Ursodeoxycholic acid in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. A retrospective study of 19 cases

OBJECTIVE

We studied the clinical and biological effects and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

METHODS

All cases of ICP treated with ursodeoxycholic acid in our department from January 1st, 1991 to May 31st, 1997 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients had ICP, of whom 19 received ursodeoxycholic acid. The first symptoms appeared after a mean of 29.7 weeks of pregnancy (WP). Treatment was started after a mean of 32 WP, and lasted a mean of 28.5 days. Fourteen patients showed a clinical improvement on UDCA, and 11 showed a biological improvement. Two had a biological deterioration with increased liver enzyme concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Ursodeoxycholic acid appears to be an effective treatment for ICP, but further studies are needed to confirm its safety in pregnancy.

Analysis of sulfonated naphthalene-formaldehyde condensates by ion-pair chromatography and their quantitative determination from aqueous environmental samples

An ion-pair solid-phase extraction (IPE), ion-pair chromatography (IPC) procedure with fluorescence detection for the quantitative analysis of sulfonated naphthalene-formaldehyde condensates (SNFC) was developed, which provides full resolution of SNFC up to a degree of condensation n = 5 and partial resolution up to n = 15. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry confirmed that SNFC elute in the order of condensation. Response factors in fluorescence detection proved to be mass-constant, thereby allowing us to determine total SNFC amounts. With this IPC method, the weight- and the number-average molecular weights of these high-volume production chemicals (kiloton per annum), used as synthetic tanning agents, concrete plasticizers, and dispersants, can be determined. Recoveries in IPE range from 73 to 85% in river Rhine water and from 79 to 93% in tap water for n = 2 to n = 7 with limits of detection of 3-8 ng/L for individual homologues from 500 mL of water. The IPE-IPC procedure was applied to samples of secondary industrial effluents, river Rhine water, a river bank filtrate, and a groundwater sample. SNFC up to n = 6 were detected in the treated effluents. Total concentrations ranged from 208 micrograms/L in a secondary treated SNFC production effluent to < 1.4 micrograms/L in groundwater. These first analyses suggest a widespread occurrence of the lower oligomers of SNFC in the aquatic environment.

Hepatitis C virus transmission through quarantine fresh-frozen plasma

In 1994, quarantine fresh-frozen plasma (Q-FFP) was introduced in Germany in order to reduce the risk of HIV and HCV transmission. In 1998, an acute HCV infection of a patient was reported to us. The look-back revealed that this patient had received two Q-FFP from a donor who had seroconverted for HCV in the meantime. Recipients of further plasma donations from this donor were identified. Back-up specimens of these donations were investigated in several laboratories. A total of 25 additional HCV-PCR positive plasma units had been transfused to 12 further patients. HCV infections were diagnosed in seven of these recipients, three patients had already been deceased. One of the remaining two recipients was already HCV positive prior to transfusion, in the other patient, no HCV infection was detectable. This patient had received three units of an "early" plasma donation , which was tested negative by PCR in one laboratory, but positive in the other. The subsequent, clinically infectious donation had the same discrepant PCR results. Thus, eight cases of HCV transmission were revealed and classified as "certain" with regard to causality, also due to an identical HCV genotype, i.e. 3e. Some of these infections would have been prevented by application of a different anti-HCV assay. The assay used in the respective plasmapheresis station was in-sensitive in this individual case for more than 400 days after the first PCR positive donation. This caused the release of the above mentioned infectious units. Upon re-testing the backups, three of four other anti-HCV assays revealed a positive result already 104 days after the first PCR-positive donation. The donor had increased ALAT levels (> 23 IU/L) at nine of 28 donations, two of these were higher than 2.5 times the upper normal limit, and two were higher than 68 IU/L, which is the cut-off value for male blood donors in Germany. The results of these (look-back) studies arouse several queries, i.e. differences in the diagnostic sensitivity between current anti-HCV and PCR tests, the accuracy of risk-estimates (especially when based on hemovigilance studies for Q-FFP), the value of ALAT testing, and currently practised release algorithms for Q-FFP.

