Verbaler Lern- und Merkf�higkeitstest

BACKGROUND

The VLMT (auditory verbal learning and memory test) was constructed for use in children and adults. This study aimed at investigating the ecological validity in children.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, data from 384 children were investigated. Correlations between the VLMT and a newly developed questionnaire (AVWS-Q) probing auditory processing skills were calculated.

RESULTS

Significant albeit very weak correlations between VLMT items and AVWS-Q items were found.

DISCUSSION

Results indicate that VLMT performance cannot be predicted by the AVWS-Q (neither as a sum score nor as questions regarding memory skills alone). Either the ecological validity of the VLMT has to be considered poor or the AVWS-Q does not probe memory skills sufficiently.

Efficacy of 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a pooled analysis of clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Recently published population-based investigations showed elderly patients to be underrepresented in clinical trials and less often treated according to the standard therapy. Although there is evidence that elderly patients benefit from adjuvant (radio-) chemotherapy to the same extent as younger patients, no large series describes the influence of age on efficacy of chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We carried out a retrospective analysis using source data of 3825 patients who received 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-containing treatment in 22 European trials and identified 629 patients with an age of > or = 70 years.

RESULTS

We found an equal overall survival in elderly patients [10.8 months, 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.7-11.8] and in younger patients (11.3 months, 95% CI 10.9-11.7; P = 0.31). Response rate did not differ between age groups > or = 70 and <70 years (23.9% and 21.1%; respectively; P = 0.14). Progression-free survival was marginally prolonged in elderly patients (5.5 months, 95% CI 5.2-5.8; compared with 5.3 months, 95% CI 5.1-5.5; P = 0.01). In both age groups, infusional 5-FU resulted in significantly increased response rates, overall survival and progression-free survival compared with bolus 5-FU.

CONCLUSIONS

'Fit' elderly patients benefit at least to the same extent from palliative chemotherapy with 5-FU as younger patients. Infusional 5-FU was shown to be more effective than bolus 5-FU in both age groups. Therefore, standardized palliative chemotherapy should generally be offered to elderly patients and they should not be excluded from clinical trials.

[Transpupillary thermotherapy for occult choroidal neovascularizations]

PURPOSE

This contribution describes the results of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for age-related exudative macular degeneration (AMD) with regression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In exudative AMD with occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV), transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) was performed using a diode laser (Iridex) in unselected patients. Before therapy and 1, 3, and 6 months after the initial treatment the patients were examined clinically. Additionally threshold testing in the 10 degrees field (Humphrey) and fluorescein angiographies were documented at all check-ups.

RESULTS

With respect to vision, differences in the slope of the regression lines between small, medium, and large CNV were significant (p<0.001). The slope of the regressions lines was significant except for small CNV. Regarding the 10 degrees field (Humphrey), there were no statistical differences in the slope of the regression lines (p=0.867).

CONCLUSIONS

Transpupillary thermotherapy with small CNV did not show a statistically significant decrease of VA. Thus, in clinical terms early treatment of occult CNV with TTT seems to be able to prevent a further loss of visual acuity.

Mid term course after pediatric right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction: a comparison of homografts, porcine xenografts and Contegras

OBJECTIVE

Homografts and porcine xenografts are valved conduits for pediatric RVOT reconstruction. They lack availability and durability. The Contegra, a glutaraldehyde fixed bovine jugular vein, was developed as an alternative. In this article, we compare single center results of 190 RVOT conduit implantations.

METHODS

52 homografts, 30 porcine xenografts, 108 Contegras were implanted since 1992. Since 1999, data collection was prospective, for Contegras within a controlled clinical trial. Follow-up is complete for all evaluated items. We stratified reoperations by problem zone (sub-, intra-, and supravalvular) and analyzed the role of patient age, diagnosis, graft type, graft size, previous operations and year of operation on freedom from explantation or reoperation related to supravalvular reasons.

