Restoration of large damage volumes in polymers.

The regenerative power of tissues and organs in biology has no analog in synthetic materials. Although self-healing of microscopic defects has been demonstrated, the regrowth of material lost through catastrophic damage requires a regenerative-like approach. We demonstrate a vascular synthetic system that restores mechanical performance in response to large-scale damage. Gap-filling scaffolds are created through a two-stage polymer chemistry that initially forms a shape-conforming dynamic gel but later polymerizes to a solid structural polymer with robust mechanical properties. Through the control of reaction kinetics and vascular delivery rate, we filled impacted regions that exceed 35 mm in diameter within 20 min and restored mechanical function within 3 hours. After restoration of impact damage, 62% of the total absorbed energy was recovered in comparison with that in initial impact tests.

Clenbuterol and anabolic steroids: a previously unreported cause of myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteriograms.

During the last 10 years, several cases of myocardial infarction associated with anabolic steroid use have been reported. Postulated mechanisms to explain this association have included changes in lipid levels, the fibrinolytic system, and platelet aggregation. Clenbuterol is a beta 2-agonist with anabolic properties that has not been seen previously with myocardial infarction. We report a case of myocardial infarction in an otherwise healthy 26-year-old body-builder who recently used clenbuterol and anabolic steroids. In this case, synergistic effects of the two agents seem likely to have played a role in the infarct. The normal coronary arteriograms before any anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy strongly suggest coronary spasm as the mechanism of the infarct.

[Antiseptic efficacy and acceptance of Octenisept computed with common antiseptic mouthwashes]. / Antiseptische Wirksamkeit und Akzeptanz von Octenisept im Vergleich zu ausgewählten herkömmlichen Mundhöhlenantiseptika.

The efficacy of common antiseptic mouth rinses was evaluated in a study with healthy volunteers. Octenisept and Cetylpyridiniumchlorid had a significant stronger impact on the microbial burden of the oral cavity than Chlorhexidin (Corsodyl) immediately and 10 min after the application. Dobendan (contains Cetylpyridiniumchlorid) showed a better antimicrobial effect than Corsodyl immediately after application, after 10 min an increasing loss of efficacy was noted. The antiseptic efficacy of hexetidin-based Gurfix was very similar to the efficacy observed with Corsodyl from the start of the antiseptic treatment until 1 h later. Acriflavine-solution (0.2% m/v) was significantly less efficient after 10, 30 and 60 min compared to Corsodyl. The antimicrobial impact of Fluomint-Lysoform was very similar to the effect of rinsing with dest. sterile water. A subjective assessment of taste and smell of the mouth rinse solutions concludes the evaluation. Further methodological aspects for a common test guideline for antiseptic mouth rinse solutions are discussed.

[Adverse medical aspects of hypnotic therapy with temazepam]. / Verkehrsmedizinische Aspekte einer Schlafmitteltherapie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Temazepam.

In a double blind comparison the driving ability of 32 outpatients with disomnia was investigated in psychometrical tests and standardized trial runs in road traffic every morning after a single dose and after a 7-day therapy with 20 mg temazepam compared with 2 mg flunitrazepam. As well as standardized driving performance observation a test car was fitted with a drive-recorder which synchronically recorded and digitally registered at 1 s intervals during a 60 min run the speed, the steering wheel velocity, fore-hand-aft and lateral acceleration amongst other data. The individual optimal quotient, as a measure of the degree of efficiency of the information processed in the driver-vehicle-road system, deteriorated significantly after the single dose of flunitrazepam as opposed to temazepam. In a trial run on a well defined test course under strictly standardized conditions, the steering wheel velocity, signifying the quality of steering ability, was highly significantly increased after the single dose as well as after the 7-day treatment with flunitrazepam therefore showing a distinct deterioration of steering ability compared to the temazepam group. The number of errors in technical handling was significantly highly with flunitrazepam at both control time checks than with temazepam.

[Electroencephalography and psychometric measurements during the treatment of cerebral insufficiency with nicergoline and dihydroergotamine mesylate]. / Elektroenzephalographische und psychometrische Messungen bei der Behandlung der zerebralen Insuffizienz mit Nicergolin und Dihydroergotaminmesilat.

28 persons with an average age of 55 years were treated for 180 days with daily doses of 30 mg nicergoline (Sermion) and 28 persons of a comparable age were treated for the same length of time with 6 mg dihydroergotamine mesilate (DHETM) daily. Unwanted reactions occurred to a small degree in both treatment groups; they were mostly of a temporary nature and did not impede continuation of treatment. The results of the psychometric tests showed an increase in performance in both groups which was partly caused by the learning effect in repeated tests. The answers given by the patients concerning subjective changes in symptoms and general condition showed no significant differences between the two treatment groups. This leads to the assumption that both compounds have a similar effect. The analyses of the EEG activities showed a characteristic increase in the fast EEG activities after the application of nicergoline. This would indicate that there are differences in the pharmacodynamics in comparison with DHETM.