Genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis as revealed by immunoprinting.

This study was designed to examine the immunogenetic background predisposing to multiple sclerosis (MS). Three hundred fifty-eight clinically well-characterized MS patients from Germany were investigated and compared to 395 healthy control subjects. Each individual was genotyped for 22 polymorphic markers located within or close to immunorelevant candidate genes including HLA-DRB1*, T-cell receptor (TCR), cell interaction molecules, cytokines, and cytokine receptor genes.

[Somatic and psychomotor development of children of diabetic mothers in the 4th year in relation to neonatal findings].

340 infants of mothers with type I diabetes (IDM) were examined during the neonatal period for gestational age, somatic data and clinical symptoms of diabetogenic foetopathy and assigned to one of three groups: group I--those whose weight development was delayed or appropriate for gestational age and without symptoms of foetopathy; group II--neonates who were overweight or of appropriate weight for their gestational age and who showed clear symptoms of foetopathy; group III--macrosomic infants (weight and length in advance of gestational age) without any major symptoms of foetopathy. In a pilot study preparing for more comprehensive follow up, 20 children from each group were examined in their fourth year to check their psychomotor and somatic development. To evaluate their growth additional data obtained on IDMs by correspondence were included.

[Follow-up studies of high-risk children at the time of entering school in comparison with a normal group].

Somatic, neurological and psychological follow-up examinations performed on 54 high-risk children for school enrollment gave no significant differences in comparison with a randomized equal number of normal control children, with regard to physical development and maturation as indicated by carporadiograms. So far as neurological development was concerned, there was a slightly more frequent occurrence of minimal defects and, anamnestically, a marked retardation in the mastering of static functions (running) and speech development in the high-risk group. The results were in correlation with the psychological test findings.

[An analysis of the efficiency-stage in pupils suffering from chronic nonspecific lung diseases (CNSLD) (author's transl)].

Investigations were performed into school-certificates of 70 school-children suffering from CNSLD (controllgroup: 360 healthy children). Although the quantity of the days of the absence from school in the CNSLD-group is more than six times higher--most differences between the two groups were not significant, or the results of the sick children were even rather better than those of healthy ones. The eventual causes of this phenomenon are discussed (a good attitude in learning? a systematic promotion of this children at school and in the family? etc.