More than 30 years ago the first report concerning the therapeutic use of glucocorti- coids appeared. Even if the pediatrician is aware of the large number of clinical and experimental studies that have accumulated during the past three decades he is still faced with the uncertainties of corticosteroid therapy in children's diseases especially with regard to pharmacodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics. There is no doubt that these drugs have considerably reduced morbidity and mor- tality in children suffering from asthma, nephrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, or other diseases, but in some cases they may do more harm than the underlying disease for which they are prescribed. Thus, in order to obtain optimum benefit with mini- mum risk, the advantages of glucocorticoid therapy should be carefully considered before embarking on a program, especially one of chronic high-dose administration. 2 General Pharmacology and Physiology The primary function of corticosteroids is protection from various "stresses" in every- day life and they are involved in our ability to fight diseases, overcome trauma and cope with emotional upsets. In the mammalian adrenal gland there is a central zone, derived from the ectodermal neural crest, which produces catecholamines. This is sur- rounded by a peripheral zone, the adrenal cortex, derived from the mesodermal co- elomic epithelium, which synthesizes steroids. The fetal adrenal gland is already cap- able of synthesizing corticosteroids and by the middle trimester of pregnancy a two- way diaplacental transfer exists.

Inhalt: -Klinik, Genetik und Immunologie der leukozyt{ren Adh{sions- proteindefizienzen T. Uhlig und B.H. Behloradsky -Herkunft numerischer und struktureller Aberrationen des X-Chromosoms I. Lorda-Sanchez und A.A. Schinzel -Die chronische hepatische Porphyrie (Porphyria cutanea tarda) E. K-stler und M.O. Doss -Die Legionelleninfektion G. Ruckdeschel und W. Ehret -Das Wiedemann-Beckwith-Syndrom J. Kunze

Inhalt: -Hereditare Pankreatitis H. Tomsik, R. Grun und E. Wagner -Der Gastrointestinaltrakt als Metastasensitz maligner epithelialer Tumoren S. Madeya und G. Borsch -Infektionen durch Streptokokken der Gruppe B bei Neuge- borenen und Kindern R. Roos, S. Buhler, H. Kraeft und W. Handrick -Das Ch diak-Higashi-Syndrom B.H. Belohradsky und B. Laminger -Impfungen bei sekundaren Immundefekten - Indikationen, Impferfolge und Komplikationen B.H. Belohradsky und L. Nissl

Da die enorme Zunahme medizinischer Information jetzt auch in der Kinderheilkunde dazu gefiihrt hat, daB das facharztliche Wissen etwa aile acht Jahre zur Hiilfte er neuerungsbediirftig ist, neigen viele Kollegen zur Resi gnation. Die offensichtliche Unmoglichkeit aile neuen Erkenntnisse schnell zu verarbeiten, fiihrt zu einer Art In formationsabwehr. Man zieht sich auf die "eigenen Erfah rungen" zuriick und beruhigt sein Gewissen durch die An nahme einer simpliflZierten, oft durch bestimmte Interes senkreise manipulierten Fortbildung. Das Bediirfnis nach laufender Fortbildung und nach Ubersicht iiber das eigene Fachgebiet sollte aber nicht er lahmen. Unsere Fortbildung sollte nicht nur dem Zufall iiberlassen bleiben. A1lerdings ist es auch dem Fortbil dungswilligen heute neben seiner Tatigkeit in Klinik und Praxis kaum mehr moglich, aus dem Meer der Informatio nen das Wichtigste alleine herauszusuchen. In dieser Lage bietet diese Reihe eine Hilfe an. Zahlreiche in der Kinderheilkunde auf Spezialgebiete konzentrierte Kollegen haben sich bereit erkliirt, aus ihrem Fachgebiet fUr die Fortbildungswilligen die wichtigsten Fortschritte fUr Klinik und Praxis zu selektionieren, so daB sich der Leser auf ihr Fachwissen stiitzen kann. Verlag und Herausgeber bemiihen sich zusatzlich, diese Informationen so darzubieten, daB man sie ohne Zeitver lust und ohne die Lektiire unwesentlicher Einzelheiten aufnehmen und sich einpragen kann. Diese Fortschrittsbe richte sollen in unregelmaBigen Abstanden erscheinen und aus allen Spezialgebieten der Kinderheilkunde in gedrang ter und systematischer Form das Wichtigste zur Darstel lung bringen."

Florida Gardening: The Newcomer's Survival Manual, Second Edition by Monica Moran Brandies Even experienced gardeners who move to Florida need help in coping with their new landscape and garden. The climate, soil, plants, and pests are so different from those in other places that the old techniques won't always do the job. Neither will garden guides written for a northern climate. Here is a garden guide written just for Florida. This new edition is greatly expanded but has Monica's friendly and informative advice, as it always did. With this guide you will avoid costly mistakes and quickly gain confidence and garden success! Noted garden writer Monica Brandies cheerfully tells how to: * prepare for the move * avoid mistakes as you make a Florida landscape plan * adjust familiar garden chores to the Florida climate * make the best tree, shrub, lawn, and plant choices * garden in an easy, environmentally friendly way and deal with pests * turn Florida sand into rich garden soil * use mulches and native plants to reduce labor and water * learn to recognize and use dramatic, colorful, exotic plants * grow your own fresh fruits and vegetables * grow plain or fancy plants in containers indoors and out * decorate your home, patio, pool, and garden with amazing Florida plants

Upon starting her new job in the Amazon Rainforest, Ayanna is less than thrilled to find her study of plants to be uneventful. However, when she discovers a path leading to the heart of the jungle, she finds a specimen unlike any other - Dianthe, a rare 'spider-lily' - in a splendorous enclosure. This stunning flower leads Ayanna to two men-twins that each have alternative motives for wanting her trust. As the plot unfolds and she learns more about the reasons for the twins' strange behavior, she discovers that perhaps the plants being studied are no longer harmless creatures under glass, but rather vicious predators using beauty and innocence as a lure into their deadly trap. Written by young author Kristyn Brandi, Efflorescence is not only a fantastic tale of the interaction between prey and predator on a quest for survival. Rather, it is a look at the bonds formed in dire situations and how trust in others is needed in order to form the faith in oneself necessary to effloresce - to grow from a fragile seed and blossom into a stronger individual.

Upon starting her new job in the Amazon Rainforest, Ayanna is less than thrilled to find her study of plants to be uneventful. However, when she discovers a path leading to the heart of the jungle, she finds a specimen unlike any other-Dianthe, a rare 'spider-lily'-in a splendorous enclosure. This stunning flower leads Ayanna to two men-twins that each have alternative motives for wanting her trust. As the plot unfolds and she learns more about the reasons for the twins' strange behavior, she discovers that perhaps the plants being studied are no longer harmless creatures under glass, but rather vicious predators using beauty and innocence as a lure into their deadly trap. Written by young author Kristyn Brandi, "Efflorescence" is not only a fantastic tale of the interaction between prey and predator on a quest for survival. Rather, it is a look at the bonds formed in dire situations and how trust in others is needed in order to form the faith in oneself necessary to effloresce-to grow from a fragile seed and blossom into a stronger individual.

This text has been fully updated to reflect the many developments and advances - particularly in software - made in the field over the last ten years. It provides a text for upper-level graduate courses in survival analysis, biostatistics and time-to-ever analysis.