Sphingolipids and cholesterol modulate membrane susceptibility to cytosolic phospholipase A(2)

Modulation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) activity by sphingomyelin (SPH), ceramide (Cer), and cholesterol (Chol) was investigated in CHO-2B cells activated by the calcium ionophore A23187 and epinephrine. Chol depletion of CHO-2B cells by treatment with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (5 mm) resulted in the inhibition of the release of arachidonic acid whereas the restoration of the level by Chol-loaded cyclodextrin relieved inhibition. Conversion of CHO-2B cellular SPH to Cer by Staphylococcus aureus sphingomyelinase enhanced endogenous cPLA(2) activation as well as uptake by cells of C2- and C6-ceramide analogs. These results were confirmed in vitro with purified human recombinant cPLA(2) acting on a model phospholipid substrate. The enzyme activity was inhibited by SPH but reactivated by Cer as well as by Chol added to glycerophospholipid liposomal substrates containing SPH. The results of this study, which combine in situ and in vivo experimental approaches, indicate that membrane microdomains enriched in SPH and Chol play a role in the modulation of the activity of cPLA2 and in arachidonic acid-derived mediator production.

Community treatment orders: relationship to clinical care, medication compliance, behavioural disturbance and readmission

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the readmission rate, and the level of patient disturbance and community care associated with readmission following Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) in New South Wales, Australia.

METHOD

The readmission rates of all patients given CTOs within a 4-year period and a matched comparison group were investigated. The following factors were compared before, during and following a CTO: medication non-compliance, number of clinical services and duration of disturbed behaviour preceding hospitalisations.

RESULTS

Of 123 patients on CTOs (mean length, 288 days; SD, 210 days), 38 were readmitted during the CTO, the majority in the first 3 months and a further 21 patients were readmitted following termination of the CTO. Evidence of lower severity of illness in the comparison patients prevented meaningful evaluation of the readmission rates of the two groups. While on CTOs, patients receiving depot medications showed high compliance and a significantly reduced readmission rate compared with that of patients receiving oral medications. In the 2 months prior to hospitalisations during CTOs, compared with those before or after CTOs, patients received more frequent consultations and showed a shorter duration of medication non-compliance and disturbed behaviour. The level of services in the 3 months following discharge were comparable for patients on CTOs and the comparison group.

CONCLUSIONS

CTOs may reduce rehospitalisations by use of depot medication. Earlier and possibly more frequent readmissions in the CTO group shortened the disturbance associated with illness recurrence. It would appear that to establish a control group with equivalent severity of disorder necessary to evaluate the impact of CTOs requires a random allocation design.

Testing of individual blood donations for HCV RNA reduces the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV infection

BACKGROUND

To allow cost-effective RNA testing with NAT techniques, the national authorities of several countries have planned or already introduced tests of mixed specimens, that is, plasma pools.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

High-throughput extraction, amplification, and detection of HCV RNA from individual blood donations were optimized and validated. The feasibility of the method and the frequency of anti-HCV-negative, HCV RNA-positive donations were determined in a prospective study of 27,745 allogeneic and 792 autologous individual donations.

RESULTS

The 50- and 95-percent detection limits of the method were determined at 44 IU per mL and 162 IU per mL, respectively (World Health Organization HCV reference material). When 201 HCV RNA-positive sera were taken as a reference, the sensitivity was 97.5 percent. The assay specificity was determined at 99.77 percent. During a 20-month period, two seronegative blood donors tested positive in HCV PCR. The viral load of these donations was 6 x 10(6) and 3 x 10(7) copies per mL, respectively. Thus, the yield of HCV RNA testing in this study was 7. 63 per 100,000 screened donations (95% CI, 1.25-22.07). In both PCR-positive donors, seroconversion was found in subsequent blood samples.

CONCLUSION

This study compares the feasibility of single-donation HCV RNA screening, with the detection of a relatively high percentage of window-phase donations, to data reported from groups using HCV RNA testing of plasma pools. The relative yield of NAT of individual donations versus minipools should be directly investigated in the near future.

Sulthiame as monotherapy in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sulthiame Study Group

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of sulthiame (STM) as monotherapy in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS).

