Flow-cytometric DNA analysis of intracranial tumors in children.

The objective of this study was to investigate flow-cytometric DNA values of pediatric intracranial tumors, and to establish DNA analysis as a potential prognostic parameter. Twenty-nine brain tumor specimens from 26 pediatric patients were cryo-preserved within a 3-year period. The DNA content was measured by flow cytometry.

[Analysis of paediatric neuro-oncological information on the Internet in German language].

Background: The fast growing internet offers easy access to medical information. So far there are limited data concerning the quality of this information. This study examined quality and readability of paediatric neuro-oncological information on the internet in german language.

Central nervous system tumours in adolescents.

Adolescents with brain tumours have been, and in most cases still are, haphazardly assigned, on referral, to either 'paediatric' or 'adult'-based treatment centres. In this age group, there is therefore a history of inconsistent treatment, delivery of inappropriate 'maturity-related' care and a reduced chance of gathering vital biological, clinical and treatment-related information germane to this group of patients and their tumours. These days, adolescents with brain tumours should be actively targeted for recruitment into clinical trials and admission into dedicated neuro-oncology centres or programmes that can deliver the necessary and age appropriate multidisciplinary management.

[Quality of childhood brain tumour information on the Internet in French language].

The continuing growth of the Internet has transformed the access to medical information. However, there are still little data on the quality of e-Health information available. This study examined the content and readability of paediatric neuro-oncology information on the Internet in the French language.

Obesity after childhood craniopharyngioma--German multicenter study on pre-operative risk factors and quality of life.

Background: Craniopharyngiomas are tumorous embryogenic malformations. As the survival rate after craniopharyngioma is high (92 %), prognosis and quality of life (QoL) in survivors mainly depend on adverse late effects such as obesity.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed 214 children and adolescents with craniopharyngioma.

Clinical aspects and prognosis of ependymoma in infants and children. A single institution experience.

Thirty-two patients (22 boys and 10 girls) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of ependymoma were treated between 1972 and 1999. A total macroscopic resection was achieved in 16 of these patients, whereas 15 resections were classified by the surgeon as subtotal. In 1 patient a ventriculostomy was created as part of a palliative strategy.

Survivors of childhood cancer for more than twenty years.

Present health status, complications, and development of long-term survivors of childhood cancer followed for more than 20 years in a single institution were reviewed. The departmental database was searched to identify patients diagnosed with childhood cancer and consequently treated between 1965 and 1978. A total of 124 (77%) long-term survivors participated on a voluntary basis in the study.

[Rhabdomyosarcoma of the orbits in childhood].

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common malignant orbital tumor in children. Treatment modalities (individualized therapy or study protocol) have been changed radically. Surgery was supplemented by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine clearance: reference values for infants and children.

Six hundred and thirty-nine clearance studies performed in children aged 7 days to 19 years utilizing technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG 3) were retrospectively analysed. Standardized conditions for the investigation included: parenteral hydration (60 ml/hxm2 body surface) in addition to normal oral fluid intake, weight-related dose of 99mTc-MAG 3 (1 MBq/kg body weight, minimum 15 MBq) and calculation of clearance according to Bubeck et al. Of the 513 children, 169 included in this analysis could be classified as "normal" with regard to their renal function.

[Reaction of umbilical cord arteries to PGF2 alpha and glycerol trinitrate during the first days post partum].

Objective: Are there changes in the reactivity of umbilical cord arteries within the first day after parturition?

Methods: Groups of rings made from umbilical cord arteries were investigated by a force transducer for their reactions to PGF2 alpha and glycerol trinitrate after 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after parturition.

Results: PGF2 alpha induces vasoconstriction, glycerol trinitrate vasodilatation of the umbilical cord arteries. The quantity of these reactions remains the same at each of the investigation times.

[Therapy of extensive lymphangioma of the vulva].

