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Assessment of comprehensive lipoprotein subclass profiles in adolescents and their relation to vascular disease may enhance our understanding of the development of dyslipidemia in early life and inform early vascular prevention.Nuclear magnetic resonance was used to measure lipoprotein profiles, including lipids (cholesterol, free cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids) and apolipoproteins (apoB-100, apoA1, apoA2) of 17 lipoprotein subclasses (from least dense to densest: VLDL-1 to -6, IDL, LDL-1 to -6, HDL-1 to -4) in n = 1776 14- to 19-year olds (56.6% female) and n = 3027 25- to 85-year olds (51.5% female), all community-dwelling. Lipoprotein profiles were related to carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) as ascertained by sonography.Adolescents compared to adults had lower triglycerides, total, LDL, and non-HDL cholesterol, and apoB, and higher HDL cholesterol. They showed 26.6-59.8% lower triglyceride content of all lipoprotein subclasses and 21.9-51.4% lower VLDL lipid content. Concentrations of dense LDL-4 to LDL-6 were 36.7-40.2% lower, with also markedly lower levels of LDL-1 to LDL-3, but 24.2% higher HDL-1 ApoA1. In adolescents, only LDL-3 to LDL-5 subclasses were associated with cIMT (range of differences in cIMT for a 1-SD higher concentration, 4.8-5.9 μm). The same associations emerged in adults, with on average 97 ± 42% (mean ± SD) larger effect sizes, in addition to LDL-1 and LDL-6 (range, 6.9-11.3 μm) and HDL-2 to HDL-4, ApoA1, and ApoA2 (range, -7.0 to -17.7 μm).Adolescents showed a markedly different and more favorable lipoprotein profile compared to adults. Dense LDL subclasses were the only subclasses associated with cIMT in adolescents, implicating them as the potential preferred therapeutic target for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease at this age. In adults, associations with cIMT were approximately twice as large as in adolescents, and HDL-related measures were additionally associated with cIMT.

Maternale Hepatopathien stellen eine Bedrohung in Schwangerschaft sowie Wochenbett und eine Herausforderung fur behandelnde Arzte dar. Die Leberaffektionen konnen ein breites Spektrum an schwangerschaftsassoziierten und –unabhangigen Erkrankungen wie HELLP-Syndrom, Leberentzundungen oder akute Schwangerschaftsfettleber zur Ursache haben. In dieser Studie stellen wir eine Serie von 3 lebensbedrohlichen Verlaufen peripartaler Hepatopathien vor und diskutieren diesbezuglich den aktuellen Wissensstand mit einem speziellen Augenmerk auf pathogenetische Zusammenhange und mogliche Differenzialdiagnosen. Pathologische und radiologische Begutachtungen wie auch gynakologische oder chirurgische Masnahmen wurden entsprechend den geltenden Leitlinien durchgefuhrt. Laborchemische Untersuchungen wurden in den Routinediagnostik-Abteilungen der Universitatskliniken durchgefuhrt. Literatur wurde uber das durch die US National Library of Medicine bereitgestellte Verzeichnis „PubMed.gov“ selektiv recherchiert. Im ersten Fall kam es nach Entbindung bei fulminantem HELLP-Syndrom in der 32. Schwangerschaftswoche (SSW) zu einem subtotalen Leberinfarkt mit folgender schwerer Gerinnungsstorung und septischer Peritonitis. Die zweite Patientin wurde bei mildem HELLP-Syndrom in der 36. SSW entbunden. Postpartal verschlechterte sich die Erkrankung rasant und mundete in einen hamorrhagischen Schock mit akutem Nierenversagen. Die dritte Geburt fand mit 36 SSW bei asymptomatischer Hepatitis B statt. Die Hepatitis exazerbierte nach Entbindung mit der Entwicklung einer subakuten Leberdystrophie mit ausgepragter Gerinnungsstorung. Wenn mutterliche Leberaffektionen im Zusammenhang mit Schwangerschaften auftreten gilt es, verschiedene Diagnosen und unterschiedlicher Pathogenese zu berucksichtigen. Diagnostische und therapeutische Ansatze mussen rasch abgewogen werden. Ferner ist eine schnelle, effektive interdisziplinare Zusammenarbeit notwendig, um Folgeschaden zu minimieren und das Uberleben der betroffenen Patientinnen zu sichern, weil fulminante bis todliche Verlaufe auch heute immer noch moglich sind.