METHODS

Sixty-six BECTS patients entered a 6-month double-blind trial and were randomized to receive either STM (5 mg/kg/day) or a placebo. All patients had had two or more seizures during the 6 months preceding the trial and were aged 3-11 years. Seizures were recorded by parents in a diary. STM plasma levels and electroencephalograms (EEGs) were overseen by patient-blinded observers. The primary effectiveness variable was the rate of treatment failure events (TFEs) per group. TFEs consisted of a first seizure after a 7-day run-in period, intolerable adverse events (AEs), development of another epileptic syndrome, or termination of the trial by parents or patient.

RESULTS

Twenty-five of the 31 STM-treated patients (81%) and 10 of the 35 placebo-treated patients (29%) completed the trial without any TFEs (p = 0.00002). Most TFEs were seizures (n = 4 for the STM patients, n = 21 for the placebo group). Parents requested termination for two placebo-treated patients. Four patients were terminated for administrative reasons. No patient was withdrawn for AEs. While all patients displayed at least one specific focus in either the awake or asleep EEG initially, 11 STM-treated patients had a normal awake EEG and 10 had a normal asleep one after 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

STM was remarkably effective in preventing seizures in patients with BECTS. Patients suffering from > or = 2 seizures during the past 6 months had a high risk of early recidivism. STM was well tolerated and should be considered for children with BECTS who are in need of treatment.

Neutron RBE for induction of tumors with high lethality in Sprague-Dawley rats

The effectiveness of fission neutrons is compared to that of gamma rays and X rays with regard to the induction of malignancies in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The analysis is based on autopsy results. It is focused on tumors that tend to be present in animals dying early, which is indicative of a high degree of lethality. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is deduced from a comparison of the cumulative hazard functions. Different nonparametric models-the constant relative risk model, a time shift model, and an acceleration model-are employed in the comparison, and the resulting values of RBE are seen to be substantially independent of the choice of model. The results are in good agreement with earlier studies of nonlethal lung tumors in the same series of experiments. At neutron doses of 20 to 60 mGy, the RBE of fission neutrons is about 50.

Collagen type I-coating of Ti6Al4V promotes adhesion of osteoblasts

The initial contact of osteoblasts with implant surfaces is an important event for osseointegration of implants. Osseointegration of Ti6Al4V may be improved by precoating of its surface with collagen type I. In this study, the adhesion of rat calvarial osteoblasts to uncoated and collagen type I-coated titanium alloy was investigated over a period of 24 h. Collagen type I-coating accelerates initial adhesion of osteoblasts in the presence of fetal calf serum. One hour after plating, no differences in the percentage of adherent cells between the surfaces investigated were found. Adhesion of osteoblasts to uncoated surfaces was reduced by the GRGDSP peptide by about 70%, whereas adhesion to collagen type I-coated surfaces remained unaffected by treatment of the cells with the peptide. Cell adhesion to coated materials was reduced by about 80% by anti-integrin beta1 antibody. The integrin beta1 antibody did not influence the adhesion to uncoated titanium alloy. The results suggest that osteoblasts adhere to collagen type I-coated materials via integrin beta1 but not by interacting with RGD peptides, whereas adhesion to uncoated titanium alloy is mediated by RGD sequences but not via integrin beta1. Fibronectin does not seem to be involved in the adhesion of osteoblasts to either coated or uncoated titanium alloy.

Single mesodermal cells guide outgrowth of ectodermal tubular structures in Drosophila

The Drosophila tracheal system, a tubular network, is formed from isolated ectodermal metameres by guided branch outgrowth and branch fusion. Branch outgrowth is triggered by the localized and transient activity of Branchless (Bnl/dFGF). Here, we report the discovery of a mesodermal cell that links the leading cells of outgrowing main branches 2.5 hr before they fuse. This bridge-cell serves as an essential guidance post and needs Hunchback (Hb) activity to exert its function. The bridge-cell provides cues acting in concert with Bnl/dFGF signaling to mediate directed branch outgrowth that ultimately leads to position-specific branch fusion.

Evaluation of hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of bile acids by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA)

A comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) model, employing standard steric and electrostatic fields, is able to predict the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, expressed as reverse-phase HPLC capacity factor, for a series of both naturally occurring and semi-synthetic bile acids. The very high values of cross-validated R(2) (Q(2)) demonstrate that the CoMFA method can give useful information on the hydrophobic balance of newly synthesized bile acids.

