A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

Hygiene in Operationsabteilungen – Empfehlungen des Nationalen Referenzzentrums für Krankenhaushygiene

Zusammenfassung. Viele Hygienema?nahmen in Operationsabteilungen sind durch wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen nicht belegt. Die in dieser Arbeit vom Nationalen Referenzzentrum für Krankenhaushygiene, das 1996 vom Bundesgesundheitsministerium eingerichtet wurde, zusammengestellten Empfehlungen stützen sich auf die Ergebnisse wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und trennen so die unbedingt notwendigen von den weniger bzw. nicht sinnvollen Ma?nahmen.

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Summary. Many hygienic procedures performed in operation units are not supported by scientific investigations. The following recommendations by the National Reference Center for Hospital Epidemiology, founded by the German Ministry of Health in 1996, are based on the scientific literature and separate necessary from less necessary and unnecessary procedures.

     

Seven novel and four recurrent point mutations in the factor VIII (F8C) gene

Haemophilia A is a X‐linked bleeding disorder, caused by deficiency in the activity of coagulation factor VIII due to mutations in the corresponding gene. The most common defect in patients is an inversion of the factor VIII gene that accounts for nearly 45% of individuals with severe hemophilia A. Point mutations and small deletions/insertions are responsible for the majority of cases with moderate to mild clinical course and for half of the severe hemophilia A occurrences. The majority of these mutations are “private”, because of the high mutation rate for this particular gene. We report on eleven pathological changes in the factor VIII sequence detected in male patients with haemophilia A or in female obligate carriers. Seven of these mutations are novel [E204N, E265X, M320T, F436C, S535C, N2129M and R2307P] and four have been previously identified [V162M, R527W, R1966X, and R2159C]. Genotype‐phenotype correlations and computer prediction analysis on the effect of missense mutations on the secondary structure of the factor VIII protein are performed and the relationships evaluated. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Seven novel and four recurrent point mutations in the factor VIII (F8C) gene

Haemophilia A is a X‐linked bleeding disorder, caused by deficiency in the activity of coagulation factor VIII due to mutations in the corresponding gene. The most common defect in patients is an inversion of the factor VIII gene that accounts for nearly 45% of individuals with severe hemophilia A. Point mutations and small deletions/insertions are responsible for the majority of cases with moderate to mild clinical course and for half of the severe hemophilia A occurrences. The majority of these mutations are “private”, because of the high mutation rate for this particular gene. We report on eleven pathological changes in the factor VIII sequence detected in male patients with haemophilia A or in female obligate carriers. Seven of these mutations are novel [E204N, E265X, M320T, F436C, S535C, N2129M and R2307P] and four have been previously identified [V162M, R527W, R1966X, and R2159C]. Genotype‐phenotype correlations and computer prediction analysis on the effect of missense mutations on the secondary structure of the factor VIII protein are performed and the relationships evaluated. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

无锡市德国小蠊抗性监测及防制措施研究

目的 对无锡市德国小蠊的抗性和抗性消退研究;探讨进行综合防制的措施。方法 抗性和抗性消退测定采用药膜接触法。结果 无锡市德国小蠊对高效氯氰菊酯、敌敌畏已产生较高程度的抗性,对残杀威、溴氰菊酯和氯菊酯敏感性亦有所减弱;拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂抗性消退速度较有机磷、氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂抗性消退速度快;采用堵洞抹缝、清除垃圾等环境治理措施,选择合理的杀虫用药及剂型进行杀灭和巩固,可基本控制德国小蠊的侵害和孳生。结果 无锡市德国小蠊对某些杀虫剂抗性已较高,应注意合理选择杀虫剂,交替用药、混配用药;选择合理的用药及剂型进行化学防治辅以彻底的环境治理措施是对德国小蠊进行综合防制的关键。     

