A xenogeneic extracellular matrix, such as Lyoplant, may induce an immune response which is predominantly TH2-like and comparable with a remodelling reaction rather than rejection.

Forty-three out of 204 children received their first renal transplant without prior dialysis. In order to evaluate the outcome of pre-emptive transplantation, two groups were compared retrospectively. The groups consisted of 28 children who received their transplants either without prior dialysis (ND) or after a varying period of dialysis (D). They were matched by age, year of transplantation, immunosuppressive regimen, donor source, and original disease. The percentage of living related donors was 50% in each group. Patient survival was identical in both groups; one patient died in each group due to infection in the early post-transplantation period. The 5-year graft survival rates were 89% in the ND group versus 72% in the D group. The functional parameters graft function, anemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, and the growth rates tended to be slightly better in the ND group than in the D group. The differences, however, were not significant. We conclude that pre-emptive transplantation is a safe procedure that shortens the period of uremia and is, therefore, recommended for children with end-stage renal failure.

Ovarian follicular fluid (FF) of a number of species contain regulatory peptides secreted by granulosa cells or by autonomic nerve terminals. In this report we demonstrate the presence of authentic (HPLC-verification) angiotensin II and III as well as of substance P (SP) in human FF obtained from hMG stimulated infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Angiotensin II/III (AII/III), estradiol (E2) and progesterone concentrations increase with the size of the follicles. SP concentrations did not vary significantly in FF of various sizes. These peptide concentrations in FF are about 10-fold higher than those measured in the serum of the same patients. Attempts to correlate SP, AII/III, E2 and progesterone concentrations in the individual FF with the ability of an oocyte to be fertilized, failed. Neither AII/III, SP, E2 nor progesterone concentrations were different in these subclasses of FF.Follicles of patients punctured under general anesthesia contained significantly more SP than follicles of patients which had lumbar analgesia. AII/III concentrations were the same in FF of both treatment groups.The presence of angiotensin II and III in FF in increasing concentrations depending on the maturity of the follicle and the inability of general anesthesia to affect the AII/III concentrations suggests that this peptide is produced within the ovary.Steroid hormones are the main products of ova¬ rian endocrine activity. Recent research revealed that ovaries of a number of species, including man, produce also a variety of regulatory pep¬ tides. Using either histo-or biochemical techni¬ ques, the presence of vasopressin-, Substance P-, ß-endorphin-and angiotensin Il-like immunore¬ active material has been demonstrated in ovarian extracts or in follicular fluid (Wathes et al. 1982;Ojeda et al. 1985;Lim et al. 1983;Culler et al. 1986).The steroid, particularly the estradiol levels in follicular fluid (FF) are thought to be related to maturity of follicles. Attempts to correlate steroid levels in FF with follicular size or with the capabi¬ lity of follicles to give rise to oocytes which could be successfully fertilized have given contradictory results (Bohnet & Baukloh 1985;Carson et al. 1982). Similar studies with regard to peptide concentrations in FF have not yet been published.In order to study these relations in more detail, we were interested in following topics:1. Detection of immunoreactive angiotensin II or III (All, III) and of substance (SP).2. Demonstration of authenticity of immunore¬ active peptide material.3. Comparison of the peptide content of an individual follicle with follicular size.4. Comparison of peptide concentrations of follicles containing fertilizable and non-fertilizable oocytes.

The present study was conducted to investigate if personality traits can be usefully related to serotonergic vs. dopaminergic action of the 5-HT1a-antagonist +/- pindolol. Forty healthy male volunteers (aged between 20 and 30 years) were randomly assigned to a placebo or a +/- pindolol (30 mg, oral dose) group in a double blind trial. Blood samples were drawn and analyzed for PRL concentrations. In addition, the subjects completed questionnaires on personality. The results indicated that +/- pindolol decreases PRL concentrations depending on personality. While subjects high on impulsivity and related traits (aggression and disinhibition) show lower PRL decreases, well-being and personality traits frequently related to dopaminergic activity were not correlated with changes in PRL. Since reduced (blunted) PRL-responses after 5-HT challenge tests have been reported for impulsives, the present results favor the involvement of primarily serotonergic and probably only secondarily dopaminergic control of +/- pindolol induced PRL decreases.

Forty-three out of 204 children received their first renal transplant without prior dialysis. In order to evaluate the outcome of pre-emptive transplantation, two groups were compared retrospectively. The groups consisted of 28 children who received their transplants either without prior dialysis (ND) or after a varying period of dialysis (D). They were matched by age, year of transplantation, immunosuppressive regimen, donor source, and original disease. The percentage of living related donors was 50% in each group. Patient survival was identical in both groups; one patient died in each group due to infection in the early post-transplantation period. The 5-year graft survival rates were 89% in the ND group versus 72% in the D group. The functional parameters graft function, anemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, and the growth rates tended to be slightly better in the ND group than in the D group. The differences, however, were not significant. We conclude that pre-emptive transplantation is a safe procedure that shortens the period of uremia and is, therefore, recommended for children with end-stage renal failure.