Reliability of Energetic Meridian Measurement with Prognos A®Objective: Is energetic measurement of the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) meridians with Prognos A a reliable method? Patients: 30 healthy volunteers from the staff of the Stauferklinik, Schwä bisch Gmü nd, Germany. Design: Measuremeuts are taken 4 times from each person at all terminal locations of the meridians (24 points) on fingers and toes with Prognos A. Breaks between each measurement run lastet 2–5 min. The values of skin resistance are compared. Results: Reliabilities of the single meridian measurements range between 0.44 and 0.82 with an overall reliability of 0.72. Lowest reliability is seen in yang -hollow organs, probably a due to their intense lability. Mediating of 4 single runs shows a reliability of 0.9. Conclusions: Our measurement of reliability confirms Prognos A as a reliable device of determinating skin resistance, especially with repeated measurements. Variations of the readings are probably due to the special quality of the meridian system; increased variations of special meridians seem to be explainable by their characteristic features defined in TCM.

The computed tomographic appearance of the adrenal gland was studied in 302 patients with possible endocrinologic disease and 107 patients undergoing CT for nonendocrinologic reasons. Measurements of adrenal size were also made in 100 adults with no known adrenal pathology. CT proved to be a sensitive diagnostic tool in combination with clinical studies. When blood hormone levels are increased, CT can differentiate among homogeneous organic hyperplasia, nodular hyperplasia, benign adenoma, and malignant cortical adenoma. When blood hormone levels are decreased, CT can demonstrate hypoplasia or metastatic tumorous destruction. Calcifications or caseations can be demonstrated earlier than on plain radiographs. When hormone elimination is increased, the morphologic substrate can be identified; tumorous changes can be localized and infiltration of surrounding organs recognized.

The sclerosing effect of the introduction of 95% ethanol into the renal artery was evaluated in eight rabbits and one pig. Longterm occlusion of the renal artery with ensuing infarction of the kidney could be produced by a small, easily tolerated dose. Several inherent drawbacks of currently used embolic sgents may be avoided with this technique, which is suggested for clinical trial.

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Ganglionic and synovial cysts (juxta-facet cysts) causing nerve root compression are very rare. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best means of diagnosis. The treatment of choice is surgical removal of the cysts, though spontaneous remissions do occur. CT-guided aspiration of the cysts and corticosteroid injection can lead the symptoms to disappear, but only for a short time. In a retrospective study covering a period of 16.5 years, we discovered 24 juxta-facet cysts (10 ganglionic and 14 synovial cysts) with clinical symptoms in a total of 19,107 lumbar and thoracic operations performed to relieve nerve root compression: 16 cysts were located at the level L4-5,3 at the level L5-S1,2 at L3-4, and 1 each at the levels L2-3, L1-2, and T10-1. Seven patients complained of radicular pain, and the other 17 patients also had neurological deficits. Fourteen cysts were resected, and in 10 cases the lumbar disc was removed simultaneously. The average follow-up in 23 of the 24 patients was 26.6 months. Most (74%) of the patients became free of pain. Pareses disappeared in 89% and sensory deficits in 73% of cases.