Measurement of peritoneal fluid handling in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis using dextran 70.

Fluid kinetics were studied in children treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) aged between 2 and 15 years. Dextran 70 was used as a volume marker. A 4-h dwell was studied with a dwell volume of 40 mg/kg.

Complement in serum and dialysate in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: During continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), activation of complement in the peritoneal cavity may theoretically occur, with inappropriately high or low levels of certain complement factors in dialysate as a consequence. In a group of children on CAPD, it was tested whether levels of a number of complement factors in dialysate were in the range that was predicted on the basis of their molecular weight.

Design: Serum and dialysate levels of C1q, C3, C4, C3d, B, D, and P were measured after a night dwell in children on CAPD.

Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human erythropoietin in children treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Unlabelled: In children treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) renal anaemia is preferably treated by intraperitoneal administration of erythropoietin, since subcutaneous administration is painful and frightening for the child. Pharmacokinetics of erythropoietin were studied in three groups of children treated by CAPD. In group subcutaneous (SC) (n = 5) erythropoietin was administered subcutaneously, whereas in group intraperitoneal 1 (IP1) (n = 8) and intraperitoneal 2 (IP2) (n = 8) erythropoietin was given intraperitoneally during a 12-h dwell.

The modified Senning operation for cavopulmonary connection with autologous tissue.

Unlabelled: A modified Senning technique was used for intraatrial channeling of the systemic venous blood into the pulmonary arteries to create a Fontan circulation in 26 children, six with tricuspid atresia and 20 with complex congenital heart disease. In this technique a flap of atrial free wall tissue is used to create an atrial tunnel without artificial material. Eight patients had subaortic stenosis and required a Damus-Kay-Stansel procedure, in addition.

Measurement of peritoneal fluid handling in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis using autologous hemoglobin.

Objective: Previous measurements of peritoneal fluid handling in children treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were performed with human albumin as a fluid marker. A major disadvantage of this substance is that endogenous patient albumin enters the peritoneal cavity during the dwell period. For this reason peritoneal fluid kinetics were measured in a group of children on CAPD, using autologous hemoglobin as a volume marker.

The serum complement system in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: During continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the loss of complement factors via the dialysate may cause complement deficiencies. This hypothesis was tested in a group of children treated with CAPD.

Design: Classical (CH50) and alternative (AP50) complement activity and serum levels of factors C1q, C3, C4, C3d, B, D, and P in CAPD patients were compared to normal controls and to children with preterminal renal failure.

The Kleinert dynamic splint: where it fails and how it can be modified.

After primary tenoraphy of flexor tendons one often finds a hampered function of the DIP-joint. Analysis of the pattern of early mobilization exercised by our patients in the Kleinert splint and analysis of the excursions of the flexor tendons of fresh unembalmed specimens brought us to the conclusion that the Kleinert dynamic splint fails in maintaining a sliding movement of the deep and the superficial flexor tendons along each other because the splint excludes motion at the distal interphalangeal joint. Based on our observations we modified the Kleinert dynamic splint.

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) in a premature newborn as treatment of overhydration and hyperkalemia due to sepsis.

If renal replacement therapy is required in the neonatal period, peritoneal dialysis is generally applied. In some cases, for example after extensive abdominal surgery, peritoneal dialysis is not possible. Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration may then be an attractive alternative.

Continuous infusion of interleukin-1 beta in rats induces a profound fall in plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

During infectious diseases, striking alterations in plasma concentrations of cholesterol (hypocholesterolemia) and triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) may occur. It has been suggested that interleukin-1 is a mediator of these alterations. We studied the effects of continuous administration of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta) on plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha is associated with disease activity and the degree of anemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

To elucidate the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in determining anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 24 patients were studied for disease parameters, TNF serum levels and bone marrow for erythroid colony growth and compared with six controls. Serum TNF alpha was highest in ACD and correlated well with RA disease parameters. Both TNF and other RA disease parameters correlated inversely with degree of anemia.

Intraperitoneal administration of recombinant human erythropoietin in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

In 16 children treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) recombinant human erythropoietin was administered intraperitoneally for the treatment of renal anaemia. The mean treatment period was 8.3 months.

On the origin and significance of serum CA-125 concentrations in 97 patients with endometriosis before, during, and after buserelin acetate, nafarelin, or danazol.

Objective: To further elucidate the origin and significance of serum CA-125 in pelvic endometriosis.

Design: Retrospective.

Patients: Ninety-seven women with endometriosis who participated in two trials: (1) open-label study on buserelin acetate (n = 51) and (2) comparative, placebo-controlled study on nafarelin (n = 31) versus danazol (n = 15) (2:1 ratio).

Adrenocortical function: an indicator of severity of disease and survival in chronic critically ill patients.

