A technical mixture of isomeric nonylphenols NP is formed as rather persistent degradation product of nonionic surfactants and has become widespread in the environment, e.g., in surface waters. Information about possible pathways for incorporation is needed for risk assessments, as NP has estrogenic properties. NP uptake after skin contact was determined using isolated and perfused bovine udders as models for human skin. NP-d2 labelled in the positions ortho to the OH-group was prepared by an exchange procedure which did not measurably change the relative amount of isomers. Samples of udder perfusate, milk equivalent produced during the experiments and skin tissue were taken immediately before administration of 500 mg or 50 mg NP-d2 on an udder skin area of 200 cm2 and then for 5 h. They were analyzed by GC-MS for NP and NP-d2 after cleanup by steam distillation and final extraction with SPME fibres. The results are an unambiguous proof of the penetration of NP into the capillary system of living mammals after skin contact.

In order to avoid in vivo experiments and to gain information about the suitability of surrogates for skin replacement, Franz-type diffusion cell experiments were conducted by using three ibuprofen-containing formulations (cream, gel and microgel) on bovine split-skin samples and cellophane membranes. Moreover, ex vivo examinations were performed on the isolated perfused bovine udder, to study the comparability of in vitro and ex vivo experimental set-ups. Depending on the formulation, noticeable differences in the permeation of Ibuprofen occurred in vitro (udder skin) and ex vivo (isolated perfused bovine udder), but not in the cellophane membrane. The rates of ibuprofen permeability (cream > gel > microgel) and adsorption into the skin (gel > microgel > cream) varied with the formulation, and were probably caused by differences in the ingredients. Furthermore, different storage conditions and seasonal variation in the collection of the skin samples probably led to differences in the amounts of ibuprofen adsorption apparent in the isolated bovine udder and udder skin. In vitro diffusion experiments should be preferred to experiments on isolated organs with regard to the costs involved, the throughput, and the intensity of labour required, unless metabolism of the drug in the skin, or cell–cell interactions are of particular interest.

Amyand's hernia is defined as an appendix vermiformis - inflamed or not - within the hernia sac at the ipsilateral groin. The occurrence of this specific type of hernia is extremely low; clinical presentation is preoperatively characterised by signs and symptoms of an incarcerated inguinal hernia. There is a controversial debate on the use of prosthetic material for mesh-based hernioplasty; actually, the majority of surgeons reject it. However, in the area of predominantly prosthetic hernioplasty, this question has been raised again. Based on the approximately 150 published cases so far and their detailed analysis, this controversial issue in Amyand's hernia is reassessed, also on the basis of our own clinical experience in the treatment of two representative cases. Even in the case of a coincident finding of appendicitis within the sac of an inguinal hernia, laparoscopic hernioplasty using alloplastic meshes appears possible after simultaneous appendectomy if, in addition, the adhesive hernia sac is also resected. If prosthetic material is implanted, only low weight and large-porous meshes should be used.

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