[Evaluation of renal artery stenosis: comparison of angiography and invasive blood pressure measurement and Doppler ultrasound]. / Evaluation von Nierenarterienstenosen: Vergleich von Angiographie mit invasiver Blutdruckmessung und Doppler-Sonographie.

PURPOSE: In the procedure of renal artery angioplasty, the angiographically measured degree of stenosis should be compared with the intraarterial transstenotic blood pressure gradient and pre-interventional Doppler findings. METHODS: In a total of 46 renal arteries in 35 patients with renovascular hypertension, the angiographic-morphological parameters: "linear", "geometric" and "densitometric" degree of stenosis are compared with the invasive transstenotic blood pressure gradient and the pre-interventional Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: All angiographically determined degrees of stenosis ("linear", "geometric" and "densitometric") correlate--moderately--with the transstenotic blood pressure gradient (correlation coefficients: 0.67 ("linear"), 0.65 ("geometric") and 0.49 ("densitometric"), each versus systolic pressure gradient, respectively). Stenoses that are angiographically classified as "low grade" (< 50%) nevertheless have a high number of high transstenotic pressure gradients: 21 of 22 show systolic values > or = 10 mmHg, 13 of 22 even > or = 30 mmHg. All stenoses Doppler sonographically classified as "high or very high grade" (Vmax,syst > or = 3 m/s) are confirmed by angiography and/or pressure measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Angiography has the tendency to underestimate the degree of renal artery stenosis, especially in "low grade" stenoses (< 50%). However, in those > or = 50% a high transstenotic blood pressure gradient can be taken for granted. If the angiographic degree of stenosis seems uncertain, we recommend measurement of blood pressure gradient.

Spectroscopic Studies of Dextrin Adsorption onto Colloidal ZnS

The interaction of dextrin with colloidal ZnS has been investigated through adsorption studies and FT-IR spectroscopy in the 4000-400 cm-1 range. The adsorption capacity is estimated to be around 1 mg/m2. Maximum adsorption is found to be constant below pH approximately 7 and to increase with pH at least up to pH 11. Eighty percent of maximum adsorption is achieved within 3 min after addition of the dextrin. Based upon FT-IR studies and titration data, an adsorption mechanism is proposed. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press

Bovine endometritis: comparative efficacy of alfaprostol and intrauterine therapies, and other factors influencing clinical success.

A comparative study of the treatment of 306 severe, moderate, or mild cases of bovine endometritis was carried out over two calving seasons. The cases were treated with alfaprostol, or an intrauterine antibacterial preparation, or with a combination of both therapies. There was no significant difference between the efficacies of these treatments, and a single injection of alfaprostol was effective in 74 per cent of the cases treated. The effectiveness of the treatments was related to the degree of self-cure of the endometritis after parturition, the luteal activity at the time of treatment, and farm management factors affecting the health and condition of the calving cows.

A large scale mastitis control programme in Somerset.

The results of a mastitis control programme operated in south west England for three years are given. Farmers participating in the full mastitis control group agreed to treat each cow at drying off with 500 mg benzathine cloxacillin in each quarter, to have their milking machines tested and to correct any faults, and to practise teat dipping. Data covering cell counts, milk production, milk quality and clinical mastitis, were assessed from herds taking part in the programme. Cell counts were analysed from all 507 herds taking part in the programme. Milk production records for the full mastitis control group (188 herds) over a three year period are discussed, and these results compared with milk production figures from Milk Marketing Board records from herds in the south west of England which were carrying out no specific mastitis control programme. The milk quality data compare the findings in 159 herds in the full mastitis control programme with those in 247 herds in the partial and no mastitis control groups. Cases of clinical mastitis during the three year period were recorded in 73 herds in the full mastitis control group. The problems of applying the control routines are presented with observations on clinical mastitis, bulk milk cell count, milk production and milk quality. After three years, herds in the programme had on average increased milk production by 75 gallons a cow, achieved a 14.6 per cent reduction in the incidence of clinical mastitis, and improved the milk total solids percentage by one milk quality payment class.