Die bronchopulmonale Dysplasie Frühgeborener

In very preterm neonates, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) complicates the course of respiratory distress syndrome, i.e., primary surfactant deficiency in a structural immature lung. In Germany, about 11 000 preterms having a gestational age below 32 weeks are born and treated in neonatal intensive care units per year. Within this high risk group, the rate of BPD is about 15%. Relevant prenatal risk factors include intrauterine inflammatory fetal reaction as a consequence of ascending maternal infections, intrauterine growth retardation apart from the main risk factor immaturity. Postnatal risk factors include genetic predisposition, mechanical ventilation, infections and hemodynamically relevant patent ductus arteriosus.Preventive measures include intratracheal surfactant administration; new studies indicate preventive effects of caffeine, vitamin A and hydrocortisone in a subgroup of neonates with prenatal fetal inflammatory response.Due to long-term detrimental effects of BPD on lung function and psychomotor development, further experimental and clinical studies are mandatory in order to continue to reduce the BPD rate.     

Tissue engineering: a challenge of today's medicine

During the last years, tissue engineering-based therapies have been introduced in clinical practice in the head and face area. The regeneration of complex tissue structures for all sites of the body is envisioned for the future. In the present situation, specialists of the different fields publish excellent research papers in specialised journals. As a result, the scientific community, seperated towards distinct sub-specialities, has difficulties in communication. To overcome this problem, the demanding, complex and interdisciplinary aspects of tissue engineering has to be approached from new ways. We have conceptualised Head & Face Medicine therefore as a thematically broad ranged journal, including all disciplines involved in the head and neck area. We hope this journal will attract basic researchers and clinicians who are involved in investigating and applying complex themes (examplified by tissue engineering) in the head and face region and will contribute to a gain in scientific information, communication, and collaboration in order to improve the outcome of patient treatments.     

Experimentelle und klinische Studie zur Stabilit?t einer Osteosyntheseplatte für den atrophen Unterkiefer

ZusammenfassungHintergrund Der Anteil an älteren Patienten steigt ständig und damit auch die Zahl traumatischer altersbedingter Verletzungen wie Frakturen des Unterkiefers. Die Frakturversorgung bei älteren Menschen stellt spezielle Anforderungen. Durch das Design einer neu entwickelten Osteosyntheseplatte sollte versucht werden, diese speziellen Gesichtspunkte zu erfüllen.Material und Methoden Im Gegensatz zu den 2.0-Miniplatten (Medartis AG, Basel) besitzt die Pencilbone-2.0-Platte, die aus diesen Miniplatten entwickelt wurde, einen oval geformten Mittelsteg zur Stabilisierung des frakturnahen Knochens und zwei sphärische Gleitlöcher jenseits der Fraktur. An den verstärkten Teil der Osteosyntheseplatte schließen sich jeweils 2 bzw. 3 normale unverstärkte Löcher an, die sich sehr leicht an den frakturfernen Knochen adaptieren lassen. Dies ermöglicht dem Operateur den intraoralen Zugangsweg und eine Handhabung, welche er von der Miniplattenosteosynthese gewohnt ist, bietet aber gleichzeitig eine höhere Stabilität im Vergleich mit den Standard-2.0.-Miniplatten.Ergebnisse und Diskussion Nach experimentellen und biomechanischen Untersuchungen, die alle positive Ergebnisse zeigten, wurde die neue Platte zwischen Oktober 2000 und November 2001 in zwei Kliniken an 16 Frakturen des atrophischen Unterkiefers bei 14 Patienten erfolgreich angewendet. 15 Frakturen heilten primär, lediglich bei einer Fraktur wurde eine neue operative Versorgung wegen Knochendislokation nach erneutem Sturz notwendig.     

Precision of Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) in Six Degrees of Freedom and Limitations in Clinical Practice

PURPOSE: To evaluate the precision of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) using cone-beam computed tomography (CB-CT) for volume imaging and a robotic couch for correcting setup errors in six degrees of freedom. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 47 consecutive patients with 372 fractions were classified according to whether a patient fixation device was used (pat(fix): n = 28) or not (pat(non-fix): n = 19). Prior to treatment a CB-CT was acquired and translational and rotational setup errors were corrected online without an action level using a robotic couch (HexaPOD). A second CB-CT was acquired after the correction process and after treatment in 134 and 238 fractions, respectively. RESULTS: In 17 fractions (4.6%) rotational errors > 3 degrees exceeded the motion range of the HexaPOD. Errors (3D vector) after the correction process were significantly smaller for pat(fix) compared to pat(non-fix) (p < 0.001): 0.9 mm +/- 0.5 mm and 1.6 mm +/- 0.8 mm, respectively. For pat(non-fix) the correction of rotational errors resulted in displacements of the patients on the angled couch of 0.6 mm/1 degree. Intrafractional motion further decreased precision in pat(non-fix) but not in pat(fix). CONCLUSION: Very high precision in cranial and extracranial treatment of immobilized patients was demonstrated. Without application of adequate immobilization the correction of rotational errors and intrafractional patient motion significantly decreased the accuracy of the online correction protocol.     