RESULTS

Porcine xenografts were inferior concerning freedom from explantation and reoperation (P<0.0001). They gave erlier reason for explantation in each zone (P<0.001). At 4 years, homograft valve related reoperation need reached 20%, Contegras 0% (P=0.002). Supravalvlar reoperation reasons developed about equally in homografts and Contegras. Multivariable Cox' regression analysis showed porcine xenografts and age <1 year as independent risk factors for explantation due to supravalvular reasons. We found no reason to assume that supravalvular reoperation reasons occured more frequently after Contegra than after homograft implantation.

CONCLUSION

After 12 years RVOT reconstruction with 190 valved conduits, Contegras remain our device of choice. At 4 years, they show no subvalvular or valvular reason for explantation or reoperation. Contegras have the advantages of easy handling and availability, and they compare well with homografts regarding freedom from explantation and freedom from reoperation.

Transthoracic Doppler validation in mammary artery grafts after minimal invasive direct coronary artery bypass operation

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to validate noninvasive transthoracic Doppler ultrasound (TTD) with simultaneous invasive Doppler guidewire measurements in patients after minimal invasive direct coronary artery bypass operation.

METHODS

A total of 14 patients were examined 3 to 8 days after minimal invasive direct coronary artery bypass operation. TTD was performed to measure systolic and diastolic peak velocities of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) at rest and during adenosine-induced hyperemia. Simultaneous Doppler guidewire measurements were performed.

RESULTS

LIMA flow was detected in 12 of 14 patients (86%). There was high agreement between TTD and Doppler guidewire measurements of LIMA flow velocities (systolic peak velocity: r = 0.86, y = 11.3 + 0.82x +/- 7.9; diastolic peak velocity: r = 0.95, y = 5.7 + 1.02x +/- 7.5; average peak velocity: r = 0.95, y = 5.2 + 0.94x +/- 5.4; and flow velocity reserve: r = 0.97, y = 5.2 + 0.99x +/- 4.5).

CONCLUSION

TTD represents an accurate method to evaluate flow velocities and flow velocity reserve of LIMA bypass grafts even in the early phase after minimal invasive direct coronary artery bypass operation.

Hepatitis C virus infection affects the brain-evidence from psychometric studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Up to 50% of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) complain of chronic fatigue and difficulties in concentration and memory. The aim of the present study was to seek evidence for the presence of central nervous system involvement in HCV infected patients with only mild liver disease.

METHODS

Thirty HCV infected patients with normal liver function, 15 of whom were identified as having mild and 15 moderate to severe fatigue using the fatigue impact scale, underwent neurological and neuropsychological examination, electroencephalography (EEG) and cerebral proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Fifteen healthy volunteers, matched for age and educational attainment, served as controls.

RESULTS

In comparison to the healthy controls the patients with HCV infection showed evidence of cognitive impairment, primarily attention and higher executive functions, higher levels of anxiety and depression and impairment of quality of life. In addition they showed a significant decrease of the N-acetyl-aspartate/creatine ratio in the cerebral cortex on 1H MRS while the EEG was slowed in 25%. In general the deficits were more marked in the patients with moderate rather than mild fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

The data provide evidence of central nervous system involvement in patients with HCV infection.

Treatment intensity significantly influencing fibrosis in bone marrow independently of the cytogenetic response: meta-analysis of the long-term results from two prospective controlled trials on chronic myeloid leukemia

Bone marrow fibrosis (MF) has been shown to indicate therapy failure in Ph(+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the results on the development of MF during interferon-alpha therapy of CML are controversial. The significance of the interferon dose has not been considered as yet. In total, 627 bone marrow biopsies taken prospectively from 200 patients with CML recruited in two studies using different doses of interferon-alpha +/- low-dose cytosine arabinoside were examined for MF before and during therapy. The results showed that the risk of MF depended significantly on the interferon-alpha dose applied (P<0.000005). MF progressed during low-dose therapy (3 x 5 x 10(6) IU/week), but was prevented from progression when applying high dose (5 x 10(6) IU/m(2)/per day). MF disappeared when high-dose interferon-alpha was combined with low-dose cytosine arabinoside (P<0.000005). The risk of death markedly increased when MF occurred or progressed (P<0.0009), independent of all other prognostic factors evaluated including the cytogenetic response. In conclusion, the effectiveness of interferon-alpha on MF depends on the treatment intensity. MF reverses when combining high-dose interferon-alpha with low-dose cytosine arabinoside, but progresses when applying low-dose interferon-alpha. MF appears to be a significant early indicator of ineffective therapy in CML.

