Fetal exsanguination following intrauterine angiographic assessment and selective termination of a hydrocephalic,monozygotic co-twin

Selective termination by intracardiac potassium chloride injection was performed in twins discordant for hydrocephaly at 20 weeks' gestation. Because of the potential for vascular anastomoses to exist between the twins, fetal angiography was performed prior to the selective termination procedure. Determination of vascular connections between the fetuses was hindered by fetal bradycardia following intracardiac administration of contrast material. Selective termination was performed without difficulty using intracardiac potassium chloride (KCl) to produce asystole in the twin with hydrocephaly. The unaffected fetus appeared active and had a normal heart rate during and immediately after the procedure. However, both twins were found to have died the following day. Pathologic examination documented several vascular anastomoses between the monochorionic, diamniotic fetuses. A likely cause of death was exsanguination of the normal twin into the abnormal one. This case illustrates the difficulties encountered in selective termination of monozygotic twins and, to our knowledge, represents the first reported use of intrauterine fetal angiography.     

Microphthalmia–prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis: A case report

Prenatal real-time ultrasonographic diagnosis of microphthalmia is presented. Diagnosis was made at 18 weeks' gestation in a fetus of a patient with a previous infant affected with the syndrome of cryptophthalmia with absence of septum nasi and ambiguous genitalia (Fraser syndrome). Recognition of microphthalmia as a part of Fraser syndrome and the easy visualization of fetal facial bones and orbits in the second trimester made the diagnosis possible.     

Online-Patentrecherchen — schnelle Antworten auf kritische Fragen

Online searching in publically available patent files opens up interesting possibilities to provide a rapid response to critical questions. A computerized analysis of all patents of leading German pharmaceutical companies over the last decade in important indication areas is described. Supported by subsequent manual processing of individual patents it is shown that duplicate experiments on animals practically never occur.     

Linearbeschleuniger und Tandem-van-de-Graaffs: Werkzeuge der Schwerionenforschung

The basic principles of dc-tandem and high-frequency linear accelerator are discussed by referring to the pioneering work of H. Kallmann and R. Wideröe. The 30 MV Supertandem in Daresbury, the Heidelberg combination of tandem and linac, and the universal linear accelerator Unilac of the GSI at Darmstadt serve as examples of modern heavy-ion accelerators.     

Lorenz Oken

Lorenz Oken, 1. Aug. 1779 Bohlsbach (Baden, Germany) — 11. Aug. 1851 Zurich (Switzerland). Philosopher and Zoologist. He studied at Freiburg i. Br. and Würzburg, was called from Göttingen to the university of Jena (1807–1819), München (1827–1832), Zurich (1833–1851). Oken came very early under the influence of Schelling and became the typical German Naturphilosoph. This did not prevent him from doing distinguished biological work. Oken was one of the best comparative anatomists of his days, his works on embryology are classics. He gave an interesting forecast of the modern cell doctrine. He founded a biological journal (Isis, 1816–1848) which for thirty years published articles of unquestioned value. He instituted the meetings of the “Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte” (1821). By his “Naturgeschichte für alle Stände”, 13 vols. (1833–1845) he is one of the first to popularize natural science.