[Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular dynamics (author's transl)]

ECG triggered scintiphotography has established itself as a reliable, reproducible, noninvasive method for the determination of ventricular volumes, left ventricular ejection fraction, and regional ventricular wall motion. It can be used with sufficient precision and accuracy in severely ill patients who are not suitable for invasive diagnostic procedures. The method is useful for follow-up investigations of known heart disease. In comparison with left ventricular cineangiocardiography a correlation coefficient of r=0.78 could be found for enddiastolic voluumes, of r=0.92 for endystolic volumes, and of r=0.91 for ejection fraction. The sensitivity of the method for recognition of disturbances of regional ventricular wall motion is 94%, the specificity 86%. In comparison with left ventricular cineangiocardiography the resulting accuracy is 90%.

[Scintigraphy of the lacrimal draining system]

A new scintigraphic method, the radionuclide dacryography, to evaluate lacrimal drainage and its disorders is described. A drop of 99mTc-pertechnetate is dropped onto the eyes and the transport of the nuclide is registered by a scintillation camera. By this method it is easy to verify, under physiological conditions, suspected obstructions of the lacrimal drainage system and to determine its localization. The absorbed radiation dose using radionuclide dacryography is very low as compared to radiological methods.

[Tear-sac concretions (author's transl)]

Report is given on three cases of dacryolithiasis. All cases were demonstrated by dacryocystography. Two dacryoliths were obtained at operation, another one by spontaneous passage through the nose. Histopathological examination of the dacryoliths in two cases revealed the presence of a mycotic infection, most likely with Candida albicans. The casts were found to be composed of layers of neutral and acid mucoproteids and lipids, accompanied by an infiltration with leucocytes.

[Non-invasive nuclear medical diagnosis in cardiology. 201T1-myocardial and ECG triggered heart ventricle scintigraphy]

201Thallium scintigraphy serves as a non-invasive method for visualizing regional perfusion, viability and configuration of the myocardium. Serial scans performed after injection during ergometric exercise allow to differentiate between irreversible cell damage, i.e. myocardial infarction or scar, and transient, reversible ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease. ECG-gated blood pool scans are an ideal adjunct as they represent the functional results of the pathologically altered myocardium. This method permits quantitative determination of the enddiastolic volume, endsystolic volume and left ventricular ejection fraction. Furthermore, regional and global wall motion may be judged qualitatively. Results of both methods show an excellent correlation with those obtained by invasive catheterization and cineangiocardiography. The clinical value is based on screening and follow up of a broad variety of cardiac diseases.

[Pharmacokinetics of an imidazoline derivate applied to the eye (author's transl)]

The absorption of a vasoconstrictive substance labeled with 14C, after application as eye-drops, was studied in animal experiments. After iatrogenous obstruction of the lacrimal punctum with tissue adhesive, a maximum of 6% of the substance could be measured in the total blood volume after an exposure time of 60 min. High relative concentration of the drug could be found in cornea, conjunctiva, and iris, while the concentration in lens, vitreous body, and the rest of the eye was low. The results represent the maximum values of resorption. Additional studies, made by 99mTc-pertechnetate microscintigraphy of the lacrimal drainage apparatus of the rabbit were also performed. The transport of an eye-drop from cornea and conjunctiva to the nasal cavum was found to be very rapid. Therefore it seems to be of little value to carry out investigations on the absorption of eye-drops over long time periods without prior occlusion of the lacrimal punctum.

[Effect of various breeding conditions on the development of respiratory syndrome in calves]

In two experimental rearing houses with new-born non-colostral calves, separated from their mothers at birth and artificially fed colostrum or colostral whey, the epizootological situation was very favourable throughout the time of observation. The respiratory syndrome occurred in both cases as a result of the long-term worsening of microclimatic conditions and failure to adhere to the principle of the all-in all-out system. The etiology of the disease was of a complex character, involving virus PI-3, IBR, and bacteria, and its arising reminded of the exacerbation of latent virus infection. The primary role of the PI-3 virus in the arising of the disease was documented by complex laboratory examination. As distinct from the large-capacity calf-house with continual operation where the PI-3 virus and the same bacteria participated in the arising of the respiratory syndrome, which was not controlled, in the experimental calf-houses it was sufficient to adjust the microclimatic conditions, to disinfect the stables, and to adhere strictly to the priniciple of the all-in all-out system. The proposed method of the rearing of "minimum-morbidity calves" appears to be promising for use in the prevention of respiratory infections in calves and its further testing in large-capacity calf-houses is considered as desirable.

