To evaluate the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (HbOC) and of a tricomponent acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) when injected simultaneously into either contralateral arms or into contralateral thighs, 110 infants were enrolled to receive three doses of DTaP at 3, 4, and 5 months and two HbOC doses at 3 and 5 months of age. Administration of either of the two vaccines into arms was associated with significantly more local side effects than administration into thighs. There was no difference in geometric mean concentration (GMC) values for any of the four vaccine antigens between subjects who had been vaccinated into arms or thighs. After immunization, all children had protective antibody titers to diphtheria toxin. While post vaccination the mean anti-tetanus toxoid GMC was > or = 1.25 IU/ml, there was no significant rise as compared to the GMC before vaccination. GMCs of antibodies against the various pertussis antigens were similar to those observed before with the same DTaP vaccine. The simultaneous administration of DTaP and HbOC was safe and immunogenic irrespective of the site of vaccine administration, but significantly more local reactions occurred when vaccines were injected into arms.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The familial undescended testis].

BACKGROUND: Testicular maldescent affects 1 % of all 1 year old boys. The observation of familial undescended testis (UDT) was confined to the description of individual cases respectively particular families. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of a positive family history and the frequency of associated urological anomalies in family members and to calculate the risk for new born male individuals to have UDT if a family member is affected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 74 patients who underwent surgery because of UDT and 374 matched controls without UDT (control group) were interviewed by means of a special questionnaire. We asked for a family history of UDT, as well as for other urogenital anomalies respectively organ alterations (varicocele, hydrocele, hypospadia, testicular cancer, renal anomalies) and reviewed the medical records. For statistical analysis the odds ratio were calculated. RESULTS: 85/374 (22.73 %) of the analysed patients had family members with UDT versus 28/374 (7.5 %) of the control group. Brothers were involved in 37.3 %, fathers in 35.2 %, uncles in 23.5 %, cousins in 16.5 %, great-cousins in 8.2 % and grandfathers in 7.1 %. The familial cluster (risk for UDT in new born male) is 3.6-fold over all (2.306; 5.727), 6.9-fold if a brother and 4.6-fold if the father is affected. The rate of family members with UDT and/or other urogenital anomalies in the patients group was nearly 2-fold higher as in the control group (14 % versus 7.8 %). CONCLUSIONS: In our series the presence of UDT is much more frequently present than described in the literature so far. Due to the high familial cluster and the higher percentage of a positive family history for UDT and/or other urogenital anomalies in patients with UDT, a genetic predisposition is probable. Male descendants show a 3.6-fold increased risk in relation to the normal population, if a family member is already affected.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Therapy-related nomenclature of vertebral diseases in the aged].

The nomenclature of spinal diseases is symptomatologically only in many cases. For efficiency of the medical aid the physician needs a scientific diagnosis including precise localization, neurological aspects and the etiological background.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Sports in old age from the orthopedic viewpoint].

Sport is an essential part of the modern way of life also in the old age. The election of sport activity is very significant for health and prevention of diseases of the locomotor system in the old man. The locomotor system represents often a limitating factor for the participation in games and other kinds of sport.

Aged↗