[Reproductive health care for women with spina bifida]. / Suivi gynécologique des patientes atteintes d'un spina bifida.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have focused on reproductive health care for women with spina bifida. This subject is rarely discussed, whether in patient groups or in the medical community. However, these patients need advice and a care that is appropriate to their condition. METHODS: In association with the spina bifida reference center of the University Hospital of Rennes, we have conducted a four-year retrospective, observational study. Its aim was to analyze the characteristics of the patients' gynecological care and to adapt our practice to their needs. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included. We demonstrated an increased risk of precocious puberty, labia minora hypertrophy and genital prolapse. CONCLUSION: Some specific characteristics of the reproductive health care of patients with spina bifida are interesting to know. A study on a larger series of patients is needed to further analyze the obstetric, gynecological and sexological issues of these women.

Psychotropic medication in children and adolescents in Germany: prevalence, indications, and psychopathological patterns.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the "real-life" prevalence of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents in Germany and related behavioral and emotional problems. Data from the nationwide representative National German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) were analyzed. METHOD: A total of 17,450 subjects aged 0-17 years from 167 communities were examined as part of the KiGGS in Germany between 2003 and 2006 to determine their use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedatives within the 7 days prior to being interviewed. Medication use was assessed by a medical doctor who conducted a computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) with the parents, and related emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS: The overall prevalence for these medications was moderate (4.81/1000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.70-6.26), but prevalence varied across the different classes of drugs (sedatives > antipsychotics > antidepressants > anxiolytics). Rates of off-label use were high for antipsychotics and antidepressants. About 30% of the medication, especially sedatives, was used without prescription. Subjects using psychotropic medication obtained higher scores in the screening for emotional or behavioral problems than the total sample, but 40% of the children did not show abnormal scores. CONCLUSION: The indication for antipsychotics was mostly behavioral symptomatology, while antidepressants were used for a wide variety of symptoms. The high proportion of children and adolescents using psychotropic medication with normal scores in the emotional and behavioral screening was remarkable. It cannot be determined whether in these cases low scores were related to improvement in symptoms or whether medication was being misused.

[10 years' obstetric medicine at a district hospital. Methods and results]. / 10 Jahre Geburtsmedizin an einem Bezirkskrankenhaus. Methodik und Ergebnisse.

Between July 1st, 1975 and June 30th, 1985 9669 deliveries seen were evaluated according to parameters of obstetric efficiency, particular risk factors, perinatological proceedings including a trend analysis. A significant diminuation of perinatal mortality and morbidity could be registered. Since there has been an obvious augmentation of cases with higher obstetrical risks in the time mentioned, these results may be underlined positively. After all, the high taint of the results by preterm deliveries still remains an unsolved problem.

[Remarks on sonography in obstetrics]. / Bemerkungen zur Sonographie in der Geburtsmedizin.

For the near future two routine examinations by sonar for every pregnancy in Austria were announced by government. Therefore an analysis of 3076 ultrasonographic examinations of 1217 pregnancies seen in 1984 may lead to an estimation of the frequency of pathological factors to be expected. More than 90% of all pregnant women seen in our department for delivery or other indications had had sonographic examinations during pregnancy, 74% of them as outpatients. The most common pathological factors diagnosed were discrepancies between sonographic estimated and anamnestic gestational age (14.1% of cases), pathological fetal growth (11.0%), pathologics of placenta and umbilical cord (8.6%), pathological presentation (5.9%). Accompanying pathological factors as a cervical length less than 30 mm, an uterus myomatosus, uterine malformations, cystic adnexal masses were found in 1-2% of cases each. Fetal malformations and anomalies were seen in 0.8%. Problems arising from low frequencies of certain rare pathological findings, especially for their detection by office sonographiers or small departments, are discussed. For solution of such problems the multiple step programs as well as an intensive interdisciplinary local or countrywide collaboration is proposed. In Upper-Austria, such collaboration takes place organized by the collaboration group for antenatal detection of fetal malformations, which was founded in 1985 by the Upper-Austrian part of the Osterreichische Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin (OGUM).