Flavonolignans from Avena sativa

Three flavonolignans derived from the flavone tricin were isolated from Avena sativa herb. This is the first report of the presence of flavonolignans in A. sativa. In the known compounds 1a and 1b, a coniferyl alcohol moiety is linked to the flavone by an ether bond; in the new natural product 2, it is linked by C-C bonds. Structure elucidation of compound 2 was performed by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and the absolute configuration was determined from circular dichroic data.     

Contributions of attachment style and perceived social support to lifetime use of illicit substances

Research has shown insecure attachment style is associated with ineffective emotional regulation leading to maladaptive behaviors in adulthood. In the present study, we examined the association between attachment style and illicit substance use within a sample of adoptees (n=148). It was predicted that insecure attachment style would be associated with a higher incidence of lifetime illicit substance use and that perceived social support would mediate this association. Logistic regression analyses showed higher prevalence of illicit substance use among both insecure attachment groups as compared to the secure group. No difference was found between the two insecure types. Perceived social support was found to mediate the association between attachment style and illicit substance use for the insecure-preoccupied group only. The findings from the present study further implicate attachment style in the risk for illicit substance use, as well as preventions designed to identify those at risk for use.     

Facial nerve anastomosis in the mastoid portion using a cable graft. Case report

We describe a case of a 52-year-old woman in whom surgery for two tumours located in the cerebellar hemisphere and in the posterior petrous bone was complicated by interruption of the facial nerve (CN VII). During the same procedure, anastomosis of CN VII, using a cable graft harvested from the great auricular nerve, was performed. Seven months later the first signs of reinnervation of the facial muscles were noticed. Two and a half years after surgery, CN VII function was assessed as grade II/III according to the House-Brackmann scale. The authors emphasize the significance of immediate repair of CN VII in modern skull base surgery but also the importance of a patient's self-training to obtain the best functional outcome of the facial reanimation. Reconstruction using the great auricular nerve has two significant advantages: first, the patient avoids further procedures for nerve repair, and second, the harvested nerve is located in direct proximity to the operation area.     

Femtosecond lenticule extraction (ReLEx®) for correction of hyperopia — first results

Background

This prospective study focused on the results of a novel method for refractive correction, femtosecond lenticule extraction (ReLEx®) in hyperopia, and reports the first 47 eyes.

Methods

In 47 hyperopic eyes (26 patients), both a flap and a lenticule of intrastromal corneal tissue were simultaneously cut utilizing the Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (CZM) 200 kHz VisuMax® femtosecond laser system. Thereafter, the lenticule was manually removed and the flap repositioned. Forty two out of 47 hyperopic eyes of the treatment group completed the final 9-month follow-up. The patients mean age was 42.3 (±9.0)?years. Their mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was +2.8 (±1.3) D. UCVA and BSCVA after 9 months, objective and manifest refraction, as well as slit-lamp examination and side-effects were evaluated.

Results

Nine months postoperatively, 64 % of eyes treated were within ±1.0 D, and 38 % of eyes within ±0.5 D of intended correction. One of 47 eyes (2.1 %) lost more than 2 Snellen lines; none of the eyes had a UCVA less than 0.5. However, stability was less impressive when compared to ReLEx® for the correction of myopia.

Conclusions

First data suggest that ReLEx® is a feasible and effective procedure for treatment of hyperopia. Further research is needed to improve predictability and effectiveness of the procedure for the correction of hyperopia.     

The microsurgical treatment of the supratentorial arteriovenous malformations. Part I--early and late results

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was an analysis of early and late results of the microsurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) located supratentorially and factors that may influence the outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 88 consecutive patients operated on in the years 1983-2000 for supratentorial AVM located were included in a retrospective analysis. All patients underwent microsurgical selective removal of AVM without prior embolization. The outcome was assessed on the day of discharge according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and at least 6 months after surgery according to the Karnofsky Scale (KS). RESULTS: A satisfactory outcome (GR+MD in GOS) was achieved in 92%. A severe deficit appeared in 4.5% and 3 (3.4%) patients died. The only factor influencing satisfactory outcome was low grade of AVM (I-II) in the Spetzler-Martin scale (p<0.0001). Factors influencing the excellent outcome (GR in GOS) are: size of AVM<3 cm (p=0.02), non-eloquent location (p=0.001) and exclusively superficial venous drainage (p=0.04). There was no case of deterioration in the late period. In 3/4 of patients discharged with deficit, a significant improvement was observed: a mild deficit withdrew in 13 of 17, and a severe deficit withdrew in 3 of 4. A satisfactory outcome in final assessment (KS>70%) was achieved in 95.5%, severe disabling deficit (KS 50%) remained in 1.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the surgical treatment of AVM are satisfactory, especially in I and II grade of the Spetzler-Martin scale. In these cases microsurgical removal should be the method of choice, because immediately after treatment the risk of further hemorrhage is eliminated. Postoperative deficits withdraw during weeks or months in most cases and the final satisfactory result was achieved in 95% of patients.     

BIOPERSISTENCE OF SYNTHETIC MINERAL FIBERS AS A PREDICTOR OF CHRONIC INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION TUMOR RESPONSE IN RATS

In December 1997 the European Commission (EC) adopted Directive 97/69/EC (O.J. L 343/19 of 13 December 1997), in which criteria were established for the classification and labeling of synthetic mineral fibers. This directive was derived based upon an extensive program evaluating current scientific knowledge on fiber pathogenicity and its relationship to the biopersistence of long fibers. Within this context, the biopersistence of fibers longer than 20 µm was found to be a good predictor of the lung burden and early pathological changes in chronic inhalation studies with fibers as well as of the tumor response in chronic intraperitoneal studies with fibers. The analysis that provided the scientific basis for the relationship of biopersistence to the chronic intraperitoneal (ip) results is presented in detail. Analysis of the relationship of biopersistence clearance half-times to ip tumor response shows a statistically significant relationship of ip tumor response to not only the number of fibers injected, but also the median length of the fibers injected and their solubility (clearance half-time). The results show that the biopersistence half-times as determined by intratracheal instillation (T 1/2 of WHO fibers or weighted T 1/2 of fibers with L > 20 µm) and as determined by inhalation (weighted T 1/2 of fibers with L > 20 µm) are equivalent predictors of the ip results. From these ip studies, fibers that can be exonerated from classification as carcinogens in Europe have a relative tumorigenic potency in the ip cavity of between 66 and 2500 times less than fibers that have been shown to produce a significant increase in tumors following chronic inhalation exposure. In addition, based upon the ip results, there is no statistical difference between the EC and the other fiber exoneration criteria, such as the German Gefahrstoffverordnung of 1999.