Trautmann's triangle anatomy with application to posterior transpetrosal and other related skull base procedures

Trautmann's triangle (TT) faces the cerebellopontine angle and is exposed during posterior transpetrosal approaches. However, reports on the morphometric analysis of this structure are lacking in the literature. The goal was to better understand this important operative corridor. TT was exposed from an external approach (transmastoid) in ten cadavers (20 sides) and from an internal approach on 20 dry adult temporal bones. Measurements included calculation of the area of TT and the distance of the endolymphatic sac from the anterior border of the sigmoid sinus. The area range of TT was 45–210 mm² (mean 151 mm²; SD 37 mm²). Three types of triangles were identified based on area. Type I triangles had areas less than 75 mm², Type II areas were 75–149 mm², and Type III areas were 150 mm² and greater. These types were observed in 37.5%, 35%, and 27.5% of sides, respectively. The distance from the jugular bulb's anterior border to the posterior border of the posterior semicircular canal ranged from 6 to 11 mm (mean 8.5 mm). The endolymphatic sac was located in the inferior portion of TT and traveled anterior to the sigmoid sinus. The horizontal distance from the anterior edge of the sigmoid sinus to the posterior edge of the endolymphatic sac ranged from 0 to 13.5 mm (mean 9 mm). Additional anatomic knowledge regarding TT may improve neurosurgical procedures in this region by avoiding intrusion into the endolymphatic sac and sigmoid sinus. Clin. Anat. 27:994–998, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Knowledge of the patient as decision‐making power: staff members' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in challenging situations in psychiatric inpatient care

Challenging situations in psychiatric inpatient settings call for interprofessional collaboration, but the roles and responsibilities held by members of different professions is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe staff members' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in the context of challenging situations in psychiatric inpatient care. Prior to the study taking place, ethical approval was granted. Focus group interviews were conducted with 26 physicians, ward managers, psychiatric nurses, and nursing assistants. These interviews were then transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results described participants' perceptions of shared responsibilities, profession‐specific responsibilities and professional approaches. In this, recognising knowledge of the patient as decision‐making power was understood to be a recurring theme. This is a delimited qualitative study that reflects the specific working conditions of the participants at the time the study was conducted. The findings suggest that nursing assistants are the most influential professionals due to their closeness to and first‐hand knowledge of patients. The results also point to the possibility of other professionals gaining influence by getting closer to patients and utilising their professional knowledge, thus contributing to a more person‐centred care.     

Elevated CD8 T cell responses in type 1 diabetes patients to a 13 amino acid coeliac‐active peptide from α‐gliadin

Some type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients have been reported to exhibit T cell reactivity to wheat gluten. We tested the hypothesis that this T cell reactivity could be abolished by using prolyl‐endopeptidase (PEP), an enzyme that cleaves peptide bonds after proline. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from T1D patients and healthy controls. PBMCs were stimulated with a peptic–tryptic digest of wheat gluten; a peptic–tryptic‐PEP digest of wheat gluten; and a 13 amino acid peptide from wheat gluten. Fluorescent‐labelled antibodies to CD3, CD4 and CD8 cell marker proteins were utilized to determine proliferative responses of CD3, CD4 and CD8 T cells. There were no significant differences in proliferative responses of CD3 or CD4 T cells to the wheat gluten antigens. A significantly higher proportion of CD8⁺ T cells from T1D patients proliferated in the presence of the 13 amino acid peptide than when challenged with the peptic–tryptic or the peptic–tryptic–PEP digests of wheat gluten. PEP treatment had no significant effect on CD8 T cell reactivity to the peptic–trytic digest of wheat gluten. Our results suggest that wheat gluten‐derived peptides, containing ≤ 13 amino acids, may evoke T cell responses in T1D patients.