Fallot's tetralogy in a European beaver (Cator fiber)

A 20-mo-old, female, 9-kg European beaver (Castor fiber) presented with apathy, reduced appetite of 3-day duration and a grade 5/6 systolic heart murmur. Thoracic radiographs revealed a diffuse broncho-interstitial pattern suspicious for bronchopneumonia. The echocardiographic findings of a hypertrophied right ventricle, ventricular septal defect with overriding aorta, and infundibular pulmonic stenosis were consistent with Fallot’s tetralogy. Even though the bronchopneumonia rather than the congenital cardiac defect was considered of primary importance for the presenting clinical signs, the latter was relevant for the decision not to continue any medical treatment. Both disease processes were confirmed on necropsy

Galileo-based Collision Avoidance System

Nowadays, collision avoidance (CA) systems are an intensive research topic since the majority of all traffic accidents are collisions that are caused due to inattention or unadjusted driving behaviour of the driver. In order to scan the vehicle's surrounding for potential crashes, up to date prototypic CA systems are based on on-board environmental sensors, such as camera or radar systems. The limited sensor covering area and the functionality of the used sensors under varying environmental conditions require an enormous effort to ensure a reliable detection of obstacles, and thus limit the application of the systems. In order to expand the operating field of such systems, a Galileo-based CA system will be developed within the project "GALILEO above". This advanced driver assistance system detects surrounding vehicles that are on collision course, and react autonomous, if the driver does not intervene to avoid the crash. For this purpose the system initiates an emergency stop or an emergency steering. For the development process of the CA system the Galileo test centre "automotiveGATE" in Aldenhoven, Germany will be used. Pseudolites will be installed at the automotiveGATE which provide Galileo-like navigation signals and enable the development and tuning of Galileo based vehicle systems. Thus, these systems are available on the market when the Galileo satellite system becomes operative. At the end of the project GALILEO above, first prototypes should demonstrate the potential of Galileo-based collision avoidance systems. In this paper the GALILEO above project will be introduced followed by a detailed description of the development process of the CA system. Furthermore, first results will be presented.Galileo abov

A Collision Avoidance System based on Galileo Satellite

Nowadays, collision avoidance systems (CAS) are an intensive research topic since the majority of all traffic accidents are collisions that are caused due to inattention or unadjusted driving behaviour of the driver. Up to date prototypic CAS are based on on-board environmental sensors, such as camera or radar systems, that scan the vehicle's surrounding in order to assess the situation's hazardousness. The functionality of the used sensors under varying environmental conditions and the limited sensor covering area require an enormous effort to ensure a reliable detection of obstacles, and thus limit the application of the systems. In order to expand the operating field of such systems, a Galileo-based CAS will be developed within the project ‘Galileo above‘ (Anwendungszentrum für bodengebundenen Verkehr / application centre for ground based traffic). This advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) detects surrounding vehicles that are on collision course and reacts autonomously, if the driver does not intervene to avoid the crash. For this purpose the system initiates an emergency stop and/or an emergency steering manoeuvre. For the development of the CAS, the Galileo test centre automotiveGATE in Aldenhoven, Germany, will be used. On this test area pseudolites will be installed which provide Galileo-like navigation signals. Thus, the development respectively tuning of Galileo-based vehicle systems will be enabled, so as to have them available on the market when the Galileo satellite system becomes operative. At the end of the project ‘Galileo above‘, first prototypes should demonstrate the potential of Galileo-based CAS

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus and Lupus Profundus in Childhood: A Report of Two Cases

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a rare disorder in childhood, with 22 cases reported in the English-language literature. Less than 2% of patients with DLE have an onset before 10 years of age. We describe two children with DLE and lupus profundus with an onset of the disease at the ages of 11 and 15 years and focus on likely histopathologic differences between DLE in children and in adults. Histopathologic characteristics for childhood DLE might be an intense periadnexal and perivascular infiltrate extending into the interstitium and subcutaneous tissue consisting of lymphocytes, histiocytes, eosinophilic granulocytes, and plasma cells and lacking epidermal atrophy. The diagnosis of DLE in our two patients was established by clinicopathologic correlation based on clinical presentation, histologic and immunofluorescent findings in skin biopsy specimens, and the absence of clinical and laboratory evidence of systemic involvement. Therapy with antimalarials resulted in reduction of the skin lesions, but in one patient severe lipoatrophy occurred

