Evaluation of the magneto-optical effect in biological tissue models using optical coherence tomography

For the first time to our knowledge, an experimental evaluation of the Faraday effect-induced polarization rotation in a biological tissue phantom is reported. The rotation of the polarization plane produced in the optical beam propagating through an Intralipid solution was evaluated using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), and the experimental results closely matched the theoretical values. The angle of rotation is proportional to the traversed path length along the magnetic field and can potentially be used to estimate the actual penetration depth.     

Bioactive glass-ceramics in facial skeleton contouring

The removal of certain facial-bone defects is a prerequisite to restoration of function, stability, and appearance. Synthetic bone substitutes are beneficial in cases where other operative techniques would be an unacceptable burden for a patient. Satisfactory results can be achieved in one surgical intervention with low costs and low demand on technical equipment. Osteoconductive, biocompatible, non-resorbable glass-ceramic implants based on oxyfluoroapatite and wollastonite permit osteointegration—a direct physical and chemical bond between live bone tissue and the implant without formation of a fibrous capsule. They display better stress durability in simulated body fluid than hydroxyapatite implants do. This material was used for facial skeletal framework, contour restoration in 44 cases under conditions where other solutions were doubtful. Patients were observed for 24.8 months. Immediate healing occurred without any adverse reaction. The main problem was extrusion, observed in 20.45% cases over a 2–3 month period after the implantation. All cases, with one exception, were solved with a satisfactory final result by reoperation, implant size reduction, and increased soft tissue cover. This approach was found to be a suitable technique, especially for patients exhausted by prior incompetent treatment but still dissatisfied with their appearance. Successful reconstruction with a bone substitute may remarkably increase quality of life for affected persons and, at the same time, reduce surgery-related time and costs.     

Gender identity disorder and eating disorders

We report three cases of transsexual patients who are suffering from an eating disorder: a biological male patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN), a biological male patient with bulimia nervosa (BN), and a biological female patient with AN as well as a severe alcohol dependence. The relationship between eating behavior, gender identity, sexual orientation, and body dissatisfaction is discussed.     

Carcinoma of the Penis Treatment by surgery or combined bleomycin and radiation therapy

Forty-four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis stage T1-T2, N0 were either treated surgically (n = 19) or with a combination of irradiation and bleomycin (n = 25). the overall actuarial survival rate was 80% at 3 years, 77% at 5 years and 60% at 10 years. the result of irradiation treatment combined with bleomycin was in stage NO equivalent to that of surgical therapy. the non-surgical treatment had the advantage of preserved sexual ability.     

AMPA-Selective glutamate receptor subtype immunoreactivity in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of patients with Alzheimer disease

Immunocytochemical techniques were employed in order to examine the distribution and relative intensity of immunolabeling of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoaxolepropionate (AMPA) receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR2/3 within the hippocampal formation of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Within sectors of the hippocampus that are particularly vulnerable to AD pathology (i.e., CA1, subiculum), we observed a variable loss of GluR1 and GluR2/3 immunolabeling correlating with the extent of cell loss and neurofibrillary pathology. In contrast, in less vulnerable sectors of the hippocampus (i.e., CA2/3, dentate gyrus), the intensity of immunolabeling was markedly increased in AD cases, particularly in the molecular and polymorphic layear of the dentate gyrus. Importantly, these latter regions correspond to termination zones of glutamatergic perforant pathway axons and mossy fiber collaterals, respectively. The increase in immunolabeling within these projection fields is hypothesized to occur in response to the deafferentation of selected glutamatergic pathways, and suggests a critical role for AMPA receptor subunits in hippocampal plasticity.     

Component position following total hip arthroplasty through a miniinvasive posterolateral approach

Implant malposition and poor fixation are potential risks of compromising long-term results after total hip arthroplasty performed with a minimally invasive technique. Between September 2000 and February 2002, 120 cemented primary total hip arthroplasties were performed at the authors' institutions in patients with primary osteoarthritis of the hip and with BMI lower than 35. In 60 of these cases selected at random, a posterolateral incision no longer than 10 cm was used. The other 60 THA's were performed through a standard posterolateral approach. The inclination and anteversion of the cup and the position of the femoral stem were assessed on radiographs and statistically evaluated. In the miniinvasive group, the average inclination angle of the cup was 42.3 degrees (range: 36 to 52 degrees) and the anteversion angle 13.6 degrees (range: 6 to 29 degrees). The coronal alignment of the femoral component was within 3 degrees of neutral in 54 cases (90.0%). Following conventional implantation in the other group, the average cup inclination angle was 42.4 degrees (range: 35 to 50 degrees) and the anteversion angle 13.6 degrees (range: 8 to 24 degrees. A total of 53 stems (88.3 %) were implanted optimally. Statistical analysis found no significant difference between the two groups regarding components position. These findings suggest that using a smaller posterolateral incision as was done in this study does not introduce a potential risk of compromising long-term results.