Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG DSM 33156 effects on pathogen defence in the upper respiratory tract: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled paediatric trial.

Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are caused by numerous viruses and bacteria. URTIs can be a cause of morbidity and are among the most common reasons for visiting healthcare practitioners and prescribing antibiotics to children in addition to causing absenteeism from school and work. Oral intake of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG DSM 33156 has shown beneficial health effects in several clinical trials, primarily relating to immune function and gastrointestinal health in children and adults. It has also been suggested that oral intake of L. rhamnosus GG DSM 33156 can reduce the incidence rate and alleviate symptoms of URTIs in children. We here report the results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 619 children aged 2-6 years conducted at a single centre in Scotland. The children, who were in day care or primary school, were followed over a 16-week intervention period with 309 randomised in the active group and 310 in the placebo group. The parents or guardians reported a daily healthcare status and any presumed episodes of URTI, which were subsequently confirmed by a general practitioner. The investigational product was well tolerated in the trial. Although a general trend towards a beneficial effect was observed, this trial did not demonstrate that L. rhamnosus GG DSM 33156 significantly reduced the incidence of URTIs, diagnosed by a general practitioner according to prespecified criteria (primary endpoint). Moreover, none of the secondary efficacy endpoints were met. Applying a Ward's hierarchical clustering, two separate clusters, focussing on four quality of life-related endpoints, were identified. Cluster 1 was associated with more severe URTI characteristics than cluster 2. Cluster 2 was significantly enriched with children who consumed the product, indicating that the symptoms children experience during an URTI are alleviated by the intake of L. rhamnosus GG DSM 33156. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03636191.

Titanium wear from magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) for the treatment of spinal deformities in children.

Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) are an effective treatment method for early-onset scoliosis (EOS). In recent years, increasing titanium wear was observed in tissue adjacent to implants and in blood samples of these patients. This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between amount of metal loss and titanium levels in blood during MCGR treatment as well as influencing factors for metal wear. In total, 44 MCGRs (n = 23 patients) were retrieved after an average of 2.6 years of implantation and analyzed using a tactile measurement instrument and subsequent metal loss calculation. Titanium plasma levels (n = 23) were obtained using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The correlation of both parameters as well as influencing factors were analyzed. Titanium abrasion on MCGRs was observed in the majority of implants. There was no correlation of metal implant wear or titanium plasma values to the duration of MCGR implantation time, number of external lengthening procedures, patient's ambulatory status, gender, weight or height. Material loss on the MCGRs showed a positive correlation to titanium blood plasma values. The present study is one of the first studies to analyze retrieved MCGRs using high-precision metrological techniques and compare these results with ICP-MS analyses determining blood titanium values.

Ultrasound-guided, percutaneous injection of steroids as a treatment for symptomatic adhesions between the lumbrical and interosseous muscles of the hand: A case report.

Adhesions between lumbricales and interossei muscles are known as "saddle deformities." Clinical diagnosis of saddle deformities of the hand requires a high index of clinical suspicion; this specific injury is often missed or remains undiagnosed using conventional X-ray or MRI techniques. Although the "gold standard" for treatment is surgical release of the adhesions, ultrasound-guided steroid injections at the site of adhesions could be considered a promising treatment option prior to surgical management and, as illustrated in this case, is shown to provide adequate pain relief and positive outcomes for the patient.

Purification of human immunoglobulin M by affinity chromatography on protamine-Sepharose.

Human IgM has been isolated from plasma by a simple procedure in high yield. The first step was adsorption to protamine-Sepharose and elution by increasing the ionic strength with NaCl. This was followed by two gel filtration steps resulting in a 98% pure IgM in about 30% yield. A somewhat modified procedure could also be used for purification of IgM from Cohn fraction II + III. The purified IgM was found to have a sedimentation constant in agreement with reported values. In immunoelectrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, purified IgM showed the same behaviour as IgM in plasma. Different fragments of IgM were tested for binding to the protamine-Sepharose adsorbent. IgM and Fab were not bound unlike (FC)5, indicating that the sites responsible for binding are located in the Fc part and that several Fc parts are necessary for sufficiently strong binding for adsorption.