Novel NKX2-5 mutations in diseased heart tissues of patients with cardiac malformations

NKX2-5 is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor important in cardiac development. Familial mutations in the NKX2-5 gene are associated with cardiac abnormalities, but mutations are rare in sporadic cases. We studied the pathology and molecular genetics of NKX2-5 in diseased heart tissues of 68 patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly atrial (ASD), ventricular (VSD), and atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD). We also studied DNA extracted from 16 normal hearts, as well as lymphocytic DNA from 50 healthy volunteers, 7 families, and 4 unrelated individuals with CHD. Direct sequencing revealed 53 NKX2-5 mutations in the diseased heart tissues, including nonsynonymous substitutions in the homeodomain of NKX2-5. We found common mutations among unrelated patients, but certain mutations were specific to VSDs and AVSDs. Many patients had multiple NKX2-5 mutations, up to 14 nonsynonymous mutations per patient in VSDs. Importantly, these nonsynonymous mutations were mainly absent in normal heart tissues of the same CHD patients, thus indicating somatic origin and mosaicism of mutations. Further, observed mutations were completely absent in normal hearts and lymphocytic DNA of healthy individuals. Our findings provide new insights for somatic NKX2-5 mutations to be of importance in congenital heart disease.

The RACHS-1 risk categories reflect mortality and length of hospital stay in a large German pediatric cardiac surgery population

OBJECTIVES

The Risk Adjusted classification for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) was published in January 2002, based on 4370 operations registered by the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium. It is designed for being easily applicable also for retrospective analysis of hospital discharge data sets; the classification was not developed for patients with heart transplantations, ventricular assist devices or patients above 18 years. We apply this classification to our 2368 correspondent procedures that were performed consecutively on 2223 patients between June 1996 and October 2002 in Bad Oeynhausen and analyze its relation to mortality and length of hospital stay.

METHODS

The procedures were grouped by the 6 RACHS-1 categories. Groping criteria were mainly the performed procedures; for few procedures age or diagnoses are needed in addition. The classification process itself took less than 10 working hours. Risk group frequencies in our/ the PCCC population were 1: 368/964 (15.5%/22.0%), 2: 831/1433 (35.1%/33.1%), 3: 744/1523 (31.4%/34.7%), 4: 284/276 (12.0%/6.3%), 5: 4/4 (0.2%/0.1%), 6: 137/168 (5.3%/3.8%). 18.8%/19.2% were under 1 month, 37.5%/31.6% 1-12 months of age, respectively.

RESULTS

Hospital mortality (%) in our population/ the PCCC Group 1-6 was: 0.3/0.4, 4.0/3.8, 5.6/8.5, 9.9/19.4, 50.0/0, 40.1/47.7%. Geometric means of total (13.1, 19.6, 23.5, 29.1, 31.5, 52.6 days, respectively) and postoperative length of stay of survivors show significant differences between the single risk groups. The prediction capacity of the score as expressed by the area under the receiver-operator curve was nearly equal to the value found for the American hospital discharge data sets. Length of stay rises exponentially with the RACHS-1 category. However, the RACHS-1 category explains only 13.5% of the total and 16.8% of individual postoperative lengths of hospital stay in survivors.

CONCLUSION

The RACHS-1 classification is applicable to European pediatric populations, too. Category Distribution, outcome class distinction capacity, distribution and mortality are similar. RACHS-1 is able to classify patients into significantly different groups concerning total and postoperative hospital stay duration, although there remains a large variability within the groups.

