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ABSTRACT: Urinary stone disease is relatively rare in children and urinary metabolic evaluations have been the standard in our practice. We have previously reported a high rate of urinary metabolic abnormalities in stone forming children. We compared urinary chemistry values in normal and stone forming children.
A prospective study was performed to assess urinary metabolic profiles in children with no history or a family history of urinary calculi. The 24-hour urine collections were performed and evaluated at an outside central laboratory. Urine chemistry studies were adjusted for creatinine. The data were compared to those on a historical cohort of calcium stone forming children.
A total of 58 samples from normal children and 142 from stone forming children were evaluated. Mean age was 10 years in normal children and 12 years in stone forming children. of the normal and stone forming children 45% and 51%, respectively, were female. Supersaturation levels of calcium oxalate as well as calcium to creatinine levels were significantly higher in children with stones. No data confounding by age or sex was identified by stratification.
There are significant differences in urinary metabolic evaluations between normal and stone forming children. This may allow more precise treatment to prevent recurrent stone episodes. We continue to perform metabolic evaluations in all children with documented urolithiasis.
The Journal of Urology 11/2006; 176(4 Pt 2):1793-6. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present our experience performing ureteroscopy in prepubertal children.
We performed a retrospective cohort study of children 12 years or younger who underwent ureteroscopy at 2 institutions between 1993 and 2003. Patient demographics, indications for surgery, operative technique, surgical outcomes and complications were recorded.
A total of 39 boys and 32 girls underwent 34 flexible and 47 rigid ureteroscopies. Retrograde access was obtained in 77 procedures, while 4 were performed via an antegrade approach. Mean age was 7.5 years (range 1 to 12) and mean followup was 2.2 years (0.5 to 10). Endoscopic lithotripsy was performed in 65 cases, with a success rate of 98%. A ureteral stent was placed postoperatively in 55 patients. Endoscopic incision was performed for a ureteral stricture in 3 patients and for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in 6. An obstructing fibroepithelial polyp was found in 2 patients, 1 underwent removal of a foreign body and 4 did not have intraluminal pathology. Dilation of the ureteral orifice was required in 23 cases (30%). There were no intraoperative ureteral injuries. One patient had development of a ureteral stricture (complication rate 1.3%) that was successfully treated endoscopically.
Rigid and flexible ureteroscopy can be performed safely and effectively in prepubertal children. Successful outcomes can be obtained for calculi that are similar to those in the adult population. Ureteroscopic treatment can be effective in selected children with intraluminal obstruction. To our knowledge this is the largest series in the literature to document outcomes of ureteroscopy in this age group.
The Journal of Urology 08/2005; 174(1):276-9; discussion 279. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We determined the incidence of urinary stone risk factors in pediatric patients with urolithiasis.
Between 1998 and 2001, 71 children with urolithiasis at 2 pediatric institutions underwent metabolic evaluation. The 24-hour urine samples were analyzed outside central laboratory using adult and known pediatric references. Supersaturation and traditional metabolic parameters were determined and compared.
All patients had metabolic abnormalities. Calcium related abnormalities were present in 92% of children, calcium oxalate supersaturation was abnormal in 69%, calcium phosphate supersaturation was elevated in 70% and traditional calcium parameters were abnormal in 80%. While 11% of the patients had abnormal calcium phosphate or oxalate supersaturation with normal traditional calcium parameters, 10% had normal calcium oxalate or phosphate supersaturation with abnormal traditional calcium parameters. Low urinary volume was identified in 75% of the children.
Metabolic abnormalities are extremely common in pediatric patients with urolithiasis. Calcium related abnormalities are the most common abnormality. Urinary supersaturation values are complementary to traditional metabolic parameters and may be more sensitive predictors of recurrent stone risk. It is important to establish pediatric reference ranges to interpret these data more accurately.
The Journal of Urology 01/2003; 168(6):2568-71. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: For an animal sparing adjuvant high immunostimulation potential combined with minimum tissue irritating qualities are to be demanded. In the present study local tissue reaction due to intramuscular injection of Freund"s complete adjuvant (FCA), muramyl-dipeptide (MDP) and Pam3Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 (PCSL) into the pectoral muscle of hens was examined. After application of FCA in all cases there was a violent tissue reaction resulting in a pronounced granulomatous, in some cases absceding, inflammation. The use of MDP and of the synthetic lipopeptide PCSL provoked only a mild and transient tissue reaction. Therefore and because of its high immunostimulation potential, PCSL is a convenient alternative to FCA.
ALTEX. 02/1996; 13(5):30-34.
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ABSTRACT: Increasing interest on the extraction of specific antibodies from chicken egg yolk rises the question for powerful adjuvants without side effects for the IMMUNISATION of laying hens. The Lipopeptides Pam3Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 (PCSL) showed effective immunostimulating capacity in case of the immunization of chickens with a viral antigen. The specific antibody contents of the sera were comparable to and sometimes even significantly higher than those achieved with complete Freund"s adjuvans (CFA). Considering the immunization of laying hens with recombinant bovine somatotropin, the use of a combination of PCSL with a novel lipopeptide (PCSTH16) for the primary immunization did not result in higher specific antibody titers compared to the groups which received only one adjuvant. The correlation between the contents of specific antibodies in the sera and those of the egg yolks collected a week later were 0.81 (CFA) and 0.86 (PCSL) in case of the viral antigen and between 0.59 and 0.88 with recombinant bovine somatotropin using lipopeptides as adjuvants.
ALTEX. 02/1996; 13(5):26-29.
