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During the last 50 years, the perception of nutrition variables that affect behavioral development has shifted, as have the scientific hypotheses that were addressed, the design of the studies that were conducted, the nature and composition of the dietary supplements that were given and compared and the interpretation of outcomes. Methods of diagnosing malnutrition and identifying the populations at risk of becoming malnourished are reviewed in relation to nutrition interventions. Even in dietary supplementation studies it can be difficult to isolate specific nutrient effects because of associations and interactions among dietary components. These and other problems associated with the study of possible effects of dietary energy, protein and micronutrients, and of breast vs. formula feeding on human development are examined. Where dietary intake data, biochemical indicators or clinical symptoms strongly suggest that presence of a single nutrient deficiency, the appropriate action may continue to be food supplementation or fortification, until the corresponding nutrient deficiency has been rectified in the habitual diet; where the nature of the deficiency is less clear, supplementation trials and programs aimed at improving dietary diversity and quality in general are more likely to show effects on indicators of behavioral development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analyses of raw material provenance offers the possibility of tracing short and long-distance raw material transport. So far, most studies of raw material of flint and chert in Europe have been based on macroscopic analyses. We apply infrared spectroscopy to Aurignacian assemblages from Vogelherd cave and to the Magdalenian site Randecker Maar in southwestern Germany. We compare raw material samples from three chert-bearing areas in Germany with archaeological samples from Vogelherd. Our results show that infrared spectroscopy can distinguish between different raw materials. Our archaeological samples from Vogelherd correspond to the sampled geological cherts in terms of their spectral signature. Our comparison of reference samples and archaeological samples highlights problems in commonly used macroscopic identifications of chert raw materials., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Fetal ultrasound organ screening has become a standard of care in most high-income countries. This has resulted in increased detection of congenital abnormalities, which may lead to major uncertainty and anxiety in expectant parents, even though many of them are of minor relevance. In order to optimize prenatal counselling, we introduced an interdisciplinary approach for all pregnant women referred to our center by private obstetricians for a co-assessment of suspected relevant fetal abnormalities of the kidney or urinary tract, involving both experienced prenatal ultrasound specialists and a pediatric nephrologist or urologist., Methods: In a retrospective analysis, we evaluated reports of intrauterine evaluation and postnatal follow-up in order to assess accuracy of explicit intrauterine diagnoses and outcome of hydronephroses according to their severity in this setting., Results: A total of 175 fetuses were examined between 2012 and 2019 and followed postnatally at our Pediatric Nephrology or Urology Department. There was a high concordance (85.9%) between explicit intrauterine and final diagnoses. Resolution rate of hydronephrosis was higher in patients with intrauterine low-grade than high-grade hydronephrosis (61.8% versus 11.9%). An etiological diagnosis was found in 62.5%, 52.0%, and 11.1% of patients with intrauterine bilateral high-grade, unilateral high-grade, and unilateral high-grade with contralateral low-grade hydronephrosis, respectively, but in none of the patients with intrauterine low-grade hydronephrosis., Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that, through interdisciplinary teamwork, intrauterine assessment of the fetal kidneys and urinary tract is highly accurate and allows a good discrimination between relevant and transient/physiological hydronephroses. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The branched reduction system at the Heidenschmiede described here is hitherto exceptional for the Middle Paleolithic of the Swabian Jura. By means of refits and supporting objects, we are able to describe a superordinate reduction system that combines several individual reduction concepts, such as Levallois and blade production, within one volume. In the Middle Paleolithic of the Swabian Jura, blade technology has thus far played a rather minor role. On the one hand, it is possible to split a selected volume (nodule) into three parts, which are reduced separately according to individual concepts. On the other hand, it is also possible to reduce parts of a volume with one concept first and then with another. The hypothetical reduction system can be branched or linear, thus emphasizing the technological flexibility in core reduction, which requires a high degree of cognitive skills of three-dimensional imagination., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Disturbances in bladder function might occur as consequence of multiple neurological diseases involving any neurological pathways connecting the brain to the peripheral organ. Bladder dysfunction, especially resulting incontinence leads to impaired quality of life, if not adequately treated. Moreover, impaired voiding function might result in renal damage and finally in renal insufficiency. In this paper various causes of neurogenic bladder dysfunction, resulting from spinal cord disease or peripheral nerve damages are described. Neurogenic voiding disorders secondary to cortical lesions or diseases at the level of the basal ganglia or brainstem have been voluntarily omitted.

Treatment of the neurogenic voiding disorders which occur after spinal cord injury represents one of the most important challenges of rehabilitation. Inadequate management of neurogenic voiding disorders, especially of urinary incontinence, results in impaired quality of life. Moreover, inadequately treated neurogenic voiding disorders may result in medium and long-term renal complications and even death. Treatment of neurogenic disorders, whatever their origin (spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease), must take into account the gravity of the neurological disease, the potential risks for the upper urinary tract and the expected quality of life. Therefore, each patient must be considered as a separate entity and treated individually. Recent progress in the comprehension of the neurophysiology of the lower urinary tract and the neurophysiopathology of the neurogenic voiding disorders has been followed by the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools aimed at improving the patients' health and quality of life.

Metabolic properties of standard gamma globulin (St-GG) and of several gamma globulin (GG) preparations for intravenous use were analyzed in radioactive tracer studies. The in vivo behaviour of St-GG was investigated in 16 probands and found to be comparable to that of normal IgG. The kinetics of the resorption of St-GG from intramuscular deposits, its elimination from the intravascular compartment and from the body were studied in 2 probands. Metabolic properties of GG preparations for intravenous use were compared with those of St-GG in 3-4 probands after simultaneous injection of 125I- and 131I-labelled tracer doses. Important differences in the half-times of intravascular survival, in the rates of catabolism and in the distribution in the body were noticed for most of the preparations for intravenous use except for an improved acid-treated (pH 4) GG, the in vivo behaviour of which was similar to that of St-GG.