Depth perception differences between hemispheres, genders, and eye dominance A study on evoked potential

BACKGROUND： Certain neural functions, such as peripheral reflexes, differ between genders, while higher brain functions, such as language, are asymmetrically distributed between the two hemispheres. The question remains as to whether depth perception differs between hemispheric laterality and genders, and whether it is affected by eye dominance. OBJECTIVE： To determine whether depth perception is influenced by factors such as gender, eye dominance, and hemispheric lateralization by recording evoked potential associated with depth perception. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A contrast observation based on neuroelectrophysiology was performed at the Department of Biophysics of Ege University Medical School between June 2006 and April 2007. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 34 subjects, 19 females and 15 males, were included in the study with a mean age of （31.0 ± 6.9） years. All subjects were free of neurological or psychological disorders, or problems such as strabismus or vision correction. METHODS： Random-dot stereograms were used to elicit brain activity. A specially designed signal acquisition system employing two computers was used to record evoked potentials from both hemispheres via two pairs of scalp electrodes placed over the occipitotemporal areas of both hemispheres at symmetrical locations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Negative potential with a mean latency of （211.21 ±25.55） ms and a mean amplitude of （6.05 ± 1.53） pV was recorded from both occipitotemporal areas in 30 out of 34 participants. This was termed ＂Nd＂ and represented the evoked potential associated with depth perception. RESULTS： There were no significant differences in Nd amplitude or latency between the two hemispheres, the two eyes, or genders （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION： The evoked potential associated with depth perception was not influenced by gender, hemisphere, or eye dominance.     

H-FABP in cases of carbon monoxide intoxication admitted to the emergency room

Introduction: Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication causes cardiovascular problems as a result of diffuse tissue hypoxia. Cardiac biochemical markers and electrocardiographic changes have been reported in CO intoxications. Human fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) has been recently used as a reliable marker in identifying early cardiac damage. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the advantages of the use of H-FABP, in evaluating the findings of myocardial ischemia in patients with CO intoxication in our region. Methods: Twenty four successive patients admitted to the emergency department with acute CO intoxication were included in our study. Serum traditional markers and H-FABP were also taken in the earliest period for evaluation of cardiac damage. Results: The creatinine kinase MB (CKMB) levels were positive in 11 of the patients; however, H-FABP and troponin T levels were positive in only 3 of them. One of these subjects had elevated level of H-FABP in the short-term and increasing troponin T level increasing level of troponin T during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The obtained data supports the use of H-FABP, a specific indicator in identifying the cardiotoxicity of CO intoxications at an early phase.     

The role of PET-CT in the differential diagnosis of thymic mass after treatment of patients with lymphoma

Thymic hyperplasia is a common phenomenon in both children and young adults after chemotherapy and may explain the finding of a mediastinal mass in patients with malignant lymphoma after complete remission. In the present study, we report 5 cases with malignant lymphoma presenting with a mediastinal mass on CT scan after completion of chemotherapy diagnosed as thymic hyperplasia by PET-CT imaging. We retrospectively analyzed 5 patients who presented with anterior mediastinal masses a median of 4 months (range 3–6) after achieving complete remission following successful treatment for malignant lymphoma. Three patients were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and the others with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The median age of the patients was 23 (range of 18–47). PET-CT was performed on these patients to determine the characteristics of a mass which had been detected on CT. PET-CT was performed for all patients, and the thymic masses demonstrated only mild FDG uptake considered to be consistent with thymic hyperplasia. During a median of 24 months of follow-up, all patients were recurrence-free with a median survival of 15 months (range 10–26 months). It is important to be aware of the possibility of thymic hyperplasia after chemotherapy to avoid misdiagnosis or over-staging of disease, as well as unnecessary biopsies, especially when the presenting anterior mediastinal mass was originally located near the thymus on CT scan. Mild FDG PET uptake was sufficient for the diagnosis of benign disease in the cases in this study.     

Induction chemotherapy with triweekly docetaxel and cisplatin followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase II study

Background

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectivity of triweekly docetaxel/cisplatin followed by weekly docetaxel/cisplatin concomitantly with radiotherapy with or without surgery in locally advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Materials and Methods

Thirty five patients with locally advanced NSCLC were enrolled. Combination chemotherapy with triweekly docetaxel/cisplatin (75 mg/m²) was administered as induction regimen. After induction chemotherapy, patients were evaluated for surgery if their disease subsequently downstaged. Six cycles of weekly docetaxel/cisplatin (20 mg/m²) concurrently with radiotherapy up to a 60 Gy were administered after induction chemotherapy with or without surgery. Response, toxicity, time-to-progression and overall survival were evaluated.

Results

Twelve patients with stage IIIA-N2 and 23 patients with stage IIIB-T4N0-2 were evaluated (median age, 54 years). After 94 cycles of induction chemotherapy, partial response was achieved in 20 patients, 9 patients had stable disease and six had progressive disease. After overall treatment, 6 patients achieved complete response, 19 patients had partial response, 8 patients had progressive disease, and 2 patients had stable disease. Two patients experienced grade 3-4 pulmonary toxicity and 1 patient experienced grade 3 esophageal toxicity. Six patients underwent surgery. Median overall survival for all patients was 15 months and time-to-progression was 13 months with a median follow-up of 22 months.

Conclusion

Triweekly docetaxel plus cisplatin followed by weekly docetaxel plus cisplatin concomitantly with radiotherapy is effective and feasible and seems to be an alternative option for patients who have locally advanced NSCLC. Surgery may provide additional benefit for patients whose disease adequately downstaged after induction chemotherapy.     

Orthodontic Treatment of an Ankylosed Maxillary Central Incisor through Osteogenic Distraction

Tooth ankylosis is one of the various problems in dentistry and requires special treatment approaches for satisfactory results. In the orthodontic treatment of an ankylosed tooth, different treatment modalities have been put into practice including both orthodontic and orthodontic-surgical approaches. For favorable results, gingival margin esthetics must be considered as much as leveling the ankylosed tooth in the arch. Distraction osteogenesis accompanied by orthodontic mechanics is a sensible way of achieving this goal. However, devices used in the distraction protocol are high in price and bulky in shape, causing functional and esthetic problems for the patient. This report describes treatment of an infrapositioned ankylosed incisor with continuous distraction forces produced by conventional orthodontic mechanics. In conclusion, the ankylosed tooth was leveled in the upper arch successfully with a harmonic gingival margin.