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Biomedical subjects

R Kurz

Publications and source records attributed to R Kurz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[C-reactive protein and blood picture parameters in the early diagnosis of infection in children with surgical diseases].

Since its detection fifty years ago, CRP is known as prototype of the acute-phase-proteines. It is a more sensitive, then specific indicator for bacterial infections. We found that CRP in accordance with clinical symptoms and the neutrophil-cell-index (I. S-ratio) makes a good prediction for early diagnosis of infections. Caution has to be payed in immediate post-operative phase, because the surgical trauma by itself can increase CRP-values.

Abdomen↗

[Sleep apnea in infants and the risk of SIDS].

The examination of the respiratory function in 184 sleeping infants gave evidence of a significant difference in several parameters between the so-called SIDS risk group and the control group. The risk group (97 babies) consists of 60 infants with frequent prolonged apneas, 30 infants with postnarcotic apneas and 7 near miss infants. Polygraphic registration during sleep showed significantly more apneas in the risk group. These apneas often appeared more frequently during certain periods. The average respiratory deficit expressed as the MA-value (MA = average apnea duration) in the risk group was significantly higher than in control infants. Besides that we were able to prove a more frequent pathological gastroesophageal reflux in the risk infants than in control infants.

Anesthesia, General↗

Combined disturbance of respiratory regulation and esophageal function in early infancy.

An evident coincidence exists between increased and extended apneas during sleep and frequent gastroesophageal reflux as well as disturbances of propulsive esophageal peristalsis. The tendency to develop apnea and disturbed esophageal function are related to the degree of the maturity of the patient. This indicates that in some infants, a combined regulatory immaturity of the autonomic centers persists. Moreover, the gastroesophageal reflux fosters the clinical manifestation of sleep apneas. The risk of a reflex apnea accompanied by gastroesophageal reflux increases in proportion to the disturbance in the central respiratory regulation present at the same time. This pathomechanism can be considered one of the causes of the sudden infant death syndrome. The possibility of effective prophylaxis consists in treating the apneic tendency with aminophylline and the treatment of reflux by elevating the upper body and thickening the nourishment given.

Age Factors↗

Development and clinical use of an oral heat-inactivated whole cell pertussis vaccine.

An orally administered, killed whole cell pertussis vaccine was developed which proved to be safe and potent in animal experiments. This vaccine was studied in limited field trials in Austria. In these field trials 1 X 10(12) bacterial cells were given orally on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 after birth with an oral booster of 1 X 10(12) cells given at six weeks. This vaccine was tolerated without side effects in more than 20,000 newborns, did induce a specific immune response including anti-pertussis IgG in serum, anti-pertussis IgA in saliva and specific pertussis mitogen stimulation. This immune response occurred significantly earlier in the orally but not in the parenterally vaccinated group. In addition, anti-pertussis antibodies in saliva were not induced in the parenterally vaccinated group. Pertussis morbidity in 11,192 orally vaccinated infants was compared to 3496 infants who did not receive oral vaccination and was found to be significantly lower for up to one year. There was no overall difference between orally and non-orally vaccinated infants as far as pertussis hospitalization and verified pertussis infection after one year was concerned.

Administration, Oral↗

[Postoperative T cell suppression in relation to preoperative nutritional status in childhood].

The influence of moderate malnutrition on the cellular immunity was studied in 59 operated infants and children aged 1 day to 14 years. Except during the neonatal period the number of blood T-cells preoperatively and the degree of the postoperative T-cell suppression did not show a significant difference between children suffering from moderate malnutrition (weight for age less than or equal to 10 percent, less than or equal to 90% of the normal median weight) and the control group. However some datas indicate that even borderline malnutrition impairs the cellular immune-status.

Adolescent↗

[Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome--loss of chemosensitivity in respiratory control].

This report describes an infant with congenital central hypoventilation. There is no response to 4% CO2-breathing in sleep and in awake state. Hypoxia, behavioral and "behavioral like" inputs increase ventilation, but not to normal levels. Drugs such as theophylline, naloxone, acetazolamide, methylprogesterone, thyroxine and nicethamide have no effect on the respiratory control. Despite the insertion of a phrenic nerve pacemaker intermittent positive pressure ventilation must be provided in addition.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Treatment and metabolic findings in extreme short-bowel syndrome with 11 cm jejunal remnant.

