[Sepsis score in surgical intensive care medicine].

In a prospective study (400 patients, intensive care stay > 18 h) the following data were documented daily: Clinical sepsis, a modified sepsis score, Apache II-score, number of organ failure, Elastase-concentrations and injury severity score (ISS > or = 20 = polytrauma). On admission day a prognostic assessment for early diagnosis of septic complications during intensive care could be demonstrated by a combination of the modified sepsis score and the number of organ failures and the presence of polytrauma. All other parameters did not have any predictive value.

The content and distribution of glycosaminoglycans in the ejaculates of normal and vasectomized men.

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of sperm and seminal plasma of normal men and seminal plasma of vasectomized individuals have been identified and quantified by two dimensional (2D) electrophoresis. The sperm contains predominantly CSC and HS as well as significant amounts of DS which achieves a high level in the sperm of the youngest man, while HA and LSC are either undetectable or present in small quantities. In normal seminal plasma, characteristically, DS is essentially lacking whereas CSC is the major GAG and HA and LSC account for relatively high percentages.

Immunoglobulin subclass concentration in preterm infants treated prophylactically with different intravenous immunoglobins.

The most immature infants have critically low concentrations of all immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses, associated with a higher risk for pyogenic, respiratory, and meningeal infection. Selective IgG subclass deficiency is an established indication for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) substitution. However, considering that therapeutic efficacy of IVIG is dependent on its pharmacokinetics, we studied peak and trough IgG subclass serum levels during the neonatal period (28 days) in a group of 34 healthy preterm babies (30.

[The hematological laboratory of clinical practice].

The spectrum of analyses of a hematological laboratory comprises the counts of erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets, the determinations of the hemoglobin concentration and of the hematocrit, the calculation of the red cell indices and the microscopic examination of the blood film. The determination of white blood cells, platelets, hematocrit and MCV as well as staining of the blood film should be performed within two hours after blood sampling. The hemoglobin concentration, red-cell count and MCH value remain constant for five days, provided that the blood samples is stored at 4 degrees C.