The effect of onlay Medpor implants on mandibular growth in young rabbits: an experimental study

Medpor implants were placed on the periosteum of the mandible in infant rabbits to study their effects on growth. Three months later radiological and histopathological studies were performed in situ and after removal of the mandible. The authors demonstrate that implants did not affect normal development of the mandible; however, there was a decrease in bone thickness and a mononuclear cell reaction was caused where the implant came in contact with the bone.     

Cryptorchidism as a result of burn injury

Thermal injury of the genitalia usually occurs as part of larger body surface burns. The most common sequelae of burns of the penoscrotal region are contractures of penile shaft, but we did not encounter any reported cases in English Literature with cryptorchidism as a sequel of burn injury. A 7 year old boy with cryptorchidism as a component of extensive perineal and inguinal burn deformity is reported to indicate the role of burn injury in cryptorchidism. Cryptorchidism as a component of perineal burn injury may be caused by the attachment of the cremaster muscle or fascia to the abdominal wall during the process of wound healing. As healing process of wounds on inguinal region by contraction may cause testis entrapment and cryptorchidism, a careful genital examination bears a great importance in inguinal burn deformities in order not to miss any trapped testis and replace it as early as possible before degenerative changes begin.     

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the isolated rabbit kidney following in vivo and in vitro ischaemia and reperfusion: effects of antagonizing platelet activating factor (PAF)

Renal ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a pathological condition occurring frequently after transplantation and acute renal failure. A mediator thought to play a role in the disturbed haemodynamics of I/R is platelet activating factor (PAF). We studied endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine, ACh) and -independent (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) vasorelaxant responses and the effect of BN 52021, a PAF antagonist, in the isolated perfused rabbit kidney after in vivo and in vitro I/R. Anaesthetized rabbits underwent right nephrectomy and 1 h left renal artery clamping followed by 30min reperfusion with blood. In another group, kidneys were isolated and, after transferral to the perfusion system, the perfusion pump was turned off for 1 h, followed by 30min reperfusion with Krebs' solution. BN 52021 or its vehicle dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) was administered 20min before left renal artery occlusion or turning off the pump. Although in vitro I/R did not influence ACh-induced responses, in vivo I/R caused a decrease which was prevented by BN 52021. SNP-induced responses did not change in in vitro I/R and decreased only at lower concentrations in in vivo I/R, whereby pretreatment with BN 52021 did not offer any protection. It is concluded that in vivo I/R diminishes ACh-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation, possibly via PAF and blood components, whereas SNP-induced endothelium-independent vasodilation was not altered by in vivo and in vitro ischaemia in the isolated rabbit kidney.     

The effect of polycythemic hyperviscosity on ischemic bowel necrosis

It is known that polycythemia decreases the fluidity of the blood and impairs tissue perfusion due to red-cell sludging in the microcirculation. In this study, the effect of polycythemic hyperviscosity (PH) on bowel necrosis was evaluated in an experimental model of intestinal ischemia. Twenty-eight Wistar albino rats (90–170 g) were divided into two groups: group 1 was transfused to create hyperviscosity and then intestinal ischemia was produced (n = 16); in group 2 ischemia was produced without transfusion (n = 12). Intestinal ischemia was produced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery and the collateral arcades of the right colic artery for 30 min. Gross and histopathologic evaluations were performed by either immediate necropsy or relaparotomy 24 h later. Microscopic findings were graded from 0 to 3 according to the degree of ischemic changes. In group 1, 2 animals (12.5%) died before 24 h postoperatively; coagulation necrosis with grade 2 or 3 ischemic changes was observed in 10 animals (62.5%). In group 2 only a few hypertrophied Peyer's patches and capillary dilation were found, and all histopathologic changes were between grades 0 and 1. The difference between the histopathologic gradings of the two groups was significant (P < 0.001). It appears that in addition to reduced splanchnic blood flow, a secondary effect of PH is needed to induce ischemic coagulation necrosis. PH of the newborn must be considered a risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis, so-called spontaneous intestinal perforations, and even intestinal atresia.Presented at the 1st European Congress of Pediatric Surgery, Graz/Austria, May 4–6, 1995     

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in neutropenic, pediatric solid tumor patients following chemotherapy

