Intrauterine repair of gastroschisis in fetal rabbits

Objective: Infants with gastroschisis (GS) still face severe morbidity. Prenatal closure may prevent gastrointestinal organ damage, but intrauterine GS repair (GSR) has not been established yet. Methods: In New Zealand White rabbits we developed and compared GS versus GSR: creation of GS was achieved by hysterotomy, right-sided laparotomy of the fetus and pressure on the abdominal wall to provoke evisceration. GSR was accomplished by careful reposition of eviscerated organs and a running suture of the fetal abdominal wall. For study purposes, 18 animals were divided equally into 3 groups: GS, GS with GSR after 2 h, and unmanipulated controls (C). Vitality was assessed by echocardiography. After 5 h all animals were sacrificed. Results: GSR inflicted no increased mortality, because all fetuses survived GS or GS with GSR. All fetuses with GS demonstrated significant evisceration of abdominal organs. In contrast, the abdominal wall of the fetuses from GSR was intact. Conclusion:The present animal model demonstrated the technical feasibility and success of an intrauterine repair of GS for the first time. However, further long-term studies (leaving GS and GSR in utero for several days) will be necessary to compare survival rates and intestinal injury, motility or absorption. The clinical application of GSR in utero remains a vision so far. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

Welthandel mit Steinkohle Preisentwicklung fuer Kesselkohlenimporte in die Bundesrepublik Deutschland bis 2010

Im Jahr 1993 wurden im Seeverkehr 360 Mio. t Steinkohle gehandelt. Davon waren 200 Mio. t fuer Kernkraftwerke bestimmte Kesselkohle. Ihr Preis erreicht mit rund 70 DM/t Steinkohleneinheit (SKE) den niedrigsten Stand seit 20 Jahren. Eine im August 1994 veroeffentlichte Studie der Rheinbraun AG, die die Preisentwicklung fuer Kesselkohleimport nach Deutschland bis zum Jahre 2010 untersucht, wagt die Prognose, dass die Talsohle in der Preisentwicklung nunmehr erreicht ist und es in den kommenden 15 Jahren zu einem kontinuierlichen Preisanstieg kommen wird. Dieser aber werde keinesfalls bewirken, dass sich die Wettbewerbsfaehigkeit der Importkesselkohle gegenueber Oel und Gas verschlechtere. Im Gegenteil. Die vier Autoren der Studie analysieren zunaechst die Ausgangslage in den wichtigsten kohleexportierenden Staaten. Es folgen Thesen zum Transport, zur Nachfrage- und Preisentwicklung weltweit. (HS)In 1993, 360 million tons of black coal were shipped overseas. 200 million tons of this were steam coal for power plants. Their price, appr. 70 DM/t hard coal unit (SKE), is on its lowest level of 20 years. An investigation by Rheinbraun AG published in August 1994 discussed the development of the price level has now reached its minimum and there will be a continuous price rise over the next 15 years. This, however, is not expected to weaken the competitive strength of imported steam coal as compared with petroleum and gas. The four authors of the investigation first analyse the starting situation in the most important coal-exporting countries. This is followed by theses on transport, demand and price development world-wide. (HS)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman