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This is a case report of a girl, from the age 73 days to 5 years and 173 days , who during sleep had 127 episodes of apnoea (lasting 20-55 seconds) accompanied by colour shifts. In her first year of life she had 21 episodes of apnoea, in the second 21, in the third 36, in the fourth 22, in the fifth year 7, and during the first 6 months of the sixth year there were 2 episodes of apnoea. An explanation was never found in spite of investigations aiming at cardiopulmonary, neurological or metabolic disease. The staff never verified episodes of apnoea during admittances to hospital wards. The episodes were merely observed by the mother, the father and the grandmother, but the circumstances were persuasive. In addition to episodes of apnoea she had symptoms of dysfunction of the autonomous nervous system, i.e. facial colour shift and sweating without apnoea or exercise. She had frequent attacks of abdominal colic until aged two and a half years. It has not been possible to give a clear-cut diagnosis. It is hypothesized that she suffers from a mild form of a disease entity covering a wide spectrum from Ondine's curse (Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome) to remittent Apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) and Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Introduction: No recent investigations of child growth in Greenland are available. Owing to the secular trend, earlier investigations are of limited clinical value., Objectives: For this reason, we studied the most important anthropometric measurements of school children in Maniitsoq, Greenland., Methods: We recorded weight, standing height, sitting height, armspan and menarcheal age. After the exclusion of ten children, who were either suffering from conditions known to influence growth, or for whom some of the anthropometric data were lacking, 299 boys and 290 girls remained in the study. The 589 children were between 5-19 years old., Results: In comparison with a similar study in Maniitsoq undertaken a little more than 30 years ago, 14-year old children in Maniitsoq have increased standing height by 10 cms, or even more. Up to the age of 14, Greenlandic boys followed the Danish curve for standing height, then flattened out to reach a final mean height about 7 cms below the Danish level. The girls' growth curve followed the Danish one only to the age of 11 years, then flattened out to a final height of 5 cms below the Danish level. A somewhat higher sitting height ratio was recorded for both sexes compared to Danish children. The mean menarcheal age was 12.64 years., Conclusion: During the course of 100 years, menarcheal age in Greenland has diminshed by three years, and is now 3 months below that in Denmark.

Introduction: No recent investigations of child growth in Greenland are available. Owing to the secular trend, earlier investigations are of limited clinical value. For this reason I have studied together with my staff the most important anthropometric measurements of schoolchildren in Maniitsoq., Material and Methods: We recorded the weight, standing height, sitting height, armspan, and menarcheal age. After the exclusion of 52 children with at least one parent not of Greenlandic origin and the exclusion of ten children who were either suffering from conditions known to influence growth or in whom some of the anthropometric data were lacking, 266 boys and 271 girls remained in the study. The 537 children were between 5 and 19 years old., Results: Up to the age of 14, Greenlandic boys follow the Danish curves for standing height, then flatten out to a final mean height about 7 cms below the Danish level. The girls' growth curves follow the Danish ones only to the age of 11 years, then flatten out to a final height 5 cms below the Danish level. A somewhat higher sitting height ratio was recorded for both sexes compared to Danish children. The mean menarcheal age was 12.64 years., Discussion: Growth curves show that up to the age of 14 Greenlandic boys now follow the Danish ones, thereafter flattening out. Girls' growth curves flatten out already at the age of 11. The final height for boys is 7 cms and for girls 5 cms below that in Denmark. During the course of 100 years menarcheal age in Greenland has been reduced by three years, and is now three months below that in Denmark.

Epilepsy and asthma, especially non-severe asthmatic bronchitis, were the most frequent genuinely paediatric diagnoses among children referred to paediatric specialist examination. Atopic dermatitis was a substantial problem. A number of patients were probably suffering from sequelae of diseases, which can be prevented or treated. Among potential etiological factors may be mentioned perinatal asphyxia, infections, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia including kernicterus. Postneonatally meningitis may be mentioned. Cerebral palsy and epilepsy were possible sequelae. Otitis media cannot be considered as genuine paediatric diseases, but nevertheless this was the most frequent diagnosis among children referred to paediatric examination. A few cases of rare diseases were seen, among these some specifically Greenlandic diseases, for instance familial Greenlandic cholestasis and familial hypoplasia of the adrenal cortex. Other health problems than diseases (Z-diagnoses) represented 24% of diagnoses made, among these fear of disease.

In the district of Maniitsoq/Sukkertoppen, Greenland, an investigation was carried out to evaluate the extent of major surgical diseases seen in an epidemiological context. The number of patients submitted to major emergency surgery was 63, of which 61 were operated at the hospital of Sukkertoppen. The three main diagnostic entities were appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and complicated delivery leading to cesarean section. Operative outcome was described, and the results were evaluated as satisfactory in the light of a very modest amount of per- and postoperative complications. The need for surgical preparedness must be taken into consideration by the authorities responsible for the recruitment of doctors and medical staff for district hospitals in Greenland.

