Report by A.Berson about the aerological expedition of the Royal Aeronautic Observatory to East Africa in 1908

This paper is the edited translation of the paper “A. Berson's Bericht über die aerologische Expedition des königlichen aeronautischen Observatoriums nach Ostafrika im Jahre 1908” (Report by A. Berson about the aerological expedition of the Royal Aeronautic Observatory to East Africa in 1908) that was published 1910 in the Meteorologische Zeitschrift 27, 536–542. The paper, provided by R. Süring, co-editor of the journal, is a summary of a more extensive report published in the same year.

Changes of coagulation parameters during high altitude expedition

Data on changes of haemostatic parameters at altitudes above 5000 m are very limited. So far it is unknown, whether altered coagulation could contribute to the development of acute mountain sickness.

Quantitative motor unit action potential analysis in 2 paraspinal neck muscles in adult Royal Dutch Sport horses

BACKGROUND: Reference values for quantitative electromyography (QEMG) in neck muscles of Royal Dutch Sport horses are lacking. OBJECTIVE: Determine normative data on quantitative motor unit action potential (QMUP) analysis of serratus ventralis cervicis (SV) and brachiocephalicus (BC) muscle. ANIMALS: Seven adult normal horses (mean age 9.5 standard deviation [SD] +/- 2.3 years, mean height 1.64 SD +/- 4.5 cm, and mean rectal temperature 37.6 SD +/- 0.3 degrees C). METHODS: An observational study on QMUP analysis in 6 segments of each muscle was performed with commercial electromyography equipment. Measurements were made according to formerly published methods. Natural logarithm transformed data were tested with ANOVA and posthoc testing according to Bonferroni. RESULTS: Mean duration, amplitude, phases, turns, area, and size index (SI) did not differ significantly among the 6 segments in each muscle. Mean amplitude, number of phases, and SI were significantly (P < .002) higher in SV than BC, 520 versus 448 muV, 3.0 versus 2.8 muV, and 0.48 versus 0.30 muV, respectively. In SV 95% confidence intervals (CI) for amplitude, duration, number of phases, turns, polyphasia area, and SI were 488-551 muV, 4.3-4.6 ms, 2.9-3.0, 2.4-2.6, 7-12%, 382-448, and 0.26-0.70, respectively; in BC this was 412-483 muV, 4.3-4.7 ms, 2.7-2.8, 2.4-2.6, 4-7%, 393-469, and 0.27-0.34, respectively. Maximal voluntary activity expressed by turns/second did not differ significantly between SV and BC with a 95% CI of 132-173 and 137-198, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The establishment of normative data makes objective QEMG of paraspinal muscles in horses suspected of cervical neurogenic disorders possible. Differences between muscles should be taken into account.

Glomerular filtration rate estimates decrease during high altitude expedition but increase with Lake Louise acute mountain sickness scores

AIM: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can result in pulmonary and cerebral oedema with overperfusion of microvascular beds, elevated hydrostatic capillary pressure, capillary leakage and consequent oedema as pathogenetic mechanisms. Data on changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at altitudes above 5000 m are very limited. METHODS: Thirty-four healthy mountaineers, who were randomized to two acclimatization protocols, undertook an expedition on Muztagh Ata Mountain (7549 m) in China. Tests were performed at five altitudes: Zurich pre-expedition (PE, 450 m), base camp (BC, 4497 m), Camp 1 (C1, 5533 m), Camp 2 (C2, 6265 m) and Camp 3 (C3, 6865 m). Cystatin C- and creatinine-based (Mayo Clinic quadratic equation) GFR estimates (eGFR) were assessed together with Lake Louise AMS score and other tests. RESULTS: eGFR significantly decreased from PE to BC (P < 0.01). However, when analysing at changes between BC and C3, only cystatin C-based estimates indicated a significant decrease in GFR (P = 0.02). There was a linear decrease in eGFR from PE to C3, with a decrease of approx. 3.1 mL min(-1) 1.73 m(-2) per 1000 m increase in altitude. No differences between eGFR of the two groups with different acclimatization protocols could be observed. There was a significant association between eGFR and haematocrit (P = 0.01), whereas no significant association between eGFR and aldosterone, renin and brain natriuretic peptide could be observed. Finally, higher AMS scores were significantly associated with higher eGFR (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Renal function declines when ascending from low to high altitude. Cystatin C-based eGFR decreases during ascent in high altitude expedition but increases with AMS scores. For individuals with eGFR <40 mL min(-1) 1.73 m(-2), caution may be necessary when planning trips to high altitude above 4500 m above sea level.

News from an Old Excavation: Two Hitherto Unnoticed Measure Capacity Signs on an Egyptian Stone Vessel of the Middle Kingdom from Royal Tomb II at Byblos

Excavated by French Egyptologist P. Montet in the 1920s, Royal Tomb II at Byblos (Bronze Age Gubla) yielded a significant number of Egyptian objects of the Middle Kingdom. Among these finds is a stone vessel with lid that carries the cartouche of a king named Amenemhat, often believed to be Amenemhat IV of the late Middle Kingdom. Hitherto unnoticed by the scholarly community, however, are two Egyptian measure capacity signs on the stone vessel itself. Since measure capacity signs on stone vessels dating to the Middle Kingdom are only rarely attested even in Egypt, the signs on the stone vessel from Royal Tomb II at Byblos therefore contribute considerably to our understanding of the use and application of such signs. The article deals with the examination of these signs and tries to correlate them with the actual capacity of the vessel.