Evidence for a teratogenic risk in the offspring of health personnel exposed to ionizing radiation?!

Background: The evidence concerning safety of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation on teratogenic effects mainly relies on animal models, disaster epidemiology and experience in cancer etiology. Following an explorative result on maternal exposure in medical occupations we conducted a feasibility study, addressing congenital anomalies (CA) in the offspring of health workers potentially exposed to radiation.

Methods: In a prospective follow-up study, we enrolled women, identified by mandatory registration at the office of radiation protection as wearing a dosimeter.

Birth defects in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in Germany.

Living in the vicinity of nuclear power plants (NPP) is discussed here in terms of adverse health effects. A prospective population-based cohort study was conducted to evaluate whether the prevalence of birth defects in the vicinity of NPPs is elevated and scrutinize a possible distance correlation. A birth cohort born to mothers living within 10 km of two selected NPPs (study region) was compared to a region without NPP (comparison region), and an active surveillance of all live births, stillbirths, and induced abortions in the defined regions was performed.

Primary cardiac paraganglioma.

A primary cardiac paraganglioma was identified in a 59-year-old Caucasian male who complained of palpitations and chest pain. The neoplasm (4.7 cm in diameter) was surgically excised from the left posterior atrium.

MRI-controlled analysis of 104 patients with painful bone marrow edema in different joint localizations treated with the prostacyclin analogue iloprost.

Background: Bone marrow edema (BME) is a common cause of pain of the musculoskeletal system. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of iloprost in the treatment of BME of different localizations and etiologies.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed 104 patients (54 male, 50 female) with BME.

Iloprost for the treatment of bone marrow edema in the hindfoot.

The parenteral application of the vasoactive drug, iloprost, might be a viable option for the treatment of BMES of different origins, especially ischemic ones. In edema that is secondary to osteoarthrosis or stress, the effect of therapy with iloprost depends on the grade of the basic disease. The natural course of the disease, as well as the normalization of the signal pattern of the MRI, seem to be accelerated.

[Pre- and postnatal kidney screening compared: an analysis of 34,450 newborn infants of the Mainz model birth register].

Unlabelled: Malformations of the internal urogenital system are common. The birth registry "Mainz Model" reflects population-based prevalence of renal malformations, calculates sensitivity rates of the prenatal ultrasonographic findings and demonstrates rates of surgery needed.

Method And Material: During the study period (1990-2001) all newborns of the area of Mainz were examined according to a standardized procedure including ultrasonography of the kidneys.

Cutaneous myiasis in Arkansas.

Myiasis is a rare infestation of any part of the body by larvae of Diptera. Cutaneous myiasis, the most common form seen in tropical climates of Central America, South America and Africa, are extremely rare in the United States. An extraordinary case of cutaneous myiasis was seen in Hot Springs in a 71-year-old healthy white male upon his return from the rain forest of Costa Rica.

Malformations in newborn: results based on 30,940 infants and fetuses from the Mainz congenital birth defect monitoring system (1990-1998).

Prevalence rates of birth defects in the Federal Republic of Germany are informative to assess the general background risk of having a child with a birth defect. They provide basic figures to determine temporal and regional prevalence trends, to evaluate and initiate preventive measures and to initiate research projects. To avoid observer, definition and collection bias, active monitoring systems are required.

[Pre- and postpartum ultrasound examinations for diagnosis of urogenital abnormalities].

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate prenatal and postpartal sonographic investigations to diagnose congenital uropathies.

Patients/methods: The Mainz birth defect monitoring system, the "Mainzer Model", was launched in 1990. Over a period of five years (1/90 to 1/95) 19,028 newborns underwent postpartal sonographic examination.

Normal values of M mode echocardiographic measurements of more than 2000 healthy infants and children in central Europe.

Objective: To obtain normal M mode (one dimensional) echocardiographic values in a substantial sample of normal infants and children.

Design: Data were obtained over three years from a single centre in central Europe.

Patients: 2036 healthy infants and children aged one day to 18 years.

Prolonged severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats does not cause subtle brain damage.

Objective: Some patients who survived severe hemorrhagic shock (HS) seem to exhibit persistent subtle neurobehavioral deficits. This finding is of concern if limited hypotensive fluid resuscitation is applied in hypotensive victims with penetrating trauma. This study was designed to determine whether subtle brain damage would occur in rats after severe prolonged HS.

Prenatal diagnosis of major malformations: quality control of routine ultrasound examinations based on a five-year study of 20,248 newborn fetuses and infants.

Antenatal ultrasound screening for birth defects is increasingly becoming a routine procedure of prenatal care. Prenatal detection of malformations and subsequent adjustment of obstetric management are essential for secondary prevention. It is unknown whether ultrasound screening is effective in all pregnant women, or should only be performed in high risk populations.

[Does maternal obesity increase the risk of fetal abnormalities? Analysis of 20,248 newborn infants of the Mainz Birth Register for detecting congenital abnormalities].

Aim: To investigate the risk of congenital malformations for newborn of obese women (BMI > or = 30) compared with women of average prepregnancy weight.

Methods: We performed a prospective, population-based case-control study of 20,248 newborn born in the city of Mainz. A total of 1,451 infants (cases) with and 8,088 without congenital malformations (controls) were analysed.

Serial examination of 20,248 newborn fetuses and infants: correlations between drug exposure and major malformations.

Maternal medication during the first trimester of pregnancy has been discussed as a risk factor for development of birth defects. The correlation between maternal drug use and major malformations was investigated in a population-based case-control study in Mainz. Over a period of 5 years (1990-1994), 20,248 livebirths, stillbirths, and abortions underwent physical and sonographic examination, and anamnestic data were collected.

Prolonged latencies of the N2 and P3 of the auditory event-related potential in children at risk for schizophrenia. A preliminary report.

In previous studies investigating long latency components of the event-related potential (ERP), schizophrenic patients generally showed reduced P3 amplitudes and in some studies prolonged N2 or P3 latencies. As there is a higher risk of offspring of schizophrenics than of mentally healthy parents developing this disease, the present study was intended to clarify whether ERP components (in particular the N2 and P3) differ between these two groups of children. Twelve high-risk and 12 age-matched control children (aged 9-16 years) performed an auditory oddball task in order to assess late ERP components.

VEP, physiological and psychological circadian variations in humans.

Amplitudes and latencies of components of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were analysed during the 24-h cycle in humans. Circadian variations of other physiological parameters (oral temperature, urine volume and urinary potassium excretion) and of psychomotor performance (grip strength, tapping rate, visual reaction time and performance on a letter cancellation test) were also assessed. Eight male volunteers (aged 20-34 years) were tested twice over a period of 30 h.