The effect of UVA radiation (321-400 nm) on UVB photocarcinogenesis was examined in lightly pigmented hairless hr/hr C3H/Tif mice. Five groups of 22 mice were exposed to UVB radiation (281-320 nm) from one Philips 12 tube for 10 min per day and 4 days per week. Four of the groups were simultaneously exposed to UVA from two to six filtered Philips 09 tubes. The daily dose of UVB was 2.0 kJ m-2 in all five groups; the UVA2 (321-340 nm) dose varied from 0.7 to 4.5 kJ m-2 and the UVA1 (341-400 nm) dose from 0.3 to 45.6 kJ m-2. A sixth group was exclusively irradiated with the filtered UVA tubes and served as a control. Skin tumor development was not significantly different for the groups exposed to the UVB source alone or the UVB source in combination with the largest daily UVA dose (0.2 > p > 0.1). Skin tumor development was significantly delayed in the other groups irradiated with the UVB source and the lower doses of UVA (p < 0.001). No tumors were observed in the control group. This study suggests that UVA1 radiation delays UVB-induced skin tumor development. However, the delay cannot be expected to persist when UVA is administered in higher daily doses.

The carcinogenic effect of three UVA tanning sources was studied in lightly pigmented hairless mice. The three tanning sources (Bellarium-S SA-1-12, Philips TL 09R and Philips TL 10R) have different emission spectra, and emit different amounts of UVB. Radiation from the tanning sources was administered for 20 min/day, 5 day/week in daily doses equivalent to those used in suntan salons. The radiation was given alone or after 12 weeks of exposure to solar-simulated UV radiation (SOLAR UV) (10 min/day, 4 day/week; daily dose, 19.5 kJ/m2 UVA and 3.9 kJ/m2 UVB). Irradiation with Bellarium-S SA-1-12 for 47 weeks and Philips TL 09R for 74 weeks induced skin tumours in 20/20 and 13/20 of the animals, respectively. When irradiation with Bellarium-S SA-1-12 and PHilips TL 09R was administered after 12 weeks of SOLAR-UV exposure, a strong enhancement of SOLAR-UV-induced photocarcinogenesis was observed (p < 0.001). Irradiation with Philips TL 10R was only slightly carcinogenic, and during 85 weeks of irradiation only one skin tumor appeared in a group of 20 mice. However, when irradiation with Philips TL 10R was administered after 12 weeks of exposure to SOLAR UV, an enhancement of SOLAR-UV-induced carcinogenesis was observed (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the hazards of exposure to commercial tanning devices are increased when they are used after a period of natural sun exposure. Even tanning sources with a low carcinogenic potential are able to increase SOLAR-UV-induced carcinogenesis significantly.

The carcinogenic effect of 3 commercially available ultraviolet A (UVA) tanning sources was studied in lightly pigmented hairless mice. The tanning sources (Bellarium-S SA-1-12 and Philips TL 09R and TL 10R) have different emission spectra and emit different quantities of UVB. The tanning sources were administered either alone, or before irradiation with solar-simulated UV (solar UV). All 3 UVA tanning sources were able to induce skin tumors when administered in daily doses resembling those used in tanning salons (20 min/d, 5 d/week). Irradiation with Bellarium-S during 32 weeks induced skin tumors in all mice; a similar response was seen after 66 weeks of irradiation with Philips TL 09R. Irradiation with Philips TL 10R during 98 weeks induced tumors in 6 of 20 mice. Nine groups of 20 mice were pretreated 20 min/d, 5 d/week during 13 weeks with one of the UVA tanning sources. Three groups were irradiated with Bellarium-S, 3 groups with Philips TL 09R and 3 groups with Philips TL 10R in daily doses ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 minimum erythema doses (MED). The highest daily doses were equivalent to the doses received during one session in a commercial solarium. Subsequently all 9 groups were irradiated with 3.1 MED/d solar UV 10 min/d, 4 d/week until all mice had died. Time to first tumor was compared. All groups pretreated with Bellarium-S and Philips TL 09R showed an enhanced tumor development compared with a group irradiated with solar UV only. Pretreatment with Philips TL 10R did not enhance the carcinogenic effect of solar UV.

Superficial and central body temperatures were measured during anaesthesia and recovery in eleven elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection under epidural anaesthesia. A significant decrease in central body temperature as measured on the tympanic membrane was found during surgery. After a significant increase during induction of anaesthesia, mean skin temperature remained stable throughout surgery. Mean body temperature calculated from central body temperature and mean skin temperature decreased significantly during surgery. During recovery, all temperatures increased significantly. But mean body temperature returned to normal faster than central body temperature. Routine monitoring of core temperature and the use of warmed irrigation fluids are recommended during transurethral resections in elderly patients.