Regional differences in cerebral blood flow and cerebral ammonia metabolism in patients with cirrhosis

Clinical and histopathological findings hint at regional differences in the brain's sensitivity to metabolic changes in cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to examine regional differences in cerebral ammonia metabolism in patients with cirrhosis and grade 0-to-I hepatic encephalopathy (HE). (13)N-ammonia, (15)O-water positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. Quantitative values of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the initial cerebral ammonia uptake rate (K1) were derived for several regions of interest from images of the desired parameters after interactive coregistration with the patients' MRI-studies. CBF (mL/mL/min), K1 (mL/mL/min), and the ammonia extraction fraction (K1/CBF) showed marked regional variance with the highest levels in the thalamus, the lenticular nucleus, and the cerebellum. In conclusion, the regional differences in cerebral ammonia uptake correspond to the distribution of histopathological changes in the brain of patients with cirrhosis as well as clinical features of HE, characterized by signs of basal ganglia and cerebellar dysfunction with corresponding signs of functional impairment, especially of the frontal cortex and cingulate gyrus.

Proteomic patterns established with capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry for diagnostic purposes

BACKGROUND

Proteomics applied in large scale may provide a useful diagnostic tool.

METHODS

We developed an online combination of capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry, allowing fast and sensitive evaluation of polypeptides found in body fluids. Utilizing this technology, polypeptide patterns from urine are established within 45 minutes. About 900 to 2500 polypeptides as well as their concentrations are detected in individual urine samples without the need for specific reagents such as antibodies. To test this method for clinical application, we examined spot urine samples from 57 healthy individuals, 16 patients with minimal change disease (MCD), 18 patients with membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), and 10 patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

RESULTS

One-hundred seventy-three polypeptides were present in more than 90% of the urine samples obtained from healthy individuals, while 690 polypeptides were present with more than 50% probability. These data permitted the establishment of a "normal" polypeptide pattern in healthy individuals. Polypeptides found in the urine of patients differed significantly from the normal controls. These differences allowed the distinction of specific protein spectra in patients with different primary renal diseases. Abnormal pattern of proteins were found even in urine from patients in clinical remission.

CONCLUSION

The data indicate that capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry coupling provides a promising tool that permits fast and accurate identification and differentiation of protein patterns in body fluids of healthy and diseased individuals, thus enabling diagnosis based on these patterns.

Marrow fibrosis, indicator of therapy failure in chronic myeloid leukemia - prospective long-term results from a randomized-controlled trial

Marrow fibrosis (MF) has rarely been considered in therapy studies on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and there is a lack of long-term observations on the basis of sequential bone marrow biopsies (BMBs) taken prospectively during the course of disease. A total of 848 BMBs from 400 patients with Ph(+) CML recruited in the German randomized CML study I were examined for MF before and during therapy. In total, 110 patients had been randomized to receive interferon (IFN)-alpha, and 290 to receive chemotherapy (hydroxyurea (HU): 154, busulfan: 136). During IFN-alpha and HU medication, MF was reduced or did not increase for about 2 years. Evolving or progressive MF was an independent and early predictor of therapy failure about 2 years earlier than indicated by changes in the peripheral blood, spleen size, marrow blast count and cytogenetics (P<0.00005), resulting in a significant shortening of the survival times of patients independent of the type of therapy applied including allografting (multivariate analyses; P<0.00005). The analyzed long-term observations strongly indicate that MF is an independent poor prognostic complication of CML, allowing an early prediction of therapy failure. Consideration of the fiber content in marrow may therefore significantly improve the prediction of therapy efficacy and outcome of disease.

An improved model for the binding of lidocaine and structurally related local anaesthetics to fast-inactivated voltage-operated sodium channels, showing evidence of cooperativity

