Women's and providers' attitudes toward menstrual suppression with extended use of oral contraceptives.

The United States Food and Drug Administration approved a dedicated extended regimen of oral contraceptive (OC) pill in the fall of 2003. Few studies have explored how women or providers feel about menstrual suppression. This study describes women's and providers' attitudes toward menstrual suppression.

Significance of a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony for parents of Jewish children with developmental disabilities.

In the Jewish religion, a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony is the rite of passage from childhood towards adulthood. Twenty-one youngsters who attended two special education schools in Israel participated in group bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies. Parents were interviewed both before the learning process and after the ceremony.

Application of heated electrodes operating in a non-isothermal mode for interference elimination with amperometric biosensors.

Heated electrodes were applied for the non-isothermal operation of amperometric glucose biosensors based on glucose oxidase immobilised on the electrode surface by entrapment within a polymer layer. The localised deposition of the polymer film under simultaneous entrapment of the enzyme was achieved by an electrochemically induced pH-modulation in the diffusion zone in front of the electrode, thus altering the solubility of the polymer chains. This non-manual sensor preparation protocol could be successfully used for the modification of a novel indirectly heated electrode.

[The Child and Adolescent Health Survey as a source of data for assessment of the essential aspects of health care in childhood and adolescence].

The German National Health Survey for Children and Adolescents aims at collecting representative data on the health status of the population in the 0 to 18 years age bracket. Examination of about 18.000 participants is planned.

Progress toward measles elimination in Germany.

While the former East Germany (FEG) achieved a reduction of measles incidence to <1 case per 100,000 population before reunification in 1990, the former West Germany (FWG) experienced significant measles morbidity. In 2001, according to statutory surveillance data, the incidence of measles was still higher in FWG than in FEG (8.7 vs.

Pseudomembranous tracheobronchial aspergillosis: a rare manifestation of invasive aspergillosis in a non-neutropenic patient with Hodgkin's disease.

Pseudomembranous tracheobronchial aspergillosis coincident with systemic pulmonary aspergillosis represents a rare manifestation of fungal infection in immunocompromized hosts. We report on a patient with recurrent Hodgkin's disease, showing this infectious pattern after treatment with corticosteroids within the antineoplastic schedule, whereas neutropenia--the main risk factor for mold infections--had not occurred. An impaired number of helper T lymphocytes was merely detected as an additional, but hypothetical risk factor, when investigating the status of immunosuppression.

[Not Available].

On the basis of relevant clinical studies performed so far, selective COX-2 inhibitors exhibit a therapeutic advantage over conventional NSAIDs with regard to the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) damage such as perforation, ulceration, and bleeding (PUBs). The results prove that a risk reduction could be demonstrated during long-term treatment (6-9 months); nevertheless, PUBs cannot be ruled out under treatment with selective COX-2 inhibitors. In contrast to this, dyspeptic symptoms occur very frequently and their incidence is comparable to that of conventional NSAIDs.

[Not Available].

Vaccination, along with the improvement of social and hygienic living conditions, has played a key role in the prevention and control of infectious diseases due to its effectiveness, its favourable risk-benefit ratio and strong acceptance on the part of society and health policy makers. The further development of vaccination programs depends on the continual collection of valid data on the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases, immunisation rates, seroprevalence, vaccine related complications as well as on the evaluation of existing programs. The Protection against Infection Act (IfSG) in effect since January 1, 2001 has closed important gaps in the surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and the implementation of vaccination programs in Germany.

CD28(-/-) mice show defects in cellular and humoral immunity but are able to control infection with murine gammaherpesvirus 68.

The role of CD28-dependent costimulatory interactions in the development and maintenance of antiviral immune responses was investigated in a mouse model of gammaherpesvirus infection. CD28(-/-) mice could clear a productive infection with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68), although early lung viral titers were significantly increased. Both CD28(-/-) and CD28(+/+) mice maintained effective long-term control of MHV-68.

Redox modification of proteins using sequential-parallel electrochemistry in microtiter plates.

Redox modification of proteins has frequently been used to improve the electron-transfer properties in amperometric biosensors. One approach is the coordinative labelling of histidine residues with metal complexes like [Ru(bpy)2Cl2] and [Ru(bpy)2CO3]. Although the reaction depends on a variety of parameters no detailed optimisation of these modification procedures has been done, most probably due to the complexity of the parameter matrix and the expected differences for any individual protein.