Die transversale Nasenlinie

Two patients presented with a transverse groove located between the lower third and upper two-thirds of the nose since birth. The alar and triangular cartilage attach themselves in a linear transverse fashion, the so called nasal line. It is important to recognize the nasal line as a localizing factor for milia, cysts and comedones. The nasal line is rather easily overlooked but awareness of its existence allows one to quickly confirm that it is not a rarity. We propose an embryological origin

Pavillon de l'Industrie Canadienne des Pâtes et Papiers, île Notre-Dame, Montréal, ca 1966

Construit pour l'Exposition universelle et internationale de Montréal, 1967; Date du début des travaux de réalisation : Ca 1966

Die Behandlung von Feuermalen mit dem blitzlampengepumpten gepulsten Farbstofflaser

Background and Objective. Portwine stains are reported to occur in 2.8% of the newborn. Depending on the location and size, portwine stains can be disfiguring and may lead to psychosocial complications. They can be safely and successfully treated with the flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser (FPDL). Our objectibe was to evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of the FPDL (450 mus, 585 nm, 5 and 7 mm), after fiveyears of clinical experience with this laser. Patients/Methods. Between 1993-1998 In 961 patients with port-wine stains laser treatment was performed in the department of dermatology of the university of Regensburg. Results. Total clearance of the portwine stain was recorded in, 6,9% of the patients. In 40,4% of the patients 75 95% clearance and in 38,5% 50-75% clearance was observed in 14,2% response was less than 50%. Laser therapy was more effective for lesions of the neck and trunk than for lesions on the head and extremities. Better results were found after laser therapy of light-red or red portwine stains compared to dark red and violaceus portwine stains. In children (less than 3 year old), clearance of more than 75% occurred significantly more often than in older patients. Conclusions. Since laser treatment in early childhood is, more effective than treatment at a later aged, a smaller number of treatment sessions is necessary and lower recurrence rates, can be expected, laser treatment should be started in, early childhood. Side effects were rare after FPDL treatment. This study underlines that the FPDL is a safe and successful treatment for portwine stains with rare side effects. But total clearance can only be reached in a small number of patients

Behandlung von therapieresistenten Verrucae vulgares mit einem Ciclopirox-haltigen Lack

Background and Objectives. Anti-inflammatory actions of ciclopirox,an antifungal agent, have been described previously. We assessed the effectiveness of ciclopirox in the treatment of viral warts. Patients/Methods. Twenty-three immunocompetent patients (age 9-61 years) with com mon warts at the hands, feet and in the face resistant to conventional therapy were treated. Following keratolysis with a salicylic acid-containing patch, an 8% ciclopirox lacquer was applied 1-2 times daily. At the beginning and the end of the treatment lesions were photographed and the time span (minimum 4 weeks) until complete resolution was documented. Results. In 7 patients complete remission, and in 12 patients partial remission was achieved. Only 4 patients did not show any effect under topical ciclopirox treatment (mean duration of therapy 3.2 +/-2.1 months). The overall response rate was 82.6%. Local side effects like erythema or pruritus were not reported. Conclusion. Our data suggest that a ciclopirox lacquer may be helpful in the treatment of com mon warts. However, the data have to be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial in the future

Role of Laser Therapy in Dermatology – Clinical Aspects

Background: Laser therapy has become an integral part of therapeutic alternatives in dermatology. Nevertheless, there are only few statistical data on the role of lasers in everyday practice of dermatological clinics. Objective: Analysis of laser patients, indications and lasers used. Methods: We analysed 10,244 patients treated with laser therapy in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Regensburg from 1992 to 2000. This figure represents 9.6% of all patients seen during that period. Results: Vascular lesions (hemangiomas, port-wine stains, telangiectasias) represented the most common indication (more than 70%) followed by infectious disorders (mostly papillomavirus lesions) as well as the removal of hairs and tattoos. Accordingly, the most frequently used laser was the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (585 nm) followed by the argon ion, the long-pulse tunable flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser, the Q-switch ruby laser, and the CO2-laser. In recent years, the percentage of indications and lasers used has changed significantly, reflecting the development of new lasers and the introduction of new indications. Conclusions: The results confirm the important role of laser therapy in dermatology. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel