The value of radioimmunological HPL determinations for the evaluation of intrauterine fetal growth during late pregnancy]

In 24 high-risk pregnancies correlation between maternal level of HPL in serum and the weight of the newborn is examinated. Retarded fetal growth was assumed of the weight of the newborn was found below the 5. percentil. Results of statistical sensitivity and specificity of radiommunoassay of HPL are given for this question.     

A C OMPARISON OF B IPHASIC AND M ONOPHASIC S HOCKS FOR E XTERNAL D EFIBRILLATION

Background and Objective. The ability of a shock to defibrillate the heart depends on its waveform and energy. Past studies of biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) shocks for external defibrillation focused on low energy levels. This prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial compared the first-shock efficacies of 200-joule (J) BTE, 130-J BTE, and 200-J monophasic damped sine wave shocks. Methods. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in 115 patients during evaluation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator function and 39 patients during electrophysiologic evaluation of ventricular arrhythmias. After 19 ± 10 seconds of VF, a randomized transthoracic shock was administered. Mean first-shock success rates of the three groups were compared using a “Tukey-like” statistical test, adjusting for multiple comparisons. Blood pressures and arterial oxygen saturations were measured before VF induction and 30, 90, and 150 seconds after successful defibrillation. Results. First-shock success rates were 61/68 (90%) for 200-J monophasic, 39/39 (100%) for 200-J biphasic, and 39/47 (83%) for 130-J biphasic shocks. The 200-J biphasic shocks were simultaneously superior in first-shock efficacy to both 200-J monophasic and 130-J biphasic shocks (experimentwise error rate, α < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the efficacies of 200-J monophasic and 130-J biphasic shocks, nor was there any significant difference between the three groups in hemodynamic parameters after successful shocks. Conclusions. Biphasic shocks of 200 J provide better first-shock defibrillation efficacy for short-duration VF than 200-J monophasic and 130-J biphasic shocks and thus may allow earlier termination of VF in cardiac arrest patients.     

UVA photoirradiation of oxygenated benz[a]anthracene and 3-methylcholanthene--generation of singlet oxygen and induction of lipid peroxidation

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread genotoxic environmental pollutants and potentially pose a health risk to humans. Although the biological and toxicological activities, including metabolism, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity, of PAHs have been thoroughly studied, their phototoxicity and photo-induced biological activity have not been well examined. We have long been interested in phototoxicity of PAHs and their derivatives induced by irradiation with UV light. In this paper we report the photoirradiation of a series of oxygenated benz[a]anthracene (BA) and 3-methylcholanthene (3-MC) by UVA light in the presence of a lipid, methyl linoleate. The studied PAHs include 2-hydroxy-BA (2-OH-BA), 3-hydroxy-BA (3-OH-BA), 5-hydroxymethyl-BA (5- CH2OH-BA), 7-hydroxymethyl-BA (7-CH2OH-BA), 12-hydroxymethyl-BA (12-CH2OH-BA), 7-hydroxymethyl-12- methyl-BA (7-CH2OH-12-MBA), 5-formyl-BA (5-CHO-BA), BA 5,6-cis-dihydrodiol (BA 5,6-cis-diol), 1-hydroxy-3- methylcholanthene (1-OH-3-MC), 1-keto-3-methylcholanthene (1-keto-3-MC), and 3-MC 1,2-diol. The results indicate that upon photoirradiation by UVA at 7 and 21 J/cm2, respectively all these compounds induced lipid peroxidation and exhibited a relationship between the dose of the light and the level of lipid peroxidation induced. To determine whether or not photoirradiation of these compounds by UVA light produces ROS, an ESR spin-trap technique was employed to provide direct evidence. Photoirradiation of 3-keto-3-MC by UVA (at 389 nm) in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMP), a specific probe for singlet oxygen, resulted in the formation of TEMPO, indicating that singlet oxygen was generated. These overall results suggest that UVA photoirradiation of oxygenated BA and 3-methylcholanthrene generates singlet oxygen, one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce lipid peroxidation.     

Kongenitale Zwerchfellhernie

A case of fetal asphyxia during birth due to misalignment of abdominal organs into the left chest cavity by congenital diaphragmatic hernia is described. The left liver lobe, spleen, stomach and parts of the small intestine were situated intrathoracally and the liver showed a central constriction caused by the diaphragm gap. The left lung was unfolded. The unusual macromorphological features are presented in addition to the literature.     

Pharmaceutical development of a parenteral lyophilized formulation of the novel indoloquinone antitumor agent EO9

The aim of this study was to design a stable parenteral dosing form of the investigational cytotoxic drug, encoded EO9. EO9 exhibits poor aqueous solubility and stability characteristics. Freeze-drying was selected as the manufacturing process. Differential scanning calorimetry studies were conducted to determine the freezedrying cycle parameters. A stable lyophilized formulation of EO9 was developed. The prototype, containing 8.0 mg EO9 and 200 mg lactose/vial, was found to be the optimal formulation in terms of solubility, length of the freezedrying cycle, stability, and dosing requirements for phase I clinical trials. Quality control of the freeze-dried formulation showed that the manufacturing process does not change the integrity of EO9. Shelf-life studies demonstrated that the formulation remains stable for at least 1 year when stored at +4°C in a dark environment.