Operative treatment of median cervical cysts

Median cervical cysts are congenital anomalies arising from remaining thyroglossal duct epithelium. A major problem in the surgical treatment of these cysts is the high frequency of recurrence. Embryonic considerations indicate an important causal role for the hyoid bone in these recurrences. We studied the relationship between operative techniques and the number of recurrences in 36 patients treated in our hospital. Fourteen patients sent from other hospitals had a recurrent fistula; in thirteen cases the hyoid bone was still in place. All patients who had the central part of the hyoid bone excised were cured. In 14 patients without adequate excisions of the hyoid bone we found four recurrences. To prevent recurrence a total excision of thyroglossal duct epithelium is necessary.     

The value of sonography in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with blunt renal trauma

Eighty-eight patients with blunt renal trauma were examined sonographically. Rupture of the kidney was diagnosed in 41 patients and contusion of the kidney in 45. The correlation between operative findings, sonography and urography showed positive sonographic findings to be correct in all patients with rupture of the kidney. In 4 patients with normal sonograms, the diagnosis of a contusion was based on the urographic results. Three patients underwent angiography. An intimal lesion was seen in 2 and a tear of the renal artery in 1. The results of our investigation suggest that sonography should be applied in the first place in the evaluation of blunt renal trauma. It is the investigation of choice during follow-up after surgical as well as conservative therapy.     

Significance of lung contusion in mortality following polytrauma. Possibilities for therapeutic influence

Multiple trauma is often associated with blunt thoracic injuries. Especially lung contusion can result in respiratory insufficiency and therefore a higher mortality rate. In our prospective study comparing 8 multiple trauma patients with and without associated lung contusion, we found that respiratory function was already significantly disturbed (decrease of paO2/FiO2 and increase of AaDO2, a rise in extravascular lung water (EVLW) both early after trauma and also with a second peak following the 4th day. This group (LK) developed significantly more cases of respiratory distress (ARDS). The disturbance of respiratory function seen initially was interpreted as a consequence of the direct mechanical impact, leading to the formation of interstitial fluid and hematoma. The frequent development of ARDS in the LK-group probably results from a pronounced activation of cellular and humoral mechanisms and therefore an enforced injury of the pulmonary capillary bed. A significant increase of pulmonary infections or the development of sepsis was not seen in the LK-group and is probably not responsible for the higher ARDS-rate in this group.     

Impaired Lymphocyte Proliferative Response to Mitogen in Alcoholic Patients. Absence of a Relation to Liver Disease Activity

Concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte proliferation was studied in 25 patients with alcoholic hepatitis or compensated alcoholic cirrhosis. Nine alcoholics without evidence of liver disease were also evaluated. A nonlinear correlation equation, which was natural logarithmic, was applied to individual dose-response proliferation curves and permitted comparisons between patient groups and controls. The proliferative response in all patient groups was significantly lower when compared to healthy controls and was independent of the presence or absence of liver disease. This suggests that some changes in immune function observed in alcoholics may be linked to the direct effects of alcohol on the immune system rather than to the associated liver disease.     

Tissue-specific regulation of pyroglutamate aminopeptidase II activity by thyroid hormones

Among the enzymes capable of degrading thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in vitro, two pyroglutamate aminopeptidases (PGA) are specific for TRH: thyroliberinase, a seric enzyme and PGAII, a membrane-bound peptidase. The effect of thyroid hormone status on the activity of these enzymes was evaluated in serum and various tissues. Only in adenohypophysis, triiodothyronine treatment increased PGAII to 376% of control; hypothyroidism produced the reverse effect (decrease to 23% of control). As previously reported, similar changes were observed for thyroliberinase. TRH degradation at the adenohypophysis level may participate in the negative feedback control of thyroid hormones.