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J Dötsch

Publications and source records attributed to J Dötsch.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Inhaled nitric oxide in neonatal and pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: dose response, prolonged inhalation, and weaning.

OBJECTIVE: Inhaled nitric oxide is a potent and selective pulmonary artery vasodilator. We studied the effects of nitric oxide inhalation in neonatal and pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients with respect to dosage, prolonged inhalation, and weaning. DESIGN: Prospective, open-label study. SETTING: Neonatal and pediatric intensive care units of a level three university hospital. PATIENTS: Seventeen patients with severe ARDS (1 day to 6 yrs of age [mean 1.75]; oxygenation index of > 20 cm H2O/torr) were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: To identify the optimal dosage for continuous nitric oxide inhalation, doses between 1 and 80 parts per million (ppm) of nitric oxide were tested after the patients had stabilized. Daily withdrawals of nitric oxide were made, according to predetermined criteria. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Nine neonatal and eight pediatric ARDS patients (mean Pediatric Risk of Mortality score 28.4 +/- 6.1; mortality risk 54 +/- 15%) were studied. The following variables changed within 24 hrs of nitric oxide inhalation: mean oxygenation index decreased by 56% (from 34 +/- 12 to 15 +/- 7 cm H2O/torr, p = .0004); alveolar-arterial O2 gradient decreased by 31% (from 579 +/- 71 to 399 +/- 102 torr (77.2 +/- 9.5 to 53.2 +/- 13.6 kPa), p = .0004); and mean systemic arterial pressure increased by 15% (from 49 +/- 10 to 57 +/- 12 mm Hg, p = .0029). The optimal dose of nitric oxide was 20 ppm in neonates (with additional persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn) and 10 ppm in pediatric patients. Prolonged inhalation (4 to 21 days) was associated with continuous improvement of oxygenation. An oxygenation index of < 5 cm H2O/torr predicted successful withdrawal, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 89%. None of the patients had to be rescued with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 16 of the 17 patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled nitric oxide enhances pulmonary gas exchange, with concomitant hemodynamic stabilization, in neonatal and pediatric ARDS. Best effective doses were 10 ppm of nitric oxide in pediatric ARDS and 20 ppm in neonates. Treatment should be continued until an oxygenation index of < or = 5 cm H2O/torr is achieved. Effects on outcome need verification in larger controlled trials.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Airway nitric oxide in asthmatic children and patients with cystic fibrosis.

We evaluated the effects of asthma and cystic fibrosis on nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in the respiratory tract. NO levels in orally exhaled air and nasal gas samples were studied in 90 asthmatic patients (4-14 yrs), 67 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) (5-32 yrs), and 68 controls (4-34 yrs). NO concentrations measured by chemiluminescene were correlated with the patient's vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and specific airway resistance. In all groups, NO concentrations in orally-exhaled air correlated with the inhaled ambient NO (r = 0.85-0.91). At an ambient NO concentration of 0 parts per billion (ppb), asthmatic patients exhaled air with higher NO concentrations than cystic fibrosis patients and controls (8.0 +/- 6.1 ppb (n = 33); 4.9 +/- 2.6 ppb (n = 23); and 3.0 +/- 2.5 ppb (n = 37); respectively; p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for ventilation-adjusted orally-exhaled NO. Nasal NO concentrations were lower in patients with CF (23 +/- 17 ppb) than in controls and asthmatics (96 +/- 47 and 103 +/- 64 ppb; p < 0.001). There was no relationship between nasal or oral NO and pulmonary function tests. Our results suggest that ambient NO levels influence NO concentrations in orally-exhaled air. Like adults, asthmatic children exhale more NO than their controls. Reduced nasal NO concentrations in patients with cystic fibrosis may reflect chronic epithelial cell damage or an increased mucosal barrier impeding NO diffusion into the airway.

Adolescent↗

Size-dependent oxygenation and energy status in multicellular tumor spheroids.

To evaluate interrelationships among the oxygenation, the energy status, and the development of necrosis in tumor microregions, oxygen tensions were measured with microelectrodes, and ATP distributions were determined with a quantitative imaging technique using multicellular spheroids as in vitro tumor models. The results obtained show a positive correlation between central oxygen tensions and ATP concentrations in spheroids. During spheroid growth, both quantities decrease from rather high values to recordings close to or at the background level within similar ranges of spheroid size. Since the emergence of central necroses precedes this drop in energy-rich phosphate, the data may suggest that energy metabolism is not directly involved in the development of necrosis in the spheroids investigated.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

ATP concentrations in multicellular tumor spheroids assessed by single photon imaging and quantitative bioluminescence.

