Autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome (Gardner–Diamond syndrome): review of the literature**

A review of the literature concerning psychogenic purpura is presented. The diagnosis is usually based on typical anamnestic data, clinical presentation (painful inflammatory skin lesions, which progressed to ecchymoses during the next 24 h) and positive diagnostic tests with intracutaneous injections of 80% solution of washed autologous erythrocytes. No pathological findings of blood coagulation parameters are usually detected. Histopathological evaluations of lesional biopsies revealed non-specific changes. Taking into account the high frequency of psychic disorders and stress dependence of skin symptoms, therapy with psychotropic drugs (according to indications) and psychotherapy are pathogenetically grounded methods of treatment in psychogenic purpura, and should be provided together with symptomatic therapy.     

Pacing Features That Mimic Malfunction: A Review of Current Programmable and Automated Device Functions That Cause Confusion in the Clinical Setting

Modern implantable devices capable of pacing are armed with a multitude of programmable and automated features. While some features represent important advances in device safety and performance, many can also mimic device malfunction. This article discusses these features in terms of the confusion they may cause and highlights important clinical clues that aid in their recognition.     

A NEW EX VIVO METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF NASAL DROPS ON CILIARY FUNCTION

Any pharmaceutical nasal preparation should respect the physiological function of the mucociliary transport system and should undergo testing to this effect. An experimental protocol has been developed using the guinea pig in order to assess the effects of commercial nasal drop preparations on mucociliary function. The method presented here consists of applying in vivo the test solution on the nasal respiratory epithelium. After a specified contact time and following rapid sacrifice of the animal, the mucosa is removed; the beating frequency of the cilia is then recorded ex vivo by micro-photo-oscillography. The method is sensitive to compounds known to diminish mucociliary function as sodium mercurothiolate inhibits ciliary movement of the nasal epithelium ex vivo. This inhibition of ciliary movement is long-lasting, although reversible. This method can be used to test the action of intranasally administered pharmaceutical preparations on mucociliary function. Commercially available solutions of the nasal vasoconstrictors tymazoline, fenoxazoline or oxymetazoline do not alter ciliary movement ex vivo at dose levels equal to or greater than those clinically utilized. ATP significantly enhances nasal ciliary frequency in instances where a low basal rate occurred. Thus, this method can be used for the testing of the maintenance of nasal ciliary function in the presence of compounds and preparations which will be applied into the nostrils. The advantages over previous techniques include a closer approach to the therapeutic utilization and the maintained physiological conditions of the mucosa during drug administration.     

The effects of adding chlorhexidine and polyhexamethylene bisguanide to a light-cured periodontal dressing material

The effect of adding two bisguanide antimicrobial agents (chlorhexidine and PHMB) on some physical properties of the light-cured periodontal dressing material Barricaid^® are reported. The physical properties tested were elastic modulus, initial and 10 min recovery strains, and tear stress. The addition of both chlorhexidine and PHMB solutions reduced the elastic modulus as did water. The addition of PHMB to Barricaid^® produced greater initial recovery in the strain test than either the addition of chlorhexidine or water, but there were no differences between the treatments after 10 min. Tear stress was also reduced by the addition of water and the chlorhexidine and PHMB solutions. These results suggest that as far as the physical properties of Barricaid^® are concerned the addition of the antimicrobial agent PHMB had no long-term advantages over chlorhexidine.     

ZOMEPIRAC, DIHYDROCODEINE AND PLACEBO COMPARED IN POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AFTER DAY-CASE SURGERY: The relationship between the effects of single and multiple doses

Zomepirac 100 mg and dihydrocodeine 30 mg were compared withplacebo in a controlled randomized, double-blind, single-dosepostoperative study. Patients continued to receive either zomepiracor dihydrocodeine for pain relief for 5 days at home in a double-blindstudy, being allowed to titrate the consumption of tablets totheir degree of pain. The efficacy and side effects of the medicationwere evaluated. In the singledose phase, both active treatmentswere significantly better than placebo. In the multiple dosingphase, zomepirac was statistically better than dihydrocodeine.Non-parametric statistical tests indicated highly significantcorrelations between single- and multiple-dose analgesic measurementsfor both zomepirac and dihydrocodeine. Present address Charing Cross Hospital, London.     

A Study of Modified Betaines as Cryoprotective Additives

Abstract— Glycinebetaine and N-modified betaines have been previously shown to be effective at reducing leakage from liposomes on freeze-thaw procedures. This study involved the preparation of a series of other modified betaines and the comparison of their abilities to reduce leakage from frozen multilamellar liposomes. All the compounds investigated, with the exception of the octyl ester of betaine, reduced the degree of leakage on freezing and thawing with additive concentrations up to 0·6 m . The betaine esters were less effective than betaine as cryoprotective additives and caused an increase in the leakage from unfrozen liposomes. Taurinebetaine, a sulphobetaine, was also less effective at reducing leakage on freezing than betaine and again increased leakage from unfrozen liposomes. Increasing the number of methylene groups between the carboxylate group and the nitrogen improved the ability to reduce leakage, particularly at lower additive concentrations.     

The ear deformities in mandibulofacial dysostosis (Treacher Collins syndrome)

Bilateral conductive deafness is common in mandibulofacial dysostosis with or without atresia of the external auditory meatus. This deafness is due to a wide range of deformities of the ossicular chain associated with a characteristic reduction in the size of the middle ear cavity. The attic and antrum are particularly affected and usually have a slit-like appearance on coronal section tomograms. The inner ear is essentially normal. The tomographic appearances of 44 ears from 22 patients with mandibulofacial dysostosis are described as well as the operative findings in 14. These were correlated with induced ear deformities in an animal model that had features characteristic of human mandibulofacial dysostosis. A review of the findings in the animal model suggests a very close correspondence with the human ear anomalies described at radiological investigation, operation and post-mortem examination. The lesions are largely symmetrical and this, with the characteristic slit attic, helps to differentiate mandibulofacial dysostosis from lesions with different aetiology but similar features such as facial microsomia. The prospects for surgical correction of the deafness in mandibulofacial dysostosis range from very good in mild cases with ossicular discontinuity, to poor where there is severe atresia. The importance of tomograms at an early age is stressed.