Pharmacokinetic investigations of bilirubin resorption by the intestine of Gunn rats have shown that the excretion of bilirubin is markedly dependent upon the frequency of defaecation. The serum bilirubin concentration is strongly affected by obstipation or diarrhea, so therefore the influence of diet upon this parameter in Gunn rats was investigated. Not only natural breast milk but also adapted milk strongly inhibited the resorption of bilirubin. This cannot be attributed to an increased defaecation frequency. Instead it is postulated that the resorption of bilirubin is hindered due to a masking effect of the fat present in the nutrient.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of mesh grafts in the face].

The use of unexpanded mesh grafts as split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafts in defects of uneven or highly flexible areas of the face has been discussed as a very successful method. Due to improved diffusion the "take" of grafts is more than 90% when a proper bandage has been applied.

Face↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Alveolar ridge augmentation with nonresorbable hydroxylapatite].

A two year prospective evaluation of the use of nonresorbable, hydroxylapatite to augment deficient alveolar ridges was performed. Implants were delivered subperosteally, usually using local or general anesthesia. The resultant stable, soft tissue base and improved ridge height and contour have contributed to a comfortable, retentive, stable denture for these patients.

Alveolar Bone Loss↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of neonatal jaundice by efficient phototherapy].

Idiopathic neonatal jaundice derives from an initial insufficiency of all processes which metabolize hydrophobic bilirubin into diglucuronide excretable in bile. The term 'neonatal hyperbilirubinemia' should only be used when there is a potential risk of bilirubin intoxication. Thus, the concept hyperbilirubinemia is not necessarily linked to the exceeding of a certain threshold value, but rather to the maturity of the child and its clinical condition. In this sense, hyperbilirubinemia is, therefore, always a syndrome requiring treatment. Besides substitution transfusion, which is highly effective per se, but risky and costly, enzyme induction (e.g., by administration of phenobarbital) represents an elegant causal therapy; however, because of its slow onset of action, it has to be given prophylactically to almost all newborns. In addition, this method requires a general induction of all microsomal enzyme systems, and is hence a major intervention in the process of maturation of the neonatal enzyme systems. Therefore, phototherapy must be regarded as the treatment of choice in cases of idiopathic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. It leads to a bypassing of the hepatic enzyme insufficiency in that by interaction between light with a wavelength of around 460 nm and the bilirubin molecules in the skin, an isomeric, water-soluble, renally secretable bilirubin is produced. The effect of phototherapy, i.e., the reduction in the serum bilirubin concentration under phototherapy, may be described as a simple e-function. The evaluation of this regular occurrence provides important information applicable to the phototherapy procedure: it should not be initiated prematurely, the duration of radiation should be as short as possible, the irradiated surface as large as possible, the radiation source should be exploited to a maximum by keeping the distance from the light source short and using lateral reflectors. As supporting measures intestinal lavage, early oral administration of dextrose or oligosaccharide solution and possibly in some cases also human albumin are very useful.

Bilirubin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Spatial distribution of light intensity under a phototherapy unit].

The distribution of energy under a phototherapy unit containing 8 tubes is uneven; a significant maximum in energy is observed at the centre of the unit. It is therefore desirable to situate the baby at this point of maximum energy. The presence of lateral reflectors however (either metal foil or white sheets), result in not only an increase in energy, but also a more even energy distribution. Therefore the necessity of placing the baby at a special position is no longer required.

Bilirubin↗