It is unclear whether bacterial colonization in hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) comprises a primary cause, triggering factor or secondary phenomenon of the disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, the connection between certain bacterial species, the disease severity and its localization is unknown. Bacterial species were isolated from HS lesions to reveal a potential correlation with localization and disease severity. Ninety swab tests were prospectively obtained from 90 HS lesions of 50 consecutive patients. The material was cultured under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The identified species were statistically correlated with Hurley stage and localization of the lesions. The most prevalent isolates were reported. Hurley stage significantly correlated with disease localization. Particular bacterial species were associated with "extended" disease and Hurley III stage with the detection of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and with a higher number of species. The presence of bacterial species is dependent on the local milieu, which correlates with the localization of the disease, its clinical manifestations and its extension.

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We used newly developed transcutaneous electrodes to measure continuously the partial pressure of oxygen (tcpO2) and carbon dioxide (tcpCO2) in 34 fetuses during labor, having simultaneous cardiotocography (CTG) and temperature measurements. We observed that tcpO2 and tcpCO2 varied with contractions during the first and second stages of labor. In some cases changes in the transcutaneous values corresponded well with changes in the CTG, we also detected changes in the fetal gas metabolism that were not noticeable on the cardiotocographic tracing. We defined the characteristic of the tcpO2 and tcpCO2 during the second stage of labor and found that the tcpO2 decreased and the tcpCO2 rose at this time.

Transcutaneous PCO2 measurements were performed on 105 fetuses during labor. A modified Severinghaus electrode was calibrated with 5% and 10% carbon-dioxide gas at 33 and 66torr. This corresponds to a drop in the PCO2 levels measured transcutaneously of about 13% and to an adjustment to the blood gas level. The levels measured transcutaneously were compared with data compiled from the fetal blood analysis and values of blood gas analysis from the umbilical artery immediately after delivery. The object of the study was to find out to what extent the progress of labor influences the conformity between the PCO2 levels measured transcutaneously and measured in blood. Comparing the data of the transcutaneous measurement (pb PCO2) with the pb PCO2 of the peripheral blood (pb PCO2) in cases without a caput succedaneum, we found a correlation coefficient of r = 0.79 and a slope of 1.1. On the other hand with the development of a caput succedaneum the correlation coefficient was lowered to r = 0.72 and the slope to 0.85. An influence of the propulsion of the fetal head in the birth canal on the accuracy of the transcutaneous measurement was also obvious. When the position of the fetal head was either above or in the interspinal plane, the correlation coefficient amounted to r = 0.85. With the progression below the interspinal plane, the correlation coefficient was clearly lowered. While our results show a good overall conformity between PCO2 levels measured transcutaneously and those from peripheral blood, our analysis shows also to what extent the conformity can be influenced both by the existence of a caput succedaneum and by the propulsion of the presenting part.