Radiographic appearance and population distribution of the pneumatized articular eminence of the temporal bone

The pneumatized articular eminence of the temporal bone (PAT) is a cavity similar to that seen in the mastoid process that occurs in the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. Panoramic radiographs of 1061 dental school patients were reviewed to determine the radiographic appearance and population characteristics of this finding; PAT was found in 28 patients (2.6%). The mean age of the patients was 32.5 years; there was no sex predilection and four patients showed this defect bilaterally. Two radiographic types of PAT were identified, unilocular and multilocular. Panoramic radiography appears to be an efficacious method to display the articular eminence for visualization of PAT. Due to the relatively common occurrence of PAT and the increasing amount of surgery of the temporomandibular joint, visualization of this defect becomes important for the clinician planning surgical manipulation of the articular eminence.     

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study for the evaluation of assisted hatching in patients with advanced maternal age

The objective of this study was to determine if assisted hatching improved the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients aged > or =36 years. On the day of oocyte aspiration, consenting patients were randomized according to whether all embryos underwent the hatching procedure (hatched; n = 41) or all embryos remained unhatched (controls; n = 48). Patients in both groups were treated with methylprednisolone and doxycycline starting on the day of oocyte retrieval and continuing for 4 days. The hatching procedure was performed approximately 55 h after insemination on all potential embryos for transfer and employed the release of acidified acid Tyrode's medium against the zona pellucida to create an opening approximately 20 microm in diameter. No significant differences were noted in the mean age, number of oocytes aspirated and number of embryos transferred between the hatched and control groups. In addition, no significant differences were observed in the rates of implantation (11.1 versus 11.3%), clinical pregnancy (39.0 versus 41.7%) and ongoing pregnancy (29.3 versus 35.4%) between the hatched and control groups respectively. These results suggest that assisted hatching may have no significant impact on IVF success rates in the patient population studied.      

Diagnostic radiology usage in ambulatory and hospital care

Data from a nationwide survey of physicians show that there were a total of 214 million medical radiologic examinations performed in the United States in 1977, or just under one for each member of the resident population. Approximately 58% of these procedures were performed in ambulatory patients (including those in hospital outpatient departments) and 42% were in hospitalized patients. Data for the number of visits with (single or multiple) radiologic examinations produced an estimate of 184 million annual visits with one or more diagnostic radiographs. These estimates provide a comprehensive measure of national use of diagnostic radiology at the time the data were collected, as well as a basis of comparison for analyses of contemporary patterns of utilization of radiologic procedures.     

Food and microbiological problems in the newborn: data and practice

We have reviewed the relationships of food, nutrition and feeding practices to various infections in the newborn. Tentative conclusions are made: (a) the initial use of human milk (raw or pasteurized) continues to offer advantages in the care of babies in intensive care; (b) attempts to mimic the microbiological effects of breast milk by manipulation of the composition of infant formulas have so far achieved little success, but this is a rapidly developing field; (c) we are wary of the widespread use of breast milk "fortifiers" until there is evidence that they do not adversely affect the protective properties of breast milk; (d) the doubtful advantages of nasojejunal feeding need to be weighed against the increased bacterial contamination of the upper small bowel; (e) systems monitoring in milk kitchens and the handling of feeds in the neonatal unit are an integral part of comprehensive neonatal care; (f) to limit nosocomial infection, particular attention to the faecal-food-oral route is necessary since there is potential for multiplication of initial contamination of food.     

Coronary Heart Disease,Serum Lipids,Platelets and Dietary Fish in Two Communities in Northern Norway

ABSTRACT Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality was registered in an inland and a coastal community in Northern Norway. Subgroups of healthy males from the communities were investigated further. The daily consumption of fish in the coastal and inland areas was 132.4 g and 55.1 g respectively, and the intake of eicosapentaenoic acid was 0.9 g and 0.25 g. The content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in platelet phospholipids and primary bleeding time were similar in the two groups. Linoleic acid was lower and saturated fatty acids were higher in phospholipids in men from the coastal ma. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation was increased and serum triglyceride concentration was higher in men from the coastal ma. CHD mortality during a 10-Lyear period was higher in the coastal area for both sexes. This may be associated with differences in serum triglyceride levels and platelet fatty acid composition. This study indicates that a high consumption of lean fish is not sufficient to induce changes in blood lipids and platelet function associated with low CHD mortality and it does not seem to prevent high CHD mortality.