[Vitamin A in tumor therapy: significance of clinical and pre-clinical findings for radiologic oncology]. / Vitamin A in der Tumortherapie. Zur Bedeutung klinischer und präklinischer Befunde für die Radioonkologie.

PURPOSE: Retinoids are a class of compounds structurally related to vitamin A which have been found to be active agents experimentally as well as clinically in the prevention and treatment of tumors. The data available suggest to study whether they might improve treatment results if combined with irradiation. METHODS: The clinical results in the prevention and treatment of cancer with retinoids are reviewed. In the context of experimental studies evaluating the antiproliferative effects of retinoids, cytokines and radiation alone or in combination our own experimental investigations analyzing a combination of all-trans-retinoic acid, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ionizing radiation in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines are described. RESULTS: There is a solid body of experimental and clinical data to combine retinoids with cytokines (e.g.IFN-alpha). Since it is known that vitamin A alters the radiation response in experimental tumors our analyses further support the combination of retinoids and IFN-alpha with ionizing radiation. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize further clinical investigations evaluating the combined treatment with retinoids/IFN-alpha and ionizing radiation in squamous cell carcinomas such as head and neck tumors and cervical cancer.

[Contribution of anal external sphincter and puborectal muscle to anal pressure (author's transl)]. / Welchen Anteil hat der Musculus shincter ani externus und Musculus puborectalis an der analen Druckzone?

During anesthesia and relaxation the separated M. sphincter ani ext. and the M. puborectalis have a constant pressure of 30 mm Hg. Therefore, these muscles also have the ability to make tonic contractions and not only phasic contractions. This means that these muscles are also responsible for the anal tonic basal pressure.

[ENG in young children--a contribution on examination problems. IInd part: rotation test (author's transl)]. / ENG bei Kleinkindern--ein Beitrag zur Untersuchungsmethodik. Teil II: Die Drehprüfung.

This study reports the electronystagmographic results of 60 young children (3-6 years old) without any history of ear disease. Distribution into the groups "without sedation" and "with sedation" was done following a statistical key. The revolving chair was stopped after rotation at an angular velocity of 108 degrees/sec. Sedation was achieved by intramuscular injection of Valium. The statistical analysis of the various parameters is restricted to the postrotatory nystagmus I. Neither during the whole duration of the postrotatory nystagmus I nor during the cumulatory phase any significant difference in the total amplitude or number of beats could be observed. The only statistically significant difference was found in the maximal angular velocity; the reduction was 15+/-9% compared to the non sedated group. These results indicate that Valium can be used for sedation in nystagmographic examination.

[ENG in infants - a contribution on examination problems (author's transl)]. / ENG bei Kleinkindern - ein Beitrag zur Untersuchungsmethodik

60 young children (3-6 years old) without any history of ear diseases were tested by caloric stimulation (30 degrees C and 44 degrees C). Distribution into the groups "with sedation" and "without sedation" was done following a statistical key. Sedation was achieved by intramusculair injection of Valium, considering age and weight of the subjects. Nystagmus registration was done by ENG. The following quantitative reductions in the observed nystagmus parameters could be shown: number of beats: 19% +/- 5%, maximal angular velocity of the slow phase: 24% +/- 11%, total amplitude: 24% +/- 11%. This experiment shows that Valium can be very well used in the sedation of young children for caloric vestibular testing, a quantitative variation of the response has to be considered.