Schlaf bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen

Zusammenfassung Die neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen bestehen aus einer Gruppe heterogener, progredient verlaufender Erkrankungen unterschiedlicher Ätiologie, die ein oder mehrere Systeme beeinträchtigen. Sie treten überwiegend im höheren Lebensalter auf, in dem sich zusätzlich sowohl die Art wie auch das Ausmaß des Schlafes ändern. Die neurodegenerativen Prozesse verursachen strukturelle Veränderungen der Schlaf-Wach-Generatoren im Hirnstamm, die Schlafstörungen wie Tagesschläfrigkeit, Insomnie, nächtliche bewegungs- und schlafbezogene Atmungsstörungen sowie Störungen des zirkadianen Schlaf-Wach-Rhythmus zur Folge haben können. Bei manchen neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen sind im Vorfeld der Krankheitsmanifestation auftretende Schlafstörungen bereits Krankheitsprädiktoren. Polysomnographisch finden sich Schlaffragmentierung, tonische oder phasische Beinbewegungen, Störungen der Atemmuskulatur, verminderter Tiefschlaf, Abwesenheit von REM-Schlaf oder REM-Schlaf ohne Muskelatonie, vermehrte Arousal- und Weckreaktionen, epileptiforme EEG-Aktivität oder schlafbezogene Atmungsstörungen. Sehr häufig sind REM-Schlaf-Verhaltensstörungen assoziiert mit neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit werden Symptomatik, Pathophysiologie und polysomnographische Befunde von Schlafstörungen häufiger neurodegenerativer Erkrankungen vorgestellt.     

Prediction of phenotype for acetylation and for debrisoquine hydroxylation by DNA-tests in healthy human volunteers

Summary The debrisoquine/sparteine-type polymorphism of drug oxidation and the polymorphism for acetylation are two common inherited variations in human drug metabolism. The phenotypes for hydroxylation and acetylation can be predicted be newly developed methods based on mutation-specific amplification of DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which also allow for identification of heterozygous carriers of one mutant allele.In the present study, the results of genotyping of 81 healthy European volunteers were compared with the phenotype obtained by the classical biochemical approach using debrisoquine and caffeine as probe drugs.Genotyping correctly predicted all 73 extensive metabolisers (EMs) and 6 out of 8 poor metabolisers (PMs) of debrisoquine. All 48 rapid acetylators and 33 of 35 slow acetylators were predicted.Overall, the DNA analysis result matched the in vivo phenotype in 97.5 % of individuals.     

A 500‐ml plastic bottle: An effective spacer for children with asthma

Inhaled therapy using a metered‐dose inhaler (MDI) with attached spacer has been increasingly recognized as the optimal method for delivering asthma medication for acute attacks and chronic prophylaxis. However, in developing countries the cost and availability of commercially produced spacers limit the use of MDI‐spacer delivery systems. A 500‐ml plastic bottle has been recently adapted to function as a spacer. This article reviews the current data on the efficacy of this bottle‐spacer and discusses its advantages and limitations. It is concluded that a modified 500‐ml plastic bottle is an effective spacer; modification and use of this device should be incorporated into international guidelines for the management of children with asthma.     

Na+/H+ exchange inhibition and antioxidants lack additive protective effects after reperfusion injury in the working heterotopic rat heart isograft.

BACKGROUND: The utility of combining strategies of myocardial protection was studied in intact rat hearts subjected to 1 hour of ischemia and 40 minutes blood reperfusion. METHODS: Lewis rats (n = 48) were divided into 4 transplant groups. Twenty-four hearts were arrested by coronary perfusion with hypothermic Celsior solution at 60 mm Hg. The aortic valve was punctured to introduce volume into the left ventricle (LV), and the hearts were abdominally isografted. Animals were either given both the antioxidant probucol (300 mg/kg) and the sodium-hydrogen exchange inhibitor cariporide (5 mg/kg) (CP; n = 6), just cariporide (CAR; n = 6), just probucol (PROB; n = 6), or neither drug (CON; n = 6). After 40 minutes of blood reperfusion, transplanted hearts were rearrested. The control recipients' native hearts (native; n = 6) were also arrested. Postmortem LV compliance relations and myocardial water content (MWC) were measured. RESULTS: Grafts protected by probucol were significantly more compliant than controls and significantly less compliant than grafts protected by cariporide alone and with both cariporide and probucol (p = 0.0001, analysis of variance). Compliance relations for CP overlapped those for CAR. All grafts were less compliant than natives. MWC was significantly greater in controls and PROB than in natives. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with cariporide in the setting of ischemia-reperfusion injury provides greater protection against the development of diastolic abnormalities than probucol when Celsior solution is used for both arrest and preservation. In this model, there is no advantage to combining the drugs, supporting the hypothesis that there is an overlapping mechanism of protection.     

