[Preterm Birth Rate at 6 Centres for Perinatal Medicine in Baden-Württemberg - Potential to Reduce Prematurity].

Background: The Federal Joint Committee of Germany defined structural and staff requirements for the care of preterm and term infants as a proxy measure for quality. Neonatal outcome has been evaluated as a quality marker for a long time. While Germany has one of the highest preterm birth rates in Europe, no data exist on centre-specific preterm birth rates.

Effects of fluid composition on mist composition.

In a reported study, mists of selected synthetic metalworking fluids were generated in laboratory experiments by two processes, nebulization (atomization) and air sparging (bubbling). Short-chain fatty acid species were determined by in situ trimethylsilyl derivatization. Comparison of relative amounts of the short-chain acids collected from mists generated by nebulization with those generated by sparging showed that the sparged mists had significantly higher amounts of neodecanoic, nonanoic, and dodecanedioic acids.

Basal and pentagastrin stimulated acid secretion in duodenal ulcer subjects before and after Helicobacter pylori eradication: a 12-month follow-up study.

Background: The effect of infection by Helicobacter pylori on gastric physiology in duodenal ulcer subjects is controversial. There is evidence that the infection is associated with abnormalities in gastrin homeostasis. Consistent changes in pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretory status have proved difficult to establish.

Changes in mucosal levels of transforming growth factor-alpha from the oxyntic region and ulcer site during duodenal ulcer healing with ranitidine or sucralfate.

Changes in the levels of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in gastric mucosa during ulcer healing were studied in 24 patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcers, treated either with ranitidine (300 mg daily, at night) or with sucralfate (2 g twice daily). Endoscopic biopsies were taken from the gastric fundus and from the ulcer margin at baseline and after 7-10 days of treatment. TGF-alpha levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in paired samples from 22 patients (fundal) and 18 patients (duodenal).

Influence of physical parameters on the germ-reducing effect of microwave irradiation on medicinal plants.

Plant material is to a different extent contaminated by microorganisms. As DAB 10 demands limiting values for aerobic bacteria, for yeasts and moulds, a reduction of microorganisms of the crude herbal drug is necessary. An effective method is the application of microwave irradiation.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in the African setting, with special reference to reinfection and duodenal ulcer recurrence.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the natural history of duodenal ulcer disease, and to determine the incidence of reinfection in adult patients where H pylori had been eradicated in a community with a high prevalence of the infection. An investigator blinded study, with 24 month endoscopic follow up, in subjects where H pylori had been eradicated, and similarly treated subjects where it had not been eradicated was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital. The patients consisted of a volunteer sample of 48 patients with endoscopically proved active duodenal ulcer disease.

Effect of sucralfate on Helicobacter pylori and severity of gastritis in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Background: Duodenal ulcer relapse rates have been reported to be lower following healing with sucralfate. The question arises whether this is related to an effect on Helicobacter pylori.

Methods: In order to investigate this possibility, 43 patients with active duodenal ulcer were entered into a study.

[The application of microwave energy in preparing medicinal plant drugs. 1].

Using a specially constructed microwave device, containing a steady-state-broadcasting magnetron that is infinitely adjustable within a range of 100 to 1200 W, the applicability of microwave energy for drying medicinal plants was investigated. When optimising the drying parameters (e.g.

Helicobacter pylori prevalence in non-ulcer dyspepsia--ethnic and socio-economic differences.

Helicobacter pylori is an important cause of gastritis and a number of therapeutic trials suggest that it may be important in the genesis of duodenal ulcer recurrence. The reported prevalence of gastric colonisation by the organism varies considerably. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to determine its prevalence in non-ulcer dyspeptics and to determine whether this is influenced by age, race, sex, socio-economic status, educational level and the number of persons sharing accommodation.

Triple therapy with sucralfate is as effective as triple therapy containing bismuth in eradicating Helicobacter pylori and reducing duodenal ulcer relapse rates.

Duodenal ulcer relapse rates after therapy with sucralfate or bismuth are lower than those after H2-receptor antagonist therapy. This may be mediated by an antibacterial effect of these drugs on Helicobacter pylori. Bismuth has become an integral part of 'triple therapy' because of its documented anti-H.

A maintenance regimen of sucralfate 2 g at night for reduced relapse rate in duodenal ulcer disease. A one-year follow-up study.

One hundred seventeen patients with recently healed duodenal ulcers were entered into a one-year maintenance study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with sucralfate 2 g at night, cimetidine 400 mg, or placebo. The sucralfate versus placebo leg of the study was double-blind, whereas the cimetidine leg was single-blind.

Nocturnal dosage regimen of sucralfate in maintenance treatment of gastric ulcer.