[Effect of different systems of colostral nutrition on the level of immunoglobulins in the blood of calves]

New-born calves, artificially fed colostrum or native colostral whey, either dried or preserved by another method, had good health and good weight gains (between 0.05 and 0.60 kg). No greater differences were observed between the groups of calves given three times the colostrum of their mothers, calves given mixed colostrum, and calves fed colostral whey powder. In all groups only individual differences in IgG content in the blood serum were observed after 48 hours from birth. Hypogammaglobulinaemia occurred in individual cases both in calves given small amounts of colostrum or colostral whey and in calves given sufficient quantities. The time that had elapsed from birth to the first drinking did not exert any greater influence upon the IgG level in the blood; the decisive factor was the amount of colostrum taken in by the calf in the first dose. The rate of the absorption of IgG1, IgG2, IgA, and IgM from colostrum and the concentration of the immunoglobulins in the serum depended on the quantity of colostrum in the first dose and were not influenced to any greater degree by the amount of colostrum given to the calves in further doses. The amount of IgG in the blood serum of calves corresponded approximately to the level of colostral antibodies to the virus PI-3. The antibodies to the virus PI-3 and small quantities of IgG were observed also in the serum to new-born calves before drinking colostrum.

[Attempt at the prevention of respiratory syndrome by rearing calves with a minimum morbidity rate]

Under the conditions of a pilot experiment on two farms the authors tested the system of calf rearing in which the calves were separated from their mothers immediately after birth to be kept in specially equipped rearing facilities. In calf-house K with a semi-continual system of operation the total number of calves reared on milk nitrition was 959 and the average daily weight gain in individual groups (41 to 75 days from birth) ranged, with the exception of four groups, from 0.50 to 0.78 kg, depending on the deterioration or improvement of the conditions of operation, tending, or hygiene, In calf-house D with the all-in all-out system of operation where 391 calves were reared, the average daily weight gain in individual groups (55 to 84 days from birth) was 0.70 to 0.87 kg, with the exception of four groups. The calves reared in this way maintained good growth ability also in fattening, showing the average weight gain of 1.00 kg and 1.08 kg in groups transferred from the vegetable-nutrition department of the houses to a disinfected stable, in comparison with the 0.77 kg and 0.85 kg gains in groups, transferred to stables with the continual system of operation. Heifers were ready for the first insemination at the age of 20 to 23 months. The method of calf-rearing without mothers, based on controlled supply of colostrum to calves reared in closed populations in clean environment disinfected in advance, enables the production of "minimum-morbidity animals" giving excellent results in all parameters of production.

[Radionuclide dacryography in clinical practice and research (author's transl)]

Radionuclide dacryography (RND) has the following indications: 1. Localisation of obstructions in the lacrimal drainage system. 2. Judgement of relative tear obstruction. 3. Pre- and post-operative control of the function of lacrimal drainage in surgical and radiotherapy of the inner canthus region. 4. Investigations of tear secretion are described and own preliminary results are discussed. 5. Resorption of suitable marker substances clinically. First results of conjunctival resorption of pertechnetate are reported. 6. The possibility of testing in vivo radioactive drug delivery systems is shown by means of own investigations. 7. The absorbed radiation dose using RND is very low as compared to radiological methods, thus justifying repeated controls and investigations even in children.

[Clinical and experimental investigations with 201tl for noninvasive myocardial scintigraphy (author's transl)]

The biological distribution of 201Tl after intravenous injection was studied experimentally in 42 rats. It was found (see figure 1) that the kidneys showed the greatest affinity for 201Th, reaching an activity concentration of 6.6% per gramme of tissue, almost independently of time. Within the first 30 minutes of injection, myocardial activity exceeds that of the surrounding structures (10 min. p.i.: 4.24%/g; 30 min. p.i.: 2.58%/g). During this time the myocardium can be well demonstrated by "image processing". The relatively fast myocardial kinetics of 201Tl (half value time 33 minutes) make it necessary, strictly speaking, to use a scintillation camera. The clinical value of this method is illustrated by a number of case histories.

[Diagnosis of pancreatic function by the selenomethionine--75Se test]

Dterminations of 75selenium radioactivity and pancreatic enzyme in duodenal aspirate were carried out in 50 patients after i. v. injection of selenomethionine-75Se. After standardized excitation of the pancreas with pancreozymin-secretin, a significant correlation (r = 0.654) between excreted 75Se radioactivity and trypsin production could be established. The test is suitable for the recording of exocrine pancreas function while avoiding expensive enzymatic methods. The combined use of pancreas scintigraphy--using the double radionuclide substraction technique-with the radioselenomethionine test (RSMT) provides comprehensive diagnostic information on the morphology and function of the pancreas.