Experienced clinical educators improve their clinical teaching effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if experienced clinical educators (CEs) can improve their teaching by incorporating 4 literature-based teaching methods into their instruction. METHODS: We trained 7 experienced CEs on the teaching methods during a monthly faculty development program. Each CE recorded use of these methods during 10 months on a personal digital assistant. We compared the CEs' teaching evaluations with those of nonparticipating faculty by analysis of variance at baseline, during the study period, and for 1 year after the study. RESULTS: Reported use of 2 teaching methods (priming and feedback) increased significantly over use at baseline; use of 2 other methods (teaching in the patient's presence and 1-2 focal teaching points) remained constant. Scores on the CEs' teaching evaluations were significantly higher during the study period on 1 item, whereas the comparison group showed no changes. The changes persisted during the follow-up period. CEs reported that the teaching methods focused the learner and teacher, making subsequent encounters more productive. They also found that the act of entering data daily prompted them to reflect on their teaching. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced teachers can be persuaded to incorporate new methods into their daily teaching. Reflection on teaching is enhanced with group support and daily reminders. With these interventions, teaching effectiveness of these experienced educators improved.     

Modeling of relationships between pharmacokinetics and blockade of agonist-induced elevation of intraurethral pressure and mean arterial pressure in conscious dogs treated with alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists.

Fiduxosin is a new alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist targeted for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the potencies of the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists terazosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, and fiduxosin, based on relationships between plasma drug concentrations and blockade of phenylephrine (PE)-induced intraurethral (IUP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses after single oral dosing in conscious male beagle dogs. Magnitude of blockade and plasma concentrations were evaluated at selected time points over 24 h. All drugs produced dose-dependent antagonism of PE-induced IUP and MAP responses. When IUP and MAP blockade effects were plotted against drug plasma concentrations, direct relationships were observed that were well described by the sigmoidal maximal effect model. IUP IC(50) values for terazosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, and fiduxosin were 48.6, 48.7, 0.42, and 261 ng/ml, respectively. MAP IC(50) values were 12.2, 13.8, 1.07, and 1904 ng/ml, respectively. Uroselectivity index values, defined as MAP IC(50)/IUP IC(50), were 0.25, 0.28, 2.6, and 7.3, respectively. These results extend previous observations with terazosin in this model, showing that doxazosin exhibits a uroselectivity index comparable to terazosin, consistent with the lack of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtype selectivity or uroselectivity of these drugs. Tamsulosin, an alpha(1a)-/alpha(1d)-subtype selective agent, had an index value approximately 10-fold greater than the nonselective drugs. Based on its pharmacokinetic profile and a relative uroselectivity 29-fold greater than the nonselective drugs, fiduxosin is expected to exhibit greater selectivity for urethral compared with vascular alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in human and should be a novel, long-acting, uroselective alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist.     

Does listening to the sound of yourself chewing increase your enjoyment of food?

Background  

The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between physical anhedonia and psychopathological parameters, pharmacological parameters or motor side-effects in a sample of inpatients with schizophrenia in an acute episode of their illness.     

Parvalbumin 3 is an Abundant Ca2+ Buffer in Hair Cells

Ca2+ signaling serves distinct purposes in different parts of a hair cell. The Ca2+ concentration in stereocilia regulates adaptation and, through rapid transduction-channel reclosure, underlies amplification of mechanical signals. In presynaptic active zones, Ca2+ mediates the exocytotic release of afferent neurotransmitter. At efferent synapses, Ca2+ activates the K+ channels that dominate the inhibitory postsynaptic potential. A copious supply of diffusible protein buffer isolates the three signals by restricting the spread of free Ca2+ and limiting the duration of its action. Using cDNA subtraction and a gene expression assay based on in situ hybridization, we detected abundant expression of mRNAs encoding the Ca2+ buffer parvalbumin 3 in bullfrog saccular and chicken cochlear hair cells. We cloned cDNAs encoding this protein from the corresponding inner-ear libraries and raised antisera against recombinant bullfrog parvalbumin 3. Immunohistochemical labeling indicated that parvalbumin 3 is a prominent Ca2+-binding protein in the compact, cylindrical hair cells of the bullfrog's sacculus, and occurs as well in the narrow, peanut-shaped hair cells of that organ. Using quantitative Western blot analysis, we ascertained that the concentration of parvalbumin 3 in saccular hair cells is approximately 3 mM. Parvalbumin 3 is therefore a significant mobile Ca2+ buffer, and perhaps the dominant buffer, in many types of hair cell. Moreover, parvalbumin 3 provides an early marker for developing hair cells in the frog, chicken, and zebrafish.