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.     

Low-molecular-weight copolymers composed of L-lactic acid and various DL-hydroxy acids as biodegradable carriers

Biodegradable copolymers of L -lactic acid (L -LA) and DL -α-hydroxy acids with relatively low molecular weights, for example L -LA/DL -lactic acid (DL -LA), L -LA/DL -α-hydroxybutyric acid (DL -HBA), L -LA/DL -α-hydroxyisovaleric acid (DL -HIVA), and L -LA/DL -α-hydroxyisocaproic acid (DL -HICA), were synthesized by quantitative direct copolycondensation without catalysts at 200°C. The in vitro degradation, which was evaluated by measuring the weight loss of these copolymers in M/15 phosphate buffer solution (pH 7,2) without enzymes at 37°C, is strongly dependent on the kind and molecular weight of these copolymers, resulting in the formation of different degradation patterns such as parabola type (L -LA/DL -HBA system), linear type (L -LA/DL -LA system), and S type (L -LA/DL -HIVA and L -LA/DL -HICA systems).     

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.     

Neutrophil elastase inhibitor reduces hepatic metastases induced by ischaemia-reperfusion in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possibility in rats that ONO-5046 Na, a new recombinant inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, can reduce hepatic metastases induced by ischaemia-reperfusion. DESIGN: Laboratory experimental study. SETTING: Research laboratory, Japan. SUBJECTS: Male Fischer rats. INTERVENTIONS: Rats underwent 60 min of 70% partial hepatic ischaemia, after which rat colon adenocarcinoma cells (RCN-H4) were injected into the spleen. The animals were divided into two test groups and a control group. One group was given ONO-5046 Na intravenously at 10 mg/kg/hour. A second group was given a saline solution for the same period, while the controls were not made ischaemic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three weeks after inoculation, the number of tumour nodules on the liver surface was counted. The anti-cancer effect of ONO-5046 Na was measured by monotetrazolium assay. RESULTS: Hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion increased the number of liver metastases of RCN-H4 in both clamped and unclamped hepatic lobes. ONO-5046 Na significantly inhibited this in unclamped lobes, but had no anti-cancer effect. CONCLUSION: Neutrophil elastase may have an important role in increasing haematogenous liver metastases by ischaemia-reperfusion, particularly in unclamped lobes.     

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.