To evaluate the interrelationship among the cellular energy status and the development of necrosis in tumor microregions, local ATP concentrations and the extent of necrosis were determined in multicellular tumor spheroids, i.e., in spherical tumor cell aggregates. The spheroids were grown in rotated suspension cultures using EMT6 cells that were derived from a murine mammary sarcoma. The distribution of viable and necrotic cell areas was assessed by histological investigations. The regional distribution of ATP concentrations was measured with a novel technique using quantitative bioluminescence and single photon imaging. This method makes it possible to determine ATP concentrations in absolute terms with a spatial resolution at the level of a single cell. The results show that ATP concentrations in the center of EMT6 spheroids decrease from values of 1.0 to 1.5 mM in small spheroids with 300 microns in diameter to values close to or at the background level in 750 microns spheroids. Necrosis was detectable in spheroids larger than 300 microns, and virtually no spheroid without necrosis was found at sizes larger than 600 microns. Since the emergence of central necrosis precedes the drop in ATP to undetectably low values, the data suggest that energy metabolism is not or not directly involved in the development of necrosis in tumor spheroids under the growth conditions investigated.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Hypocalcemic tetany in 'alternative' soy milk nutrition in the first months of life].

A 14 weeks old infant was admitted to the intensive care unit with life-threatening hypocalcemic-hyperphosphatemic spasms. Hypocalcemia-hyperphosphatemia was found to have been caused by feeding a high phosphate/ low calcium soy milk. The daily uptake of calcium was calculated to have been 3.3-6 mmol that of phosphate 30 mmol. The parents strongly believed that soy milk formulas were equivalent to breast milk and cow's milk formulas and lived on a strictly vegetarian diet. Therapy with calcium (at an initial dose of 2.25 mmol/kg/day) and 1.25 OH vitamin D3 (Rocaltrol, 0.25 microgram/day) normalized Ca, PO4, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels rapidly. Vegetarian feeding had led to life-threatening hypocalcemic hyperphosphatemic spasms in the infant. We conclude that malnutrition and false nutritional beliefs have to be included as a potential cause of early hypocalcemia in infants.

Calcium↗

Short stature and low IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 despite normal growth hormone secretion in a 4 year-old girl with primary empty sella syndrome.

A 4.1 year-old girl presented with short stature, cleft lip and additional upper incisor. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an empty sella due to a hypoplastic anterior pituitary. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were at and below the 1st percentile, respectively. In contrast, normal spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion (5.5-h nocturnal sampling) was observed and pharmacological provocation raised (GH to levels between 15.4 and 53 micrograms/l. GH-binding protein levels were normal (210 pM). GH therapy led to an increase of growth velocity from 4.5 to 10.8 cm/year and a normalization of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. The findings may imply an abnormal GH secretion pattern or a bioinactive GH in our patient. The data indicate that measurements of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may be a more sensitive test for integrative GH activity than GH testing itself.

Body Height↗

Diagnosis and management of juvenile hyperthyroidism in Germany: a retrospective multicenter study.

This retrospective multicenter study was designed to survey the management of childhood and adolescent hyperthyroidism in six pediatric endocrinological units in Germany. Fifty-six patients aged between 1.1 and 17.0 yr (median 10.5 yr) were enrolled. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients' records by a trained pediatric endocrinologist using standardized questionnaires. After the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism was established on the basis of clinical and biological findings, treatment with antithyroid drugs (carbimazole, methimazole, thiamazole, propylthiouracil) was started in all patients. In 55/56 of the patients treated with antithyroid drugs, euthyroidism was achieved (98%). However, 26 patients (47%) were still hyperthyroid after discontinuation of the medication. Eight children with continued hyperthyroidism ultimately underwent subtotal thyroidectomy 13-136 (median 28) months after the initial diagnosis. Management principles of the participating centers were heterogeneous. As a consequence, prospective multicenter studies are urgently needed to establish clear standards for the diagnosis and therapy of childhood hyperthyroidism.

Adolescent↗

Laparoscopically performed gastric banding in a 13 year-old girl with morbid obesity and end stage renal insufficiency allows lifesaving weight loss and hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: In adults, laparoscopic gastric banding is applied to treat morbid obesity, usually in combination with dietary and psychological intervention and increased physical exercise. However, little information is available on gastric banding in children. PATIENT AND METHODS: The 13 year-old girl suffered from end stage renal failure. Complications with hemodialysis catheters due to her extensive subcutaneous fat pads led to a life-threatening deterioration of her uremia. Intensive conventional schedules for weight reduction failed to be effective, so the morbidly obese girl (body mass index [BMI] 37.7 kg/m2, +3.6 standard deviation score [SDS]) underwent laparoscopic gastric banding at the age of 13 years after informed parental consent was obtained. RESULTS: After laparoscopic gastric banding there was a notable weight loss of 14 kg and an eventually adequate hemodialysis was possible. Total weight loss of the now 15 year-old girl was 24 kg (present BMI 28.3 kg/m2, +2.2 SDS). CONCLUSION: Even in childhood, laparoscopic gastric banding may be considered in cases of morbid obesity in critically ill patients.

Adolescent↗