Evolution of renal replacement therapy in East Germany from 1989 to 1992

Diminished availability of facilities for renal replacementtherapy is known to cause spuriously low acceptance and treatmentrates. In this context the evolution of renal replacement therapyin the former German Democratic Republic is a useful model tostudy and to quantify some of the relevant factors. We performed a survey in all dialysis units for adults in EastGermany (excluding East Berlin) by questionnaire, achievinga response rate of 97%. From December 1989 to December 1992the number of dialysis centres increased from 53 to 96 (+81%),reaching 6.7 centres p.m.p. Of these facilities, 45% were hospitalunits, 29% private units, and 26% dialysis units run by non-profithealth care organizations. The number of dialysis stations forregular dialysis treatment increased from 602 to 1276 (+112%),i.e. 89 stations p.m.p. In parallel, the number of chronic dialysispatients increased from 2127 to 3848 (+81%), i.e. 267 patientsp.m.p. A more detailed survey was carried out in Thüringen andpart of Sachsen, in a region covering 5 million inhabitants.The acceptance rate for chronic dialysis treatment has increasedfrom 49 to 107 patients p.m.p. (+115%). The average age of newpatients increased from 49 to 59 years, the proportion of patientsaged 65 years increased from 16 to 42% and the proportion ofdiabetics from 13 to 35%. Introduction of alternative treatmentmodalities became possible, with 2.3% of the patients receivinghaemofiltrations and 3% CAPD. The proportion of HBs-antigen-positivepatients decreased from 14.2% to 5%. At the end of 1989 in the former GDR (excluding East Berlin),773 patients and, at the end of 1992, 1153 patients were alivewith functioning renal transplants (+49%). The annual rate oftransplantations was 254 in 1989, and 283 in 1992 (+11%), i.e.18 transplantations p.m.p. (including East Berlin). At the end of 1989 2900 patients (193 p.m.p.), and at the endof 1992 5001 patients (347 p.m.p.), werealive on renal replacementtherapy (dialysis or functioning renal transplant) in East Germany,excluding East Berlin; this represents a 72% increase. The figures in East Germany are now almost equivalent to thosein West Germany regarding the number of admissions (incidence),whereas the number of patients on renal replacement therapyis still lower (prevalence).     

Vaccination rates and adherence in premature infants before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedule change for term infants – A claims database analysis in Germany

BackgroundIn 2015, the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) changed the pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) schedule for mature infants from a 3+1 scheme (2, 3, 4, and 11–14 months of age) to a 2+1 scheme (2, 4, and 11–14 months of age). For premature infants, the 3+1 scheme remained. The aim of this study was to assess vaccination rates, completeness, and timeliness for PCV in premature infants before and after the modified recommendation.MethodsA retrospective claims data analysis using the “Institut für angewandte Gesundheitsforschung Berlin” Research Database was conducted. Premature infants born in 2013 and 2016 with an individual follow-up of 24 months were included. Hexavalent combination (HEXA) vaccination with a consistent 3+1 recommendation for mature and premature infants was analyzed as reference vaccination.ResultsAfter 24 months, the PCV rate for at least one dose remained stable in premature newborns of 2016 compared to 2013, while the HEXA vaccination rate increased slightly. However, a significant decrease of a completed PCV schedule (4 doses) in premature infants was noted, whereas the completeness of HEXA vaccination did not change. The timeliness of PCV in premature newborns increased for the first and the booster PCV, while the timeliness of HEXA immunization did not change from 2013 to 2016.ConclusionAlthough STIKO still recommends a 3+1 PCV schedule for premature infants in Germany, premature infants were vaccinated according to the changed recommendations for mature born infants. A substantial share of premature infants remained unvaccinated, and their vaccinations were often delayed.     

Clinical factors and self‐perceived oral health

Self‐perceived oral health is affected not only by awareness of the clinical status but also by comparisons with people of a similar age. This study explored the relative contributions of clinical variables assessing caries, periodontal status, and prosthetic status to self‐perceived oral health within two age groups. Data of 891 adults (35–44 yr of age) and 760 older people (65–74 yr of age) from the Fourth German Oral Health Study (DMS IV, 2005) were evaluated. Self‐perceived oral health was obtained from questionnaires. Numbers of decayed, filled, and unreplaced teeth, mean attachment loss, bleeding on probing (BOP), the presence of a fixed denture, and the presence of a removable denture were assessed. Multinomial logistic regression models were developed for both age groups, separately, using stepwise methods. For adults, unreplaced teeth, filled teeth, decayed teeth, the presence of a removable denture, and mean attachment loss were added to the final model. For older people, the presence of a removable denture, unreplaced teeth, decayed teeth, mean attachment loss, filled teeth, and BOP were included in the final model. Awareness of the relative contributions of clinical variables to self‐perceived oral health is important for obtaining a clearer understanding of patients' subjective and objective self‐perceptions of oral health.