Performance on the Operant Test Battery in young children exposed to procedures requiring general anaesthesia: the MASK study

Background

It is not known whether the neurotoxicity produced by anaesthetics administered to young animals can also occur in children. Exposure of infant macaques to ketamine impairs performance in selected domains of the Operant Test Battery (OTB), which can also be administered to children. This study determined whether a similar pattern of results on the OTB is found in children exposed to procedures requiring general anaesthesia before age 3 yr.

What's new in tumours of the nasal cavity? Adenocarcinomas arising after exposure to wood dust

Since the first observations have been published by Macbeth in England 1965 adenocarcinomas of the nose arising after exposure to wood dust have been considered as occupational diseases in a number of countries. As many questions concerning epidemiology, clinical course and pathology are still open, the Industrial Insurance Institute for the Wood Working Industry (Holz-Berufsgenossenschaft, Munich) has tried to collect all cases of nasal adenocarcinomas in the Federal Republic of Germany by requesting the clinical data from all Oto-Rhino-Laryngologic Clinics in West Germany and slides from the corresponding Institutes of Pathology. An extensive investigation concerning occupational exposure and other epidemiological aspects to wood dust was performed. The authors had the opportunity to review all clinical data and most of the histological material. Additionally some immunohistochemical and electron microscopical investigations were performed at the University Ear Nose Throat Clinic in Marburg. Finally we investigated cases of which we had the complete occupational, epidemiologic, clinical and histological data (further 34 cases with incomplete data are not discussed in this study).     

Endoscopic aqueductoplasty in the treatment of aqueductal stenosis

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic aqueductoplasty is an option in the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenoses. We report on our experience with this endoscopic technique, focussing on indications, operative technique, and results. METHODS: A series of 39 endoscopic aqueductoplasties was performed in 33 patients harbouring a hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis. In 13 patients, a third ventriculostomy was simultaneously performed. There was no endoscopy-related mortality. One aqueductoplasty had to be abandoned. In 7 patients, reclosure of the restored aqueduct required an endoscopic revision. In 25 patients (76%), the hydrocephalus-related symptoms resolved or improved. The condition was unchanged in 8 patients. Four patients needed to be shunted. The ventricles decreased in size in 22 patients (67%), were larger in 2, and unchanged in the remaining 9 patients. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic aqueductoplasty is a treatment option in patients with hydrocephalus caused by membranous aqueductal stenosis. Unfortunately, the reclosure rate is higher than initially expected. More experience and longer follow-up are necessary to determine the value of endoscopic aqueductoplasty in the treatment of hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis.     

The ergonovine test with injection of increasing doses in the diagnosis of chest pain

Ergonovine testing was performed in 40 patients with normal coronary angiograms (24 men, 16 women, mean age 53 years) complaining of chest pain. Esophageal and coronary spasm were assessed by simultaneous esophageal manometry, 12-lead-EKG and myocardial scintigraphy. Progressive doses of ergonovine were injected. Of the 17 patients experiencing chest pain during testing, coronary spasm occurred in 3 and esophageal motor disorders in 7 (peristaltic contraction waves of high amplitude in 3, diffuse esophageal spasm in 4). The dose necessary was more than 0.175 mg. No objective changes (EKG and manometry) were observed in the 7 remaining patients.