Clinical Application and Histological Examination of the FAMI Screw for Skeletal Anchorage—a Pilot Study*

Maximum anchorage often presents a problem that is difficult to solve during orthodontic tooth movement. Stationary, skeletal anchorage can be achieved in a simple, minimally-invasive manner, and unwanted tooth movements in opposite directions can be prevented by using transmucosally-inserted bone screws.Our initial experience using the FAMI screw as an orthodontic micro-implant proved to be clinically and histologically successful.     

Ultraschall in der Tumornachsorge

According to the guidelines, ultrasonography (US) is now established as the cross-sectional imaging technique of choice in postoperative care of colorectal carcinoma. Although conventional percutaneous US is inferior to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting hepatic metastases, the application of specific contrast media has significantly increased sensitivity and specificity to 87% and 88%, respectively. The combination of US and CT/MRI achieves the highest detection rates. During follow-up of rectal carcinoma, in up to 20% of locoregional recurrences are diagnosed solely by endorectal sonography and result in repeat resection with curative intention. In noncolorectal carcinoma, US is recommended in the guidelines for following up hepatocellular carcinoma and malignant thyroid disease, but the available data are insufficient to support those recommendations.     

Complications of orthodontic-orthognathic surgery treatment in mentally handicapped patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse possible intra- and postoperative complications and long-term results in combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment of mentally handicapped patients compared with a control group of patients without handicap. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 20 mentally handicapped patients (male = 7, female = 13) and of 102 non-handicapped patients (male = 36, female = 66) were evaluated retrospectively. The results of the two point-discrimination sensory test and the cephalometric findings of both groups were assessed. Complications during and after the operation, the results of nerve function tests and relapse rates were reported. The statistical analysis was carried out using binary logistical regression analysis with adjustment according to the diagnosis and the type of operation (p < 0.05) RESULTS: No significant differences could be found between the mentally handicapped and the non-handicapped patients. Only the nerve function test immediately postoperatively revealed differences between the two patient groups. The relapse rate in mentally handicapped patients was similar to non-handicapped patients. Forty-seven months after the operation, relapse (change in the ANB angle of more than 0.5 degrees ) was observed in four patients only (handicapped patients). CONCLUSION: Orthognathic surgical procedures in mentally handicapped patients can be carried out with a similarly high success rate as in mentally healthy patients.     

Echocardiography findings before and following beta-irradiation (106Ru/106Rh) of choroid melanoma

Echographic follow-up examinations were performed in 72 patients in whom a choroidal melanoma was treated with (106Ru/106Rh) applicators. The observation period was between 6 and 15 months. Echographic measurement of tumor prominence and assessment of the degree of reflection proved to be important indicators for judging the success of beta radiation therapy. If the prominence diminishes and the degree of reflection increases after treatment, regression of the tumor may safely be assumed to have occurred. Apart from an increase in the prominence of the tumor, a constantly low or even falling level of reflection are signs of a less favorable prognosis.     

Recent developments in molecular action of antihormones

 Antihormones are by definition antagonists of steroid hormone action. They interact with the ligand binding domains of steroid hormone receptors and competitively inhibit the action of the receptors by mechanisms that are not quite understood. In certain cases antihormones also exhibit agonistic activity especially in connection with certain naturally occurring receptor mutants. These observations together with findings of indiscriminate interaction of antihormones with several classes of steroid receptors have necessitated a search of more effective and reliable antihormones. Recent advances in the resolution of the crystal structure of the ligand binding domains of certain members of the steroid receptor family and identification of non-liganded activation of steroid receptors have produced considerable information that can be harnessed into a fruitful search for a new generation of antihormones. Received: 19 June 1997 / Accepted: 10 October 1997     

Isolation of a new clathrin heavy chain gene with muscle-specific expression from the region commonly deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) and DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) are developmental disorders characterized by a spectrum of phenotypes including velopharyngeal insufficiency, conotruncal heart defects and facial dysmorphology among others. Eighty to eighty-five percent of VCFS/DGS patients are hemizygous for a portion of chromosome 22. It is likely that the genes encoded by this region play a role in the etiology of the phenotypes associated with the disorders. Using a cDNA selection protocol, we isolated a novel clathrin heavy chain cDNA (CLTD) from the VCFS/DGS minimally deleted interval. The cDNA encodes a protein of 1638 amino acids. CLTD shares significant homology, but is not identical to the ubiquitously expressed clathrin heavy chain gene. The CLTD gene also shows a unique pattern of expression, having its maximal level of expression in skeletal muscle. Velopharyngeal insufficiency and muscle weakness are common features of VCFS patients. Based on the location and expression pattern of CLTD, we suggest hemizygosity at this locus may play a role in the etiology of one of the VCFS-associated phenotypes.