Familial malignant retroperitoneal paraganglioma

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumours and those occurring in the head and neck have well recognized familial association. Retroperitoneal paragangliomas are uncommon and we present two cases of familial malignant retroperitoneal paraganglioma. Review of the literature revealed marked differences in the incidence and malignant potential of familial and non-familial paraganglioma. In contrast to the cases reported here, familial tumours are generally benign, though they may occur at multiple sites. Familial and non-familial paragangliomas may indeed be different disease entities.     

A psychodynamic approach to the master treatment plan.

Formulating master treatment plans for the hospital treatment of psychiatric patients is especially challenging to psychodynamically oriented clinicians unaccustomed to reducing complex intrapsychic and interpersonal phenomena to specific observable behaviors. In collaboration with a wide cross section of hospital staff members, the authors developed a conceptual framework for treatment plans compatible with psychodynamic thinking. They describe the treatment evaluation research from which the format of the treatment plan evolved, as well as the guide they developed to facilitate its implementation .     

Infected chronic hematoma mimicking soft tissue neoplasm

A rare case of an infected chronic hematoma in a patient with immunodeficiency syndrome mimicking a soft tissue neoplasm is presented. There are few reported cases of hematogenous infection of chronic hematomas, which be difficult to differentiate from soft tissue neoplasms.     

Accelerating cardiac cine 3D imaging using k-t BLAST.

By exploiting spatiotemporal correlations in cardiac acquisitions using k-t BLAST, gated cine 3D acquisitions of the heart were accelerated by a net factor of 4.3, making single breathhold acquisitions possible. Sparse sampling of k-t space along a sheared grid pattern was implemented into a cine 3D SSFP sequence. The acquisition of low-resolution training data, which was required to resolve aliasing in the k-t BLAST method, was either interleaved into the sampling process or obtained in a separate prescan to allow for shorter breathhold durations in patients with heart disease. Volumetric datasets covering the heart with 20 slices at a spatial resolution of 2 x 2 x 5 mm3 were recorded with 20 cardiac phases in a total breathhold duration of 25-27 sec, or 18 sec if partial Fourier sampling was additionally employed. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated on healthy volunteers and on patients. The comparison of endocardial area derived from single slices of the 3D dataset with values extracted from separate single-slice acquisitions showed no significant differences. By shortening the acquisition substantially, k-t BLAST may greatly facilitate volumetric imaging of the heart for evaluation of regional wall motion and the assessment of ventricular volume and ejection fraction.     

A clinical comparison of 2 electric toothbrush designs

Abstract A single blind 30 day study compared the reduction of plaque and gingivitis for the Hapika® Powerbrush to the Interplak® ultra 10 tuft. A longitudinal parallel group design was utilized and screening evaluation was performed to determine patient eligibility prior to study enrollment. 66 subjects were entered into the study and assigned to 1 of 2 groups, each using one of the toothbrushes. At baseline, subjects received an oral soft tissue exam, a dental hard tissue exam, and were scored by the Lobene modification of the Löe and Silness gingival index (GI). Plaque was then disclosed and scored both pre and post brushing using the modified Turesky plaque/debris examination and an interproximal bleeding examination was performed post-brushing. On days 15 and 30, after an oral soft tissue and GI examination, plaque was graded by the Modified Turesky plaque/debris exam. Subjects then brushed and were graded by the Modified Turesky plaque/debris examination and an interproximal bleeding index examination. The results showed that both brushes provided a similar change in clinical indices. All produced a statistically significant reduction from baseline to day 30 for the gingival index (26.5-29.1%), the bleeding index (13.8-24.1%), and the plaque index (16.9-19.4%), A comparison of pre and post brushing scores for the plaque index at 30 showed that both brushes reduced plaque similarly with a statistically significant reduction (P<0.05) from their pre-brushing plaque index scores at all time periods.     

Long-term results of treatment for articular calcaneus fractures with Westhues method]

In this paper the authors evaluate the long-term results of treatment for articular calcaneus fractures with Westhues method. This evaluation is performed with regard to triple measurement of B?hler's angle value and to subjective criteria. The clinical material from years 1985-2002 consists of 47 patients aged between 24 and 56 years (mean age 32 years) with articular calcaneus fractures--namely, 41 male patients (87.2%) and 6 female patients (12.8%). The follow-up examination was performed in 24 patients (51% of all patients), namely, in 23 male patients (48.8%) and in one female patient (2.2%). Minimum follow-up time was 12 months and maximum was 9 years. Acquired results suggest that Westhues method restores normal B?hler's angle value only in tongue-type calcaneous fractures.     

Venenthrombose und Lungenembolie Prophylaxe und Behandlung

Venöse Thromboembolien (VTE) stellen eine häufige Morbiditäts- und Mortalitätsursache dar; die jährliche Inzidenz wird mit etwa 1 : 1 000 angegeben. Dabei sind verschiedene Risikogruppen zu unterscheiden, die sowohl durch endogene Faktoren (z. B. genetisch deteminierte Thrombophilie), viel häufiger aber durch exogene Faktoren (zugrundeliegende Erkankung) charakterisiert werden. Diese Heterogenität resultiert in Besonderheiten bei Prophylaxe und Therapie von VTE, auf die in dieser Darstellung eingegangen werden soll.