Time-Delay Cosmography: Measuring the Hubble Constant and Other Cosmological Parameters with Strong Gravitational Lensing.

Multiply lensed images of a same source experience a relative time delay in the arrival of photons due to the path length difference and the different gravitational potentials the photons travel through. This effect can be used to measure absolute distances and the Hubble constant ( H 0 ) and is known as time-delay cosmography. The method is independent of the local distance ladder and early-universe physics and provides a precise and competitive measurement of H 0 . With upcoming observatories, time-delay cosmography can provide a 1% precision measurement of H 0 and can decisively shed light on the current reported 'Hubble tension'. This manuscript details the general methodology developed over the past decades in time-delay cosmography, discusses recent advances and results, and, foremost, provides a foundation and outlook for the next decade in providing accurate and ever more precise measurements with increased sample size and improved observational techniques.

A single fast radio burst localized to a massive galaxy at cosmological distance.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief radio emissions from distant astronomical sources. Some are known to repeat, but most are single bursts. Nonrepeating FRB observations have had insufficient positional accuracy to localize them to an individual host galaxy. We report the interferometric localization of the single-pulse FRB 180924 to a position 4 kiloparsecs from the center of a luminous galaxy at redshift 0.3214. The burst has not been observed to repeat. The properties of the burst and its host are markedly different from those of the only other accurately localized FRB source. The integrated electron column density along the line of sight closely matches models of the intergalactic medium, indicating that some FRBs are clean probes of the baryonic component of the cosmic web.

Seroprevalence of anti-Yersinia antibodies in healthy Austrians.

Yersiniosis is caused by Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis mostly presenting as intestinal infection. The infection is usually acquired from contaminated food. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Yersinia antibodies in Austrians. Sera of 750 healthy Austrians from all nine states were tested for anti-Yersinia IgG antibodies using the recomBlot Yersinia Westernblot kit. Overall seroprevalence was 29.7%. Seroprevalence increased significantly with age from 24.7% in the group of the 19 to 24 year olds to 38.5% in the group of persons older than 44 years. The seroprevalence of anti-Yersinia antibodies varied within the states between 18% and 43.5%. The high seroprevalence of anti-Yersinia antibodies in contrast to only approximately 100 reported yersiniosis cases per year points to the fact that the majority of infections is either subclinical or mild.

Management in der Behandlung von Patienten nach Einsatz biologischer Agenzien.

The risk of terrorist attacks with weapons of mass destruction like biological agents is increasing. Biological agents can be disseminated as aerosols or by contaminating food and beverages. The multitude of agents and the different pathways of transmission cause very different clinical presentations. Natural infections with potential biological agents in Germany are rare and in most cases imported from endemic areas abroad. It is crucial to include these diseases in the spectrum of differential diagnosis. Local and state health departments have to be notified as early as possible in dubious cases. Public health management can be efficient only, if there is high reporting discipline and all epidemic measures are well coordinated.

Endocrine status in elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms: correlation of age, hormonal status, and lower urinary tract function. The Prostate Study Group of the Austrian Society of Urology.

OBJECTIVES: To correlate endocrine parameters in elderly men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) to patient age and clinical parameters such as prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and uroflowmetry and to compare the clinical and endocrinologic parameters in men with or without hypogonadism. METHODS: Men (40 years old or older) with untreated LUTS as defined by an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 7 or greater due to benign prostatic hyperplasia were included in this study and underwent the following investigations: IPSS, free uroflow study, postvoid residual volume, transrectal ultrasound for assessment of prostate volume, serum PSA determination, and an endocrine study, including testosterone, human luteinizing hormone, human follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, dehydroepiandrostendione-sulphate (DHEA-S), and prolactin. RESULTS: Three hundred twelve men (mean age 62.8 +/- 10.6 years, range 40 to 91) were analyzed. The serum levels of estradiol (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.19), human luteinizing hormone (r = 0.32), human follicle-stimulating hormone (r = 0.19), and DHEA-S (r = -0.39) correlated (P <0.05) with age; no such correlation was seen for testosterone (r = 0.04; P0.05) or prolactin (r = 0.09; P0.05). Estradiol (but not testosterone) correlated (r = 0.17, P = 0.01) with prostate volume. The peak flow rate and PSA did not correlate with any endocrinologic parameter. Hypogonadism (serum testosterone less than 3.0 ng/mL) was detected in 22.1% of patients and had no impact on clinical (IPSS, peak flow rate, prostate volume, and PSA level) or endocrine (human luteinizing hormone, human follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin, and DHEA-S) parameters. CONCLUSIONS: A number of age-related endocrine changes are seen in elderly men with LUTS. Hypogonadism is seen in approximately one fifth of elderly men with LUTS, but in our study it had no impact on symptom status, PSA level, prostate volume, uroflowmetry, or endocrine parameters.

[Percutaneous dilatative tracheostomy as a new method in intensive medicine. Procedure, advantages and risks]. / Die perkutane dilatative Tracheotomie als neues Verfahren in der Intensivmedizin. Durchführung, Vorteile und Risiken.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a recently developed method to obtain endotracheal access, also at the bed-side, in ventilated patients. The procedure is described and results are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PDT was performed in 112 patients (82 men, 30 women, average age 50.7 years) between 1.5. 1994 and 31.5. 1996, in all cases expected to require more than 10 days of assisted ventilation. All complications, late sequelae and cosmetic results after decannulation were analysed. RESULTS: No serious complications were noted during the procedure. Erroneous puncture occurred in nine patients, but were corrected without problem. Complications necessitating temporary interruption of the tracheostomy consisted of accidental extubation and ventilatory problems (two patients each). There were no late sequelae and the cosmetic results were judged to be very good. CONCLUSION: PDT is a simple and relatively easily learned procedure. It has a low complication rate, late sequelae are very rare and cosmetic results after closure of the tracheostomy are excellent.