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the influence of socio-economic status on the utilization of epidural analgesia during labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS Modes of delivery, insurance, marital status and maternal occupation were retrospectively reviewed between 2000 and 2003 according to the birth documentation of all deliveries at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, university of Wuerzburg, Germany. Using the maternal occupation groups were formed according to the minimum degree of education required for its practise. Women with epidural analgesia during labor were compared to those without it. RESULTS 30 % of all deliveries during the evaluated four years were aided by employing epidural analgesics. For both collectives there were no changes of percentages concerning insurance, marital status or maternal occupation during this time. With 12-24 %, epidural analgesia was more often performed in patients undergoing operative transvaginal deliveries in comparison to women without epidural analgesics (2-5 %). There are no differences between the two groups concerning maternal occupation, insurance or marital status. However, looking at the collective of women with epidural analgesia during labor, epidural analgesia is more often used among women with private insurance. Concerning the degree of education there is also a marginal significant difference in the utilization of epidural analgesia in favour for women with a higher educational degree. CONCLUSION The use of intrapartum epidural analgesia is associated with insurance and maternal occupation/educational degree.

A 36-year-old G4P1 presented at 20 weeks gestation with vaginal bleeding. Her obstetrical history was significant for two first-trimester spontaneous abortions requiring curettage and a cesarean section. On admission placenta praevia was suspected by ultrasound. A placenta percreta was suspected by ultrasound follow-up at 30 weeks. At 33 weeks she underwent cesarean section because of serious vaginal bleeding. The profound blood loss with consecutive coagulopathy required an emergency hysterectomy and multiple blood transfusions. Placenta percreta is a rare but dramatic complication after previous cesarean section. This should be kept in mind as the rate of elective cesarean sections is rising continuously.

A severe hepatopathy constitutes a serious threat during pregnancy and poses considerable challenges to the treating physicians. A broad spectrum of pregnancy-dependent or independent diseases like HELLP-syndrome, liver infection or acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is characterized by these affections of the liver. In this study, we present a series of 3 cases with life-threatening hepatopathies and discuss the current state of the literature. A special focus is placed on pathogenesis and differential diagnosis.Pathological, radiological and gynaecological/surgical procedures were performed according to the current German guidelines. Laboratory tests were conducted in the clinics' routine diagnostics section. The existing literature was reviewed via the US National Library of Medicine database “PubMed.gov”.The first patient had been afflicted by a fulminant HELLP syndrome causing delivery after 32 weeks of pregnancy. Consecutively, she suffered a sub-total liver infarction followed by a severe coagulopathy and septic peritonitis. The second patient was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome at 36 weeks of pregnancy. The initially mild syndrome exacerbated after delivery leading to haemorrhagic shock and acute renal failure. In the third case, a woman with asymptomatic hepatitis B delivered in the 36th week of pregnancy. Post partum, her pre-existing condition worsened fulminantly resulting in sub-acute liver dystrophy and massive coagulopathy.Whenever a hepatopathy occurs during pregnancy, several divergent diagnoses with severe implications and different aetiopathologies have to be considered. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies have to be weighed quickly to enable a fast, interdisciplinary cooperation in order to prevent fatal outcomes.

Evaluation of the influence of socio-economic status on the utilization of epidural analgesia during labor.Modes of delivery, insurance, marital status and maternal occupation were retrospectively reviewed between 2000 and 2003 according to the birth documentation of all deliveries at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, university of Wuerzburg, Germany. Using the maternal occupation groups were formed according to the minimum degree of education required for its practise. Women with epidural analgesia during labor were compared to those without it.30 % of all deliveries during the evaluated four years were aided by employing epidural analgesics. For both collectives there were no changes of percentages concerning insurance, marital status or maternal occupation during this time. With 12-24 %, epidural analgesia was more often performed in patients undergoing operative transvaginal deliveries in comparison to women without epidural analgesics (2-5 %). There are no differences between the two groups concerning maternal occupation, insurance or marital status. However, looking at the collective of women with epidural analgesia during labor, epidural analgesia is more often used among women with private insurance. Concerning the degree of education there is also a marginal significant difference in the utilization of epidural analgesia in favour for women with a higher educational degree.The use of intrapartum epidural analgesia is associated with insurance and maternal occupation/educational degree.

A 36-year-old G4P1 presented at 20 weeks gestation with vaginal bleeding. Her obstetrical history was significant for two first-trimester spontaneous abortions requiring curettage and a cesarean section. On admission placenta praevia was suspected by ultrasound. A placenta percreta was suspected by ultrasound follow-up at 30 weeks. At 33 weeks she underwent cesarean section because of serious vaginal bleeding. The profound blood loss with consecutive coagulopathy required an emergency hysterectomy and multiple blood transfusions. Placenta percreta is a rare but dramatic complication after previous cesarean section. This should be kept in mind as the rate of elective cesarean sections is rising continuously.