Prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in Danish rodents.

Six rodent species from six Danish localities were examined for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A total of 1097 specimens were tested using a serum titre of 1:8. The wild mice Apodemus sylvaticus and A. flavicollis had high prevalences of B. burgdorferi antibodies of 42.1% and 27.9% respectively, but the vole Microtus agrestis also showed an exceptionally high prevalence of 32.7%. Clethrionomys glareolus had a low average prevalence of 17.4%. The lowest and highest prevalences of rodents seropositive for B. burgdorferi of 6.5% and 100% were found for Micromys minutus and Mus musculus respectively. Twice as many of the Microtidae voles (M. agrestis and C. glareolus) as of the family Muridae were caught, and in Denmark the actual number of seropositive Microtidae was 1.6 times higher than for Muridae. The results indicate that in Denmark the family Microtidae species plays an important role as an animal reservoir host for B. burgdorferi. The prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi varied from locality to locality, but seropositive rodents were found at all localities examined, indicating that the spirochete was widely present in Denmark.

[Giant hemangioma of the placenta as a cause of life-threatening anemia in the newborn infant with hydrops congenitum]. / Riesenhämangiom der Plazenta als Ursache einer lebens-bedrohlichen Neugeborenenanämie mit Hydrops congenitum.

A premature infant (33.-34. gestational week) delivered by caesarean section suffered from congenital hydrops and severe anaemia (7,2 g/dl) with pronounced marks of erythroblastosis; its placenta contained a haemangioma of 750 gs. A gigant haemangioma is extremely rare and can lead to a characteristic symptom complex endangering the life of mother and foetus.

[Vitamin-B12-dependent methylmalonic acidemia in twins]. / Vitamin-B12-abhängige Methylmalonazidämie bei Zwillingen.

The tendency towards metabolic acidosis developing during simple infections lead to the detection of hyperglycinemia which was shown to be caused by the rare inborn error of metabolism, which was shown to be a methylmalonic acidemia, in identical twins. Under a protein restricted diet and vitamin-B12-injections once a week, all clinical symptoms disappeared so that vitamin-B12-dependency became evident. Under this therapeutic regimen methylmalonic aciduria was well under control.

[Spondylocostal dysostosis. Report of 5 cases including siblings and an atypical case]. / Die Spondylocostale Dysostose. Bericht über 5 Beobachtungen einschliesslich Geschwister und einen atypischen Fall.

Spondylocostal Dysostosis (sp. c. D.) is characterized by multiple morphological anomalies of the vertebrae and ribs which are frequently fused. This is due to malsegmentation of the axial skeleton probably before the 20th day of embryonic development. There are severe and moderate forms. The etiology is heterogeneous since dominant, and more frequently recessive inheritance has been noted and phenocopies should be expected. Sp. c. D. may be part of a genetic malformation syndrome. Five observations are reported, three typical including sibs, and two atypical ones. The sixth case demonstrates rachischisis anterior (et posterior) of the entire spine.

[Toxic shock syndrome]. / Syndrome des toxischen Schocks.

Since the description of the toxic shock syndrome as a disease entity approximately 700 cases have been reported, mainly in young women during their period using tampons. The cause is thought to be toxins of Staph. aureus. The disease was now observed in a 13-year-old girl, presenting as severe acute septicaemia. The aetiopathogenetic connection with use of tampons could only be established during a second, entirely identical, illness, occurring again precisely 3 days after the onset of the following period.

[Long-term second remission in acute leukemia of childhood (author's transl)]. / Langzeitzweitremission bei Paraleukoblastenleukose im Kindersalter.

Report on a case of acute childhood leukemia, who presents with the following exceptional features: During complete remission early bilateral leukemic infiltrations of the testes, followed--after an intervall of several months--by a serve, general relapse with ascites. New induction therapy resulted in a second complete remission, persisting for the next 8 years with 6MP as well as after cessation of therapy until up to more than 17 years. Comparable courses are not as yet on record.