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An aerobic bacterium, Mycobacterium sp. strain TRW-2 that assimilated vinyl chloride (VC) or ethene (ETH) as the sole carbon source was isolated from a chloroethene-degrading enrichment culture. The strain TRW-2 also degraded cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) in mineral salts medium, but only when VC was present as the primary carbon source. However, no degradation of trans-dichloroethene or trichloroethene occurred in either the presence or absence of added VC. The measured growth yield values were 6.53 and 14.1g protein/mol of VC and ETH utilized, respectively. Inoculation by strain TRW-2 in microcosms prepared with aquifer samples resulted in rapid degradation of VC, whereas native bacteria degraded negligible amounts of VC within the same time period, thus suggesting bioaugmentation potential of the isolate. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence of the isolate revealed 98% sequence similarity to the members of the genus Mycobacterium. In summary, the isolate's ability to degrade VC, cis-DCE, and ETH and also its ability to survive and degrade VC in the presence of other microorganisms is relevant to the remediation of VC-impacted aquifers.

Flow rate, protein and amylase content of submaxillary saliva were determined before and after iatrogenic damage to the chorda tympani nerve during otosurgery. Parallel to these investigations, gustatory function was checked. Chronic otopathy itself did not lead to a disturbance of either the sense of taste or the function of the submaxillary gland in any of the 14 patients. On the other hand, the flow rate of the affected gland dropped after chorda division (8 patients) and after chorda stretching (6 patients), and the protein concentration of the saliva was increased while the concentration of amylase remained unchanged. Dysgeusia was always observed after chorda division but only once among 6 cases of chorda stretching.

In patients with unilateral facial nerve paresis the parotid reflex secretions of both sides were measured and chemically analyzed to investigate whether an alteration of composition and volume of parotid secretion could be demonstrated in facial nerve paresis, i.e., whether a functional influence of the facial nerve on the parotid gland could be recognized. Flow rate as well as protein and alpha-amylase concentrations were determined in the parotid secretions. A highly significant decrease of flow rates (ml/min) was observed on the paretic side whereas no differences could be found in the concentrations of protein and amylase. These results can be explained by assuming intratemporal anastomoses between the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves. An additional analysis by topodiagnostic criteria makes it likely that this anastomosing takes place only distal to the geniculate ganglion.

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