A full term girl survived nonresected, subtotal small-bowel gangrene. The length of the small-bowel remnant (only jejunum) measured 11 cm. Anastomosis was performed with insertion of a 3-cm-long antiperistaltic segment. The ileocecal valve remained intact. The jejunal remnant showed an increase in length of at least 1 m. The resorptive functions of the bowel residue recovered incompletely, particularly the ileal functions. Disturbances of calcium and phosphorus metabolism are now in the foreground; nevertheless, the child now manages to live without parenteral feeding.

Female↗

[Pseudo-Perthes' disease caused by acute lymphatic leukemia].

A two year old boy was seen in the orthopedic clinics because of typical symptoms of Legg-Perthes disease, a scintigraphy with Technetium99m showed a distinct deficiency of nuclear activity in the femoral head which is characteristic of the early stage of Legg-Perthes disease. A routine blood count lead to the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The boy was treated according to the Austrian cooperative leukemia protocol and complete remission was achieved. No orthopedic treatment of the femur head necrosis was done, after eight weeks of treatment with multiagent chemotherapy the boy started to walk again and subsequently became free of all symptoms of Legg-Perthes disease. A scintigraphy done eight weeks after the initial scintigraphy showed that the deficiency of radionuclear activity of the femoral head was nearly vanished. This case illustrates the variability of bone involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which often is the most prominent symptom at an early stage of the disease.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

["Essential hypernatremia" as a result of on increased osmoreceptor threshold in a boy with Pierre-Robin disease and corpus callosum agenesis].

Hypernatremia was found as a cause of recurrent fever episodes in a 18 month old boy with Mb, Pierre-Robin and agenesia of the corpus callosum. We found values of serum-sodium until 160 mVal/l. Examinations of the osmotic regulation showed a so called "essential hypernatremia" without polyuria and polydipsi. Therefore must be responsible a defect of the osmotic center and thirst center in the hypothalamic area. As therapy a diet of 1000 ml = 1000 kcal = 100 mg Sodium/d. was successful.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

[Localization on the integument and alcali resistance ].

The alkali resistance-test by method of Burckhardt-Locher was performed to investigate possible differences on respective integumental areas and to compare two methods of applying the alkali solution (dropper and piston pipette). 49 persons without dermatoses were tested by right-left comparing four test sites. The highest average alkali resistance was found at the back of the hand (+/- = 4, 72, s = 1,3), followed by the forearm (+/- = 2,69, s = 0,8) was registered at the shoulder. The differences between the test sites with different means were significant by a fault rate of at least 5%. The two methods of alkali application showed no significant differences.

Adolescent↗

Physiological and clinical aspects of respiration control in infants with relation to the sudden infant death syndrome.

We have examined the behavior of several variables which are related to respiratory control in 114 infants (up to 6 months of age) in order to assess the risk for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 23 of the infants had already had demonstratable serious or life threatening apneas or respiratory problems during surgical anesthesia. These infants were assigned as a risk group, and the rest of the investigated babies was taken as a control group. We found that practically all infants of the risk group had apneas during sleep, which lasted longer than 8 s each. Only 22% of the infants of the control group had apneas of such a duration. As a statistical parameter, calculated from at least 1 hour recording of respiration, we defined the mean apnea duration (MA-value) as average value of apnea duration time in seconds per minute of recording. The MA-value proved to be significantly elevated in the infants of the risk group. The trend to hypoxia in the infants of the risk group was also indicated by the observation of lower transcutaneous PO2-values (tc-PO2) during sleep, when compared with control infants. In agreement with this observation is the increase of the 2,3-DPG concentration and the decrease of the density of erythrocytes of the infants of the risk group. Breathing hypoxic gas mixtures tended to depress respiration in all infants tested, and, especially in the risk group, to elicit irregular respiratory patterns. On the other hand, we observed that inhalation of pure oxygen markedly stimulated respiration in all infants investigated. We conclude from these observations that a risk for SIDS may be related to a particular response pattern of the respiratory center during the early postnatal life. We are able to distinguish infants with a higher risk for SIDS from other children by determination of the MA-value during sleep.

Aminophylline↗