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Biomedical subjects

G Hildenbrand

Publications and source records attributed to G Hildenbrand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[The course of pregnancy and teratogenicity of antiepileptic agents in 66 patients with epilepsy].

We report on 79 pregnancies in 66 female outpatients with epilepsy. An increase of seizure frequency was significantly more frequent in complex partial seizures than in grand mal seizures and in absences. The reason for these disparities are not clear. In most patients a raised frequency of seizures during pregnancy decreased again after delivery. Carbamazepine was the antiepileptic drug prescribed most frequently followed by valproic acid. The course of the blood levels of carbamazepine and valproic acid was nonuniform during pregnancy. Total concentrations of carbamazepine in cord blood were on average 84.5% of those in maternal blood (n = 22). Valproic acid blood levels were on average 183% of those in maternal blood (n = 15). It is still unclear whether these differences are clinically relevant. During the last weeks of pregnancy we found an increase of the free fraction of carbamazepine and valproic acid. Simultaneously the total protein concentration decreased. Until now these findings are without clinical relevance. The course of labor did not differ from normal population concerning the ratios of spontaneous labor, cesarean section and delivery by forceps. Miscarriage and perinatal mortality were 2.7% each and outnumbered the risk in the general population. In 42.8% of the neonates one to three perinatal complications were observed. The ratio of perinatal complications is not different between patients with monotherapy and combined therapy respectively. There was a tendency to lower values of length, weight and head circumference in the male neonates but not in the female neonates. The risk of minor malformations was 26%, the risk of major malformations was 14% (including one case of suspected malformation) without a discernible correlation with a specific antiepileptic drug.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced

[The effect of posterior chamber lenses or YAG laser capsulotomy on sensitivity to glare and twilight vision in comparison to phakic control groups (corrected)].

Patients who had undergone extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens, and normal subjects of corresponding age and vision were examined with the mesoptometer and nyktometer to compare their twilight vision and glare sensitivity. All the results were poorer in patients with intraocular lenses. Statistically, some of the differences in the results of examinations performed in the two groups were highly significant. As the controls were strictly matched in age and visual acuity, these results confirm other studies with similar objectives. Additionally, some patients with posterior chamber lenses were examined who had also undergone YAG laser capsulotomy for secondary cataract. Although the number of cases was too small for statistical evaluation, it appeared that in this group twilight vision and glare sensitivity could not be improved in the same way as daylight visual acuity by means of this treatment. These findings indicate that since intraocular lenses are increasingly being implanted in younger patients, special attention should also be paid to scotopic vision and glare sensitivity during examinations for drivers' licenses, particularly in cases of good daylight vision. Special examinations, e.g., with the mesoptometer or nyktometer, should be carried out in all such cases. Increased glare sensitivity in eyes with lens implants should also be taken into consideration with regard to the increasing importance of computer and TV screens.

Adaptation, Ocular

Investigations on the intraindividual constancy of the ratio of carbamazepine to carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide in man.

The constancy of the ratio of carbamazepine (5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide) to carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide was investigated in epileptic patients receiving carbamazepine (Tegretal) monotherapy. We observed a significant interindividual difference, but not between the times in a single patient. Together with the similarly evaluated concordance coefficient, this indicates a certain intraindividual constancy of the ratio between carbamazepine and its epoxide. The carbamazepine:carbamazepine epoxide ratio was dose-dependent, while a sex difference could not be demonstrated.

Adolescent

Urinary cytology in workmen engaged in the petrochemical industry with reference to non-industrial risk factors.

Urine cytology was evaluated in 8,406 male workers of 8 petrochemical factories in western and northern Germany during the routine medical check-up performed by the department of industrial medicine of the respective factory. All relevant data referring to possible private and occupational risk factors were registered and evaluated. Four percent (n = 358) of the 8,406 workers examined exhibited Pap 3/4 cytology. Urological examination did not reveal any bladder tumor in those workers with either a single Pap 4 or a repeated Pap 3 finding on cytology. Our study showed that deterioration of cell differentiation correlated significantly with age and cigarette smoking. Furthermore, a risk group (males above 40 years of age exposed to occupational chemicals, smokers, and coffee drinkers) differed from a non-risk group. Age and cigarette smoking seemed to be the determinant factors. No correlation could be adduced between any kind of industrial exposure and urine cytology.

Adult

Five-year register and multicenter study for testicular tumours Bonn.

Register and Multicenter Study for Testicular Tumours Bonn was founded in September 1976. Until August 1981, from 46 institutions participating in Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany the data from a total of 1508 patients with testicular tumours have been collected and evaluated. This paper gives an overview on the data available at the moment, and especially informations on the age distribution (children 3.6%, men over 50 years 6.3%), predisposing factors (maldescensus testis 8%, atrophy 6%), masking factors (hydrocele 7%, trauma 7%) and duration of anamnesis (average 136 days).

Adolescent

Ion exchange column chromatographic investigation of free amino acids in tears of healthy adults.

Free amino acids were determined quantitatively in tear fluid and serum samples from the fasting blood of 21 healthy men (aged 22-45 years) and 22 women (aged 21-56 years). Protein was removed from tears and serum by adding an equal volume of 5% sulfosalicyclic acid, and the amino acids were separated by ion exchange column chromatography. None of the 43 subjects showed any evidence of liver damage, kidney or metabolic disease. Men had significantly higher valine, isoleucine and histidine concentrations than women. The range of normal values was determined from these findings.