Plasma cortisol levels and modified Apache II (Apache IIm-stay) severity of disease scores were determined at weekly intervals in 159 patients who were treated for at least 7 days at the Critical Care Unit of our hospital. The mean (+/- SD) plasma cortisol level (0.60 +/- 0.

Subcutaneous injection or infusion of gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist buserelin in the treatment of enlarged uteri harboring leiomyomata.

Thirteen women with symptomatic enlarged leiomyomatous uteri completed 6 months treatment with the gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist (GnRH-a) buserelin, 600 micrograms daily subcutaneously (s.c.).

CV 205-502, a new dopamine agonist, versus bromocriptine in the treatment of hyperprolactinaemia.

Forty-seven hyperprolactinaemic patients with serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations persistently above 1500 mU/l were treated with the new dopamine agonist CV 205-502 or bromocriptine in a prospective, randomized and double-blind fashion during a 24-week period. Two women had to be excluded because of poor compliance in the first month. Therefore 45 patients remained for evaluation.

Limits of reproducibility of cross-sectional echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular muscle mass.

The total intrinsic variability of echocardiographically determined left ventricular muscle mass was evaluated in this study. Cross-sectional left ventricular echocardiograms were made in 13 normal volunteers (8 men, 5 women), ages 31 to 41 years (mean 36) with an interval period of about eleven months. We used the parasternal long axis view, the short axis view at the papillary muscle level and the four-chamber view from the apex.

Impaired erythropoietin responsiveness to the anaemia in rheumatoid arthritis. A possible inverse relationship with iron stores and effects of the oral iron chelator 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one.

We investigated the serum erythropoietin (Epo) response in 11 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without anaemia, 7 with RA and iron deficiency (ID) and 12 with RA and anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). In all patients the serum Epo was higher than in healthy subjects. Apparently this increase was insufficient to prevent anaemia in ID and ACD.

Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for unconjugated estrogen in urine: comparison with a fluorometric assay for total estrogen and application in an in vitro fertilization program.

A time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) for unconjugated estrogens in human urine is described. 6-Keto-17 beta-estradiol-6-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime:bovine serum albumin is immobilized onto microtiter strip wells and the coated wells are incubated with 17 beta-estradiol standard preparations or unknowns with a polyclonal antiserum to 17 beta-estradiol-16,17-monosuccinyl:albumin. The antiserum-bound estrogen is detected by incubation with a europium-labeled anti-rabbit IgG that serves as both second antibody and tracer.

Pharmacokinetics of rectal diclofenac and its hydroxy metabolites in man.

Diclofenac 100 mg suppository is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of six human volunteers. Plasma concentrations of 4'-hydroxydiclofenac and diclofenac could be measured; the concentrations of the three other metabolites were below the detection limit of the HPLC analysis. The apparent half-lives of diclofenac and 4'-OH-diclofenac are, respectively 1.

Limits of reproducibility of cross-sectional echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction.

The total intrinsic variability of echocardiographically determined ejection fraction was evaluated in this study. Cross-sectional left ventricular echocardiograms were made in 14 normal volunteers (9 men, 5 women), ages 31 to 41 years (mean 36 years) with an interval period of about 11 months. We used the parasternal long-axis view, the short-axis view at the papillary muscle level and the four-chamber view from the apex.

High-performance liquid chromatography of sulphadimethoxine and its N1-glucuronide, N4-acetyl and N4-acetyl-N1-glucuronide metabolites in human plasma and urine.

Sulphadimethoxine is metabolized in humans by N1-glucuronidation and by N4-acetylation. Sulphadimethoxine-N1-glucuronide can be measured by the direct high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and without enzymic deglucuronidation. The N1-glucuronide can be measured by an isocratic as well as by a gradient mobile phase.

N-oxidation, O-demethylation, and excretion of trimethoprim by the turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans.

Trimethoprim was excreted within one hour after being given orally to the turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans. No O-demethylated or N-oxide metabolites were detected.

Antegrade percutaneous dilation of ureteral strictures after kidney transplantation.

Ureteral obstruction after renal transplantation is due mostly to retroperitoneal fibrosis in the area of surgical dissection, and pyeloureterostomy is the treatment of choice for such an obstruction. For confined strictures, especially at the site of the ureteroneocystostomy, endoscopic dilation may be a good alternative. Antegrade percutaneous dilation was used to treat six patients with ureteral stricture after kidney transplantation.

Determination of prostatic volume by ultrasonography. A useful procedure in patients with prostatism?

Digital palpation is rather unreliable for estimating the volume of the prostate. Ultrasonographic measurements have been advocated as a more appropriate method. We examined 47 patients ultrasonographically.