Prosodic characteristics of skilled reading: fluency and expressiveness in 8-10-year-old readers.

Statistical methods of describing prosody were used to study fluency, expressiveness and their relationship among 8-10-year-old readers. 67 children were rated on fluency and expressiveness. The two were partially independent in the full sample: expressiveness rarely occurred without fluency, but fluency occurred without expressiveness. A balanced subsample of 24 was selected for closer instrumental and statistical analysis. There were robust relationships between fluency and measures associated with temporal organization.between expressiveness and variables associated with pitch mobility; and Interactions indicated that the relationships were not simple. Differences between groups depended on sentence content and position-expressive readers distinguished sentences more sharply according to content, and the groups diverged on some measures as the passage progressed. Also, measures associated primarily with either fluency or expression often showed secondary sensitivity to the other: temporal organization was associated with fluency, but worsened over time among inexpressive readers; and readers who were both fluent and expressive were distinctive in several respects. Some measures offer a basis for rules aimed at assigning individuals to skill categories, particularly the magnitude of pitch movements and reading time per syllable. The rules distinguish well among readers who were either at one of the extremes of skill, or fluent but inexpressive; it is harder to discriminate among the other readers (who have mixed skill patterns). The effects suggest psychological hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms.

[Pregnancy in adolescents]. / Schwangerschaft bei Jugendlichen

The course of pregnancy to patients aged 16 and under during 1957 to 1961 and 1967 to 1973 is reported. There is an increasing number of pregnancies in these groups of adolescent girls. The frequency of delivery has not changed but the number of abortion has become more important. This fact and the complication by a substantially higher frequency of gestosis and by a tendency to premature delivery causes the pregnancy in young girls as a high risk pregnancy which needs intensive care.

PIP: The course of pregnancy in patients aged 16 and under during the periods 1957-1961 and 1967-1973 is reported. There is an increasing number of pregnancies in these groups of adolescent girls. The frequency of births has not changed but the number of abortions has increased. This fact and the definitely higher tendency for gestosis and premature delivery make pregnancies of young girls high-risk pregnancies which need intensive care.

[Delivery in adolescents]. / Geburt bei Jugendlichen

The course of delivery to patients aged 16 and under during 1957 to 1961 and 1967 to 1971 is reported. The frequency of deliveries has not changed. Vaginal delivery occurred in 140 of 142 patients. The delivery of the young girls was characterized by an uncomplicated course. The incidence of breech, cesarean section and assisted deliveries was low. Neonatal complications and the perinatal mortality rate are attributed to prematurity and malformation. Prematurity might be reduced by an intensive care of pregnancy.

PIP: Characteristics of 69 juvenile (13-16 years of age) births which occurred between 1957 and 1961 and 73 juvenile births which occurred between 1967 and 1971 were compared. No difference in the length of childbirth was found except for a significant decrease in the expulsion period. There were significantly fewer premature births, but no significant difference in the number of underweight children. Puerperal complications were equally frequent in both groups. A marked decrease in breast feeding was also recorded. The majority of childbirths were uncomplicated with similar incidences of Ceasarean section, breech, and assisted deliveries in both groups.

[The transformation of a cervical chordoma into an anaplastic tumor. A case report and review of the literature]. / Transformation eines zervikalen Chordoms in einen anaplastischen Tumor. Eine Fallbeschreibung und Literaturüberblick.

The authors describe a case of a cervical chordoma in a 28-year-old man with local recurrence and metastasis. Particular attention is paid to the fact that complete malignant transformation was observed during the follow-up. A review of the literature is undertaken chronicling the documented associations of chordoma and malignant neoplasm. Followed by a discussion of the three causes proposed to explain this phenomenon. Further on the current opinion on the therapy methods of chordomas is reviewed.

Anaerobic metabolism in the leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.): direct and indirect calorimetry during severe hypoxia.