1. The interaction of lidocaine-like local anaesthetics with voltage-operated sodium channels is traditionally assumed to be characterized by tighter binding of the drugs to depolarized channels. As inactivated and drug-bound channels are both unavailable on depolarization, an indirect approach is required to yield estimates for the dissociation constants from channels in inactivated states. The established model, originally described by Bean et al., describes the difference in affinity between resting and inactivated states in terms of the concentration dependence of the voltage shift in the availability curve. We have tested the hypothesis that this model, which assumes a simple Langmuir relationship, could be improved by introducing a Hill-type exponent, which would take into account potential sources of cooperativity. 2. Steady-state block by lidocaine was studied in heterologously (HEK 293) expressed human skeletal muscle sodium channels and compared with experimental data previously obtained for 2,6-dimethylphenol, 3,5-dimethyl-4-chlorophenol, and 4-chlorophenol. Cells were clamped to membrane potentials from -150 to -5 mV, and a subsequent test pulse was used to assess the number of channels available to open. 3. All compounds shifted the voltage dependence of channel availability in the direction of negative prepulse potentials. Prediction of the concentration dependence of the voltage shift in the availability curve was improved by the modified model, as shown by a marked reduction in the residual sum of squares. 4. For all compounds, the Hill-type exponent was significantly greater than one. These results could be interpreted in the light of the contemporary hypothesis that lidocaine functions as an allosteric gating effector to enhance sodium channel inactivation by strengthening the latch mechanism of inactivation, which is considered to be a particle-binding process allosterically coupled to activation. Alternatively, they could be interpreted by postulating additional binding sites for lidocaine on fast-inactivated sodium channels.

Memory function in early hepatic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND

Early hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is characterized by deficits in motor performance, visual perception, visuo-constructive abilities and attention. Whether defective memory is a feature of early HE is controversial.

AIMS

To analyze memory function in patients with early HE.

METHODS

Memory tests were applied to cirrhotic patients with grade 0 HE, minimal HE and grade I HE (n=45) and controls (n=52). The battery included short and long term memory tests requiring free recall or recognition. Minimal HE was diagnosed by assessing the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score using the PSE-Syndrom-Test and by carrying out a neurological examination. Group differences of the test results were analyzed using analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

HE 0 patients achieved test results similar to the controls in all but two tests. Patients with early HE (minimal and grade I HE) scored lower than the controls in all tests applied. A detailed analysis of test performance showed that the patients' deficits were in attention and visual perception, rather than memory.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with early HE score lower than controls in memory tasks predominantly because of deficits in attention and visual perception.

Ghrelin in chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Ghrelin is a novel endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue receptor involved in energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis and food intake. We investigated the role of ghrelin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), the mediator of the GH axis, in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD).

METHODS

Ghrelin and IGF-1 serum levels were determined in 105 CLD patients and 97 healthy controls and correlated with clinical and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Ghrelin was significantly elevated and IGF-1 reduced in CLD patients compared with healthy controls. IGF-1 serum levels inversely correlated with Child's classification. Ghrelin levels were significantly elevated in Child C cirrhosis patients independent of the aetiology of liver disease. Ghrelin levels did not correlate with liver function. In contrast, there was a correlation of ghrelin with clinical (gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, encephalopathy) and biochemical (anaemia, inflammatory markers, hypoglycaemia, renal dysfunction) parameters. In a subgroup of patients with CLD and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we observed a strong inverse correlation between alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ghrelin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike IGF-1, ghrelin is not correlated with liver function, but increases in Child C cirrhosis and with complications of CLD. The inverse correlation with AFP in HCC patients requires further studies on the potential impact of ghrelin on the pathogenesis of anorexia-cachexia syndrome.

Blockade of voltage-operated neuronal and skeletal muscle sodium channels by S(+)- and R(-)-ketamine

Besides its general anesthetic effect, ketamine has local anesthetic-like actions. We studied the voltage- and use-dependent interaction of S(+)- and R(-)-ketamine with two different isoforms of voltage-operated sodium channels, with a special emphasis on the difference in affinity between resting and inactivated channel states. Rat brain IIa and human skeletal muscle sodium channels were heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. S(+)- and R(-)-ketamine reversibly suppressed whole-cell sodium inward currents; the 50% inhibitory concentration values at -70 mV holding potential were 240 +/- 60 microM and 333 +/- 93 microM for the neuronal isoform and 59 +/- 10 microM and 181 +/- 49 microM for the skeletal muscle isoform. S(+)-ketamine was significantly more potent than R(-)-ketamine in the skeletal muscle isoform only. Ketamine had a higher affinity to inactivated than to resting channels. However, the estimated difference in affinity between inactivated and resting channels was only 8- to 10-fold, and the time course of drug equilibration between inactivated and resting channels was too fast to cause use-dependent block at 10 Hz up to a concentration of 300 microM. These results suggest that ketamine is less effective than lidocaine-like local anesthetics in stabilizing the inactivated channel state.

