Dependencies of micro-pillar cavity quality factors calculated with finite element methods.

We present simulation results for optical modes in micro-pillar cavities that were computed with the finite element method and that show good agreement with experimental data. By means of this viable tool various influences on the quality factor of the fundamental mode were calculated: Firstly, the light confinement depends strongly on the absorption of the semiconductor cavity material. Here we were able to determine absolute maximum quality factors achievable in a GaAs/AlAs Bragg micro-pillar cavity. Furthermore, small pillar diameters as well as the inclination of pillar sidewalls show critical features with respect to light confinement. Additional effects of the top and bottom Bragg stacks in the pillar were calculated as well.

[Not Available]. / Metabolisierung von Deoxynivalenol beim Schwein: Bestimmung von DON und DOM-1 im Urin vom Schwein.

This paper describes a feeding study with 7 pigs, which were fed with deoxynivalenol contaminated oats at a level of 0.23 mg/kg body mass/day over 16 experiment days. The contamination level of consumed feed was 14.4 mg DON/kg in the ration. The parallel control group of 7 pigs were fed with DON free oats. Urine samples were taken each two days. The content of DON and DOM-1 (de-epoxy deoxynivalenol) in urine was determined. The mean concentration of DON in urine of animals in trial group was 580 µg/l, whereas DOM-1 32 µg/l.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: In einer Fütterungsstudie wurden Schweine in zwei Gruppen zu je 7 Tieren mit kontaminiertem (Versuchsgruppe) und unbelastetem Getreide (Kontrollgruppe) gefüttert. Die Gesamtkonzentration von DON in der Ration der Versuchsgruppe war 14.4 mg/kg. Die Tagesdosis betrug in der Versuchsgruppe 0.23 mg/kg Körpermasse und Tag. Der Versuch dauerte 16 Tage, jeden zweiten Tag wurde der Spontanharn gesammelt. Die Urinproben wurden auf DON und DOM-1 analysiert. Für die Analyse der Urinproben bzw. des Futtermittels wurde eine HPLC-MS Methode verwendet.

Scintigraphic localization of lymphatic leakage site after oral administration of iodine-123-IPPA.

UNLABELLED: Chylothorax can occur secondary to traumatic lesions of the thoracic duct caused by chest injuries, surgical procedures involving the pleural space, neoplasms or malformations of the lymphatics. METHODS: Lymphatic leakage sites were localized by scintigraphy after oral administration of the 123I-labeled long-chain fatty acid derivative iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (IPPA). We report on three patients with different lymphatic leakage sites and on one normal control subject. RESULTS: IPPA scintigraphy localized the lymphatic leakage site correctly in all three patients. In two of them, the method even guided the successful surgical treatment of the leakage. CONCLUSION: This approach is suitable for detecting lymphatic leakages of intestinal origin.

Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in small-cell lung cancer: results of a multicenter study.

UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to determine the accuracy of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in the detection of the primary tumor and its metastases in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in a large patient population, and to investigate the course of somatostatin uptake in primary tumors during therapy. METHODS: In a total of 100 patients, 134 examinations were performed. Twenty-seven of the patients were examined before and after chemotherapy. Planar whole-body images were acquired 4 hr and 24 hr after injection of approximately 200 MBq (111)In-pentetreotide. SPECT of the thorax was performed after 24 hr. Tumor-to-background (T/B) ratios for the primary tumor were averaged from anterior and posterior projections. RESULTS: Compared to conventional investigations, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) visualized the primary tumor with varying degrees of uptake in 96% of the examinations. Regional metastases and distant metastases were detected in 60% and 45% of the examinations, respectively. The uptake of the somatostatin analog by the primary tumor was significantly lower in the patients examined during chemotherapy as compared to those examined before treatment (T/B ratio = 1.94+/-0.79 versus 2.35+/-0.9, p < 0.005). A decrease in T/B ratio was noted in patients with remission at the time of SRS (from 2.40+/-1.56 to 1.63+/-0.72, p < 0.05). No difference in the pretreatment uptake of octreotide by the primary tumor was identified between patients with tumor progression and those with partial or complete remission. CONCLUSION: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy has a high sensitivity in the detection of the primary tumor in SCLC but fails in the detection of metastases. Thus, SRS does not provide useful information for staging of SCLC. Since somatostatin uptake by the primary tumor is affected by chemotherapy, it may be used to follow up on the course of SCLC.