[Pseudostenocardia due to exposure to "electrosmog"]

HISTORY AND REASON FOR ADMISSION

A 44-year-old man had anginal-like complaints. He was convinced that cardiac problems had been caused by electromagnetic fields.

INVESTIGATIONS

Apart from hypertension and hyperlipidaemia there were no other significant findings. ECG, ergometry Holter-ECG were normal.

EXPERIMENT

We tried to verify with a double-blind provocation test if the patient's complaints had been caused by electromagnetic fields. The patient was exposed to an electric instrument without being aware whether it was switched on or off. He was questioned about his perception of the presence of an electric current.

CONCLUSION

The results of the test showed that there was no causal relation between the patient's angina-like-symptoms and electromagnetic fields. The phenomenon of electrosensitivity was probably caused by psychological mechanisms.

Compared effects of cholesterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol on sphingomyelin-glycerophospholipid bilayers studied by ESR

The ESR of 7- and 16-doxylstearic spin-labeled fatty acids (7NS and 16NS, respectively) reveal the distinct influence of cholesterol or cholesterol precursor analogue, delta7-dehydrocholesterol, on the molecular ordering and the fluidity of lipid mixtures containing sphingomyelin (SM). The phase-separation of sphingomyelin domains mixed within fluid glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine) can be followed by ESR as a function of the temperature and in the presence of sterols [cholesterol (CHOL) or 7-dehydrocholesterol (DHCHOL)]. The time scale of spin-label exchange among phases is appropriate to follow the occurrence of the specific sphingomyelin/sterol association forming liquid ordered (Lo) microdomains which separate from the fluid surrounding phase Lalpha. Sphingomyelin embedded within the fluid bilayer associates with both sterols below 36 degrees C to give a phase Lo traceable by ESR in the form of a highly anisotropic component. Above 36 degrees C, the contribution in the ESR spectrum, of the Lo phase formed by 7-dehydrocholesterol with sphingomyelin is reduced by contrast with cholesterol forming a temperature-stable liquid ordered phase up to 42 degrees C. The consequences of this destabilization of the SM/sterol microdomains are envisioned in the biosynthesis defect where the precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol substitutes, for a significant part, the embryonic cell cholesterol.

Phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia in eastern Germany: a characteristic molecular profile and 15 novel mutations

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an important error of amino acid metabolism which results in most patients from phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency. PKU displays a marked genotypic heterogeneity both within and between different populations. The aim of this study was to establish the genotypic spectrum of PKU in eastern Germany, and to compare this to the distribution of mutations in western Germany. The study population included 302 patients in 290 families who were followed at treatment centers in Berlin, Leipzig and Jena. The study showed marked genotypic variability with a total of 75 mutations, including 15 that have so far not been described (eleven missense mutations, one splicing mutation, and three small deletions). One of these novel mutations, E183Q, occurred in cis to a R408W mutation. In the non-immigrant eastern German population, the frequency of R408W accounted for 40.1% of the PKU alleles. In the immigrant Turkish population of the former West Berlin, the most prevalent mutation was IVS10-11G>A (57%). There was a marked difference of the genotypic spectrum between the population studied here and the data reported from the western part of the country.

[Is there an increase of serum antisperm antibodies following surgery in the cervical transformation zone for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)?]

OBJECTIVE

This prospective controlled study was performed to investigate whether operative procedures of the uterine cervix lead to a change in the titre of humoral antispermatozoal antibodies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Humoral antispermatozoal antibodies were measured using an ELISA in 15 patients undergoing cervical scraping, 20 having conisation, 10 having a loop excision before and at least 3 months after surgery as well as in 10 fertile women as a control group.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age between groups, in the distribution of initial and final levels of humoral antispermatozoal antibodies (IgG, IgA), and no significant change of the antibody titres (pre- and postoperative) within the individual groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients of fertile age, the formation of humoral isoantibodies does not have to be taken into account in selecting the method of diagnosing and treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Correlation of the LET-dependent TL-response of LIF:Mg,Ti TL-dosemeters and gentoxic endpoints after proton irradiation

The high temperature ratio (HTR) method using LiF:Mg,Ti thermoluminescent dosemeters allows in addition to the measurement of absorbed dose, the evaluation of the biological effectiveness of radiation. In order to analyse the correlation of the measured parameter HTR and gentoxic endpoints irradiation of cell cultures and TLDs were performed in a 62 MeV proton beam. The gentoxic effects respectively the relative biological effectiveness RBE, show an excellent correlation with the HTR due to a similar dose and LET-dependent behaviour.