[A new method of non-invasive determination of the cardiac minute volume in ventilated patients]. / Eine neue Methode zur nichtinvasiven Bestimmung des Herzminuten-volumens am beatmeten Patienten.

A method for the determination of stroke volume and cardiac output from pulse-synchronized variations of pressure in mechanically ventilated patients is described. A comparison with 20 readings obtained by thermodilution showed good correlation (r = 0.9866).

[Chemical castration using a depot LHRH-agonist as a palliative therapy concept in prostatic carcinoma--clinical, endocrinological and experimental studies]. / Chemische Kastration mit einem Depot LHRH-Agonisten als palliatives Therapiekonzept beim Prostatakarzinom--klinische, endokrinologische und experimentelle Untersuchungen.

79 patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic prostate cancer were treated by means of a biodegradeable depot formulation of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue Goserelin (Zoladex). All patients received 3.6 mg depot Goserelin (Zoladex 3.6 mg implantate) subcutaneously into the anterior abdominal wall at 4 weekly intervals. The average time of observation was 24.2 months. The best objective response rate was found in 62%. Serum testosterone levels initially increased after the first depot injection and then decreased ultimately to castrate range (less than 0.6 ng/ml) between day 15 and day 27 (median 21) in the majority of patients. Castrate testosterone levels were still found 48 months after the start of treatment with depot Goserelin. 6 months after institution of treatment in 66.7% of cases evident signs of histological regression were found in the primary tumour tissue. Adenocarcinoma presented with a highly significantly better response pattern than anaplastic carcinoma. In animal experiments a single dose of 1 mg depot Goserelin was administered to adult male rats and the effect on serum testosterone levels and target organs (testes and ventral prostate) were investigated. Mean testosterone levels (mean = 0.31 ng/ml) decreased to castrate range (less than 0.3 ng/ml). 4 weeks after depot injection weight of the testes and prostate weight were significantly reduced. However 8 weeks after administration of 1 mg depot Goserelin there was no significant between the control group and the treated group. We conclude that the depot formulation of Goserelin (Zoladex) is effective, simple, practicable and safe in the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer. Current clinical studies are confirming the importance of reversible medical castration by LHRH agonists before radical prostatectomy.

[Drug poisoning in the 39th week of pregnancy--a case report]. / Tablettenintoxikation in der 39. Schwangerschaftswoche--Eine Kasuistik.

It is reported on an intoxication with nitrazepam at the end of pregnancy. The fetal cardiotachogram showed a silent oscillation type for more than 20 hours. A cesarean section could not be performed, therefore the pregnancy was terminated by spontaneous delivery 20 hours later after the beginning of labour. Although a fetal endangering by a silent oscillation type could not be excluded, due to the metabolism of nitrazepam in the mother the newborn baby did not show major intoxication symptoms.

[A simple formula for calculating the CO2 flow in controlled hyperventilation of patients with solvent poisoning]. / Eine einfache Formel zur Berechnung der CO2-Einspeisung bei kontrollierter Hyperventilation an Patienten mit Lösungsmittelintoxikation.

Controlled hyperventilation is a therapeutic measure for the treatment of intoxications with solvents. To avoid the occurrence of respiratory alkalosis, carbon dioxide must be added to the inspiratory gas flow. Up to now the addition of carbon dioxide was performed empirically and was adapted to the needs by repeated blood gas analyses. We developed a formula enabling us to calculate the necessary carbon dioxide flow. A case report explains the procedure.

[Secretolysis using high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) in ventilation obligatory status asthmaticus]. / Sekretolyse durch Hochfrequenz-Jet-Ventilation (HFJV) beim beatmungspflichtigen Status asthmaticus.

With high frequency jet-ventilation superimposed on intermittent positive pressure ventilation a good secretolysis was obtained. Preliminary results in patients with mechanical ventilation during status asthmaticus are presented.

[Injector units for special use areas during normal and high frequency jet ventilation--flow technic studies]. / Injektoreinheiten für spezielle Anwendungsgebiete während Normo- und Hochfrequenzjetventilation--Strömungstechnische Untersuchungen.

Two injector units for special use during normo- and high-frequency jet ventilation are presented. Their pressure-volume-characteristics were analysed and theoretically consolidated. There is a good correlation between measurements and theory. Hence the jet ventilation is easier and dangerous incidents are avoidable.

[Intensive therapy of acute necrotizing pancreatitis]. / Die Intensivtherapie der akuten nekrotisierenden Pankreatitis.

The prognosis of pancreatitis can be improved by persistent involvement of intensive therapy in the therapeutic concept applied to acute cases. Abdominal lavage, properly timed relaparotomy, analgesia through peridural catheter, artificial ventilation in cases of respiratory insufficiency, and adequate fluid substitution are some of the measures by which the course of acute pancreatitis can be most effectively tackled. Results so far obtained from this therapeutic concept are reported in some detail.