Bone transplantation is often used for the reconstruction of defects. The best results are achieved with autogenous grafts because they induce no immunological reaction,

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in cultured cells, peripheral blood samples and sera were adsorbed on filter paper disks and inactivated by heat or ethanol. Two procedures, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microtiter plate assay (HMPA) were used to detect the nucleic acid. The sensitivity after different heat treatments with nested PCR for HIV-1 DNA (or nested reverse transcription-PCR for HIV-1 RNA) was identical regardless of whether the samples were examined immediately or one month later. Inactivation by ethanol treatment resulted in a slight loss of sensitivity. The HMPA proved to be as reliable and specific as the conventional PCR technique. We conclude that the heat-treated filter paper disk assay is suitable for identifying HIV nucleic acid in clinical samples sent to the laboratory from a distance, e.g. in an envelope.

In Germany approximately 150,000 inguinal hernias are surgically corrected every year. In addition to developing an optimum operation technique it is also the responsibility of a surgeon to treat pain during and after surgery. In a prospective random double-blind study, the pain after herniotomy performed with intraoperative anesthesia of the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves with a long-acting local anesthetic combined with a vasoconstrictor was compared by means of scores on a scale from 1 to 10 with pain in a control group. The results suggest that the intraoperative anesthesia reduces pain after surgery both on the day of the operation and afterwards, when the effect of the local anesthetic has decreased. An optimum pain therapy therefore has to start during surgery. Use of a local anesthetic is especially suitable. Side effects of systemic analgesics are avoided, and perioperative risks of ambulant hernia surgery can be reduced.

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