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Biomedical subjects

M Niesen

Publications and source records attributed to M Niesen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Diaplacental transmission of varicella zoster virus antibodies after chickenpox at the time of birth].

A pregnant woman with post-term birth developed a varicella rash on the day, when birth was to be initiated. The date was then postponed, until varicella zoster virus (VZV) IgG-antibodies could be proved in the mother, so as to allow the child to achieve an adequate diaplacental passive immunisation. Cesarean section was performed on the 7th day after the rash, but a comparison of the child's blood (from the umbilical cord) with the mother's blood showed, that the VZV antibodies developed by the mother during this time were only present in a tenfold reduced amount in the child. Antibodies to herpes simplex virus, already present in the mother's blood before the VZV infection, also increased because of the close relationship of the virus to VZV. Similar to the VZV antibodies, these antibodies did not increase in the baby as in the mother. Our results show that maternal antibodies are not transferred rapidly to the baby, and therefore it seems reasonable, that in the case of chickenpox at the time of delivery, the birth should be delayed, not only until seroconversion in the mother's blood, but - if possible - a few days longer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Reference values for IgE concentration in serum of children. Method: ImmunoCAP-FEIA system].

UNLABELLED: Age specific IgE reference values were determined in serum of 224 children by the aid of the ImmunoCAP fluorescence enzyme immunoassay method. RESULTS: Cord blood: less than 0.35 kU/l; Till 0.5 year: less than 2.0 kU/l; 0.5-2 years: up to 3.8 kU/l; 2-5 years: up to 16.0 kU/l; 5-8 years: up to 26.2 kU/l; 8-12 years: up to 34.6 kU/l; 12-16 years: up to 26.3 kU/l. These IgE reference values can be used for the diagnosis of pathological elevated IgE concentrations in serum of children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Whole-body cesium 137 activity up to 4 years after the Chernobyl reactor accident in premature newborns, newborns, infants, and children.

Cesium 137 activity was measured after the Chernobyl incident in a whole-body radiation counter (4-pi-scintillation counter) in 85 premature and mature newborns (group 1), 174 infants and young children up to 2 11/12 years (group 2), and 48 children between 3 and 8 years (group 3) from Bonn (Germany) and surroundings. In 1987 the mean level of radioactivity in group 2, at 3.7 Bq/kg body weight corresponding to a mean radiation exposure of 11 muSv/y, was lower than that of group 1 (5.8 Bq/kg, 17 muSv/y) and 3 (9.4 Bq/kg, 28 muSv/y). Up to 1990 the values of all groups revealed a continuous decrease. The latest measurements showed mean values of 0.5 Bq/kg (1.5 muSv/y) in group 1, 0.6 Bq/kg (1.8 muSv/y) in group 2, and 0.8 Bq/kg (2.4 muSv/y) in group 3. A comparison with present cesium 137 values and determinations of the end of the 1950s and beginning of 1960s, both in adults, showed good agreement. The effective dose-equivalent rates amounted to less than 1% of that from natural radiation exposure. These levels should present no teratogenic risks to the population studied and, while there are theoretical mutagenic risks, the dose is so low that no increase in measurable mutagenic effects should be observed.

Accidents↗
PubMed1991

[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↗
PubMed1988

[One year after Chernobyl. Cesium-137 levels in premature, newborn and nursing infants and in younger and older children of Bonn and environs].

From May to August 1987, 137Cs activity was measured in a total-body counter (4 pi counter) in 33 premature and mature newborns (group I), 40 infants and young children up to 2 4/12 years of age (group II), and 15 children between 3 and 6 8/12 years (group III), all from Bonn or its environs. The mean of measurements in group II, at 3.7 Bq/kg body-weight, was lower than that of group I (5.8 Bq) and III (9.4 Bq). Mean radiation exposure, calculated from these data, was 1.7 mrem/a for group I, 1.1 mrem/a for group II, and 2.8 mrem/a for group III. A comparison with present Cs values in adults and measurements made at the end of the 1950's and beginning of 60's showed good agreement. There were no significant differences, as regards Cs activity, between newborns or infants who had been formula-fed or breast-fed. The measured radiation exposure of the three groups is about 1% of natural radiation exposure. Thus, present-day results indicate that there will be no damage to health outside the natural scatter.

