Facial Nerve Neuroma: Surgical Concept and Functional Results

This study reviewed the management and outcomes of 11 facial nerve neuromas treated in our institution during the past two decades with particular emphasis on surgical concepts and functional outcomes. All patients underwent complete surgical resection of their tumor. Eight patients (73%) were followed on an outpatient basis. A retrospective chart review for pre- and postoperative clinical and radiological data was performed. All facial neuromas were multi-segment tumors. All segments of the facial nerve were represented, but 54% involved the geniculate ganglion and 45% involved the labyrinthine or tympanic portions of the nerve, or both. Depending on the extent of sensorineural hearing loss, surgical removal was performed through the middle cranial fossa or translabyrinthine approach. To obtain adequate nerve reconstruction, we combined intra- and extracranial approaches (e.g., the transmastoidal and transtemporal routes). Regardless of the type of nerve reconstruction, the best recovery achieved was moderate facial weakness (House-Brackmann Grade III) in 75% of the patients, even in a patient who was Grade IV preoperatively. The choice of treatment for facial neuromas and surgical approach depends on the extent of tumor, grade of facial palsy, and hearing function. When facial palsy is present, complete resection is clearly indicated. In patients without facial dysfunction, a conservative strategy consisting of clinical and radiological observation should be considered as a treatment option.     

Effects of a community-based healthy heart program on increasing healthy women's physical activity: a randomized controlled trial guided by Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Background  

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading killer of women in most developed areas of the world. Rates of physical inactivity and poor nutrition, which are two of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women, are substantial. This study sought to examine the effectiveness of a community-based lifestyle-modification program on increasing women's physical activity in a randomized trial guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods.     

Mechanisms of immunotherapeutic intervention by anti-CD154 (CD40L) antibody in high-risk corneal transplantation.

This study aimed to determine the effects of anti-CD154 on T cell cytokine profiles and ocular chemokine gene expression after high-risk corneal transplantation and to specifically determine if CD154 blockade is associated with a switch from a Th1 to a Th2 alloimmune response. Mice were used as recipients of syngeneic or multiple minor H or MHC antigen-mismatched corneal grafts. Recipient beds were neovascularized (high-risk). Hosts were randomized to receive either anti-CD154 antibody or control immunoglobulin (Ig) perioperatively. Two weeks after corneal transplantation, allospecific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was evaluated. Frequencies of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-, interleukin-2 (IL-2)-, IL-4-, and IL-5-secreting T cells in the hosts were measured by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Ocular chemokine gene expression in anti-CD154-treated and control hamster Ig-treated groups was determined using a multiprobe ribonuclease protection assay (RPA). Leukocyte infiltration of corneal grafts was evaluated microscopically. Anti-CD154-treated mice did not exhibit allospecific DTH. The frequencies of Th1 cytokine-producing but not Th2 cytokine-producing T cells were significantly reduced in anti-CD154-treated hosts. Postoperative mRNA levels of RANTES and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta) in anti-CD154-treated eyes were substantially suppressed compared with hamster Ig-treated controls. Leukocyte infiltration was profoundly suppressed in grafts of anti-CD154-treated hosts. These data demonstrate that blockade of the CD40-CD154 costimulatory pathway after corneal transplantation inhibits Th1-mediated responses but does not induce a switch to a Th2-specific response. In addition, anti-CD154 therapy suppresses ocular chemokine gene expression and leukocytic infiltration into allografts.     

Reduction in acute rejections decreases chronic rejection graft failure in children: a report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS).

Chronic rejection accounted for 32% of all graft losses in 7123 pediatric transplants. In a previous study acute, multiple acute and late acute rejections were risk factors for the development of chronic rejection. We postulated that the recent decrease in acute rejections would translate into a lower risk for chronic rejection among patients with recent transplants. We reviewed our data on patients transplanted from 1995 to 2000, and using multivariate analysis and a proportional hazards model developed risk factors for patients whose grafts had failed due to chronic rejection. A late initial rejection increased the risk of chronic rejection graft failure 3.6-fold (p < 0.001), while a second rejection resulted in further increase of 4.2-fold (p < 0.001). Recipients who received less than 5 mg/kg of cyclosporine at 30 days post-transplant had a relative risk (RR) of 1.9 (p = 0.02). Patients transplanted from 1995 to 2000 had a significantly lower risk (RR = 0.54, p < 0.001) of graft failure from chronic rejection than those who received their transplants earlier (1987-94). Since we were able to demonstrate that there is a decreased risk of chronic rejection graft failure in our study cohort, we would conclude that the goal of future transplants should be to minimize acute rejections.     

The 1989 report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study

This report of the North American Pediatric Transplant Cooperative Study summarizes data contributed by 57 participating centers on 754 children with 761 transplants from 1 January 1989 to 16 February 1989. Data collection was initiated in October 1987 and follow-up of all patients is ongoing. Transplant frequency increased with age; 24% of the patients were less than 5 years, with 7% being under 2 years. Common frequent diagnoses were: aplastic/dysplastic kidneys (18%), obstructive uropathy (16%), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (12%). Preemptive transplant, i.e., transplantation without prior maintenance dialysis, was performed in 21% of the patients. Dialytic modalities pretransplant were peritoneal dialysis in 42% and hemodialysis in 25%. Bilateral nephrectomy was reported in 29%. Live-donor sources accounted for 42% of the transplants. Among cadaveric donors, 41% of the donors were under 11 years old. During the first post-transplant month, maintenance therapy was used similarly for live-donor and cadaver source transplants, with prednisone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine used in 93%, 83%, and 81%, respectively. Triple therapy with prednisone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine was used in 78%, 75%, and 75% of functioning cadaver source transplants at 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months as opposed to 60%, 63%, and 54% for live-donor procedures, with single-drug therapy being uncommon. Rehospitalization during months 1–5 occurred in 62% of the patients, with treatment of rejection and infection being the main causes. Additionally, 9% were hospitalized for hypertension. During months 6–12 and 12–17, 30% and 28% of the patients with functioning grafts were rehospitalized. Times to first rejection differed significantly for cadaver and live-donor transplants. The median time to the first rejection was 36 days for cadaver transplants and 156 days for live-donor transplants. Overall, 57% of treated rejections were completely reversible although the complete reversal rate decreased to 37% for four or more rejections. One hundred and fifty-two graft failures had occurred at the time of writing, with a 1-year graft survival estimate of 0.88 for live-donor and 0.71 for cadaver source transplants. In addition to donor source, recipient age is a significant prognostic factor for graft survival. Among cadaver donors, decreasing donor age is associated with a decreasing probability of graft survival. Thirty-five deaths have occurred; 16 attributed to infection and 19 to other causes. The current 1-year survival estimate is 0.94. There have been 9 malignancies.A list of all participating centers and the names of the investigators is printed on pages 552–553     

Acute impairment of regional myocardial glucose uptake in the apical ballooning (takotsubo) syndrome

BACKGROUND: Apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) is a poorly understood clinical entity characterized by acute, transient systolic dysfunction of the left ventricular (LV) apex in the absence of epicardial coronary artery disease and commonly associated with acute emotional stress. We report abnormal regional myocardial perfusion and glucose uptake in 4 consecutive ABS patients studied using positron emission tomography with 13N-ammonia and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose within 72 hours of presentation with ABS. METHODS: All patients were postmenopausal females, 3 of whom had a major recent life stress event. Coronary angiography revealed no or minimal obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. All patients exhibited reduced glucose uptake in the mid-LV and apical myocardial segments, which was out of proportion to perfusion abnormalities in half of the cases. CONCLUSION: In all 4 patients, affected regions subsequently recovered regional LV systolic function within 6 weeks.     

Administration of Half-Dose Theophylline Together with Ketotifen to Asthmatic Children—A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Administration of theophylline to asthmatic children is frequently associated with an adverse influence on their behavior. The efficacy and behavioral effects of the administration of high-dose theophylline (T) and ketotifen (K) in various combinations were evaluated prospectively in a double-blind, placebo controlled study in 55 children with moderately severe perennial asthma. During a baseline period of 2 weeks, theophylline (serum level of 10-20 μg/ml) was administered to all the children. After this period the patients were randomly allocated into four comparable groups. The children were treated during a 12-week period with: T + K-Placebo (T group); T + K (T + K group); half-dose T + K (T/ 2 + K group); or placebo of both T and K (P group). During the 12-week treatment period, as compared to the baseline period, only the three groups of children who received active therapy (T + P, T + K, T/2 + K) showed a similar reduction in the number of days with asthmatic symptomatology, improvement of the total asthmatic symptoms score, and increased PEFR. The behavioral activity of the children (assessed by the Conner's rating scale) improved significantly only in the groups receiving placebo or T/2 + K. The results of this study suggest that a combination therapy of half the recommended therapeutic dose of theophylline with ketotifen can be clinically as effective as therapy with a full dose of theophylline, but with significantly less adverse behavioral effects.