IMPLICATIONS

Blockade of sodium channels by ketamine shows voltage dependency, an important feature of local anesthetic action. However, ketamine is less effective than lidocaine-like local anesthetics in stabilizing the inactivated state. Because it does not elicit phasic blockade at small concentrations, its ability to reduce the firing frequency of action potentials may be small.

Bradykinesia in minimal hepatic encephalopathy is due to disturbances in movement initiation

BACKGROUND

One of the predominant symptoms of early stages of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is bradykinesia.

AIMS

To further analyze the pathophysiology of bradykinesia in HE.

METHODS

A three-dimensional computer-assisted movement analysis was performed in 36 cirrhotics with grade 0-I HE compared to 18 controls selected with regard to sex and age and 16 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Four types of movement were studied: finger tapping, hand tapping, pronation/supination of the forearm and flexion/extension in the hip joint.

RESULTS

The patients with PD presented with a decrease of the maximal movement velocity (VMAX) and a prolongation of the time needed to reach VMAX (VTIME). In patients with minimal or grade I HE, the VMAX of all movements was unchanged compared to controls while the VTIME was significantly prolonged. This was caused by a delay before the beginning of each new part of the diadochokinetic movement cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest an impairment of movement initiation as main cause of bradykinesia in early HE.

[Anaesthesia for caesarean section. Comparison of two general anaesthetic regimens and spinal anaesthesia]

OBJECTIVES

The study was undertaken to compare different anaesthetic techniques for scheduled or urgent caesarean section with respect to maternal circulatory parameters, maternal and fetal endocrine stress response, fetal vitality parameters and further clinical parameters such as recovery and analgesic demand.

METHODS

After ethical approval,patients scheduled for general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to the esketamine group ( n=21; induction with 0.5 mg/kg BW esketamine and 1.5 mg/kg BW methohexitone, ventilation until cord cutting with FiO(2) 1.0) and the sevoflurane-group ( n=21; induction with 1.5-2.0 mg/kg BW methohexitone, ventilation until uterotomia with N(2)O/O(2) [FiO(2) 0,5] and endtidal sevoflurane concentrations about 1.0 vol%). After fetal development, all patients received 2.5 microg/kg BW fentanyl and sevoflurane (about 1.0 vol% endtidal) during ventilation with N(2)O/O(2) (FiO(2) 0.33). As a further control, a group with spinal anaesthesia ( n=22; 2.6-3.0 ml isobaric bupivacaine 0.5 %) was investigated. Maternal circulatory and endocrine plasmatic stress parameters were investigated at five time points and fetal parameters once after development.alpha< or =0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Biometric data were comparable in all groups. Systolic arterial pressure was higher in the esketamine group ( p=0.008), whereas the heart rate was lower during spinal anaesthesia ( p<0.001). Plasma noradrenaline decreased in all collectives ( p<0.001) and mean group levels of noradrenaline ( p=0.04) and adrenaline ( p<0.001) were lower during spinal anaesthesia. In all groups, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) remained within the normal range or was slightly increased. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) initially increased in all groups and decreased in later time course ( p<0.001). Cortisol increased in all groups ( p<0.001) but group levels were lower during spinal anaesthesia ( p<0.001). In the groups with general anaesthesia, no significant differences in recovery times were obvious, and neither recall nor dream reactions were observed. Postoperative hypoxic incidents (psaO(2) <90%) were comparable between the groups. After spinal anaesthesia, first analgesic demand was later than in the controls ( p=0.001), and the total amount of piritramide was lower ( p=0.02). Nausea and vomiting were more frequent during spinal anaesthesia ( p=0.03). All patients were content with their regimen. Apgar scores, pH-values and adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol in plasma were comparable in all groups of children (69 children, 5 gemini). The fetal concentration of esketamine (251 ng/ml) was lower than the corresponding maternal values (493 ng/ml).

