[Levels of plasma amino acids in normal neonates within the context of their postnatal adaptation].

The authors present values of plasma amino acid concentrations assessed on an automatic analyzer in a group of 12 mature neonates whose early and late post-partum adaptation and subsequent psychosomatic development followed-up to the age of 18 months was normal. The amino acids were assessed at the time of delivery, during the maximal weight loss of the infant after the third day and the last estimation was made before discharge from the maternity hospital when the body weight curves of all infants had a rising trend. None of the infants had neonatal jaundice and all were discharged fully breastfed.

[Genealogic study of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Czech population].

In order to test the type of heredity and to assess further genealogical characteristics in our population the authors examined 105 families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The families were subjected to clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examination of relatives (72% grade 1 relatives) as well as to a genealogical and psychological examination. For the proband's siblings the empirical risk of disease was 24%, in male probands it wts four times higher for brothers than sisters, in female probands it was three times higher in sisters.

[Treatment of neonates with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation].

ECMO is a therapeutic method which markedly improved the prognosis of premature or near term infants with severe cardiorespiratory insufficiency where conventional intensive care, incl. pulmonary ventilation and medicamentous support of the circulation did not help. It is method which needs the necessary technical equipment, perfect laboratory facilities and well trained teamwork.

A genetic study in hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (Czech population).

In order to verify the type of heredity and to identify other genealogical characteristics in the Czech population, the authors examined 105 families with incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The probands' siblings presented a 24-percent empiric risk of the disease; in male probands the risk for brothers was four times that for sisters, in female probands it was three times higher for sisters than brothers. Sex ratio of affected siblings was 20:4 in male and 3:14 in female probands.

Aetiological, modifying and lethal factors in cleft lip and palate.

Prenatal factors influencing cleft lip (CL), cleft lip and palate (CLP) and isolated cleft palate (CP) may account for the development of the defect (aetiological factor) for a change in the degree or type of the defect (modifying factor), or for the death of the embryo (lethal factor). Each active factor appears to act in all three directions, all be it at different ratios. This is used for analysis of groups of cleft-effected individuals registered at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Prague, from the catchment area of Bohemia.

[Laryngotrachoesophageal cleft].

In 1988-1989 the authors diagnosed and treated in the Paediatric Faculty Hospital in Prague 5 - Motol three neonates with a rare developmental anomaly--a cleft of the larynx, trachea and oesophagus. This rare anomaly was not yet published in our literature. Once a grade II cleft was observed, twice a grade III cleft.

Sex determination from the hyoid bone by means of discriminant analysis.

Sex diagnosis of skeletal remains represents one of the main problems in the forensic osteological practice. The purpose of the paper was to apply discriminant analysis as the method of its solution--in the set of measurements carried out on the hyoid bone. Classical procedure by R.

[Analogs of gonadoliberin in the treatment of endometriosis and uterine myoma. Comparison of daily subcutaneous treatment and intramuscular depot therapy].

Seven women with endometriosis and three women with uterine myomas were treated for six months with tryptoreline (Decapeptyl, Decapeptyl Depot, Ferring). In six patients with endometriosis improvement was achieved according to the AFS classification and the finding on palpation and ultrasonic examination. In three patients with uterine myoma a reduction by 25-100% was recorded.

[Measurement of blood flow velocity in the cerebral vessels of neonates: a method for continual doppler ultrasound detection].

The authors refer in their paper to previous discussions on methodological problems associated with the application of Doppler continuous ultrasonography in neonatological practice. The methodological investigation was made in a group of twelve neonates with a mean birth weight of 2028 g and gestational age of 33.3 weeks.

[A pre-pregnancy preventive regimen (pre-pregnancy preparation) for cleft lip and palate].

In families with the risk of cleft lip and palate at the Clinic of Plastic Surgery in Prague a preconception and prenatal protective regime (planned conception) is ensured. The protective regime comprises a recommended time of conception, elimination of possible medical causes of the defect, investigation of infections of group TROCH, optimalization of the living and working environment. Gynaecological care is focused on the hormonal status of the women, gynaecological inflammations and hypoplasia of the uterus.

[Fertility and reproductive risks in older women in Czechoslovakia].

From nation-wide and health statistics data on the reproduction of women above 35 years of age in the CSR were obtained for the years 1975, 1980 and 1985. The older women accounted for 3.8% of all parturient women in 1985 and their relative ratio rose in the course of ten years by 1%, but only due to the group of 35-39 years-old.

[Use of genealogical patterns to record family relationships].

The authors draw attention to the possibility to use classical genealogical patterns for recording basic characteristics of families during psychological and psychiatric examinations. In the pattern the birth order, age and sex of siblings, relationship in the dyad or between family members, dominance and submissiveness, extramarital relations etc. can be indicated.

Protective family regimen in cleft lip and palate.

The Department of Plastic Surgery, Prague, provides comprehensive care to children and families where cleft lip and palate occur, which goes under the name of preventive family regimen. Apart from the treatment alone, this regimen is the concern of a number of specialists whose aim is to eliminate the parents' sense of "guilt", and to try, with the aid of the family, to create a situation which would improve the condition for the child's socialization. The geneticist is in charge of the prenatal preventive regimen which consists in the recommendation for the dated conception in an attempt to influence the baby's sex prior to conception, in eliminating potential internal and infectious (TORCH) etiological factors as well as potential teratogenic agents within the family.

Separation of alpha-amino acid enantiomers by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde and a sodium salt of 1-thio-beta-D-glucose.

A sensitive system for D,L-amino acid analysis has been developed, using fluorescence derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde in the presence of sodium salt of 1-thio-beta-D-glucose. The reagents rapidly form fluorescent diastereoisomeric derivatives with primary amino acids. These derivatives are efficiently separated on a conventional reversed-phase column with an analysis time of 60 min.