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The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator is an effective and safe treatment option in patients at either transiently elevated risk of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation or mandated postponed implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation, with a 2.5% shock rate over a median 54 days wearable cardioverter-defibrillator treatment period. However, both the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator shock rate and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation rate vary widely depending on the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator indication. Nurse-based wearable cardioverter-defibrillator training is associated with high patient adherence, with a median wearing duration per day of 23.5 (1-24) hours.

Abstract. Six anaemic patients with terminal renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis and three healthy control subjects were exposed to altitude hypoxia at Jungfraujoch (3450 m above sea‐level). In normal subjects plasma erythropoietin (ESF) as determined by the exhypoxie mouse assay exhibited the expected rise after 24 h (from 0.25 to 3.09%6*Fe incorporation). In the patients a smaller but still significant rise was demonstrable (from 0.39 to 2.18%MFe incorporation), indicating that even severely damaged kidneys with negligible exocrine function retain a definite endocrine reserve for ESF production. For this reason bilateral nephrectomy should be avoided in these patients if possible. 2,3‐DPG and P50 (as corrected to pH 7.4) as well as blood pH increased within 24 h after altitude exposure in the control subjects, as described previously. In the patients the two parameters were already elevated under baseline conditions. Upon hypoxic stimulation they rose further (from 44.7 to 56.5 (junoles/1011 Ec. and from 28.6 to 30.1 mmHg respectively), while a definite fall in whole blood pH occurred. High altitude exposure was tolerated remarkably well by the dialyzed patients in spite of the presence of anaemia and severe renal failure.

The aim of this prospective noninvasive follow-up study was (1) to assess the progression of cardiac involvement (CI) in patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD), Becker’s muscular dystrophy (BMD) and mitochondrial myopathy (MMP), (2) to find out if CI and neurologic impairment are related and (3) to determine how often cardiac investigations should be performed. Clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic examinations were performed at yearly intervals. CI was assessed qualitatively by the presence of pathologic examinations and quantitatively by the number of pathologic examinations. Qualitatively, CI was present at baseline in 36 of the 38 cases (18–68 years) and the number of cases did not change. Quantitatively, CI progressed after 1 (2) year in 50% (50%) of patients with MD (n = 16), 0% (43%) of patients with BMD (n = 7) and 27% (27%) of patients with MMP (n = 15). CI and neurologic impairment were not related (p = 0.54). Cardiac investigations should be repeated at yearly intervals irrespective of whether there is neurologic deterioration or not.

The aim of this prospective study was to classify cardiac involvement in myopathies by means of a comprehensive cardiac investigation, to determine the rate of cardiac involvement in myopathies according to this classification and to compare the validity of previously reported electro-cardiographic myopathy indices (QT/PQs, P/PQs, R/S) with that of the comprehensive cardiac investigation. We included 14 patients with myotonic dystrophy, 6 patients with Becker's muscular dystrophy and 10 patients with mitochondrial myopathy. Cardiac involvement was classified as either "definite", "equivocal" or "absent" by assessing cardiovascular history, physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography. "Definite"/"equivocal"/"absent" cardiac involvement was found in 12/2/0 myotonic dystrophy, 3/3/0 Becker's muscular dystrophy and 6/3/1 mitochondrial myopathy patients. Electrocardiographic myopathy indices were pathologic in 3 Becker's muscular dystrophy, 6 mitochondrial myopathy but in none of the myotonic dystrophy patients. The proposed comprehensive cardiac investigation is simple, inexpensive and effective in assessing cardiac involvement in patients with myotonic dystrophy. Becker's muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial myopathy. In case of cardiac involvement, cardiac therapy might be one of the few therapeutic options for these patients.

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Results of treatments of 1.431 colic horses with special regard to 285 surgically treated horses from 1990 to 1997 at the Clinic for horses, General surgery and Radiology of the Freie Universität Berlin Results of 1.431 colic patients -under consideration of 285 surgical cases -between 1990-1997 at the Clinic for horses, General Surgery and Radiology of the Freie Universität Berlin. In this time, 1431 horses examined and treated for gastrointestinal disorders. 84,3% was discharged from the hospital. 285 (20%) had to undergo an operation. Disorders of the small intestine (41%) and of the colon (40%) were the most causes for surgical treatment. The most common postoperative complications were discussed. Out of 285 patients 145 horses died or were euthanised. 99 (68%) during the surgery, 26 (18%) within 24 hours post operationem and 20 (14%) during the remaining period in hospital. Corresponding to all 285 cases the survival rat was 49% and for the horses which recovered from surgery 75,3%. The average of stay was 12 days. Medical treatment was necessary for 1.146 (80%) colic patients. In 44,4% the colon was affected and the caecum in 18,2%, 13,4% had spasmodic colic and 5,2% was sand impaction. Out of 56 medical cases were the large colon herniated into the nephro-splenic space 52 (93%) were discharged. For the medical colic horses the average of stay was 4,5 days. The recovering rate was 93%. There was a significant correlation between curing probability and pulse rate, respiration rate and PCV. Just so between disorders in wound healing and application of intraperitoneal medication and use of intraperitoneal drainage. The incidence of torsion coli in females significantly increased than in males. Significance has been also shown between the national and international healing rate 1 (all surgically treated colic horses) and between healing rate 2 (all horses which recovered from surgery).

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