Topological gravity on plumbed V-cobordisms

An ensemble of cosmological models based on generalized BF-theory is constructed where the role of vacuum (zero-level) coupling constants is played by topologically invariant rational intersection forms (cosmological-constant matrices) of 4-dimensional plumbed V-cobordisms which are interpreted as Euclidean spacetime regions. For these regions describing topology changes, the rational and integer intersection matrices are calculated. A relation is found between the hierarchy of certain elements of these matrices and the hierarchy of coupling constants of the universal (low-energy) interactions. PACS numbers: 0420G, 0240, 0460Comment: 29 page

Das inflammatorische Bauchaortenaneurysma. [Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm]

348 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm were reviewed for typical features of inflammatory aneurysm (IAAA) (marked thickening of aneurysm wall, retroperitoneal fibrosis and rigid adherence of adjacent structures). IAAA was present in 15 cases (14 male, 1 female). When compared with patients who had ordinary aneurysms, significantly more patients complained of back or abdominal pain (p less than 0.01). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was highly elevated. Diagnosis was established in 7 of 10 computed tomographies. 2 patients underwent emergency repair for ruptured aneurysm. Unilateral ureteral obstruction was present in 4 cases and bilateral in 1. Repair of IAAA was performed by a modified technique. Histological examination revealed thickening of the aortic wall, mainly of the adventitial layer, infiltrated by plasma cells and lymphocytes. One 71-year-old patient operated on for rupture of IAAA died early, and another 78-year-old patient after 5 1/2 months. Control computed tomographies revealed spontaneous regression of inflammatory infiltration after repair. Equally, hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction could be shown to disappear or at least to decrease. IAAA can be diagnosed by computed tomography with high sensitivity. Repair involves low risk, but modification of technique is necessary. The etiology of IAAA remains unclear

Die Chirurgie der traumatischen Aortenruptur. [Surgery of traumatic aortic rupture]

This report describes the clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgery and results of patients with acute traumatic rupture of the aorta in a series of 21 consecutive patients. Direct cross-clamping without additional methods of spinal cord protection was used in 18/21 patients (86%). Direct suture was possible in 12/21 patients (60%). In the remaining patients, the repair was carried out by interposition of a Dacron graft. Overall mortality was 7/21 patients (33%). However, in 3 patients with severe polytrauma irreversible brain damage was the cause of death whereas 2 patients died from septicemia and myocardial infarction, respectively. No paraplegia nor paraparesis occurred in the surviving patients which were operated by direct cross-clamping of the aorta and rapid reanastomosis without additional methods of spinal cord protection

Late functional deterioration after atrial correction for transposition of the great arteries

Late anatomic and functional results were evaluated in 220 consecutive survivors who underwent surgery in 1964-1984 for atrial correction of transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Actuarial survival was 87% at 10 years and 83% at 20 years and was higher in patients with simple than in those with complex TGA (92% vs. 84% at 10 years). Although 83% of simple TGA and 78% of complex TGA survivors belong to the oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic group, failure of the systemic ventricle occurred in 17 (7.7%) patients. This failure was more common in patients with complex than in those with simple TGA (12.1% vs. 4.1%, p less than 0.05); actuarial incidence of such failure was 3% at 5 years and 11% at 15 years, and it caused 10 of 25 (40%) of late deaths. Late dysrhythmias necessitating pacemaker implantation had an incidence of 9.8% at 10 years. Reoperations were performed in 20 (9.1%) patients, with 12 of 23 (52%) reoperations occurring in the first 2 years after correction. Stenosis of caval inflow (eight patients), or residual atrial or ventricular septal defects (eight patients) were the most common causes of reoperation. Systemic atrioventricular valve incompetence necessitating surgery occurred in only three patients. Atrial correction gives good late results, but late functional deterioration occurs in some patients