[Two German Birth Cohorts: GINIplus and LISAplus]. / Die zwei deutschen Geburtskohorten GINIplus und LISAplus.

Numerous chronic diseases in childhood and adulthood have their origins in perinatal life and are potentially influenced by trans-generational epigenetic processes. Therefore, prospective birth cohorts can substantially contribute to our knowledge about the etiology of diseases including modifiable risk factors. The two population-based German birth cohorts GINIplus and LISAplus aim to describe the natural course of chronic diseases and intermediate phenotypes in childhood and its determinants, and to identify potential genetic effect modifications. In the mid-1990s, 5,991 (GINIplus) and 3,097 (LISAplus) healthy, term newborns were recruited for long-term follow-up in four regions of Germany. The follow-up rate for the first 10 years was about 55%. We analyzed the growth and development of overweight, infections and allergic diseases, mental and oral health, metabolic and inflammatory parameters and the role of potential risk factors including genetics. The results of these two birth cohorts substantially contribute to the current knowledge about the natural course of these health parameters. These data were included in many international projects and consortia for purposes of international comparisons of prevalence and consistency of findings, and to increase the power of the analyses.

Hydrocephalus after subarachnoid bleeding. A correlation of clinical findings, the results of radioisotope Cisternography and computer-assisted tomography.

Out of a group of patients suffering from a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage 27 patients were checked by computer-assisted tomography (CAT), 23 patients by radioisotope cisternography, and 21 patients by both diagnostic procedures. The results were correlated with the clinical observations. The flow of the CSF was normal in 7 patients (30.43%), and pathological in 16 patients (69.56%). Of the 27 patients checked by CAT, 23 (85.18%) showed a ventricular dilatation, which in 17 patients (62.96%) was not connected with a corresponding increase of the cisterns of the convexity. The clinical symptoms of hydrocephalus, the degree of impairment of the circulation of the CSF determined by radioisotope cisternography and the ventricular diameter as determined by CAT correlated well.

[Acute paraplegia due to embolism from nucleus pulposus tissue (author's transl)]. / Akutes Querschnittssyndrom durch Embolien von Nucleus-pulposus-Gewebe

Typical anterior spinal artery syndrome with initially severe pain and paraplegia with sensory disturbances occurred after a fall in a 36-year-old man with a history of lumbago. Multiple emboli of fibrocartilaginous material with nucleus pulposus cells were found in the foci of myelomalacia. The embolism of nucleus pulposus tissue originating from Schmorl's nodules was probably carried via the blood vessels of the neighbouring vertebral bodies with retrograde flow through the perispinal venous plexus into spinal cord veins and hence into the arteries of the spinal cord via veno-arterial anastomoses. A transitory increase in intra-abdominal pressure was probably the cause of the inversion of venous flow.

[Chronic lymphocytic meningitis with polytopic involvement of the nervous system (after tick bite?)]. / Chronische lymphozytäre Meningitis mit polytoper Beteiligung des Nervensystems (nach Zeckenbiss)

After an introductory description of the terminology, the individual experiences of 65 patients with chronic lymphocytic radicular myelo-meningitis after tick bite are reported with reference to the literature. The finding of the cerebrospinal fluid in the lymphoplasmocytic meningitis together with radicular and regional pains, and a one-or two-sided peripheral facial nerve paresis represents the nucleus syndrome of the illness, which usually progresses as meningopolyneuritis. The pathogen, probably a virus, could not yet be isolated. The treatment is purely symptomatical with corticosteroids and antibiotics. Quoad vitam, the prognosis is invariably favourable, residues are frequent.

[Myelographic findings in multiple sclerosis in combination with cervical spondylosis]. / Zur Wertung myelographischer Befunde bei Spondylosis cervicalis und Multipler Sklerose

Differential diagnostic problems are considered in 8 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and cervical spondylosis simultaneously. When a clinical suspicion for multiple sclerosis is combined with a relatively normal sagittal diameter of the cervical vertebral canal, myelographic findings due to cervical spondylosis must be evaluated carefully.