[Infant mortality in Germany (2008-2012)--lower in the former German Democratic Republic?].

Background: German infant mortality is ranked near the median of European countries. In Germany infant mortality is significantly higher in the German Federal Republic compared with the former German Democratic Republic. This is often used as reason for a call for structural requirements and minimum caseload for the care for very low birth weight infants.

[Polyhydramnios, prematurity, dystrophy, polyuria, constipation, nephrocalcinosis and renal tumor: presentation of a classic tubulopathy].

Background: A diagnostic workup of a renal mass will rarely lead to the diagnosis of a tubulopathy. We would like to stress the importance of taking a detailed history and of evaluating these findings in the context of the clinical symptoms.

Case Report: A 3 year old boy with a renal mass, diagnosed due to urinary tract infection, was referred to exclude renal malignancy.

Degradation of tungsten coils implanted into the subclavian artery of New Zealand white rabbits is not associated with local or systemic toxicity.

Objective: To assess whether corrosion of tungsten coils is related to residual shunting and to evaluate whether elevated tungsten serum levels are associated with local or systemic toxicity.

Methods: Tungsten coils (SPI, Balt, France) were implanted into the subclavian artery of New Zealand white rabbits leading to a residual high-flow shunt in 5/10 rabbits. Serial serum tungsten levels, complete blood count and clinical chemistry were analysed prior to the implantation as well as 15 min, 2 and 4 months thereafter.