were made in the Centre of which 242 were diagnostic and 7 normal subjects served as control for the patient studies with brain scans. The number of oncological indications (intra- and extracranial tumours, Hodgkin's lymphomas) was n = 105 (43.4% of the 242 diagnostic examinations), neurological investigations (without intracranial tumours) formed the dominant group (n = 117; 48.3%), whereas the number of cardiological indications was 20 (8.3%). The oncological studies included those of intracranial tumours (n = 76; 31.4%); thyroid tumours (n = 9; 3.7%); Hodgkin's lymphomas (n = 7; 2.9%) and other extracranial tumours (n = 13; 5.4%). The distribution of different neurological and psychiatric investigations was as follows: localization of focal epileptogen zone (n = 60; 24.8%); differential diagnosis of dementias (n = 30; 12.4%); exploration of cerebrovascular diseases (n = 10; 4.1%); and other neurological diseases (n = 17; 7.0%). The main objective of the cardiological PET investigations was the exploration of viable myocardium. The present paper overviews both the procedures (including administrative issues, as well) and the results of the first 249 FDG-PET investigations.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in intraabdominal injuries.]

The authors evaluated the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in 25 patients with blunt and in 12 with penetrating abdominal injuries hospitalized between Jan. 1, 1995 and Aug. 30, 1997 at the intensive care unit of the Surgical Clinic Prague 10. The diagnostic algorithm included in addition to the basic clinical examination also computed tomography. The most frequently injured organ in blunt injuries was the spleen (12 times) and liver (11 times). Twenty-three patients were operated. In casualties with penetrating injuries there were 8 with piercing wounds and 4 with shotgun wounds. The most frequently injured organ was the small intestine (4 times). Two patients of the group died. Key words: blunt and penetrating abdominal injuries, diagnosis, treatment.

[Importance of blunt injuries of the chest for assessment of the therapeutic procedure and prognosis in multiple injuries.]

Based on analysis of a group of 62 casualties with multiple injuries where a blunt chest injury was found, the authors submit some principles for assessment of the priority of the therapeutic procedure. The patients were hospitalized at the intensive care unit of the Surgical Clinic of the Third Medical Faculty in Prague between 1989 and 1992. Craniocerebral injury was the most frequent associated injury, its sequelae were the cause of death in the majority of injured patients who died. In the treatment of chest injuries with an unstable thoracic wall, with contusion of the lungs and associated craniocerebral injury artificial ventilation is still the method of choice. Key words: multiple injuries, associated blunt injury of the chest, therapeutic procedure.

Plasma xanthine oxidase level and alcohol administration

The acute administration of ethanol by gastric catheter significantly increases the plasma xanthine oxidase activity in both rats and hamsters without changing other enzyme activities--alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. The plasma xanthine oxidase level seems to be a sensitive marker of liver damage. Its higher activity due to the acute ethanol intoxication may have an impact on ethanol organ damage.

[The effect of low temperatures on biochemical indicators in the blood of calves]

Twenty calves, heifers of the Holstein-Friesian breed and crossbreds with the Slovak Pied breed, were divided into two groups at the average age of 19 days. The trial group was kept outdoors in wooden hutches and the control group was housed in an insulated building. Blood was sampled at the age of 20, 33, 48 and 60 days at the outdoor temperatures of 3 degrees C, -2 degrees C, -5 degrees C and -8 degrees C. The calves kept in hutches where temperatures were always lower than in the insulated calf-house had the higher level of nonesterified fatty acids in all observations. The largest, highly significant difference was determined at the age of 60 days at the outdoor temperature of -8 degrees C (271 mumol/l vs. 224 mumol/l), and the significance of differences was also observed in the first and third blood samplings at the temperatures of 3 degrees C and -5 degrees C. The differences were highly significant in the first group between the first and fourth, and second and fourth samplings. In the calves kept in the insulated building the difference was significant between the first and fourth observation because the content of free fatty acids was also gradually increasing in this case (Tab. I). Glycaemia values were also higher in the calves kept in hutches (Tab. II). The most noticeable (significant) difference was determined at the age of 48 days at the outdoor temperature of -5 degrees C (4.3 mmol/l vs. 3.9 mmol/l). Significant differences within the group were recorded only in calves from the trial group kept in hutches. Insulin concentrations increased gradually with the older age of animals (Tab. II). At the age of 20 days the values were identical in fact in both groups and the highest concentrations were recorded at the age of 60 days. The differences between the groups were not significant, the largest difference was observed at the end of milk feeding period at the age of 60 days (19 microUI/l in calves from hutches and 15.6 microUI/l in calves from the insulated building). Triiodothyronine concentrations decreased from the starting values of 0.8 nmol/l and 0.76 nmol/l in both groups at the age of 33 days to the values of 0.61 and 0.62 nmol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Plasma xanthine oxidase and resistance to hypoxia: effect of purines and alcohol administration

The administration of allopurinol significantly increased resistance to repeated hypobaric hypoxia, while hypoxanthine decreased it. The administration of adenine or inosine (25 mg/kg) was without effect. The results show pathogenic significance of xanthine oxidase-dependent production of free oxygen radicals in posthypoxic damage. In other experiments, the administration of 50% ethanol (12 ml/kg) by gastric catheter increased plasma xanthine oxidase activity in both rats and hamsters.

[Investigations of cytotoxicity of Heliosit depending on its polymerizing in vitro]

In this paper the authors describe the changing in cell culture of epithelioid cells of a permanent HEp-2-line basing on the one component composite Heliosit. Following the experiences with farmer test the authors mean that contact and local toxicity are not so heavy but depending from the polymerization of the materials. Warning is the arretation of some phases in cell cyclus and the changing of epithelioid cells in fibroblastoid cells. May it is a cell transformation necessary to examine in special tests.

[Treatment of defects of the cervical portion by a "sandwich" filling]

The authors draw attention to some peculiarities of treatment of class V cavities by aesthetic fillings. Combined filling made from silicocarboxyl cement and composite filling material prove useful. In teeth with preserved pulp sandwich fillings are used which contain three layers (base, intermediate retention layer of silicocarboxyl cement and composite material). In pulpless teeth, the base is not needed and the term combined filling (two layers) is more appropriate.

[Excessive filling of the root penetrating into the mandibular canal]

The author describes an incorrect therapeutic procedure involving excessive filling of a root penetrating into the mandibular canal as a complication of treatment of root canals.

[Simple stomatosurgical operations in patients with anticoagulant therapy]

The authors give an account of contemporary therapeutic procedures in stomatosurgery in patients with anticoagulant treatment and draw attention to situations where it is better to treat these patients in the central department of the health community dental surgeon.

Simple and economic syntheses of some (Z)-7- and (Z)-9-alkenyl acetates, and of (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, the sex pheromone of the European grapevine moth, using aleuritic acid as a common starting material

Short syntheses of (Z)-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-7-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-9-dodecen-1-yl acetate, and (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate from 7-hydroxyheptanal and 9-oxononanoic acid precursors obtained by oxidative cleavage of easily available aleuritic acid are reported. The key step in these syntheses is a stereoselective Wittig reaction between aldehyde and alkyl-phosphonium salt. Wittig-Horner type reaction of 7-hydroxyheptanal and diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate gave the α,β-unsaturated nitrile derivative which after protection of the hydroxyl group was reduced to the corresponding aldehyde. Wittig reaction of the latter, followed by acetylation, completed the synthesis of (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadien-1-yl acetate, the sex pheromone of the European grapevine mothLobesia botrana Schiff.