Sixty-six patients with recently healed gastric ulcers were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, six-month maintenance trial to determine whether sucralfate 2 g at night reduces the liability to recurrent ulceration. Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to treatment with sucralfate and 33 were assigned to placebo. Endoscopy was performed at the time of entry into the study and at 24 weeks, or earlier if clinical relapse occurred during this period.

Aortic dissection in adolescence.

Although aortic dissection is rare in children, it does occur, particularly in those with congenital heart disease, connective tissue disorders or severe trauma. Prompt diagnosis is essential. Aortic dissection should be considered in children and adolescents with severe abdominal pain, especially pain that migrates.

A comparison of sucralfate dosage schedule in duodenal ulcer healing. Two grams twice a day versus one gram four times a day.

The conventional dosage schedule for sucralfate is 1 g 4 i.d., but a dose of 2 g 2 i.

Comparison of pirenzepine with cimetidine in duodenal ulcer disease. A short-term and maintenance study.

Sixty-seven patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulceration were entered into a double-blind study and randomized to treatment with pirenzepine (PZ) (Gastrozepin; Boehringer Ingelheim) 50 mg twice daily or cimetidine (CM) (Tagamet; Smith Kline & French Laboratories) 400 mg twice daily, given 30 minutes before breakfast and supper. Patients underwent endoscopic examination before entry, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks if unhealed at 4 weeks. Once healing was achieved, 43 patients were entered into a single-blind maintenance study with either PZ 50 mg at night or CM 400 mg at night according to their original randomization.

Peptic ulcer. A follow-up study.

One hundred and ten patients who had been entered into an ulcer healing study 2 to 4 years previously were recalled during an 8-week period for clinical assessment and endoscopy. Fifty-five gastric ulcer patients were followed-up after an average period of 21.2 months.

Maintenance therapy with sucralfate reduces rate of gastric ulcer recurrence.

Seventy-two patients with recently healed gastric ulcers were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, six-month maintenance trial to assess whether sucralfate, 1 g in the morning and 2 g at night, reduces the propensity for recurrent ulceration. Patients were assessed clinically at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. Endoscopy was performed at the time of entry into the study and at 24 weeks, or earlier if clinical relapse occurred during this period.

Recurrence of duodenal ulceration in patients on maintenance ranitidine.

Fifty-seven patients with recently healed duodenal ulcers were entered into a 1-year trial of maintenance therapy with ranitidine ( Zantac ; Glaxo) 150 mg at night to assess the safety and efficacy of the drug. Twenty-two of the patients were withdrawn because they violated the trial protocol. No serious side-effects were noted, but only 19 of the 35 patients who met the requirements of the study were free of endoscopic evidence of ulcer recurrence at the end of the trial period.

Effect of the H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine on depression and anxiety in duodenal ulcer patients.

Depression and anxiety were measured during the course of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist, ranitidine (150 mg twice daily), in patients suffering from duodenal ulcer but free of systemic disease. There were 25 patients in the ranitidine group (mean age: 33.2 years) and 28 in the placebo group (mean age: 37.

Relapse rates following initial ulcer healing with sucralfate and cimetidine.

The relapse rate following successful short-term therapy with sucralfate or cimetidine was studied in a group of 86 patients with recently healed duodenal or gastric ulcer. The patients were endoscoped on clinical relapse or, routinely, at 6 weeks, 6 months and one year. Patients whose ulcers had healed on cimetidine relapsed earlier than did those whose ulcers had healed on sucralfate (p less than 0.

Anaphylaxis: pathophysiology, clinical presentations and treatment.

Anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions are abrupt, often life-threatening episodes, secondary to the liberation of certain chemical mediators, and their effects on target organs. The number of agents known to trigger such reactions is expanding, with the most common fatal reactions secondary to penicillins, iodinated contrast material (ICM), and hymenoptera stings. Limited studies point to upper airway obstruction and circulatory collapse as the causes of death in man.

Relapse rates after initial ulcer healing with sucralfate and cimetidine.

The relapse rate after successful short-term therapy with sucralfate (Sc) or cimetidine (Cm) was studied in a group of 86 patients with recently healed duodenal or gastric ulcers. The patients were endoscoped on clinical relapse or, routinely, at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Patients whose ulcers had healed with Cm relapsed earlier than did those whose ulcers had healed with Sc (p less than 0.

Ranitidine in the treatment of gastric ulceration.

Seventy-two patients with endoscopically proven gastric ulcers were entered into a prospective controlled trial to assess the efficacy of ranitidine and cimetidine in ulcer healing. All patients were biopsied on entry and at subsequent endoscopies. After exclusion of 7 patients during the first month of treatment, the remaining 65 patients, 47 males and 18 females, mean age 48.