Adult

[Treatment of initial urinary tract infection in children with cotrifamole and cotrimoxazole. A double-blind study].

28 children with initial episodes of urinary tract infection were treated with cotrimoxazole or cotrifamole (dose ratio 3 : 2) for 14 days in a prospective randomized double blind trial. The two groups did not differ as regards clinical signs. The efficacy and cure rates of each regimen were similar. Laboratory studies (hemoglobin, WBC, liver, and renal function) showed no differences between both groups before and after therapy; an alteration of the laboratory values could not be observed during therapy. The number of children with X-ray abnormalities of kidneys and urinary tract was similar in both groups. During an observation time of up to 12 months after the first urinary tract infection no differences in the number of reinfections and relapses were observed. As a result of this study, we recommend cotrifamole in a lower dose (ratio 2 : 3) than cotrimoxazole for the treatment of urinary tract infection.

Adolescent

A prospective randomised trial on the effect of monitoring plasma anticonvulsant levels in epilepsy.

To evaluated whether knowledge of plasma levels of anti-epileptic drugs has an effect on therapeutic outcome, 127 epileptic outpatients were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B). Plasma levels of group A were reported to the treating physician who attempted to keep the plasma levels within the "therapeutic range." The treating physician was not informed of the results of plasma level determinations of group B. Data from 105 patients were available for assessment at the end of the study year. Therapeutic results of groups A and B were not significantly different. The reduction in seizure frequency was associated with an increase in plasma concentrations of the anti-epileptic drugs. Thus, under the conditions of the study, knowledge of plasma levels of anti-epileptic drugs did not further improve therapeutic results.

Anticonvulsants

[Normal values of IgA, IgG, IgM, a1-antitrypsin, C2-complement, C4-complement, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and transferrin in serum of healthy, matured newborns and comparison with adults. Method: kinetic nephelometry. (author's transl)].

Concentrations of IgA, IgG, IgM, a1-antitrypsin, C3-complement, C4-complement, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and transferrin were determined by the kinetic nephelometric method in fasting blood serum of 88 healthy, matured newborns (male=46, female=42) and of 50 healthy adults (male=12, female=38). The age specific comparison showed that all the nine examined proteins had significantly lower levels in the group of newborns. Sex specific differences were not detected in the group of newborns.

Adult

Methodological implications of testing anaerobe susceptibility to cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefamandole, cefoxitin).

By simultaneously performing broth dilution, agar dilution, and agar diffusion tests with Bacteroidaceae and Peptococcaceae, the influence of methodology upon the outcome of susceptibility testing to cefazolin, cefamandole and cefoxitin was studied. With beta-lactamase positive and negative Bacteroidaceae, the results of the broth dilution and agar dilution tests were in good agreement for cefoxitin. However, when tested with cefaxolin and cefamandole, beta-lactamase positive Bacteroides strains had mostly high broth dilution MICs and relatively low agar dilution MICs. The statistical analysis of the relationship between zone size and broth dilution or agar dilution MICs frequently showed lack of stochastic linearity or relatively low correlation coefficients.

Bacteroidaceae

[The value of radiographic examinations of the thorax in acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

The degree of pulmonary congestion seen on chest radiographs taken in the intensive care unit was compared with the end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure in 65 patients with recent transmural myocardial infarcts without cardiogenic shock. There was good correlation between the radiographic appearances and the end-diatrolic pulmonary artery pressure, so that the severity of left heart insufficiency could be diagnosed radiologically at an early stage. Errors were due to the time interval which must pass before the radiographic appearances approximate the haemodynamic changes. This resulted in a diagnostic "phase lag" (following a rise in end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure) or in a post-therapeutic "phase lag" (after a fall in end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure). Repeated examinations allow one to recognize changes in the haemodynamics. One should pay particular attention to the features of pulmonary venous and pulmonary arterial hy

Acute Disease

[Intrauterine devices for contraception? Results of an inquiry conducted in the BRD in 1976].

The results of the 1098 responses to a questionnaire show a remarkable increase in the use of intra-uterine devices (IUD) as a method of contraception (especially in the last 3 years) in the FRG too. The main reasons for the insertion of IUD were specified as "incompatibility" with the pill or "weariness induced through constant use of the pill". IUD are also used by nulliparae. At the moment T-shaped models containing copper are most popular. The majority of insertions are performed without general anaesthesia. The optimal length of time for wearing an IUD is considered to be 2 years or more. The foremost reasons for removal of IUD are bleeding or pain. Failures (pregnancies) however, are rather frequently recorded. Most gynecologists remove the IUD if pregnancy has occurred and in this case only few of them try to maintain the pregnancy on the patients request. In 1976, the majority of gynecologists attended patients composed of 40 : 1 users of the pill : users of IUD. Numerically speaking therefore, IUD are the method which actually takes second place. In our opinion however, if attention is paid to indications and contra-indications and to the necessity for intensive education of the patient, IUD are a real alternative to the pill and to the increasing use of any type of female sterilization.

Contraception