Diagnostic and therapeutic problems of myxomas (myxofibromas) of the jaws.

During the period from 1969 to 1977 11 cases of myxoma or myxofibroma in the jaw region have been treated at the Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of the University of Mainz. Various kinds of diagnostic problems are discussed. We observed, inter alia, rapid tumour growth and a imitative dynamics in the radiographs, giving rise to a suspicion of malignancy in some cases. The locally infiltrative type of growth of myxomas must be taken into account during therapy, since insufficiently radical management is liable to be followed by a recurrence.     

Nerve injury in fractures of the condylar neck.

Although fractures of the condylar neck belong to the most frequent injuries of the jaws, and various nerves are found in close proximity to the temporomandibular joints, only little mention is made in the literature of neurological complications arising from accidents. We have therefore carried out a prospective study on nerve injuries in 237 fractures of the articular process in the period 1971-1975. We found two cases of post-traumatic Frey's syndrome, whereby the syndrome developed from a post-traumatic auriculotemporal neuralgia. We also found loss of function of auriculotemporal buccal and facial nerves, and loss of taste sensation of the tongue in another case, caused by damage to the chorda tympani. This paper discusses the formal and causal origin of the individual damages, and suggests possibilities for their management.     

Psychological studies of sterile couples within the scope of an in vitro fertilization program

The results of a psychological individual and process diagnostic programme at sterility patients undergoing an in-vitro-fertilization and embryo transfer are demonstrated. The women showed an optimistic emotional disposition and negation of conflict or trouble experience during their stay in the hospital. From the day of laparoscopy till embryo transfer a short labilization sets in, i.e. a slight deterioration of the emotional disposition as an expression of a phase of stress compensation. Questions of motivation, partner constellation and special personality characteristics are discussed.     

Health care models and the building of nursing knowledge and practice

This is a reflective paper focused on the origins and main characteristics of the epidemiological and clinical models, their connections with the health care models currently adopted in Brazil, and the construction of Nursing knowledge in this context. From this perspective, the authors propose a re-thinking of Nursing knowledge and practice, pointing out possibilities for expanding the Nursing field, as well as the boundaries and challenges to be overcome by the area professionals.     

Maximal respiratory pressures in healthy boys who practice swimming or indoor soccer and in healthy sedentary boys

The purpose of this study was to investigate respiratory muscle strength in boys who practice swimming or indoor soccer and in their sedentary counterparts. Seventy-five 7- and 8-year-old boys were included; 25 were swimmers (group 1), 25 played indoor soccer (group 2), and 25 were sedentary (group 3). All subjects underwent anthropometric evaluation. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured by manometry. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA and the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test (significance level: p??0.05 by Tukey-Kramer). Mean maximal expiratory pressures in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 108.17?±?9.90, 92.32 ±11.67, and 91.33 ±15.17?cm H(2)O, respectively (p??0.05 by Tukey-Kramer). Swimmers showed better maximal respiratory pressures than indoor soccer players and sedentary subjects. No significant difference was observed between the results for soccer players and sedentary subjects.     

First CoMFA characterization of vesamicol analogs as ligands for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter

Vesamicol derivatives are promising candidates as ligands for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) to enable in vivo imaging of cholinergic deficiencies if applied as positron emission tomography radiotracers. So far, optimization of the binding affinity of vesamicol-type ligands was hampered by the lack of respective quantitative structure-activity relationships. We developed the first quantitative model to predict, from molecular structure, the binding affinity of vesamicol-type ligands toward VAChT employing comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) for a set of 37 ligands, covering three different structural types (4-phenylpiperidine, spiro, and tropan derivatives of vesamicol). The prediction capability was assessed by leave-one-out cross-validation (LOO) and through leaving out and predicting 50% of the compounds selected such that both the training and the prediction sets cover almost the whole range of experimental data. The statistics indicate a significant prediction power of the models ( q (2) (LOO) = 0.66, q (2) (50% out) = 0.59-0.74). The discussion includes detailed analyses of CoMFA regions critical for ligand-VAChT binding, identifying structural implications for high binding affinity.     

Proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma - Case report

Epithelioid sarcoma, first described by Enzinger in 1970, is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma typically presenting as a subcutaneous or deep dermal mass in distal portions of the extremities of adolescents and young adults. In 1997, Guillou et al. described a different type of epithelioid sarcoma, called proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma, which is found mostly in the pelvic and perineal regions and genital tracts of young to middle-aged adults. It is characterized by a proliferation of epithelioid-like cells with rhabdoid features and the absence of a granuloma-like pattern. In this paper we present a case of proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma with an aggressive clinical course, including distant metastasis and death nine months after diagnosis.     

Gastric acid inhibitory profile of saviprazole (HOE 731) compared to omeprazole.

Saviprazole (HOE 731), a substituted thienoimidazole, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of gastric acid secretion in dogs and rats with ID50 values which were not significantly different from that of omeprazole indicating that both compounds are equally effective. The duration of action in dogs lasted for more than 24 h and was dependent on the state of stimulation. Measurement of serum concentrations of 1 mg/kg saviprazole after intravenous or intraduodenal administration revealed a bioavailability of about 60% in dogs. The elimination half-life was about 30 min following both routes of administration. In rats basal acid secretion was inhibited by saviprazole. In addition stimulation of acid secretion by histamine, desglugastrin, carbachol and isobutylmethylxanthine-forskolin was equally inhibited. This was in agreement with the known mechanism of action, inhibition of the gastric proton pump which is the last step of acid secretion within the parietal cell. Surprisingly, at high dose levels, saviprazole differed from omeprazole. After saviprazole, 1 mg/kg i.v. to dogs, acid output dropped to zero but recovered within 30 min to a level of 90%, whereas omeprazole depressed acid output completely over the whole observation period (4.5 h). Similar results were obtained in pylorus-ligated rats.     

PET imaging evaluation of [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]DBT-10, a novel radioligand specific to α<Subscript>7</Subscript> nicotinic acetylcholine receptors,in nonhuman primates

Purpose

Positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands specific to α₇ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) afford in vivo imaging of this receptor for neuropathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. This work aims to characterize the kinetic properties of an α₇-nAChR-specific radioligand, 7-(1,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonan-4-yl)-2-[¹⁸F]-fluorodibenzo[b,d]thiophene 5,5-dioxide ([¹⁸F]DBT-10), in nonhuman primates.

Methods

[¹⁸F]DBT-10 was produced via nucleophilic substitution of the nitro-precursor. Four Macaca mulatta subjects were imaged with [¹⁸F]DBT-10 PET, with measurement of [¹⁸F]DBT-10 parent concentrations and metabolism in arterial plasma. Baseline PET scans were acquired for all subjects. Following one scan, ex vivo analysis of brain tissue was performed to inspect for radiolabeled metabolites in brain. Three blocking scans with 0.69 and 1.24 mg/kg of the α₇-nAChR-specific ligand ASEM were also acquired to assess dose-dependent blockade of [¹⁸F]DBT-10 binding. Kinetic analysis of PET data was performed using the metabolite-corrected input function to calculate the parent fraction corrected total distribution volume (V _T/f _P).

Results

[¹⁸F]DBT-10 was produced within 90 min at high specific activities of 428?±?436 GBq/μmol at end of synthesis. Metabolism of [¹⁸F]DBT-10 varied across subjects, stabilizing by 120 min post-injection at parent fractions of 15–55 %. Uptake of [¹⁸F]DBT-10 in brain occurred rapidly, reaching peak standardized uptake values (SUVs) of 2.9–3.7 within 30 min. The plasma-free fraction was 18.8?±?3.4 %. No evidence for radiolabeled [¹⁸F]DBT-10 metabolites was found in ex vivo brain tissue samples. Kinetic analysis of PET data was best described by the two-tissue compartment model. Estimated V _T/f _P values were 193–376 ml/cm³ across regions, with regional rank order of thalamus?>?frontal cortex?>?striatum?>?hippocampus?>?occipital cortex?>?cerebellum?>?pons. Dose-dependent blockade of [¹⁸F]DBT-10 binding by structural analog ASEM was observed throughout the brain, and occupancy plots yielded a V _ND/f _P estimate of 20?±?16 ml/cm³.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate suitable kinetic properties of [¹⁸F]DBT-10 for in vivo quantification of α₇-nAChR binding in nonhuman primates.