Über die Beziehungen der Schilddrüse zur atropinzerstörenden Kraft des Blutes

Ohne ZusammenfassungMitteilungen über Wirkung und Verhalten des Atropins im Organismus. 2. Mitteilung.     

HIV Whole-Genome Sequencing Now: Answering Still-Open Questions

Diversity, evolution, and epidemiology of HIV are directly relevant to HIV transmission and pathogenesis; hence, they play a key role in antiretroviral treatment and vaccine design. Global HIV whole-genome sequencing would provide a treasure chest of data to answer many questions still open in these fields. An article by Berg et al. in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology describes a universal strategy to amplify and sequence heterogeneous HIV whole genomes (M. G. Berg, J. Yamaguchi, E. Alessandri-Gradt, R. W. Tell, J.-C. Plantier, and C. A. Brennan, J Clin Microbiol 54:868–882, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02479-15).     

Efficacy of an Immune Modulator in Enzootic Pneumonia of Dairy Calves

The objective of this cohort study was the evaluation of the efficacy of an immune modulator in the prophylaxis, metaphylaxis and treatment of enzootic bronchopneumonia (EBP). A total of 552 dairy calves on 13 farms were included. Groups of calves were included in the study if the prevalence of respiratory disease on the first visit was at least 50 %, and the number of animals aged 2–16 weeks was at least 10. Controls were treated with a placebo. Animals of both groups were treated antibiotically if body temperature exceeded 39.5°C. A clinimetric system was devised and used for classifying the animals into one of seven categories (healthy, beginning respiratory disease, acute BP, subacute BP, chronic BP, acute flare-up of chronic BP, and other disease). Animals were examined clinically on days 1, 3, 10, and 28. In animals treated prophylactically, the incidence of BP on day 10 was significantly higher (51 %) than in those that received the placebo (31 %). In animals treated metaphylactically, the average number of treatment days was significantly lower (2.86) than in the placebo group (3.81). In animals treated therapeutically, the incidence of EBP on day 10 was significantly lower than in the placebo group.     

Autonomic Dysfunction in Unaffected First-Degree Relatives of Patients Suffering From Schizophrenia

Recent studies revealed cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with acute schizophrenia, which appears to be mainly related to reduced vagal and increased sympathetic modulation. To understand the significance of cardiac autonomic function in patients with schizophrenia, we extended these studies to relatives of patients. In this study, we assessed cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (n = 36) to investigate a putative genetic influence. Data were compared with control subjects matched for age, gender, and physical activity as well as to patients suffering from schizophrenia. First-degree relatives showed an attenuated, yet identical pattern in autonomic dysfunction as patients with decreased vagal modulation of heart rate, decreased baroreflex sensitivity, but no difference in blood pressure variability could be detected. The patients'' relatives also showed a similar pattern in regards to QT variability. In addition, the subgroup comparison of offspring vs. siblings showed a significant difference in heart rate variability suggesting a higher degree of heritability in offspring. In conclusion, the pattern of autonomic dysfunction seen in patients and relatives might indicate underlying disease-inherent genetic vulnerability, especially because autonomic parameters are heritable. In addition, these findings may be of value to identify the high-risk group of patients'' relatives in regards to serious cardiovascular events so that early preventive measures can be taken.     

THE DENTISTS AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDED FOR TWO POPULATIONS; COMMENTS ON METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

EASY?—Dr. Harry L. Draker points out the pitfalls in an interview-survey and confirmation by dentists' records.