Two types of health care systems and their influence on the introduction of perinatal care: an epidemiological twin model in Berlin from 1950 to 1990.

Objectives: When perinatal medicine emerged as a new medical discipline in the 1960s, Berlin was as one of the world's leading centers. During that time, the city was separated into two parts, each fostering its own health care system. After the destruction of the Berlin Wall, it was possible to speak with the citizens of East Berlin and to access their database systems.

GFAP gene expression is altered in young rats following developmental low level lead exposure.

The astroglia cytoskeletal element, glial fibrillary acid protein GFAP, is a generally accepted sensitive indicator for neurotoxic effects in the mature brain. We used GFAP RNA as a marker for molecular biological changes in rat brain related to chronic low level lead exposure during the developmental period. Brains in the third week of postnatal life, following a continuous prenatal and postnatal exposure to lead of low dose were investigated.

Superimposing positive end-expiratory pressure during partial liquid ventilation in experimental lung injury.

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of superimposing incremental levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during partial liquid ventilation (PLV) on gas exchange, respiratory mechanics and morphological changes in experimental acute lung injury (ALI). In a prospective trial, six pigs weighing 30+/-5 kg (mean+/-SD) were tracheotomized, submitted to pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation (pc-CMV) and depleted of surfactant by lung lavage. Animals were then mechanically ventilated with three levels of PEEP: 0.

[Factors modifying postoperative astigmatism after no-stitch cataract surgery].

Background: One of the main advantages of the no-stitch technique in cataract surgery is that induced astigmatism occurs less frequently than with any other procedure and stabilizes within a very short time postoperatively. The resultant high wound strength enabled us to alter the incision parameters in an attempt to identify those which influenced postoperative astigmatism, the ultimate goal being to improve the prognosis of the expected astigmatism. Since the influence of tunnel width and incision length and shape were well known, we investigated the influence of incision depth and site and that of various parameters in a prospective randomized and controlled clinical trial.

The onset of inter-human contacts: longitudinal ultrasound observations in early twin pregnancies.

Twin pregnancies provide us with the opportunity to observe first reactions towards touch in utero, and this study illustrates the onset and development of these contacts. Forty women with twin pregnancies volunteered to take part in this study, 25 of whom (five monochorionic, 20 dichorionic pairs) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Between 8 and 12 weeks' gestation, ultrasound examinations were performed transvaginally, and from 13 weeks onwards transabdominally, at weekly intervals.