Anaerobic metabolism in the limnic annelid Hirudo medicinalis L. was investigated by direct and indirect calorimetry. During long-term severe hypoxia, the rate of heat dissipation was reduced up to 13% of the aerobic rate. At the same time, the rate of ATP turnover was reduced to about 30% of the aerobic rate, indicating that metabolic depression is an important mechanism to ensure survival of the leech during environmental anaerobiosis. Heat dissipation during hypoxia was monitored under two experimental conditions, favouring either concomitant hypocapnia (continuous N2 bubbling) or hypercapnia (self-induced hypoxia). The reduction in heat dissipation during hypocapnic hypoxia was less pronounced than during hypercapnic hypoxia, indicating that the different experimental conditions may influence anaerobic metabolism and the extent of metabolic depression. Biochemical analysis of known anaerobic substrates and endproducts provided the basis for indirect calorimetry during self-induced hypoxia. From changes in metabolites, the expected heat dissipation was calculated for initial (0-8 ,h) and long-term severe hypoxia (8-72 h). During the initial period, the calculated heat dissipation fully accounted for direct calorimetric determination. During long-term hypoxia, only 71% of the measured heat production could be explained from biochemical analysis of metabolites. Therefore, an additional unknown endproduct cannot be excluded, especially when anaerobic ammonia production and analysis of the carbohydrate balance are considered.

[Kidney function in heart failure]. / Nierenfunktion bei Herzinsuffizienz.

Congestive cardiac failure is a syndrome in which a decrease of cardiac output triggers a series of neuro-humoral compensatory mechanisms in part involving the kidney. In this response, dysfunction of atrial volume receptors as well as disturbances of the autonomic nervous system have recently been demonstrated and are held responsible for excessive stimulation of angiotensin II, followed by adverse regulatory effects. Renal hemodynamic compensation for heart failure primarily involves constriction of efferent arterioles thereby defending glomerular filtration. In this setting, the occurrence of prerenal insufficiency is indicative of a far advanced reduction in renal blood flow. Apparent diuretic resistance in the treatment of heart failure is usually caused by iatrogenic vascular compromise or by the use of a single diuretic rather than an appropriate combination. Hyponatremia, vasopressin stimulation and elevation of plasma N-epinephrine concentration have been found to be the most reliable indicators of a poor prognosis of heart failure. Atrial natriuretic peptide is stimulated in proportion to the degree of atrial distension in heart failure, however its intrarenal effects are markedly blunted or may even be absent in this particular disease.

Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, polydipsia and hypothalamic calcifications.

We studied a 41 year old patient who had pathologic fluid intake of 10 1/day together with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone. Imaging studies revealed a lesion of the anterior wall of the third cerebral ventricle. A review of relevant literature indicated several different disturbances by which alterations of thirst, vasopressin-secretion and abnormalities of anterior third ventricle may be associated. The present case presents an unusual and potentially dangerous combination in this spectrum of changes.

Analysis of laser Doppler flux motion in man: comparison of autoregressive modelling and fast Fourier transformation.

In order to investigate laser Doppler (LD) flux motion in healthy subjects and patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), spectrum analysis of LD signals is needed. Autoregressive analysis (AR) is presented as an alternative method of power spectrum estimation. This procedure is compared to the commonly used fast Fourier transform algorithm (FFT) by describing the analytical power of both spectra in the analysis of flux motion waves. LD signals were recorded from the forefoot of 8 healthy volunteers and 11 patients with different degrees of PAOD. The flux, concentration of moving blood cells and velocity signal was digitized and stored for off-line analysis. Special software was designed to calculate AR and FFT spectra of the LD signals and to compare the suitability of both methods for the spectral analysis of LD recordings. Additionally, three-dimensional spectrum diagrams were calculated to demonstrate time-dependent flux changes during standardized provocation maneuvers. AR facilitates the determination of frequency and amplitude of flux motion waves as compared to the FFT. Low frequency-large amplitude waves (LF waves) were detected in both groups. High frequency-small amplitude waves (HF waves), which predominantly appear in severe ischemia, were observed in 7 of the 11 patients and in 2 of the 8 controls. The spectra revealed pulsatile waves in all healthy controls, but only in 1 of the 11 patients. AR modelling allows a reliable description of important flux motion components and has considerable advantages in spectral estimation of LD signals as compared to the FFT.