[Hydro-MRI in inflammatory bowel diseases: a comparison with colonoscopy and histology].

Purpose: To compare hydro-MRI with colonoscopy and biopsy specimen regarding the assessment of inflammatory activity and the differentiation of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Material And Methods: After an oral bowel opacification using 1000 ml of a 2.5% mannitol solution and a rectal bowel opacification using 250-500 ml of a 0.

Influence of circadian time and age on glomerular angiotensin II receptors in normotensive Sprague-Dawley and transgenic hypertensive TGR(mREN2)27 rats.

In male heterozygous transgenic hypertensive rats, TGR(mREN2)27 (TGR), exhibiting an inverse blood pressure profile and in normotensive Sprague-Dawley (SPRD) controls, the density and affinity of angiotensin II receptors were determined at six circadian times in glomeruli of animals 11 weeks old kept under light-dark 12h:12 (LD 12:12) conditions. Angiotensin II receptors were also studied in rats 18-20 weeks old of both strains at 2h after light onset. As a measure of renal excretory functions, diuresis, creatinine, and protein excretion were monitored using metabolic cages.

Stimulation via CD40 can substitute for CD4 T cell function in preventing reactivation of a latent herpesvirus.

Reactivation of latent herpesviruses is a particular problem in immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients, who lack effective CD4 T helper cell function. An important question is whether residual immune defenses can be mobilized to combat such opportunistic infections, in the absence of CD4 T cells. In the present study, we used a mouse model of opportunistic infection to determine whether stimulation via CD40 could substitute for CD4 T cell function in preventing reactivation of a latent herpesvirus.

Regulation of microglia by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells: selective analysis in CD45-congenic normal and Toxoplasma gondii-infected bone marrow chimeras.

Microglia, the resident macrophage population of the central nervous system, is rapidly activated in murine Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE). However, the precise contribution of microglia to intracerebral immune reactions and the in vivo regulation of microglial activity are still poorly understood. To selectively analyse microglial reactions in TE, we have established a model of radiation-induced CD45-congenic bone marrow chimeras between CD45.

Comorbidity, smoking behavior and treatment outcome.

Background: A sizeable sector of the population continues to smoke cigarettes despite our efforts to prevent and treat this addiction. We explored the relationships between lifetime comorbidity, psychiatric symptomatology, smoking behavior and treatment outcome to better understand vulnerability to smoking and treatment response.

Methods: One hundred and twenty smokers at two sites were enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, 10-week smoking cessation trial with fluoxetine and behavioral treatment.

Immune reactions to Listeria monocytogenes in the brain.

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a common pathogen of cerebral infections. Experimental studies in mice have revealed that epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, ependymal cells, macrophages/microglia, and neurons are the target cells of LM. For the intracerebral pathogenesis of LM cell-to-cell spread via phospholipase C was particularly important.

Curriculum renewal in child psychiatry.

Objective: To ensure uniform design and evaluation of a clerkship curriculum for child and adolescent psychiatry teaching common disorders and problems in an efficient manner across 5 teaching sites and to include structures for continuous improvement.

Method: The curriculum committee selected for course inclusion disorders and problems of child psychiatry that were commonly encountered by primary care physicians. Instruction methods that encouraged active student learning were selected.

Plant-derived acetophenones with antiasthmatic and anti-inflammatory properties: inhibitory effects on chemotaxis, right angle light scatter and actin polymerization of polymorphonuclear granulocytes.

3-Methoxy- and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl substituted 4-hydroxyacetophenones and some of the corresponding 4-O-glucosides revealed inhibitory activity on LTB4-, fMLP- and PAF-induced chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN). Blocking of PMN myeloperoxidase (MPO), which is required for the intracellular activation of acetophenones, caused a loss of activity. By in vitro activation of apocynin (1) with human MPO and H2O2 and subsequent chromatographic purification an apocynin-free fraction was obtained, which contained the major metabolite.

GLP-1 release in man after lower large bowel resection or intrarectal glucose administration.

Background: This study addresses the question whether the insulinotropic gut hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), is released from the lower large bowel upon oral or rectal glucose uptake.

Methods: It was evaluated whether rectum or sigmoid colon resection alters glucose homeostasis or the plasma levels of the insulinotropic gut hormone, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), or GLP-1. Six men and 3 women (age 63 +/- 8 years, BMI 25.