Recurrent Herpes Simplex Infection in Multiple Locations in an Otherwise Healthy Boy

Abstract:  An 8-year-old boy developed vesicular lesions on the skin in different parts of the body, occurring four to six times a year. He had a history of eczema herpeticum as a young child. We confirmed a diagnosis of multifocal herpes simplex infection, and hypothesize that this was a result of his previous eczema herpeticum, an unusual complication, in an otherwise healthy and immunocompetent child.     

Incidence of ICD Lead Related Complications During Long-Term Follow-Up: Comparison of Epicardial and Endocardial Electrode Systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the longterm stability of epicardial and endocardial lead systems for third-generation cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and to assess the usefulness of diagnostic tools. One hundred forty patients with 61 epicardial (43.6%) and 79 nonthoracotomy systems (56.4%) were followed for 2 5 ± 19 months. A total of 18 (12.9%) lead related complications were documented. Complications of epicardial systems were detected in 10 patients (16.4%) during a follow-up time of 36 ± 8 months: crinkling of patch electrodes in 6 patients (9.8%), insulation breakage of sensing electrodes in 2 patients (3.3%), and adapter defect in 2 patients (3.3%). Eight of the patients (10.1%) with transvenous-subcutaneous systems had lead related complications during a 13 ± 6 months follow-up: fracture of the subcutaneous patch lead in 2 patients (2.5%), dislodgment of the right ventricular lead in 2 patients (2.5%), dislodgment of the superior vena cava lead in 2 patients (2.5%), insulation breakage of sensing electrodes in 1 patient (1.3%), and connector defect in 1 patient (1.3%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of lead related complications between epicardial and endocardial systems (P > 0.05). Fractures, dislodgments, and crinklings were documented within the first 8 ± 5 months by regular chest X ray. Defects of insulation, adapter, or connector were detected 22 ± 10 months after implantation and were associated with delivery of multiple inappropriate ICD therapies. An operative lead revision was indicated for 4 epicardial (6.6%) and 6 endocardial (7.6%) lead systems. Conclusions: Endocardial lead systems offer a similar long-term stability as compared to epicardial had systems. Chest X ray is the most useful tool to detect lead fracture, dislodgment. and patch crinkling. Marker recordings or real-time electrograms have not been helpful in this series to identify patients with suspected lead defects prior to the experience of inappropriate ICD discharges.     

Effect of casting methods on accuracy of peridental restorations

Abstract – The present study has shown that the accuracy of peridental gold alloy castings depends 1) on the type of casting machine used, 2) on the diameter of the casting sprue, and 3) on the strength properties of the investment material. The dependence between the accuracy and the three factors mentioned is based on erosion of the investment mold by the inflow of the liquid casting alloy. The vacuum casting technique proved to be a more gentle casting method than centrifugal and vacuum/pressure techniques.     

Auditory perceptions of vocalizations manifested by verbally agitated nursing home residents

The perceived disruptiveness of the vocalizations of 25 verbally agitated nursing home residents was assessed by ten experienced and ten non-experienced female listeners. Both groups agreed on the ratings attributed to the vocalizations of each resident. However, overall, non-experienced listeners perceived the vocalizations as more disruptive than experienced listeners.Although generally, no significant relationships were found between the perceived disruptiveness and the demographic and functional characteristics of the residents, nor with the vocalizations' acoustic features, both types of listener rated the vocalizations of Alzheimer's residents as more disruptive than those of other demented residents.     

Sensing Properties of Pacemaker Leads

It is already general practice to attribute sensing properties to geometry and surface structure of pacemaker leads. We have to analyze critically whether claims of having found leads with high sensitivity are in accordance with experimental and theoretical findings. From a model can be derived what kind of typical signal structure will originate from an electrode when an excitation wave crosses it, and what of this signal is influenced by electrode parameters. With decreasing surface area, the frequency content of the signal, the impedance, and, theoretically, the amplitude, increases. If the pacemaker characteristics are not matched to the lead properties, this inverse relationship becomes a direct one: If the input impedance is too low or the upper cut-off frequency of the bandpass is not high enough, the effective heart signal seems to be diminished with decreasing size. This, however, is more a pulse generator than a lead problem. If all pacers would possess an input impedance of ≥100 Kω and an upper cut-off frequency of ≥350 Hz, an attenuation of the heart signal would be ≤10% and thus, the results with different leads would be very similar and of equally high sensitivity.