Relaxed eddy accumulation, a new technique for measuring emission and deposition fluxes of volatile organic compounds by capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The possibility afforded by a new relaxed eddy accumulation system in the determination of emission and deposition fluxes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by chromatographic techniques will be presented. The system, especially designed to limit sampling artifacts, uses adsorption traps filled with solid sorbents as reservoirs for VOC collection. Enriched compounds were analyzed by capillary GC and positive identification and quantification of eluted compounds was Achieved by mass-spectrometric detection. The method has been used to quantify the emission and deposition of both biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs over a Mediterranean forest ecosystem located in Central Italy. For the first time, both daily and seasonal trends of anthropogenic and biogenic VOCs will be reported. The consistency of monoterpene fluxes with predictions based on the knowledge of VOC emission from the dominant vegetation species will be tested. Data have been used to develop a novel algorithm to predict the seasonality of biogenic emission from the forest ecosystem.

Polar volatile organic compounds (VOC) of natural origin as precursors of ozone.

HRGC-MS determinations carried out on samples collected in urban, suburban, rural, forest and remote areas suggest that several other classes of non-methane VOC than isoprene and monoterpene hydrocarbons can be emitted by plants. Because of their high photochemical reactivity, they can contribute to tropospheric ozone production which, in turn, can cause climate changes through radiative forcing.

The prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and of retinopathy in relation to the duration of diabetes.

In a study on the prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and retinopathy in a group of 57 diabetic subjects, an increased prevalence of these complications related to the duration of diabetes has been found.

[Combination of radiotherapy and selective chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced ovarian carcinomas]. / Die Kombination von Radiotherapie und gezielter Chemotherapie in der Behandlung fortgeschrittener Ovarialkarzinome.

A report is given on 160 patients suffering from ovarian carcinomas the stages which were exactly determined by TNM classification. 32 patients had tumors of the stages T1-T3, 128 patients had tumors of the stage T4. All T3 subgroups showed favorable results after radical surgery and a postoperative combination of radiotherapy and selective cytostatic chemotherapy. The therapy plans including radiotherapy had more advantages than those without radiotherapy. Furthermore, the cytostatic treatment was more successful after a chemotherapy resistance test than after blind administration of cytostatic drugs.

[Clinical results of the treatment of ovarian carcinoma following 16 years of experience with the chemotherapy resistance test (author's transl)]. / 16jährige klinische Ergebnisse in der Behandlung des Ovarialkarzinoms nach dem Chemotherapie Resistenztest.

A prospective study on the results of chemotherapy selected by the treatment chemotherapy resistance test of Limburg an Krahe (oncobiogram) of 191 cancers of the ovary from the same department from the years 1962-1978 is presented. In 152 cases (79.6%) surgical or radio-therapy was impossible or insufficient because of the advanced spread of the tumour (T4 of FIGO 3 and 4). Nevertheless in the hopeless state T4 Nx M1b (N = 89) a two years survival rate of 58% was obtained following the selective treatment according to the oncobiogram compared to 28% two years survival in blind chemotherapy. The five year survival rate was 38% compared to 18%. The total five years survival rate of all patients was 25% in a series with 80% inoperable cases. The advantages of chemotherapy following the oncobiogram with the chemotherapy resistance test compared to treatment after other testing methods or compared to blind chemotherapy are described and discussed in detail.

[Ancillary chemotherapy in the primary treatment of carcinoma of the breast. On the growth pattern of carcinoma of the breast and the establishment of a new concept in treatment (author's transl)]. / Adjuvante Chemotherapie in der Primärbehandlung des Mammakarzinoms. Uberiegungen zum Wachstumsverhalten des Mammakarzinoms und der Versuch eines neuen Therapienkonzepts

A prospective study of 25 cases of primary carcinoma of the breast was established. The patients were treated by radical mastectomy and lymphadenectomy followed by chemotherapy with Vincristin, Adriblastin and Endoxan. No radiotherapy was employed. During a 12 month follow-up, no patient, had recurrence or progression of the tumor. It is too early to evaluate the treatment definitively regarding survival and definite value of the method. The theoretical and experimental considerations for ancillary chemotherapy are discussed.