Bestimmung Mehrwertiger Alkohole (Sorbit,Mannit usw.) Neben Zucker im Blute

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode beschrieben, welche es gestattet, in 0,1 ccm Blut Hexite neben Zucker quantitativ zu bestimmen.     

Effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on calcium tissue changes in focal ischaemia

The effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) (parameters: 27.1 MHz, 585 W peak power, and 65 μs pulses, 400 times per second) on rats undergoing middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) was investigated. Four groups of eight rats each underwent microsurgical MCAo. Two groups were treated with a PEMF generator for 2 h following the onset of ischaemia and were sacrificed at 4 and 24 h following the MCAo respectively. The other two groups were also sacrificed at the same time intervals. Regional brain sodium, potassium, and calcium tissue contents were determined by atomic spectrophotometry. As distinct from results found in spinal cord contusion, no significant difference between the PEMF-treated groups and the nontreatment groups was found. PEMF treatment did not alter the 300% rise in calcium tissue dry weight content observed at 24 h following MCAo in the infarcted tissue. Regional brain water content was determined by the dry weight method. A regionally inconsistent reduction in brain water content was noted in the PEMF-treated rats.     

Sensitive skin evaluation in the Japanese population

Sensitive skin syndrome was first described in 1977; however, no robust study has been carried out to evaluate its prevalence in Japan. A national representative sample of the Japanese population over the age of 18 years was taken. Individuals were questioned by telephone and selected according to the quota method. When asked “Do you have a sensitive skin?”, 52.84% of men and 55.98% of women answered “rather sensitive” or “very sensitive”. There was no significant difference (P = 0.22) between the two sexes. The non‐response rate among respondents was zero, suggesting that the term “sensitive skin” held a meaning for the majority of the population. Concerning questions about the onset of a rash, tingling or irritation in the presence of various factors, such as emotional issues, cold, heat, sun, dry air, air‐conditioning, water, air pollution and temperature variations, respondents with rather sensitive or very sensitive skin responded “yes” more often than others: approximately three‐times more often for water (18.97%/6.15%), air pollution (39.29%/12.45%) and warm climatic conditions (29.74%/9.8%). To our knowledge, this epidemiological study is the first to focus on sensitive skin among Japanese people of this century. It is of particular interest for two reasons: (i) it was conducted on a representative sample of the Japanese population; and (ii) the methodology used was identical to that used for sensitive skin assessment studies conducted in Europe and the USA, making it possible to draw certain comparisons.     

Gonadal function after cancer treatments in childhood

Treatments given for childhood malignancies can alter gonadal function by several mechanisms: (1) cranial irradiation may cause either gonadotrophin deficiency or premature puberty. (2) Irradiation of the testes can induce germinal epithelium dysfunction even if the dose delivered is very low; Leydig cell failure occurs beyond 5-6 Gy and ovarian insufficiency beyond 6-7 Gy. (3) Chemotherapy is considerably more toxic for the germinal epithelium of the testes than for the ovaries; alkylating agents are especially toxic. Analysis of the consequences of preparation for bone marrow transplantation by chemotherapy or total body irradiation will be required when longer follow-up are available.     

Growth and endocrine disorders in optic glioma

Hypothalamo-pituitary function in children with optic glioma may be impaired by the tumour itself and by the high cranial radiation doses used in treatment. This study evaluates the effect of optic glioma and its treatment on patient growth and pubertal development. Twenty-one patients (13 boys, 8 girls), treated for optic glioma by cranial irradiation (45–55 Grays) at a mean age of 5.4 years, were evaluated before (n=10) and/or after (n=21) irradiation. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency was present in only 1 patient tested before irradiation and in all patients after irradiation. Precocious puberty occurred in 7/21 cases, before irradiation in 5 patients and after irradiation in 2 patients. The cumulative height loss during the 2 years after irradiation was 0.2±0.2 SD (m±SEM) in 7 patients with precocious puberty and 1.1±0.2 SD in 14 prepubertal patients (P<0.01). The corresponding bone age advance over chronological age, evaluated 1–3 years after irradiation, was 1.1±0.5 and –0.7±0.3 year in the two groups (P<0.01). The mean height loss between time of irradiation and the final height was 2.3±0.6 SD (n=6). Primary amenorrhoea, associated with low oestradiol levels, occurred in two of the three girls of pubertal age. These data indicate that the high dose of cranial radiation used to treat optic glioma invariably results in GH deficiency within 2 years and that hGH therapy is required when GH deficiency is documented. Precocious puberty, resulting in apparently normal growth velocity in spite of GH deficiency, should be treated with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues because of the risk of accelerated bone maturation and reduced final height.     

Statural growth following irradiation of the central nervous system for medulloblastoma of the posterior fossa. Retrospective analysis of 45 cases

Treatment of medulloblastoma in children with head and spinal irradiation causes growth hormone deficiency and growth retardation. The present study deals with 45 patients presenting a follow-up time superior to 4 years; some of them having reached their final height. The mean final height is 3 standard deviations below normal mean. Growth retardation which occurred in 42 of 45 children, appears to be due to two major factors: 1) GH deficiency in 42 cases as assessed by the arginine insulin tolerance test. 2) Spinal lesions due to irradiation, causing early growth retardation and a reduced trunk length in most of these children. The response to hGH treatment (10 mg/kg/yr) was not sufficient in this group of patients.     

Cushing's syndrome caused by multinodular adrenocortical dysplasia in a 3-year-old child. Association with a neurologic syndrome

A case of multinodular pigmented adrenocortical hyperplasia occurring in a child aged 4 years is reported. The disease suggested an autonomously functioning lesion with low plasma ACTH. At surgery both adrenals presented with brown or yellow patches on the surface corresponding to multiple nodules. Unilateral adrenalectomy was followed by complete recovery and normal ACTH response to IV lysine vasopressin with a follow-up of 3 years. The patient also presented mild spastic diplegia and retarded mental development of unexplained origin.     

Chemotherapy and ovarian function. Retrospective analysis in 17 girls treated for malignant tumor or hematologic disease

Ovarian function was investigated in 17 patients aged 13 5/12 to 30 years who had received various types of combined chemotherapy without any irradiation. Ovarian insufficiency was found in 6 cases with amenorrhea (n = 5) or irregular menstruations (n = 1). There is a high risk of sterility in these cases although as described in one case, a normal pregnancy occurred in spite of evidence of ovarian failure. Cyclophosphamide seemed to be less harmful when given before puberty. Great variations in individual susceptibility for relatively low doses were observed with this drug. The combination with other drugs in some protocols might play a role in these cases. At variance with results reported in adults, the MOPP chemotherapy used in children with Hodgkin's disease did not induce ovarian dysfunction.