Accidents↗
PubMed1988

Diastrophic dysplasia: a specific prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound.

In a pregnant woman without increased genetic risk, the presence of distrophic dysplasia of the fetus was diagnosed sonographically at 31 weeks' gestation and definitively distinguished from other skeletal dysplasias. In all prenatal diagnosis of diastrophic dysplasia reported so far, this autosomal recessive congenital condition had occurred in the family's previous children and this made the diagnoses of fetal diastrophic dysplasia easier. The reported case was diagnosed due to evidence of an extreme shortening of all long bones of the extremities associated with other skeletal deformities which, taken as a whole, are typical of this syndrome: micrognathia, cervical kyphosis, persistent extension limitation in elbow and knee joints, club feet, ulnar diviation of hands, shortened phalanges, and, in particular, abduction of thumbs ('hitchhiker thumbs') and big toes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Trisomy 22--prenatal findings in various developmental stages].

Four cases of trisomy 22 in different stages of pregnancy are reported, one of them showing a mosaicism. The diagnosis was made in three of the observations during the first trimenon, in one in the third trimenon. A typical pattern of malformations of developmental retardation could be demonstrated in the embryonic as well as in the extraembryonic tissues. Our findings confirm the different frequency of the single chromosome abnormality in the various stages of development in pregnancy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1988

Hydrops fetalis as an indication for prenatal chromosome analysis with the example of the diagnosis of a duplication 15q11 and 17q25 due to a familial translocation 15/17.

A child with a combined trisomy 15q11 and 17q25 shows the typical phenotype of partial duplication 17q. The male fetus developed in the 3rd trimenon of pregnancy a nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF). Analysing the chromosomes of 54 cases with NIHF during the 2nd and 3rd trimenon and after birth we found chromosomal abnormalities in 33% of them.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1987

Listeriosis: a cause of non-immune hydrops fetalis.

A case of prenatally diagnosed non-immune hydrops fetalis, that was later shown to be caused by listeriosis, is presented, and the clinical course, as well as the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are described. We conclude, that listeriosis should be excluded, whenever a non-immune hydrops fetalis is associated with septicemia, influenza-like illness and fever of unknown origin.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Carbamazepine levels in breast milk.

The carbamazepine (CBZ) concentration of breast milk was determined in 19 epileptic patients of whom 13 were receiving CBZ monotherapy. Two lactation periods under CBZ monotherapy were followed in 2 of these 13 patients. The CBZ concentration of the breast milk was 36.4% of the maternal CBZ serum level (mean value). The correlation coefficient was 0.44; the regression line follows the equation y = 0.12X + 1.63. The CBZ concentration was measured in a total of 50 milk samples during the lactation period (cases of monotherapy plus combination therapy). The CBZ concentration ranged from 1 to 4.8 micrograms/ml (mean 2.5 micrograms/ml). The free CBZ concentration in the maternal serum was measured in four patients. The correlation between CBZ in the breast milk and free CBZ levels was 1.6 to 1.8. The ratio of carbamazepine-epoxide (ECBZ) in the milk to ECBZ determined in serum was 0.53. Continuing galactorrhea after delivery was observed in one patient. The CBZ and ECBZ levels determined 3.5 years after delivery were higher in the milk than in the serum. The observations of breast-fed and non-breast-fed children whose mothers were on CBZ monotherapy disclosed poor suckling in only 1 of 15 infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Valproic acid in breast milk: how much is really there?

Valproic acid (VPA) concentrations were measured by a sensitive and highly specific gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay in breast milk from 16 patients treated with VPA during 17 lactation periods. The range of VPA levels in 36 breast milk samples was 0.4-3.9 micrograms/ml (mean 1.9 +/- 1.2 microgram/ml). During the investigations of breast milk it was found that the concentration of total VPA in breast milk was not much higher than that of unbound VPA. These findings agree with clinical observations of infants fed with milk from VPA-treated mothers.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Protein binding of valproic acid in maternal and umbilical cord serum.