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ABSTRACT: The influence of Echinacea angustifolia, Aconitum napellus, Lachesis muta, and Apis mellifica, the contents of the combination product Influex (Steigerwald, Germany), on the phagocytosis of human granulocytes was investigated. Incorporation of latex microspheres was measured with a flow cytometric method. With regard to the constituents of the prescription, only vitamin C, lipopolysaccharide, and Echinacea angustifolia were able to enhance the phagocytosis rate. Aconitum, Apis and Lachesis, alone were not able to stimulate phagocytosis but showed an enhancement effect when combined with one another or with Echinacea. For example, a combination of Aconitum (10−2) and Lachesis (10−2) was able to stimulate phagocytosis up to 390%.
Phytotherapy Research 01/1994; 8(1):14 - 17. · 2.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Within two consecutive studies (study I and study II), each involving a summer (su) and a winter mast (wi), 36 male turkeys per B.U.T. Big 6 (BUT) and Kelly Bronze (KB) origin were set on two seperated areas in free range and fatted over a period of 20 (winter mast in study II) and 22 weeks respectively. Aim of both studies was to analyze the effects of extensive rearing conditions on these two turkey origins concerning health, performance and behavior and whether seasonal climatic differences had any additional influence. Besides the aim in study II was to detect how intensely environmental enrichment (plateau and perches) was accepted by the turkeys and if co-housing of BUT and KB turkeys was possible. The occurence of skin lesions in the breast area (breast blisters and/or breast buttons) was significantly influenced by season (su > wi) and origin (BUT > KB). Malposition of the hind extremities was found significantly more often in the BUT origin, whereas the X-leg position was the most common observed leg abnormality. The mortality rate remained beneath 6% during three of the four fattening periods. Due to their genetical determination, the BUT constantly gained higher weights than the KB (wi > su).The intensity of acceptance of the structural elements was influenced by season (su > wi), forage (ecological > commercial) and time of day (night > day).The results of the studies lead to the conclusion that turkeys of the BUT origin can certainly be fattened under extensive rearing conditions alongside the KB origin, while providing good performance.
Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift 122(7-8):284-91. · 0.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Despite the positive tendencies concerning sales output in the poultry production, the margins per single animal are extremely low. This circumstance leads inevitably to an increasing number of animals per farm. Also the German egg production is currently confronted with a great challenge due to changes of the legislation of animal welfare in animal farming (German Tierschutz-Nutztierhaltungs-Verordnung), the EU-zoonosis-regulation (2160/2003) and because of the avian influenza difficulties. In addition, the globalization has tightened the competitive conditions during production. Therefore, innovation potential and specialization are mandatory premises for the continuity within a free market economy. In all farming systems there has to be made a consideration between animal welfare, economy and ecology, whereas, based on animal welfare, the "ethical limit" has the utmost importance. It has to be accounted for the concept of fulfilment of demand and prevention of harm. The success of agricultural animal farming depends, last but not least, on a good and robust state of health of the live stock. The German consumer will have to accept that a high quality and high welfare poultry product will have their price, even in the global market. The sale orientation on non-European production methods is not acceptable under the aspect of animal welfare.
Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift 122(7-8):230-4. · 0.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: At present in Germany Peking ducks in commercial housing are on ground with litter and nipple drinkers only and there is no access to open water. With this study we investigated if open water drinkers can affect behaviour and health of ducks positively. In this investigation ten fattening trials with 11 424 ducks, kept with straw, were analyzed. 25% of the compartment (32 m2) were covered with perforated grid, with one of the tested water systems (Nipple drinker, Sparkcup, Shower, Hollow and Round drinker and modified Round drinker) installed. Besides parts of the behaviour of ducks, animal health and hygiene and also economic factors were taken into account. In contrast to pens with nipple-drinkers only, the ducks in pens with open water troughs/showers had the opportunity to exhibit their natural drinking behaviour and water associated activities, such as straining and preening the plumage with water in accordance with the animal welfare requirements. In the free-choice pens, the open water systems were significantly preferred, and over a 24-hour period, the ducks in watering areas with open water troughs showed higher activity. Limiting the access to the open water systems (4, 6 and 8 hours) led to more intense use per time unit. Ducks with access to nipple drinkers only showed a significantly higher percentage of plugged up nostrils than animals from pens with open water drinkers (p < or = 0.05). Open water drinkers also had a positive impact on the plumage condition.The open water drinking systems were very well accepted by the animals and are, concerning behaviour and animal health, an improvement in housing systems of Peking ducks.
Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift 122(7-8):292-301. · 0.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A total of 540 Lohmann Silver laying hens was used to investigate behaviour, use of the structural elements offered, as well as health and productive parameters in six units (45 hens each) of one furnished cage system (FC; Typ 715/725, Fa. Salmet, Berge, Germany, according to EU guideline 1999/74/EG [2003]) vs. three units (90 hens each) of one aviary housing system (AV; type natura, Big Dutchman, Vechta, Germany). There was no difference between the two systems in terms of animal health, egg quality, laying performance and nest acceptance Acceptance of the nests was high in both systems and resulted in relatively small proportions of mislaid eggs (median 0.28% AV vs. 0.33% FC). Perches in FC were used during the light phase by 15.6% of the hens compared with 73.3% at night. The dust bathing activity of the hens in AV corresponded to natural circadian behaviour patterns (P <0.003) and the complete behaviour chain was exhibited. In contrast, FC hens invariably exhibited incomplete dust bathing patterns on the mat and on the grid floor without any diurnal rhythm. Duration of dust bathing of hens in FC differed significantly from the AV hens (median value 4.77 minutes on mats and 4.62 on grid floors respectively vs. 14.87 minutes, P < 0.05). Even though comparison of laying performance, egg quality and health did not yield any serious disadvantage of one system over the other, it has to be taken into consideration that normal behaviour was highly restricted in FC.
Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift 122(7-8):235-40. · 0.82 Impact Factor
