Laparoscopic Management of Adnexal Masses

Retrospective study of 121 cases of adnexal masses which were managed laparoscopically was carried out. The aim of study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses. In 120 cases, procedure was completed safely with minimum morbidity. In one case laparotomy had to be done to complete the procedure. In 76 cases cystectomy was done, 26 required salpingo-oophorectomy and 19 required only salpingectomy. Histologic evaluation revealed 30 functional cysts, 36 endometriotic cysts, 11 dermoids, 9 serous cystadenomas, 3 mucinous cystadenomas, 11 parovarian cysts, 19 cases of hydrosalpinx and 2 cases of tuberculosis.Key Words: Adnexal mass, Laparoscopy, Ovarian cyst     

Changing concepts in the pathological basis of soft tissue and bone sarcoma treatment

Though soft tissue sarcomas are rare considerable progress has been made in the clinical and biological understanding of these neoplasms. This has led to the launch of a new WHO classification of soft tissue tumours in 2002, which integrate morphological data with tumour specific (cyto-) genetics. Moreover worldwide consensus has grown how to predict clinical behaviour based on a specific grading system and which specific types of tumours seem not to obey these rules. As a consequence entry criteria for multi-institute prospective trials have changed over the last few years. The recent identification of tumour specific drug targets by immunohistochemistry has had impact on specimen requirements and handling as well as laboratory standards. These changes in concepts, classification, and processing of soft tissue sarcomas have had impact on patient selection and treatment and formats of multi-institute trials.     

Preparation of Positively and Negatively Charged Organic Colloids from a Single Precursor

A synthetic route is presented for the preparation of electrically charged colloidal particles with either sign from the same precursor. In the first step, methyl methacrylate was copolymerized with ω‐bromoalkyl acrylate and a cross‐linker, leading to monodisperse, bromo‐functionalized colloids. Substitution of the bromo‐functions by either trimethylamine or Na₂SO₃ transformed the neutral precursors into positively or negatively charged particles, respectively. The charge density could be varied in two ways: (i) by varying the fraction of bromo‐functionalized monomers; (ii) by increasing the degree of substitution of the bromo‐functions. Derivation of the charged particles from the same precursor colloid made it easier to explain various interesting physical properties of the charged colloidal particles. Higher charge densities were achieved for the cationic colloids. If a threshold value for the charge density of 55 μC · cm^?2 was surpassed, the particles showed a significant swelling in aqueous solution.

     

Thalidomide with or without dexamethasone for refractory multiple myeloma

It was shown in 1999 thalidomide could induce a therapeutic response in patients with refractory multiple myeloma. Between March 2000 and January 2002, we treated 21 patients with refractory multiple myeloma with thalidomide (Thalidomide) at initial dose of 400 mg a day. Response rate (Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome criteria) was 33 percent and median progression-free survival estimated to 15 months. All patients suffered from drowsiness and constipation requiring lowest doses. Five patients developed a sensitive neuropathy. Eight refractory patients were treated by a combination of their prior maximally tolerated dose of thalidomide and monthly dexamethasone (Soludécadron) alone (n = 4) or associated to cyclophosphamide (Endoxan) and étoposide (Etopophos) (n = 4). Six patients on 8 were responders. Our results suggest that the combination thalidomide/dexamethasone should be compared to thalidomide alone in a prospective, randomized study in patients with refractory multiple myeloma.     

Cold-induced enhancement of avian uncoupling protein expression,heat production,and triiodothyronine concentrations in broiler chicks

The relationships among avian uncoupling protein (avUCP) mRNA expression, heat production, and thyroid hormone metabolism were investigated in 7-14-day-old broiler chicks (Gallus gallus) exposed to a low temperature (cold-exposed chicks, CE) or a thermoneutral temperature (TN). After 7 days of exposure, CE chicks exhibited higher heat production (+83%, P<0.01), avUCP mRNA expression (+20%, P<0.01), and circulating triiodothyronine (T(3)) levels (+104%, P=0.07) for non-statistically different body weights and feed intake between 3 and 7 days of exposure as compared to TN chicks. Plasma thyroxine (T(4)) concentration was clearly decreased in CE chicks (-33%, P=0.06). The lower hepatic inner-ring deiodination activity (-47%) and the higher renal outer-ring deiodination activity (+75%) measured in CE compared to TN chicks could partly account for their higher plasma T(3) concentrations. This study describes for the first time the induction of avUCP mRNA expression by low temperature in chickens, as it has been previously shown in ducklings, and supports the possible involvement of avUCP in avian thermogenesis.     