The serum valproic acid levels of 18 maternity patients at the time of delivery were compared with the valproic acid levels in the umbilical cord serum. The levels in the umbilical cord serum were 1.1-4.6 times higher than those in the maternal serum, with a mean value of 1.38. One explanation for this difference apparently is an increased protein binding of valproic acid in the infant's serum. Protein binding was determined in nine patients, in six by equilibrium dialysis and in three by ultrafiltration. The median value of the free fraction of valproic acid was 9.1% (range, 5.8-16.4%) in the umbilical cord serum (equilibrium dialysis) and 15% (range, 12.7-35.3%) in the maternal serum. The difference between the infant and the maternal serum is significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D in cow's milk, infant formulas and breast milk during different stages of lactation.

Vitamin D and its metabolites were determined in cow's milk, infant formulas, and colostrum, transitional and mature breast milk by specific protein-binding assays following HPLC (high-pressure liquid chromatography). Cow's milk contains (mean +/- SEM) 50.4 +/- 4.1 pg/ml vitamin D (n = 10), 499 +/- 47 pg/ml 25-OH D (n = 10) and 9.7 +/- 1.0 pg/ml 1,25 (OH)2D (n = 3). 86.6% of the added vitamin D3 was recovered from infant formulas. The mean content (mean +/- SEM) of 25-OH D and 1,25(OH)2D of infant formulas are 299 +/- 35 pg/ml and 5.4 +/- 0.9 pg/ml (n = 9), respectively. Vitamin D concentration of colostrum and mature breast milk is 122 +/- 3.4 pg/ml (n = 7, mean +/- SEM) and 38 +/- 3.3 pg/ml (n = 9) respectively; the 25-OH D content increases from 294 +/- 50.6 pg/ml (n = 10) to 845 +/- 190 pg/ml (n = 14) during lactation. The increase of 1,25-(OH)2D from early to mature breast milk (3.2 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, n = 8 versus 5.3 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, n = 20) is still statistically significant.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease during pregnancy--a case report].

Based on a case report of a 19-year-old woman with Hodgkin's disease in pregnancy and on several casuistic communications and comparative studies from the literature the problems of cytostatic therapy in pregnancy are discussed. The following conclusions may be drawn: Cytostatic therapy in varying combination seems not to be associated with a damage to the fetus, even when applied in the first trimester of pregnancy. Fetal disturbances occurred almost exclusively under a combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In the case observed by us a combination chemotherapy with adriblastin, vincristine and prednisone was successfully applied from the 28th week of pregnancy on. The child showed no disturbances apart from a slight degree of intrauterine growth retardation which must also be seen in connection with a severe anemia of the mother or her nicotine abuse.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Cytogenetic, gynaecological and sonographic aspects of twin pregnancy with parental Robertsonian translocation 13/14 (author's transl)].

A prenatal chromosome analysis for a parental Robertsonian translocation 13/14 is absolutely imperative. In the present case of a twin pregnancy, it was possible to present the chromosome complement of only one foetus. Since this foetus showed the Robertsonian translocation in the same form as the phenotypically healthy mother, and since the ultrasound findings were normal, it was concluded that foetus I was normal. Further measures for the cytogenetic analysis of foetus II were abandoned after the first amniotic sample could not be analysed. At the time of the amniocentesis this child was retarded when compared to foetus I. Since the life expectancy of a possibly chromosomally unbalanced child is slight, it was not necessary for the parents to take further steps. During the rest of the pregnancy however, this difference in the development of the children evened out unexpectedly and two phenotypically healthy children were born. The implications of a delayed growth rate as an indication of abnormal foetal development are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[25-hydroxy-vitamin-D in serum of newborns and infants during continuous oral vitamin D treatment (author's transl)].

Using the Haddad modified method, 25-OH-D were measured in the blood of the umbilical cord of 29 infants and in peripheral serum after 6 weeks. 16 infants were given a daily dosage of 1000 I. E., 13 infants 500 I. E. vitamin D against rickets. Further they were fed with an adapted milk containing 400 I. E. vitamin D/1. The mean cord serum values were 13 and 15 ng/ml. After treatment with 1000 I. E., 25-OH-D values around 54 ng/ml were measured after 6 weeks and under 500 I. E. daily, values of 37 ng/ml, respectively. Treatment using a dosage of 500 I. E. vitamin D combined with feeding with vitamin D fortified milk seems adequate, to prevent vitamin D depletion.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2↗