Role of cholesterol in embryonic development

We showed previously that 3 distal inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis are highly teratogenic in rats. AY 9944 and BM 15766 inhibit 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which catalyzes the last step of cholesterol synthesis, and triparanol inhibits Delta(24)-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which catalyzes the last step in another pathway. These molecules cause holoprosencephalic brain anomalies. Under certain experimental conditions, other anomalies (of the limbs and male genitalia) are also observed. Assays performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) show hypocholesterolemia and an accumulation of precursors. These data indicate that this animal model can be considered a model of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is a recessive autosomal genetic disease characterized by malformations (microcephaly, corpus callosum agenesis, holoprosencephaly, and mental retardation), male pseudohermaphroditism, finger anomalies, and failure to thrive. The syndrome has been attributed to a deficit in 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase. As assayed by GC-MS, the sterol status of these patients indicates severe hypocholesterolemia and an accumulation of precursors: 7-dehydrocholesterol, 8-dehydrocholesterol, and oxidized derivatives. The presence of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the serum of patients is pathognomonic of the disease. The developmental gene Shh (sonic hedgehog) plays a key role in brain, limb, and genital development; it was shown recently that the Shh protein has to be covalently linked to cholesterol to be active. This is the first time that a posttranslational function has been attributed to cholesterol. There is an obvious relation between Shh dysfunction and the malformations observed in our experiments and in patients with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. However, the exact relation remains to be clarified. It is clear, however, that the role of cholesterol in embryonic development must be taken into account.

Cholesterol deficit but not accumulation of aberrant sterols is the major cause of the teratogenic activity in the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome animal model

Low cholesterol and high 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) levels are associated with a blockade of Delta7-reductase in the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) and in the animals treated with the inhibitor AY9944. The impact of the cholesterol deficit and of the accumulation of 7DHC on the embryo were investigated in AY9944-treated pregnant rats receiving an enriched cholesterol or 7DHC diet. Sterol profiling was performed under the various nutritional conditions. AY9944 caused a severe decrease in the maternal and embryo cholesterol. The deficit in the embryo was sustained by the embryonic uptake of the inhibitor. A cholesterol-rich diet was efficient in restoring the maternal and embryonic cholesterol and phenotype but a 7DHC-rich diet did not modify the sterol status compared with dams treated with only AY9944. The offspring phenotype remained deleterious whether or not the dams received 7DHC-rich diet. Over 80% of the 7DHC was absorbed, as was cholesterol, which was not quantitatively influenced by AY9944. When cholesterol and 7DHC were simultaneously administered, a competition for intestinal absorption enhanced the lowering cholesterol effect of AY9944. Whether or not the dams received a 7DHC dietary supplement, the offspring's phenotype became normal when the diet was supplemented with cholesterol. Under conditions in which the ratio of cholesterol/7DHC is substantially varied, the normal development of embryos can be achieved as long as the cholesterol is sufficient. The phenotype is reversed in vivo by cholesterol which contrasts with the irreversible effects manifested in vitro by oxidized 7DHC by-products.

LPA as a paracrine mediator of adipocyte growth and function

Adipogenesis corresponds to the recruitment of new adipocytes in adipose tissue, and results from the proliferation/differentiation of preadipocytes. Production of paracrine and autocrine factors by adipocytes plays an important role in adipogenesis. We recently demonstrated the existence of adipocyte production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) both in vitro and in situ. This production is modulated by catecholamines via alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Adipocyte-LPA present in conditioned media increases the growth of a preadipose cell line in culture. This growth is associated with an activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, and of the focal adhesion kinase. Because of the close proximity of preadipocytes and adipocytes within adipose tissue, adipocyte-LPA could play an important role in autocrine/paracrine control of adipogenesis.

