[Protease inhibitors, serum endotoxin and serum immunoglobulins following portacaval end-to-side anastomosis in animal experiments]. / Proteaseninhibitoren, Serum-Endotoxin und Serum-Immunglobuline nach portokavaler End-zu-Seit-Anastomose im Tierexperiment.

In order to clarify the pathophysiological mechanism of certain biochemical and immunological changes (endotoxin in serum, protease inhibitors, immunoglobulins) found in a former study on human cirrhosis of the liver the porto-caval end-to-side anastomosis of rats with unaffected livers was chosen as test model. With the aid of this bypass the "spill-over" phenomenon of the liver can be completely imitated. In this study, 7 operated and 5 or 14 control animals resp. are referred to. Serum endotoxin, acid-stable and acid-unstable protease inhibitors and immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM were determined 20 months after operation. For the determination of potential hemodynamically or toxically induced effects on these organs, morphologic liver and lung examinations were performed. On the average, the operated rats showed a weight loss of 8 percent, i.e. from 378.4 +/- 9.2 g to 348.4 +/- 17 g. Compared to control rats, their relative liver weights were significantly lower (34%) (mean = 2.23 +/- 0.2 compared to 3.4 +/- 0.44 g, p less than 0.0005). Serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM in operated animals were significantly higher (p less than 0.005 or p less than 0.025 resp. and 0.0025). Endotoxin in serum could be identified in 4 out of 7 operated animals (57, 1%), but in none of the control animals. While there was no difference in serum levels of acid-unstable protease inhibitors between the two groups levels of acid-stable protease inhibitors were in operated animals by 24% higher than in control animals (mean = 35.3 +/- 3.3 compared to 28.5 +/- 2.3 mU/ml, p less than 0.0005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Liver changes in acute rheumatic fever]. / Leber-veränderungen bei akutem rheumatischen Fieber.

Following the course of disease in a 19 year old patient with acute rheumatic fever we report the reaction of the liver parenchyma: on histological examination besides a marked steatosis several "unspecific" granulomas were seen. Nutritional and toxic factors were excluded aetiologically. Difficulties in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of acute mono/poly-arthritis as a leading symptom are discussed.

[Proteolytic lung emphysema and obstructive airway disease (author's transl)]. / Beziehungen zwischen dem proteaseinduzierten Lungenemphysem und der Lungenfunktion.

Inhalation of papain by dogs produced morphological changes corresponding to a centrolobular emphysema. The papain inhalation also induced a purulent catarrhal bronchitis. However, the functional changes seen in chronic obstructive bronchitis were not observed. During papain inhalation an increased sensitivity of the bronchial systems develops corresponding to a tremendous increase in bronchospasm in response to Acetylcholine aerosol. The parenchymal lung tissue in dogs is more vulnerable in developing emphysema after papain exposure than is teh bronchial system in developing a chronic obstructive airway disease.

[Sudden death of children by hemorrhage from a cerebral angioma (author's transl)]. / Zerebrale Angiomblutungen als plötzlich Todesursache im Kindesalter.

Among 65 necropsies of children aging between 10 days and 15 years three cases of spontaneous letal hemorrhage from a solitary vascular angioma in the brain were observed. In two cases a sudden death occured. The third child died unexpectedly after years of noncharacteristic clinical nervous symptoms. In all cases the diagnosis of connatal vascular malformation was established by necropsy.

Respiratory damage caused by long-term inhalation of high concentration of sulphur-dioxide in dogs.

It has been tried in this study to produce chronic obstructive bronchitis in dogs by exposing them to high concentrations of SO2. The study was extended to 175 days and during that period the animals were exposed to 300-500 ppm SO2 for a total of 435 h. None of the three dogs developed serious respiratory damage. Most of the symptoms were transitory. Histological examinations showed increased number of goblet cells in trachea, main- and lobar bronchi and a slight alteration of the bronchial glands.