New reference values for routine blood samples and human neutrophilic lipocalin during third-trimester pregnancy.

Reference values are usually based on blood samples from healthy men or non-pregnant women. Blood samples from pregnant women may be compared with these reference values. Correct references for pregnancy can be extremely important for clinical decisions such as ablatio placentae, appendicitis, premature rupture of membranes and preeclampsia. Previous studies of normal variations during third-trimester pregnancy are incomplete. Blood samples during pregnancy weeks 33, 36 and 39 as well as 1-3 h postpartum were collected from pregnant women with dietary iron supplement and at least one previous pregancy without a history of hypertension or preeclampsia. When the sampled values were compared with the present reference values from men and non-pregnant women, the following differences were found during normal pregnancy: Haemoglobin and ferritin were reduced, CRP was slightly elevated, WBC (white blood cell count) and HNL (human neutrophilic lipocalin) were elevated during pregnancy and significantly increased postpartum. Albumin was reduced. ALT and AST were slightly elevated and GGT was unchanged during pregnancy. ALP, D-dimer and fibrinogen were elevated. Uric acid increased during the third trimester and thrombocyte count decreased. Separate reference values for pregnant women are essential for correct diagnostic decisions during third-trimester pregnancy. Elevated levels of D-dimer do not necessarily indicate ablatio placentae. A diagnosis of progressive preeclampsia cannot be based on increasing uric acid levels and reduced platelet count in a stable clinical condition. HNL signals activation of neutrophilic granulocytes and can thereby offer a helpful tool for diagnosing infection during pregnancy and postpartum.

Rhodamine 123 fluorescence of immortal hybridoma cell lines as a function of glucose concentration.

The fluorescence of rhodamine 123 stained cells has been described to specifically reflect the activity of mitochondria. Changes in the intensity of fluorescence observed in stimulated lymphocytes were attributed to an increased glycolytic activity of cells due to increased growth rates. Previously reported changes in mitochondrial activity observed in batch cultures were likewise attributed to changed growth rates. In this study we report that the Rh123 fluorescence of hybridoma cell lines in batch culture more closely correlates to the glucose concentration in the culture supernatant than to growth rates. When cells are transferred into glutamine free medium with defined glucose concentrations ranging from 0 to 3,000 mg/L the mean Rh123 fluorescence adapts to the respective glucose concentration within 6 hours and gives a linear correlation. This can be explained by the previously described dependence of specific glucose consumption rates on glucose availability in the medium. The importance of controlling glucose availability, especially in large scale fermentations, is discussed.

[The assessment of social relations in 6 to 12-year-old children in a child and adolescent population in psychiatric consultation]. / Zur Einschätzung von Sozialbeziehungen sechs- bis zwölfjähriger Kinder einer kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Inanspruchnahmepopulation.

Starting from Schmiedeck's "personal sphere model" we tried to develop a similar procedure for children (age range 6 to 12 years). It should enable us to analyze the social relationships of a patient from his/her point of view. We examined 85 children of child/adolescent-psychiatric population with the presented method. It focuses upon drawings of the children and assessment of their relationships. The number of closely related persons and the frequency of interpersonal/social contacts allow to estimate the degree of embeddedness of the child into his/her social context. Importance and significance of indicated partners of interaction can be determined by the attachment the child expresses and receives. These assessments give information about the likes and dislikes for the related persons. The range of social experience extends equally for boys and girls as they grow older. At all age levels girls have more social contacts than boys. The sibling relations of the girls show more inconsistencies than those of the boys. Younger children have the tendency to name only the mother as family member. Neurotic and emotionally disturbed children express fewer wishes. Children with social behaviour disorders suffer less from the loss of a closely related person than children with emotional disturbances.

Visually stimulated saccadic eye movements in patients treated with lithium.

Saccadic eye movements were stimulated with the aid of 11 light spot stimuli, 10 of which were arranged at 3 degrees, 6 degrees, 9 degrees, 12 degrees, and 15 degrees to the left and right of the central stimulus. The parameters average and maximal eye movement velocity and latency were precisely investigated. 19 patients averaging 6.6 years on lithium prophylaxis were compared with 23 healthy controls. Significant differences between the two groups could not be found at this level of function.

[Presentation of a new tachistoscopic test procedure for measuring functional hemisphere asymmetries of the optic field]. / Präsentation eines neuen tachistoskopischen Testverfahrens zur Messung funktioneller Hemisphärenasymmetrien im optischen Bereich.

A newly developed tachistoscopic test using visual half-field-stimulation was tried on a clinical population of 178 primary school children. Words and geometric figures were presented. The results showed inconsistent effects of increased tiredness on the one hand and training effects on the other hand, while doing the test. The amount of asymmetry in the performance was not effected. The construction of the test was based on results of a previous study with similar items on a normal population of the same age. Therefore the items within a pair of simultaneously presented words or geometric figures in the two visual half-fields are generally of equal difficulty as perception is regarded. Therefore asymmetries in the perception are due to functional hemispheric asymmetry. Vertical oriented four-letterwords show no significant difference between reproduction from the right or left visual half-field. This discrepant finding regarding to the literature is discussed in respect of different methodology, different age distribution of the population, and different state of skills in reading and writing. Geometric figures showed marked asymmetries on the level of reproduction. Such items were much better recognized, if they were presented in the left visual half-field.