Characterization of a 300 kbp region of human DNA containing the type II hair keratin gene domain

Screening of an arrayed human genomic P1 artificial chromosome DNA library by means of the polymerase chain reaction with a specific primer pair from the human type II hair keratin hHb5 yielded two P1 artificial chromosome clones covering approximately 300 kb of genomic DNA. The contig contained six type II hair keratin genes, hHb1-hHb6, and four keratin pseudogenes psihHbA-psihHbD. This hair keratin gene domain was flanked by type II epithelial keratins K6b/K6hf and K7, respectively. The keratin genes/pseudogene are 5-14 kbp in size with intergenic distances of 5-19 kbp of DNA and do not exhibit a single direction of transcription. With one exception, type II hair keratin genes are organized into nine exons and eight introns, with strictly conserved exon-intron boundaries. The functional hair keratin genes are grouped into two distinct subclusters near the extremities of the hair keratin gene domain. One subcluster encodes the highly related hair keratins hHb1, hHb3, and hHb6; The second cluster encodes the structurally less related hair keratins hHb2, hHb4, and hHb5. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction shows that all hair keratin genes are expressed in the hair follicle. Pseudogene psihHbD is also transcriptionally expressed, albeit with alterations in splicing and frameshift mutations, leading to premature stop codons in the splice forms analyzed. Evolutionary tree analysis revealed a divergence of the type II hair keratin genes from the epithelial keratins, followed by their segregation into the members of the two subclusters over time. We assume that the approximately 200 kbp DNA domain contains the entire complement of human type II hair keratin genes.

Investigation of capillary electrochromatography with brush-type chiral stationary phases

Fused-silica capillaries (100 microm ID) were packed with the (3R, 4S)-Whelk-O chiral stationary phase (CSP) bonded on 3.0 microm silica particles. The enantiomers of 41 neutral analytes containing stereogenic centers, axes or planes were examined by packed capillary electrochromatography. More than 30 of these were cleanly resolved, owing to the selectivities and efficiencies afforded by this CSP. High reproducibility with no indication of diminished performance was observed using the same capillary for hundreds of runs (including intermediate change of the buffer system) over a period of several weeks. Acetate, 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, or phosphate buffers, each modified with either acetonitrile or methanol, were used as mobile phases. The influence of buffer concentration, modifier amount, temperature, applied voltage, and pH on performance of the brush-type CSP was investigated.

The benefit from whole body acupuncture in major depression

BACKGROUND

In a single-blind placebo-controlled study design we investigated the efficacy of acupuncture additionally applied to drug treatment in major depression.

METHODS

We randomly included 70 inpatients with a major depressive episode in three different treatment groups: verum acupuncture, placebo acupuncture and a control group. All three groups were pharmacologically treated with the antidepressant mianserin. The verum group received acupuncture at specific points considered effective in the treatment of depression. The placebo group was treated with acupuncture at non-specific locations and the control group received pharmacological treatment plus clinical management. Acupuncture was applied three times a week over a period of 4 weeks. Psychopathology was rated by judges blind to verum/placebo conditions twice a week over 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Patients who experienced acupuncture improved slightly more than patients treated with mianserin alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Additionally applied acupuncture improved the course of depression more than pharmacological treatment with mianserin alone. However, we could not detect any differences between placebo and verum acupuncture.

Verlauf von biochemischen Kennwerten im Blut von Schweinen mit unterschiedlicher Fettansatzleistung

Abstract. Title of the paper: Level of the metabolic substances in blood in relation to the development of pigs with different capacity for lipid deposition 28 German Saddle Back pigs (DS) and 30 German Landrace pigs (DL) were used to determine the concentrations of 16 Substrates and enzymes in the blood plasma during the growing-finishing period. Blood samples were taken from veno cava cranialis all two weeks 24 hours after Myostress injection. For the characterization of breed differences the results were represented as means in relation to the whole trial period and to live weight classes of the pigs. The concentrations of protein, urea, Creatinine, LDL + VLDL cholesterol, GGTP and AP were significantly different between DS and DL both for whole trial period and for most of live weight classes. For urea acid, lactate, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, ALAT and LDH breed differences were mainly small. The breed differences for the concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, ASAT and CK were statistically significant in some live weight classes, only.