Anatomy of the pericallosal pial plexus in man

Fine arterial branches on the superior surface of corpus callosum were investigated on 22 human brains under stereomicroscope. These branches were directed toward: 1. the upper surface of corpus callosum (3-6 branches, mean 8), 2. the depths of the sulcus corporis callosi (4-13 branches, mean 7), and 3. the cingulate gyrus (1-10 branches, mean 5). All the vessels composing the pericallosal pial plexus have a uniformed caliber of 0.9-0.6 mm at their origins, and 0.7-0.3 mm after branching. In 9 cases a longitudinal vessel within the stria longitudinalis medialis, connected with the pial plexus was found. Important details of morphology of this plexus and their significance are discussed.     

Studies of local treatment of psoriasis with a bifonazole-urea combination

In a biometrically controlled study on psoriatic patients, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of bifonazole 1% plus urea 20% cream. In each of our ten patients, two lesions were treated over a period of 29 to 40 days (34 days on the average). Therapeutic results were not satisfying with lesions on extremities in comparison to those on head and body. On head and trunk, the size of the lesions amounted to 11.8 and 10.3 cm2, resp., before treatment, 2.8 and 4.3 cm2, resp., after therapy. On the extremities, we only noticed a reduction in size from 15.8 cm2 before to 13.8 cm2 after treatment. In total, the therapy was considered successful in 14 of the 20 lesions. Especially those four patients who predominantly showed lesions of the sebopsoriatic type were well-improved. Thus this therapy is particularly recommended in case of sebopsoriasis.     

Memory search for faces and digits in patients with unilateral brain lesions.

To clarify whether the impairment of right-brain-damaged (RBD) patients in face recognition is related to perceptual or mnestic processing stages, we tested unilaterally lesioned patients and controls in a Sternberg-type memory search task. Subjects had to memorize sets of 1, 2, or 3 faces (or, in a control condition, digits) and were then to recognize these memorized stimuli among new ones by speeded choice reactions. In this task, deficits in stimulus encoding and memory search should show up in increased intercepts and slopes, respectively, of the RT function over memory set size. A face-specific impairment of the RBD patient group, consisting in longer reaction times and higher error rates, was confirmed but could not be unequivocally attributed to either stimulus encoding or memory search. However, inspection of individual data suggested that (1) some RBD patients are virtually unimpaired in face recognition and (2) if impairment after right hemisphere damage is present, it may selectively affect either stimulus encoding or memory search.     

Bond strength of porcelain on cast vs. wrought titanium.

The bond strength of porcelain fused to cast and wrought titanium surfaces was calculated from fracture loads in a 4-point bending test. Two different porcelain were applied (O'Hara and Duceratin). The surface of Ti-cast specimens was treated in two different ways to produce variations in the impurity level before porcelain veneering. Microhardness measurements as well as scanning electron microscopy with EDX analysis were conducted. The results showed no significant difference in bond strength between the two porcelains. Nor was any difference in bond capacity found between thoroughly blasted castings and wrought titanium. Significantly lower bond strengths were observed for lightly blasted specimens and for specimens treated with Gold bonding agent. Impurities in the surface region of the castings were found to be due to contact with the investment during solidification. This indicates that a thin surface layer (50-100 microns) of the casting should be removed before firing of the porcelain.     

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty after primary unsuccessful PTCA]

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty is a new technique for ablation of coronary stenosis, however, the indications for its application are still controversial. We describe two male patients, 60 and 65 years old, who underwent unsuccessful balloon PTCA with a short, concentric and calcified coronary stenosis, although balloon inflation pressure was increased to a maximum in both cases. Excimer laser angioplasty following the failed procedures showed no evidence for tissue ablation angiographically, but a repeat attempt with balloon angioplasty was successful in both cases. Thus, laser angioplasty may be considered as an adjunct technique to balloon angioplasty after a failed PTCA in resistant, non-inflatable lesions.     

Malignant tumours after renal transplantation.

The incidence of malignant tumours in 570 patients with kidney transplants was examined. It was found to be 20-30 times higher than in the average (normal) population. In accordance with the literature, mainly skin cancers were observed, but at variance with these data, the number of lymphoreticular malignancies was small. On the basis of their study, the authors emphasize the oncogenetic effect of immunosuppression. By comparing the conventional (AZA+PRED) and Cyclosporine (CYA+PRED) treatments, they point out that this risk should be taken into consideration even in Cyclosporine therapy which has otherwise a much more favourable effect.     

Magnetic stimulation in patients with essential blepharospasm

In 31 patients with an essential blepharospasm investigations were undertaken with transcranial cortical and cisternal magnetic stimulation of the facial nerve. Cortical stimulation was performed contralaterally, whereas cisternal stimulation was ipsilateral; the latencies and amplitudes of the potentials were determined. However, the extracranial part of the facial nerve was stimulated in the region of the stylomastoid foramen for neuromyography electrically. In most measurements the response potentials in the orbicularis oculi muscle and the levator labii muscle were determined. Cisternal stimulation yielded normal latencies, whereas cortical stimulation showed an increase of latency in some blepharospasm patients. A difference between the orbicularis oculi muscle and the levator labii muscle as known in patients with hemifacial spasm (20) could not be observed. The mean values of all latencies after cortical stimulation were normal. The method of transcranial magnetic stimulation is an important part of the complete investigation of patients with facial hyperkinesias as shown here in blepharospasm patients.     

缺锌对大鼠力竭性游泳前后睾酮和锌水平变化的影响

本实验动态观察了缺锌和缺锌后补锌对大鼠力竭性游泳前后辜丸和血清睾酮、锌水平以及游泳能力的影响。结果显示：缺锌造成大鼠游泳能力大大降低，补锌后明显增加。不论安静时还是力竭性游泳后１２小时内，缺锌大鼠的血清和辜丸锌含量均显著低于对照和补锌大鼠。与对照和补锌大鼠相比，缺锌大鼠的血清和睾丸酮含量，安静时均较低，力竭性游泳后也呈现不同程度的降低。缺锌还造成大鼠辜丸重量的明显下降。结果表明，锌营养不良将损害运动能力。     

Fibrosarcoma of the breast: mammographic findings in five cases.

The mammographic features of fibrosarcoma of the breast, a rare malignant tumor, have not been described. Accordingly, we reviewed the mammograms, pathology reports, and medical records of five women with this tumor. All cases had surgical biopsies and a diagnosis made by histologic evaluation. The age of the patients ranged from 48 to 79 years. Histologically, three of the five fibrosarcomas were thought to have arisen from phyllodes tumor, and four were palpable. On mammograms, the tumors were dense masses with largely indistinct margins, ranging from 1.5 to 7.0 cm in diameter. One contained calcified osseous elements suggesting osseous trabeculae. Although the osseous trabeculae in that tumor strongly suggested sarcoma, most of the tumors had a nonspecific appearance on mammograms. Fibrosarcomas of the breast have a nonspecific mammographic appearance. Surgical biopsy and histologic evaluation are necessary for definitive diagnosis.