Cryosurgical treatment of gingival melanin pigmentation with tetrafluoroethane.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane (TFE), as a new material for cryosurgery of gingival melanin pigmentation (GMP). STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-one patients with GMP were treated using a TFE-cooled cotton swab. Standard digital images of pigmented areas were measured preoperatively and postoperatively with image-analyzing software. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Keratinization was completed 3 to 4 weeks after application, without any trace of pigmentation. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative measurements of pigmented areas (P < .05). During the follow-up period, no side effects were observed and improved esthetics were maintained up to month 30. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes of cryosurgery with TFE for treatment of GMP are very satisfactory. The use of TFE for cryosurgical treatment of GMP is practical and inexpensive. Moreover, unlike other cryosurgery methods no special equipment is required, and it is safe to store in the dental clinic.     

The use of microfluorometry to study DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinomas: a possible prognostic tool?

A microfluorometric method was used to determine the nuclear DNA content in the nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) of 25 patients treated before 1983. Eleven patients are still alive with no evidence of disease (NED), while the rest died of their disease (DOD). All of the patients received a cycle of radiotherapy, while some also received chemotherapy or neck dissections. The neoplastic cells studied were taken from the original biopsy blocks, deparaffinized, isolated by enzymatic treatment and mechanical fragmentation, and then Feulgen-stained. The cytofluorometric measurement was carried out by a microphotometer equipped for fluorescence excitation and connected to a computer. This method allowed us to construct a histogram of the DNA content in the neoplastic cells. Different neoplastic classes were identified and represent the heteroclonality of the tumor, which can be expressed by the heteroclonality index (HCT). From the collected data it appears that the NED patients all had a low HTC (less than 1) and only 7 of the DOD patients had low HTCs (less than 1). Six of the DOD patients with a low HTC were in advanced stages of their tumor at the time of diagnosis, while the remaining patient did not complete his treatment. Our results show that the DNA analysis of the NPC cell population may offer a useful tool in predicting the biological behavior of this tumor and also improving its treatment.     

Antiaggregatory and anticoagulant effects of oligoamines. 7. Benzene-1,3,5-trialkaneamines

Platelet Aggregation Inhibiting and Anticoagulant Effects of Oligoamines, VII: Benzene-1,3,5-trialkanamines Seventeen title compounds were synthesized. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen in vitro is inhibited by 9 of them at IC₅₀ = 2–4 μmol/L. Seven compounds depress the formation of fibrin to ≦ 25 % of normal in concentrations below 50 μmol/L. Compound 15 [4-(2-thienylbutyl)benzene-1,3,5-trimethanamine is the first oligoamine which shows anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects at the same concentration (25 μmol/L).     

Diamine oxidase as a marker of intestinal integrity in acute appendicitis

In the operative treatment of appendicitis the so called negative appendectomy is an important issue because of its increased morbidity. From the hypothesis that the intestinal diamine oxidase activity is a suitable marker of mucosal integrity, the distribution pattern of the enzyme in appendices histologically classified as inflamed or not inflamed was studied. Histologically apparent inflammation of the appendix was connected with a significant reduction of diamine oxidase activity. The determination of this enzymic activity may be a simple and sensitive test for mucosal inflammation of the appendix even at a very early state. This could reduce the rate of negative appendectomies and influence thereby risk-cost-benefit calculations.     

Hospital periodontal surgery.

Phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth is a recognized side effect in many cerebral palsy patients using diphenyl hydantoin for the control of seizures. Severe gingival overgrowth in these patients can affect normal masticatory function, lead to poor occlusal development, and compromise esthetics. This report addresses the complex nature of treating phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth in a mentally retarded 20-year-old female patient. For this patient, full-mouth gingivectomy procedure was performed under general anesthesia in a single session. Post operative follow-up was uneventful. This article discusses major indications, contraindications, and protocols to be followed for periodontal surgical procedures done under general anesthesia.     

Sonographische Messung der Fruchtwassermenge

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Sensitivity and specificity of a new commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay kit for detecting Entamoeba histolyticaIgG antibodies in serum samples

The study presented here was conducted to evaluate the performance of the newly available RIDASCREEN Set (R-Biopharm AG, Darmstadt, Germany) for the detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies against Entamoeba histolytica. The sensitivity and specificity of this new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were evaluated using a panel of sera from 239 individuals. The assay was positive for 43 of 44 patients with invasive amebiasis, including all 18 patients with amebic liver abscess, while it was negative for 190 of 195 adult controls who were either healthy individuals or patients with other parasitic diseases. The kit was found to be highly specific (97.4%) and sensitive (97.7%) for detecting antibodies against E. histolytica in humans. Although antibody titers in patients with amebic liver abscess tend to be higher on average than in patients with invasive amebiasis, it is not possible to distinguish the two forms solely based on the results of this commercial test.     

Anticerebellar antibodies--anti-Hu and anti-Yo--in the diagnosis of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes]

The detection of antineuronal antibodies against cytoplasm and nuclei of Purkinje cells is considered to be an essential factor in the diagnosis of neurologic paraneoplastic syndromes. Published data rely on different immunological methods and relatively small numbers of patients. The clinical relevance of this phenomenon is not clear from the literature. A positive correlation between antibody detection and the appearance of neurologic paraneoplastic syndromes has been reported, but this finding has been questioned in critical reviews.     

Mobile intraventricular cyst of the third ventricle treated with stereotactic puncture. Report of a case

A case of a pedunculated arachnoid cyst within the third ventricle is presented. The cyst was small so as not to appear as a significant expanding lesion on CT. The clinical history, however, suggested intermittent increase of the intracranial pressure. On CT there was some widening of the lateral and third ventricles, while the fourth ventricle had normal width. This finding in combination with the clinical history prompted further neuroradiologic examinations, including pneumoencephalography and ventriculography. The presence of a pedunculated mobile cystic lesion within the third ventricle was shown and its nature further elucidated by stereotactic puncture combined with contrast injection into the cyst. After emptying of the cyst, the patient has been free of symptoms during an observation time of 2 years. The diagnostic and differential diagnostic aspects are discussed and the value of traditional neuroradiologic methods emphasized.