Changes in perfusion pattern using ECD-SPECT indicate frontal lobe and cerebellar involvement in exercise-induced paroxysmal dystonia.

The clinical features of exercise-induced paroxysmal dystonia (EPD) are delineated in a pedigree including two affected members (both male) showing an autosomal-dominant inheritance trait. Gait analysis using kinematic electromyography during the motor attacks revealed coactivation of antagonistic calf muscles characteristic of dystonia. In the interval, impaired muscular alternation was observed. To characterize further the pathophysiological basis of the condition, ictal and interictal cerebral perfusion SPECT studies using technetium 99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) were performed to establish whether cortical hyperactivity indicative of epilepsy is present during the motor attacks and to identify regional changes in the ictal perfusion pattern that could indicate an anatomic structure relevant to the disease. During the motor attacks, decreased ictal perfusion of the frontal cortex was found in both patients. In contrast, increased cerebellar perfusion was observed. The perfusion of the basal ganglia also decreased. No cortical hyperperfusion indicative of an epileptic nature was seen. Cerebellar hyperactivity in connection with prominent frontal hypoactivity has also been described in both the idiopathic and the symptomatic forms of dystonia. Our findings therefore suggest that EPD represents a paroxysmal movement disorder rather than epilepsy. It is concluded that changes in frontal and in cerebellar function are relevant to the pathophysiology of EPD.

[Does the pouch modify food transit after gastrectomy?]. / Beeinflusst der Pouch den Nahrungstransit nach Gastrektomie?

A prospective, randomized study of patients with gastric cancer was performed to examine whether or not the jejunal pouch interposition between esophagus and duodenum after gastrectomy is of importance. At fixed postoperative times, standardized scintigraphic measurements were performed; the quality of life was evaluated by the EORTC quality of life questionnaire. Our findings suggest that interposition of a jejunal pouch reservoir between esophagus and duodenum may be due to a prolonged transit time and a better quality of life.

The comprehesive psychopathological rating scale--CPRS--in patients with schizophrenic syndromes. Inter-rater reliability and in relation to Mårtens' S-scale.

In the course of a multicenter controlled trial of the effects of neuroleptic drugs on patients with schizophrenic or paranoid syndromes a comparison was made between the Swedish symptom rating scale--Mårtens' S-scale especially designed for patients with schizophrenic syndromes--and a new rating scale--the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale--CPRS. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between the two scales was found to be 0,48 and as the inter-rater reliability for both scales was found to be quite satisfactory the validity of the scales is discussed. The CPRS scale was found to be easy to handle even for untrained doctors and in a separate study of inter-rater reliability where 5 doctors saw 16 patients a quite satisfactory reliability rk = 0,70--0.97, was found for 33 out of 39 items. In some items, espically those concerning different aspects of affective disturbances a lower inter-rater reliability was found but these items have been revised in later versions of the scale.

Controlled trial of penfluridol and thiothixene in the maintenance treatment of chronic schizophrenic syndromes.

In a controlled trial of penfluridol and thiothixene as maintenance drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenic syndromes, some improvement over previous neuroleptics was seen with both drugs. This improvement was mainly evident in variables concerned with participation in social activities as assessed with the S-scale and by ward behaviour. The drug dosages necessary were very low and gave few and easily manageable side-effects. There was no significant difference between penfluridol and thiothixene. Penfluridol has the clear practical advantage of being the only long-acting drug for oral administration so far available.

Penfluridol and thiothixene. Dosage, plasma levels and changes in psychopathology.

Plasma levels of penfluridol and thiothixene were studied after 4 weeks treatment in a double-blind controlled trial of 47 patients suffering from chronic schizophrenic syndromes. There was found a tenfold variation in plasma levels for penfluridol, and about a twentyfold variation for thiothixene. For penfluridol, a significant correlation between dosage and plasma level and also between dosage and changes in psychopathology as regards factor 5 in the Märtens & Jonsson S scale which comprises the items most characteristic of a schizophrenic syndrome, was found. For thiothixene, a significant correlation between plasma levels and changes in factor 5 was found. A gas-chromatographic method for penfluridol is also described.