Mid-stream versus bladder puncture urine in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection in pregnant patients

150 healthy women being pregnant in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester were examined. From the same content of urinary bladder suprapubic puncture urine (BPU) and mid-stream urine (MSU) were collected. The results concerning microbiological and microscopical analysis of urine proofs were compared. For qualitative and quantitative germ analysis MSU is sufficiently clean enough. In 95.3 there is a good correspondence of the microbiological results of both proofs. Exceptionally in 4.7% the MSU-results were not confirmed by BPU. With respect to the findings in sediment there is no good correspondence of the results. In case of sterile bladder content the BPU sediment - findings are significantly more frequent normal and significantly more seldom abnormal than in MSU. The sediment findings in MSU are more frequent false positive than in BPU. In case of an infected bladder content there are no significant differences in the sediment findings of both techniques in taking urine proofs. The rate of normal sediment findings in case of an infected bladder content is unrealistic high: In MSU in 11% and in BPU in 26%. For microbiologic germ diagnosis MSU and BPU proofs are equivalent. But, for detection or for exclusion of urinary tract infections the sediment finding is poorly pathognomonic for a urinary tract infection. A normal sediment finding does not exclude the existance of an urinary tract infection. Therefore, in the system of prenatal care we should waive of the sediment finding as a guide for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections.     

Statistical testing of drug accumulation in skin tissues by linear regression versus contents of stratum corneum lipids

This investigation is a contribution to standardization in in vitro drug penetration measurements using excised human skin and to statistical treatment of the observations. The wide variations observed in measurements of drug accumulation in and drug permeation through the stratum corneum are caused not only by analytical errors but also by the variability of the horny layer lipid composition. The last-mentioned systematic influence can be compensated for by stepwise (multiple) linear regression using the contents of the main lipid classes as independent variables. In consequence, the S.E. of estimate given by the regression calculation is lower than the S.E. of the means of the observations. Significant differences in drug quantities accumulated in skin tissues (stratum corneum and dermis) are sensitively detected by Chow's F-test of structural change. Accumulation data of flufenamic acid and hydrocortisone penetrated from different bases are given as examples. The calculation mode is exemplarily explained and discussed. The results of the test for structural change, two-independent-groups t-test and paired-samples t-test are compared. The F-test of structural change proves to be a helpful statistical method suitable to the assessment of biopharmaceutical quality parameters and to measurements using biological materials.     

Christ-Siemens- Touraine-Syndrom

Zusammenfassung Beim Christ-Siemens-Touraine-Syndrom (CST-Syndrom) handelt es sich um die seltene an- oder hypohidrotische Form der Ektodermaldysplasiesyndrome. Im Verlauf der embryonalen Entwicklung kommt es zu St?rungen des ZNS, der Epithelien der Sinnesorgane, der Haut und Haare (weniger der N?gel) sowie der Z?hne. Besonders belastend ist neben der kosmetischen Beeintr?chtigung die extreme Hitzeunvertr?glichkeit, welche durch die Hypo- oder Aplasie der ekkrinen Schwei?- und Talgdrüsen verursacht wird. Die verminderte Sekretion der apokrinen Schwei?drüsen und Schleimdrüsen des oberen Nasen-Rachenraums führt zu erh?hter Infektanf?lligkeit. Am Beispiel der hier vorgestellten 60j?hrigen Patientin werden diagnostisch wegweisende Charakteristika sowie therapeutische M?glichkeiten besprochen und eine Abgrenzung zu anderen Ektodermaldysplasiesyndromen und differentialdiagnostisch relevanten Erkrankungen vorgenommen. Eingegangen am 27. Januar 1997 Angenommen am 16. Mai 1997     

Diagnosis of urinary tract infections in puerperium

In 225 puerperant urine proofs were taken both by suprapubic puncture and by mid stream technique. The corresponding proofs were examined culturally and microscopically. 42% of the mid stream proofs containing more than 10(5) germs/ml were evaluated to be false-positive. The corresponding urine taken by suprapubic puncture was uninfected. A pathologic leucocyte-count is just a little representative for urinary tract infection as a normal leucocyte count excludes an infection. Therefore, the counting of leucocytes is worthless and should be given up to the favour of bacteriologic examinations. Every ward for puerperant should presuppose the technique to take urine proofs by suprapubic puncture.     

Influence of substituents on the oxidation-reduction-potentials of dihydroxyflavone derivatives

Influence of the Substituents on the Oxidation-Reduction-Potentials of Dihydroxyflavone Derivatives The oxidation-reduction-potentials of some o- and p-dihydroxyflavone derivatives are measured by the flow-method; their dependence on the kind and position of the substituents is discussed.     

Bacteriuria screening in gynecologic practice: what is the value of mid-stream urine?

In 55 healthy women corresponding urine proofs were taken by suprapubic punction and by mid stream technique from the same content of the urinary bladder. For detection or exclusion of bacteriuria both collection-methods are of equal value. In 96% of the cases the microbiological results were corresponding. The leucocyte-count is of no value to detect indirectly a bacteriuria as well in punction- and in mid stream urine. A pathologic count is just as little pathognomonic for infection as a normal count excludes a bacteriuria. Therefore the counting of leucocytes should be given up to the favour of a better microbiological observation in gynecological outpatient departments.     

Development of informant-report neurobehavioral survey scales for PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome and related neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes

There are few well-validated measures that are appropriate for assessing the full range of neurobehavioral presentations in PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) and other neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes (NDGS). As potential therapeutics are developed, having reliable, valid, free, and easily accessible measures to track a range of neurobehavioral domains will be crucial for future clinical trials. This study focused on the development and initial psychometric evaluation of a set of freely available informant-report survey scales for PHTS—the Neurobehavioral Evaluation Tool (NET). Concept elicitation, quantitative ratings, and cognitive interviewing processes were conducted with stakeholders and clinician–scientist experts, used to identify the most important neurobehavioral domains for this population, and to ensure items were appropriate for the full range of individuals with PHTS. Results of this process identified a PHTS neurobehavioral impact model with 11 domains. The final NET scales assessing these domains were administered to a sample of 384 participants (median completion time = 20.6 min), including 32 people with PHTS, 141 with other NDGS, 47 with idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), and 164 neurotypical controls. Initial psychometric results for the total scores of each scale indicated very good model (ω = 0.83–0.99) and internal consistency reliability (α = 0.82–0.98) as well as excellent test–retest reproducibility at 1-month follow-up (r = 0.78–0.98) and stability at 4-month follow-up (r = 0.76–0.96). Conditional reliability estimates indicated very strong measurement precision in key score ranges for assessing PHTS and other people with NDGS and/or idiopathic NDD. Comparisons across domains between PHTS and the other groups revealed specific patterns of symptoms and functioning, including lower levels of challenging behavior and more developed daily living and executive functioning skills relative to other NDGS. The NET appears to be a reliable and potentially useful tool for clinical characterization and monitoring of neurobehavioral symptoms in PHTS and may also have utility in the assessment of other NDGS and idiopathic NDD. Additional validation work, including convergent and discriminant validity analyses, are needed to replicate and extend these observations.