Effects of ethanol consumption on the morphology of the rat seminiferous epithelium

The effects of ethanol consumption on the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium, with particular emphasis on Sertoli cell ultrastructure, were examined during and following pubertal development. Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on chronically high levels of ethanol for 7 weeks beginning at 29 days of age. Animals in Group 1 were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (36% ethanol-derived calories) ad libitum. Group 2 animals were paired with animals in Group 1 and fed a liquid control diet in the amount consumed by their ethanol partners (g/kg body wt/day). Animals in Group 3 were fed Purina rodent chow ad libitum. Blood samples were collected at 60 days for determination of plasma testosterone levels. On day 79, each epididymis, the adrenals and the right testis were removed from anesthetized animals and weighed; the left testis was removed and processed for light and electron microscopy. Blood alcohol levels were consistently high throughout the feeding period, averaging 272.6 +/- 9.7 mg/100 ml at 1900 hours (1 hour after lights off) and 178.8 +/- 20.8 mg/100 ml at 1330 hours. Testosterone levels were lower in ethanol-consuming animals than in pair-fed or control subjects. Testis weight was also somewhat reduced in ethanol-consuming animals; however, when adjusted for body weight, relative testis weights were found to be increased in ethanol and pair-fed animals. Epididymal weights were reduced in both ethanol and pair-fed animals. Relative adrenal weights were increased by ethanol. The most dramatic effect of ethanol consumption was on the morphology of the seminiferous tubules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ein Beitrag zur aktuellen Antidementivadiskussion in Deutschland

In Germany, the role of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has become a topic of recent discussion. The present article addresses issues which, in the opinion of the authors, have not received sufficient attention. These include the distinction between statistical and clinical significance, outcome parameters, the duration of clinical trials, variability in treatment response and the definition of treatment responders. The authors argue that these issues need to be considered in an in-depth evaluation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of AD.     

Inzidentalome der Nebenniere

Adrenal incidentalomas are clinically inapparent masses detected incidentally with imaging studies conducted for other reasons. They are relatively common and require structured diagnostic workup. In many cases surveillance is warranted. The diagnostic workflow has to reveal whether the mass is hormonally functioning and/or if there is evidence of malignancy. If the tumor is functionally silent and not larger than 4 cm, surveillance is warranted. Functioning tumors and masses larger than 6 cm have to be resected. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is indicated in very rare cases, but pheochromocytoma has to be ruled out first.     

Sevoflurane versus Halothane: Postoperative Maladaptive Behavioral Changes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background: The authors conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to determine whether the use of sevoflurane in children undergoing anesthesia and surgery results in a higher incidence of postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes as compared with halothane.

Methods: Children and their parents (n = 102) were randomly assigned to either a halothane group (n = 50) or a sevoflurane group (n = 52). The intraoperative anesthetic protocol was strictly controlled, and the postoperative analgesic consumption and pain levels were recorded. The effect of the group assignment on emergence status and maladaptive postoperative behavioral changes was assessed both by validated psychological measures and physiologic instruments (actigraphy) on postoperative days 1-7. Anxiety of the parent and child was also assessed, as was the child's postoperative recovery (Recovery Inventory).

Results: There were no group differences in preoperative state anxiety, postoperative analgesic requirements, postoperative pain, or the incidence of emergence delirium (P = not significant). Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no group differences in the incidence of postoperative maladaptive behaviors (F4,72 = 0.60, P = 0.701) or actigraphic variables such as percent sleep, number of night awakenings, and night awakenings that lasted for more than 5 min (P = not significant).