Ovarian carcinoma follow-up: US versus laparotomy

Ultrasound (US) was compared with surgical findings in 98 patients with carcinoma of the ovary undergoing follow-up laparotomy after chemotherapy. US had an overall accuracy of 94% in the pelvis, with only small and sheetlike lesions escaping detection. It was more sensitive than clinical examination. Overall accuracy for the liver was 91% with very few false-positive results. For the peritoneal cavity in general, however, accuracy was low, with even large masses escaping detection. Ascites is reliably detected (accuracy of 97%) but is a poor indicator of peritoneal involvement. US is a useful noninvasive complement to laparoscopy in the follow-up of patients with carcinoma of the ovary.     

Scanning electron microscpe study comparing the effecacy of endodontic irrigating systems

Summary. Thirty-five single rooted teeth were biomechanically instrumented with salaine, following' which they were subjected to different methods of irrigation. Four groups of teeth were irrigatied using and Endomate unit with NaOCl in combination with H₂O₂, or EDTA, or glutaraldehde or saline.
Two groups were irrigated with 5 per cent NaOCl in combination with ultrasound; one of them was further irrigated with 3 per cent H₂O₂ using the Endomate system.
The control group was irrigated with NaOCl and H₂O₂ using the conventional technique. The prepared root canals were examined for the presence of smear layer under SEM.
All groups irrigated with the ultrasonic technique and the group irrigated with the endomate system using EDTA solution showed significantly cleaner surfaces; the smear layer was also greatly reduced.     

Primary tumors of the foot: MR imaging

The findings at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of eight patients with primary tumors of the foot were compared with those at gross pathologic examination. In all cases, there was excellent correlation between the two studies. When compared with computed tomography (CT), MR imaging was superior in defining the presence and extent of local disease. While the appearances of various foot neoplasms are nonspecific, the ease of multiplanar imaging, the superior contrast resolution, and the sensitivity to marrow abnormalities are major advantages of MR imaging over CT in staging foot neoplasms. These advantages are crucial when foot-sparing curative resection of a malignancy is contemplated. The combination of plain radiography and MR imaging may be all that is necessary for optimal preoperative detection and local staging of tumors of the foot.     

Antegrade puncture of the femoral artery: morphologic study

To determine the optimal site for antegrade puncture of the femoral artery, the authors evaluated three cadaver specimens and computed tomographic (CT) scans of 50 patients. The relationships among the common femoral artery, the femoral artery bifurcation, the center of the femoral head, and the inguinal ligament were evaluated. CT showed that the center of the femoral head was always located caudal to the level of the inguinal ligament but cranial to the bifurcation of the common femoral artery. Therefore, the femoral head seems to provide a reliable landmark for entering the common femoral artery.     

Multicore myopathy with restrictive cardiomyopathy

A 10-y-old girl is presented who suffered mild muscular weakness and exercise intolerance from the age of 1 y onwards, with progression appearing from the age of about 8 y. Multicore myopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy were diagnosed. Literature concerning the coexistence of multicore myopathy and cardiomyopathy is reviewed.     

The effect of changes in dietary fat on the food group and nutrient intake of 4- to 10-year-old children

OBJECTIVE: To determine how young children changed their overall diet when they changed their fat intake after 3 months of participating in a nutrition education demonstration study designed to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. METHODS: Three 24-hour dietary recalls were collected from 303 4- to 10-year-old children at baseline and 3 months later. At both times, mean number of servings from food groups, grams of fat contributed from food groups, and intake of calories and nutrients were calculated and compared among quartiles of children formed according to change in their percent of calories from total fat after 3 months. RESULTS: Children who reduced their percent of calories from total fat most (ie, by an average of 8.5%) after 3 months consumed fewer servings from meats, eggs, dairy, fats/oils, and breads but tended to increase their number of servings from lower-fat foods within those food groups, particularly from dairy foods. These children also increased their mean intake of fruits, vegetables, and desserts, and maintained average intakes of all nutrients (except vitamin D) in excess of two thirds of the respective recommended dietary allowance. CONCLUSIONS: Young children who reduced their percent of calories from total fat in accordance with the current National Cholesterol Education Program recommendations accomplished this by reducing their overall intake of higher-fat foods, replacing higher-fat foods with lower-fat foods within several food groups, particularly within the dairy group (eg, drinking skim milk instead of whole milk) and by consuming more servings of fruits, vegetables, and very-low-fat desserts. These behaviors did not compromise their mean calorie or nutrient intakes, showing that it is possible for young children to lower their fat intake safely to reduce their risk of future heart disease.