Evidence of heterosexual bridging among syphilis-positive men who have sex with men.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether heterosexual bridging among syphilis-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) contributes to increased infection rates among adolescent women in Baltimore City, Maryland. METHODS: Interview data for patients with primary, secondary and early-latent syphilis from January 2001 to July 2005 were linked with their corresponding field records for named exposed contacts to assess prevalence of male bisexual activity and risk profiles of potential male bisexual bridgers and their female sex partners. RESULTS: None of the women with syphilis reported having known heterosexual relationships with a bisexual man. However, 3.9% and 11.0% of the male sex partners of adolescent females and women aged >25 years with syphilis, respectively, self-reported as MSM or named male sex partners. Likewise, 10.3% of syphilis-positive MSM named female sex partners and 3.0% of syphilis-positive men who did not self-identify as MSM named both male and female sex partners. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual network links exist between syphilis-positive MSM and heterosexual women, but the extent of bisexual behaviour among men is not detectable by self-identification and disclosure to female sex partners.

[Aneurysm of the extracranial internal carotid artery]. / Das Aneurysma der extrakraniellen Arteria carotis interna.

Aneurysm of the extracranial internal carotid artery is a rarely observed condition. Intra-aneurysmatic thrombosis, cerebral embolism with possible neurological consequences, and rupture are the most common complications. Operations were performed on 20 patients for aneurysm of the internal carotid artery. The cases included 14 "genuine" arteriosclerotic aneurysms and seven "false" aneurysms in the wake of shell splinter injuries, tonsillectomy, thrombo-arteriectomy, and blunt traumata. Pulsating tumour was the most important clinical symptom in all aneurysm cases. Arterial continuity was restored by resection of aneurysm in all cases. Sixteen patients were dehospitalised without any complaint. Two patients with preoperative cerebral infarction were left with residual paresis. One patient died of pulmonary embolism, and one patient operated on for rupture died in shock.

[Effect of procaine on the loss of erythrocyte phospholipids during blood preservation in ACD-AG-stabilizer]. / Untersuchungen über die Wirkung des Procain auf den Phospholipidverlust des Erythrozyten bei der Blutkonservierung in ACD-AG-Stabilisator.

The phospholipid changes of erythrocytes were investigated following the storage under blood bank conditions up to 42 days (ACD-AG-stabilisator) without and with addition of procaine (25 mM). The phospholipid loss of erythrocytes is described as two-step occurrence. The rapid decrease in the first three days is followed by a further loss up to the end of the storage period. The concomitant increase of phospholipid fractions of supernatant shows that the erythrocyte membranes lose their phospholipids mainly by a passive way. For the further loss of phospholipids the action of a phospholipase A is adopted. The addition of procaine hinders strongly the phospholipid loss of erythrocytes. The clinical importance of these procaine action is shortly discussed.

[Changes in the shape of erythrocytes during use of extracorporeal circulation]. / Veränderungen der Erythrozyten-Form durch Anwendung des extrakorporalen Kreislaufs.

The behavior of red cell shape of circulating blood was investigated following operations using the heart-lung machine by different quantitative methods. It was discovered, that the schistocytes (light microscopy) and echinocytes (scanning electron microscopy) significantly increases. The changes in erythrocyte shape are comprehended as summary effect of erythrocyte damage by the extracorporeal system and discussed in relation to the loss of phospholipid components of the erythrocyte membrane.