CONCLUSIONS

When compared with methohexitone, sevoflurane and N(2)O for caesarean section, initial total intravenous anaesthesia with esketamine and methohexitone mediated specific antinociception without negative maternal or fetal effects and not taking invasion kinetics or elimination between uterotomia and cord cutting into consideration. Avoidance of N(2)O allows optimal oxygenation of the fetomaternal unit. Stress protection and hemodynamic responses were well balanced, and intraoperative recall or negative dream reactions were lacking. Superior postoperative pain protection was advantageous after spinal anaesthesia, but in contrast, nausea and vomiting were more frequent in this group.

Seasonal variation of endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and plasma catecholamines and their relation to outside temperature

Circannual rhythmicity in plasma catecholamines is well known, but no chronobiologic data are available on endothelin-1 and angiotensin II. This study was designed to investigate in healthy human subjects whether endothelin-1 and angiotensin II exhibit seasonal variations. Furthermore, we assessed the relation of both variables to plasma catecholamines, to environmental temperature, and to relative humidity in northern Germany, a region of a temperate climate. Plasma concentrations of endothelin-1, angiotensin II, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were prospectively determined in venous blood from 10 healthy subjects at monthly intervals during 13 consecutive months. The single-cosinor method was applied to evaluate the seasonal rhythmicity of these parameters and to assess their temporal relation to both relative humidity and ambient temperature. Whereas relative humidity did not significantly change throughout the year, outdoor temperature was lowest in January and highest in August. Endothelin-1 levels displayed a significant variation, with a sinusoid pattern throughout the year: nadir values occurred in January, peak values in July. Angiotensin II demonstrated a significant correlation with endothelin-1 and paralleled its rhythmicity. In contrast, the two plasma catecholamines exhibited an opposite pattern. We noted a significant inverse correlation between endothelin-1 and norepinephrine. Outside temperature correlated positively with endothelin-1 and angiotensin II levels and correlated negatively with levels of both catecholamines. This is the first study to report a seasonal variation of endothelin-1 and angiotensin II in normal subjects. According to our data, environmental temperature is the climate variable most closely related to the rhythmicity of endothelin-1, angiotensin II, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

Postoperative pain management in orthopaedic patients: no differences in pain score, but improved stress control by epidural anaesthesia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To investigate the interactions of postoperative pain and endocrine stress response, three groups of 21 patients each with total knee arthroplasty were compared in a randomized, prospective design. For postoperative pain management, a three-in-one block, an epidural catheter analgesia or an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia was used.

METHODS

After standardized balanced anaesthesia, the pain intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS). For detection of epinephrine, norepinephrine, antidiuretic hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in the plasma, blood samples were taken at six time points before and up to 180 min after the start of pain therapy. In addition, systolic arterial pressure, heart rate, partial arterial oxygen saturation, nausea, vomiting and satisfaction of the patients were recorded.

RESULTS

Within 15 min after the start of pain therapy, VAS in all groups was similarly reduced from >40 mm to a range <10 mm (P < 0.001). Initially, all endocrine stress variables exceeded the normal range. Epidural anaesthesia led to a significant decrease of epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations, while an increase was observed in the group with patient-controlled analgesia, and the decrease in patients with the three-in-one block was less than in patients receiving epidural anaesthesia (P = 0.001). Differences in antidiuretic hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol were less pronounced. Systolic arterial pressure decreased significantly in all groups, particularly in patients with epidural anaesthesia. Partial arterial oxygen saturation and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were comparable. All patients were satisfied with the methods used.

CONCLUSIONS

All methods of pain management led to sufficient analgesia, but they were not accompanied by an adequate reduction in endocrine stress response. Thus, postoperative pain is only a secondary stressor and sufficient analgesia with subjective well-being does not prove a stress-free state. With regard to the reduction of sympathoadrenergic stress response, epidural anaesthesia is superior to the three-in-one block and patient-controlled analgesia. Epidural anaesthesia is recommended particularly for high-risk patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus. In these patients, the reduction of a 'hidden' endocrine stress response in addition to prevention of pain is of special interest.