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been used to reduce the duration and/or degree of neutropenia of different etiologies in recent years. In this study, experience with the use of G-CSF (Neupogen, Roche) after 123 courses of highly myelosuppressive chemotherapy administered to 31 (20 female, 11 male) patients with pediatric solid tumors is reported. G-CSF was initialed at a white blood cell (WBC) count of 918 ± 452/μL (100-2000), at a dose of 7.6 ± 2.3 μg/kgl/d (5-14) subcutaneously for 5.2 ± 2.4 days (2-18). G-CSF was given for afebrile neutropenia after 82 and for febrile neutropenia after 41 courses. Only in two episodes where G-CSF was given for afebrile neutropenia, fever developed. The average hospitalization period for febrile neutropenia was 9.8 ± 3.3 days (5-20). Chemotherapy could be given on scheduled time and dosage in 90% of the courses in which G-CSF was used for afebrile neutropenia. G-CSF was well tolerated. Bone pain was observed in two patients and urticaria in one patient. In conclusion, G-CSF increased the WBC count effectively, there were only two febrile episodes in 82 courses in children receiving G-CSF for afebrile neutropenia, it was well tolerated, and it was found to be feasible for use in a developing country.     

Hypozincaemia in febrile convulsion

To understand further the role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsions, serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg) and CSF Zn, Cu, Mg and protein levels were measured by spectrometry in patients with febrile convulsion (n=19), bacterial meningitis (n=9), viral CNS infection (n=16) and in the control groupn=10) which consisted of children with signs of meningeal irritation due to upper respiratory tract infection but normal CSF findings. Samples were obtained within 6 h after admission to hospital. Mean serum and CSF Zn levels in the febrile convulsion group were significantly lower than in the other groups (for serum Zn: 0.66±0.03 mg/l vs 0.98±0.07 mg/l, 1.06±0.08 mg/l, 1.05±0.09 mg/lP<0.05; for CSF Zn: 22.96±1.62 g/l vs 75.47 ±6.9 g/l, 50.32±5.235 g/l, 39.85 ±2.81 g/lP<0.05). A linear relationship was established between serum Zn and CSF Zn levels (P<0.001). Mean CSF Zn, Cu and protein levels in the bacterial meningitis group were significantly higher than in the other groups (for CSF Cu 63.94±6.33 g/l vs 38.77±2.70 g/l, 35.84±3.48 g/l, 33.86±2.88 g/lP<0.05; for CSF protein 0.80 ± 0.12 g/l vs 0.22±0.02 g/l, 0.53±0.08 g/l, 0.19±0.01 g/lP<0.05). In children with meningitis, the elevation of the mean CSF Zn and Cu levels may result from the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and subsequent leakage of trace elements and protein from serum to CSF. There was no significant difference between the four groups in terms of mean serum Mg and mean CSF Mg levels.Conclusion Serum and CSF Zn levels are decreased in children with febrile seizures. Zinc deprivation may play a role in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures.     

Germline mutations of the p53 gene in children with malignant solid tumors

Although somatic mutations of p53 are the most common genetic changes observed to date, the frequency of germline p53 mutations is found to be very low in sporadic malignant tumors. It has been postulated that de novo germline p53 mutations may occur in a substantial population of patients in pediatric age group, who die of their disease and do not propagate the mutation. To determine the frequency and type of p53 germline mutations in pediatric patients, we screened 65 children who were consecutively admitted with primary malignant solid tumors.     

Diagnostische Kriterien für die Borderline-Schizophrenie auf der Basis des SSDBS

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Studie benutzte den SSDBS, ein von Khouri et al. (1980) entwickeltes Untersuchungsinstrument zur Erfassung der Borderline-Schizophrenie. In einer Index-Gruppe heterogener Borderline-Syndrome und in 3 Kontrollgruppen mit Schizophrenien, Manien und endogenen Depressionen wurde die Zahl der Borderline-Schizophrenie-positiven Fälle nach dem SSDBS bestimmt. Auf dieser Basis fanden sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen der Borderline-Gruppe einerseits und den Manien und endogenen Depressionen andererseits, während sich zwischen unseren Borderline-Syndromen und den Schizophrenien keine signifikante Trennung ergab. Dies Resultat blieb auch nach einer diagnostischen Bereinigung aufgrund von Symptomen ersten Ranges bestehen. Das Forschungsproblem der Überlappung der SSDBS-Symptomatologie mit der Symptomatik bei den schizophrenen Patienten wird diskutiert, ebenso das Problem, daß bei Anwendung anderer Borderline-Konzepte eine Überlappung mit affektiven Störungen möglich ist.