SPM-927 (Schwarz Pharma)

Schwarz Pharma, under license from Harris FRC, is developing SPM-927, synthesized by researchers at the University of Houston, for the potential treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain.     

The incidence of strabismus and refractive error in patients with blepharophimosis, ptosis and epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES)

A retrospective review was carried out of 204 patients with blepharophimosis, (blepharo) ptosis and epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES). Of these, 94 (46%) had an autosomal dominant family history of BPES. Forty (20%) had manifest strabismus. Of these, 28 (70%) had esotropia, 10 (25%) had exotropia and 2 (5%) had hypertropia. Twelve (6%) patients had nystagmus. Seventy (34%) patients had a significant refractive error requiring spectacles. Twenty-one (30%) of these patients had anisometropic hypermetropia and 24 (34%) had anisometropic myopia. Forty-three patients had bilateral amblyopia and 40 had unilateral amblyopia, with 26 (65%) of these undergoing occlusion treatment. Of these, 14 had strabismus and refractive error, 7 refractive error only, 2 strabismus only and 3 neither refractive error nor strabismus. We conclude that there is a higher incidence of strabismus and refractive error in patients with BPES than in the normal population.     

Mehrjahresverlauf nach Autotransplantation der Unterkieferspeicheldrüse bei vernarbender Keratokonjunktivitis mit absolutem Tränenmangel

ZusammenfassungZiel Eine Unterkieferspeicheldrüse kann durch Transplantation in die Schläfenregion zur Benetzung bei vernarbender Keratokonjunktivitis mit absolutem Tränenmangel genutzt werden. Wir berichten über unsere Erfahrungen mit diesem Verfahren.Patienten und Methoden In einer prospektiven, kontrollierten, klinischen Kohortenstudie untersuchten wir die Entwicklung von Schirmer-Test, Fluoreszein-Break-up-time, subjektiver Beschwerdesymptomatik, Verwendung von pharmazeutischen Tränenersatzmitteln, Visus, Bengalrosafärbung und Bindehauthyperämie bei 14 Augen mit vitalem Speicheldrüsentransplantat und 11 trockenen Augen ohne speichelartige Benetzung bei schwerster vernarbender KCS.Ergebnisse Über 3,3 Jahre postoperativ zeigte sich in der Transplantatgruppe gegenüber präoperativ und gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe eine signifikante Verbesserung des Beschwerdebildes bei gleichzeitig reduzierter Verwendung von Tränenersatzmitteln.Schlussfolgerung Bei extrem trockenem Auge kann die Transplantation einer autologen Unterkieferspeicheldrüse die Benetzung und die oft schwersten Beschwerden des Tränenmangels deutlich und langfristig verbessern. Das Verfahren eignet sich zur symptomatischen Therapie bei verzweifelten Fällen des absoluten Tränenmangels.     

Morphology and spectral absorption characteristics of retinal photoreceptors in the southern hemisphere lamprey (Geotria australis)

The morphology and spectral absorption characteristics of the retinal photoreceptors in the southern hemisphere lamprey Geotria australis (Agnatha) were studied using light and electron microscopy and microspectrophotometry. The retinae of both downstream and upstream migrants of Geotria contained two types of cone photoreceptor and one type of rod photoreceptor. Visual pigments contained in the outer segments of these three photoreceptor types had absorbance spectra typical of porphyropsins and with wavelengths of maximum absorbance (downstream/upstream) at 610/616 nm (long-wavelength-sensitive cone, LWS), 515/515 nm (medium-wavelength-sensitive cone, MWS), and 506/500 nm (medium-wavelength-sensitive rod). A "yellow" photostable pigment was present in the myoid region of all three types of photoreceptor in the downstream migrant. The same short-wavelength-absorbing pigment, which prevents photostimulation of the beta band of the visual pigment in the outer segment, was present in the rods and LWS cones of the upstream migrant, but was replaced by a large transparent ellipsosome in the MWS cones. Using microspectrophotometric and anatomical data, the quantal spectral sensitivity of each photoreceptor type was calculated. Our results provide the first evidence of a jawless vertebrate, represented today solely by the lampreys and hagfishes, with two morphologically and physiologically distinct types of cone photoreceptors, in addition to a rod-like photoreceptor containing a colored filter (a cone-like characteristic). In contrast, all other lampreys studied thus far have either (1) one type of cone and one type of rod, or (2) a single type of rod-like photoreceptor. The evolution or retention of a second type of cone in adult Geotria is presumably an adaptation to life in the brightly lit surface waters of the Southern Ocean, where this species lives during the marine phase of its life cycle. The functional significance of the unique visual system of Geotria is discussed in relation to its life cycle and the potential for color vision.