Studies indicate that 10-60% of the spinal cord injury (SCI) population retains residual cognitive deficits following the injury. However, previous studies have not used a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and/or a well-matched control group. In addition, no study has determined if cognitive deficits continue more than one year after injury. The present study addressed these limitations by comparing the performance of a chronic SCI group (Mean = 17 years post-injury) and a well-matched control group in four cognitive areas. Memory, visuospatial skills, attention/executive functioning, and processing speed were assessed. Results from a discriminant function analysis indicated that information processing speed best differentiated between the SCI and control groups. Twenty-nine percent of the SCI group performed 1 to 2 standard deviations below the control group mean. These results could not be attributed to psychological status or history of alcohol consumption. The findings emphasize the importance of neuropsychological evaluation after SCI.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiologic and serologic studies of pneumococcal infections with reference to the new STIKO recommendations].

Pneumococcal diseases play an important role especially for babies and toddlers (otitis media) and for older persons (pneumonia). 28% of the 481 reported cases of bacterial meningitides (without meningococcus) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were caused by pneumoniae streptococcus. A pneumococcus antibody study by the land register confirms the high contamination in older people. Therefore STIKO recommends since March 1998 to effect pneumococcal vaccination with every person from the age of 60 and dove as well as for children, adolescents and adults with higher risk due to a primary disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hysteroscopy for gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT).

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) is performed currently using laparoscopy. We report on a pilot-study from 1.1.1987 to 31.12.1987 and from 1.5.1988 to 30.4.1989, in which we used hysteroscopy instead of laparoscopy for the GIFT-procedure. The entering conditions were: unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, failure of previous treatments, proven fertilization capability of the gametes in at least one IVF attempt, and request of the married couple to dispense with laparoscopy during GIFT procedure. Hysteroscopic GIFT was initially performed on hysterectomy specimens, using the Chorionoskop. Continuous flow CO2 through the fallopian tubes did not result in loss of gametes. Twenty-four treatment cycles were performed in 16 patients. In 19 cycles, gametes were transferred into one tube, and in two cycles they were transferred into both tubes. Four of 16 women conceived: one patient delivered at term, three pregnancies ended in a first trimester abortion. These results demonstrate that the hysteroscopic approach to intrafallopian gamete transfer can be successful. However, the technique is demanding and requires extensive training. We conclude that further improvements of hysteroscopic GIFT are needed.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Course of pregnancy and labor following in vitro fertilization. A retrospective study of 246 deliveries].

This record concerns the statistical registration and analysis of the courses and developments having taken place in 246 pregnancies and births after in-vitro-fertilization. The cases were registered retrospectively, the degree of registration being 77.2% approximately; the scientific evaluation was carried out on the basis of the BPE 1987. It can be shown that there is an increased incidence of the EPH-gestosis, the clinically relevant placenta insufficiency syndrome, the intrauterine death of fetus, the abruptio placentae and prematurity. As predisposing factors must primarily be seen and discussed the ovarian hyperstimulation being--in most cases--connected with IVF and the higher age of the patients; it can be supposed that the method of fertilization in vitro itself is of minor importance. Its importance in the pathogenesis of abruptio placentae, however, cannot be exactly evaluated so far. The frequency of multiple pregnancies represents a special problem. Though the rate is lower in the examined group than in comparable--that is due to the limited number of collected oocytes--it should be aimed at a further lowering of multiple pregnancy rates.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of conspicuous ultrasound findings in the brain in clinically asymptomatic newborn infants].

With an intracranial ultrasound screening at the University Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynaecology Wuerzburg, an abnormal finding was seen in 88 out of 673 clinically asymptomatic usually mature newborns (13.1%). It concerned 37 subependymal/intraventricular haemorrhages (5.5%), sequelae of an old intrauterine bleeding in 9 cases (1.3%), 38 ventricular asymmetries (5.7%), 5 choroidal plexus cysts (0.7%), 6 arachnoidal cysts (0.9%) and 1 infratentorial tumour (0.2%). Only mild cerebral haemorrhages were observed. Follow-up studies of children with an abnormal cerebral finding are desirable to determine its clinical significance and long-term prognosis.

Arachnoid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Prenatal sonographic diagnosis and clinical consequences in small intestine obstruction].

Fetal intestinal obstructions can be diagnosed and differentiated from other intra-abdominal lesions with prenatal sonography. The characteristic signs are persistent echo-free areas in the fetal abdomen which frequently show peristaltic movements, and the accompanying polyhydramnios. A vaginal delivery near term is desirable and tocolytic agents and therapeutic amniocentesis should be used in the event of premature labour and maternal distress due to polyhydramnios. Premature labour also necessitates the induction of pulmonary maturation with corticoids. At least weekly ultrasonic controls are advisable to detect the rare bowel perforation. In the case of an intestinal rupture, the risk of prematurity must be weighed against the risk of abacterial meconium peritonitis before labour is induced. Own observations in five prenatally diagnosed intestinal obstructions and a review of the literature confirm the proposed management in these infants.

Diseases in Twins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Prenatal diagnosis of prune belly syndrome occurring in siblings in 2 consecutive pregnancies].

The present paper reports on the occurrence of Prune Belly syndrome in siblings. The mother, now 21, gave birth in 1981 to a boy with Prune Belly syndrome. In the second pregnancy the changes in the fetus were first diagnosed by sonography in the 26th week. An ovarian tumor was ruled out by transabdominal puncture of the tumor in the girl's lower abdomen; dilatation of the bladder was diagnosed by the subsequent sonographic check-up. At the same time amniotic fluid was taken in order to determine the fetal karyotype. As the quantity of amniotic fluid was normal, further treatment was put off: a vesicoamniotic shunt, which had been considered at one stage, was not constructed, even though the dilatory changes in the urinary tract increased. In the 37th week a girl was delivered by cesarean section. She had Prune Belly syndrome. Kidney function post part was normal; the prognosis for the infant is good, as it is for her brother who was not treated prenatally. The authors' observations, especially of the course of the second pregnancy, show that provided the quantity of amniotic fluid is normal, prenatal therapy with its attendant risks should only be considered with great reservation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple drug-resistant C6 glioma cells cross-resistant to irradiation.

Although many advances in antineoplastic therapy have taken place, a clinical breakthrough in the therapy of malignant gliomas is still required. One of the reasons for this is the poor response to cytotoxic drugs and irradiation. We established a subline of the rat glioma cell line C6, named C6,5 x 10(-7) Dox, by exposure to increasing doses of doxorubicin for 5 months. C6,5 x 10(-7) Dox cells expressed high levels of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), known to function as an energy-dependent efflux pump for lipophilic drugs causing the multidrug resistance phenotype. Pgp, which normally has a molecular weight of 170 to 180 kd, appears in C6,5 x 10(-7) Dox cells as two bands with a molecular weight of 140 and 120 kd in western blots. In addition to the typical cross-resistance to doxorubicin, daunorubicin, vincristine and etoposide, we observed a significant resistance of the C6,5 x 10(-7) Dox cell line to irradiation, which cannot be explained by Pgp-expression.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