The lymphangioma of the vulva offers difficulties in differential diagnosis because of its wart-like appearance [7]. Is the diagnosis histologically confirmed, there often arise uncertainties about an adequate therapy [7, 2, 15]. By this case report these problems will be explained.

Patterns of structural deterioration due to ischemia in Purkinje fibres and different layers of the working myocardium.

Cellular and mitochondrial swelling are regarded as typical intra-ischemic alterations ("IIA"), contraction band lesions (CBL), in contrast, as products of post-ischemic reperfusion. The occurrence of both types of structural deterioration was investigated in Purkinje fibres and subendocardial and intramural working myocardium: initially after St. Thomas- or HTK cardioplegia, then during ensuing global ischemia up to the "practical limit of resuscitability", and following post-ischemic reperfusion.

The ultrastructural effects of global ischaemia on Purkinje fibres compared with working myocardium: a qualitative and morphometric investigation on the canine heart.

During open heart surgery, reperfusion-induced arrhythmias arising after short periods of ischaemia may originate from subendocardial Purkinje fibres. We investigated the ultrastructure of these fibres during 30 min of global ischaemia at 25 degrees C. The effects both with myocardial protection (HTK cardioplegia) and without it (pure ischaemia) were compared qualitatively and morphometrically.

Occurrence and prevention of contraction bands in Purkinje fibres, transitional cells and working myocardium during global ischaemia.

Contraction bands usually occur in the intramural working myocardium following post-ischaemic reperfusion. In the subendocardium, however, they are found during ischaemia. Thus, we ascertained the contraction states of Purkinje fibres, transitional cells, subendocardial and intramural parts of the working myocardium during 30 min global ischaemia at 25 degrees C.

[Mental stimulation of a patient with Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome].

A mental stimulation programme employed in a woman aged 37 years suffering from Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome is described. This resulted in such improvement of her condition that full-time institutionalization could be avoided.

Cholinergic dysfunction of heart, pupil, salivary glands, and urinary bladder in healthy volunteers during long-term treatment with clomipramine.

Cholinergic functions were studied in ten non-depressed healthy volunteers who were treated with 50 mg clomipramine daily for 3 weeks and subsequently with 100 mg daily for a further 3 weeks. Impairments in heart rate variation (HRV) at rest and standing, of the pupillary light response and of salivation were related to serum levels of clomipramine. Since reduction of HRV is closely related to dose (r = -0.

Zuclopenthixol levels in serum and breast milk.

Breast milk and serum samples were obtained from six psychotic patients 3 days-10 months after delivery. Five of the women were given zuclopenthixol PO daily, and one was given zuclopenthixol decanoate IM every 2 weeks. Zuclopenthixol was estimated in breast milk and serum by high performance liquid chromatography.

[Unilateral renal insufficiency. A clinicopathologic analysis].

Recurrent urinary infections can be connected with unilaterally shrunken kidneys and they frequently can be removed by nephroureterectomy with exception of reflux-induced shrunken kidneys. Insufficient kidneys, caused by reflux and developed in early childhood, are not the source of infection, in general. Hypertension, induced by the vascular or parenchymal process of unilaterally insufficient kidneys, frequently can be removed by nephrectomy.

Iron absorption and iron status in patients with chronic uremia on regular peritoneal dialysis.

Gastrointestinal iron absorption was measured by whole body counting in 18 patients on regular peritoneal dialysis. Ten patients received regular oral iron treatment prior to the study (iron treated group), 8 patients did not receive iron treatment (non-iron treated group). Whole body retention 14 days after oral administration of 10 microCi 59Fe together with a carrier dose of 10 mg Fe2+ was used as an estimate of absorption.

Electrical polarization of rectal mucosa and excretion of tetrahydroaldosterone in patients with cystic fibrosis of pancreas and in normal subjects.

The electrical potential difference (PD) across the rectal wall was measured in 26 patients with cystic fibrosis of pancreas (CFP) and in 18 healthy subjects. The PDs obtained in normal children were identical to those previously obtained in normal adults. A significantly greater dispersion of the values was observed in CFP.