Asthma caused by cyanoacrylic glues

Cyanoacrylate-based glues have been reported as producing dermatitis and bronchial asthma. The paper describes the case of a patient occupationally exposed to Loctite 406, who developed irritation of the skin and mucosae of the face and late bronchial asthma. Preventive measures for subjects exposed to cyanoacrylic instant glues are discussed.     

Functional diagnosis of early arthroses of the extremities

Patient history and clinical examination are important for the diagnosis of degenerative joint disease. Here the typical statements of a patient suffering from early osteoarthritis are described and, as far as possible, explained. The joint in question must be systematically examined. Furthermore, the neighboring joints and soft-tissue structures, i.e., muscles, tendons etc., should be examined and evaluated with respect to their importance in hindering the functional chain. The neuroreflectory mechanisms involved herein are described.     

Head lice in Israeli children: parents' answers to an epidemiological questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine the influence of the socioeconomic status of the family and the hygienic practices in the home on the prevalence of head lice infestation in children. METHODS: The study was carried out by analyzing the answers to a standardized epidemiological questionnaire given to parents of school children aged 4-17 in Bet Shemesh, a medium-sized urban town 25 km from Jerusalem. RESULTS: Of 3,000 questionnaires distributed, 958 (31.9%) were completed and returned. The majority of the children (72.4%) had been previously infested with lice. Half of them had other family members, mainly brothers and sisters, who had been infested in the past with lice. In 97.5% of the families the mother was responsible for examining the children for lice, and for carrying out treatment when infestation was present. An association was found between presence of lice infestation and mother's education, age of child, and frequency of shampooing, combing, and examination for lice. There was no association between infestation rates and mother's country of origin, crowding in the home, and the sharing of combs, brushes, hats, scarves, towels, and clothes. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that the incidence of lice infestation depends on the hygienic practices in the home rather than on the socioeconomic status of the family or sharing of personal articles among family members.     

Regional effects of craniotomy on cerebral circulation and metabolism: PET study on the un-ruptured aneurysmal surgery

Regional effects of craniotomy on cerebral circulation and metabolism, such as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), regional cerebral oxygen consumption (rCMRO2), regional oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF), and regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) were examined by a PET (positron emission tomography) study concerning surgery that was performed on unruptured aneurysm patients. Eight patients with intracranial un-ruptured aneurysms were studied pre- and post-operatively by the 15O labelled-gas steady-state method, using HEADTOME-III. All patients underwent aneurysmal surgery performed by the transsylvian approach. There was a significant increase in the mean OEF values taken from the whole-brains of 8 patients, but there was not a significant change in CBF, CMRO2 or CBV. The increase in OEF was caused by decrease of O2 content, which was caused by post-operative decrease in the Hb value. So, this OEF increase was not the direct effect of craniotomy. In 2 patients, the rCBF and rCMRO2, in the fronto-temporal region (where craniotomy was performed) increased post-operatively. This regional effect suggests transient reactive hyperemia following compressive ischemia during the operative procedure, and metabolic demands for recovery of brain function. In 2 other patients, who had relatively low rCBFs during the pre-operative study, rCBF and rCMRO2 in the bi-frontal region had decreased more at the post-operative study. This change appears to have been caused by removal of cerebrospinal fluid and depression of the frontal lobe. From this study, it becomes evident that the regional effect of craniotomy on cerebral circulation and metabolism is not so great, when adequate microsurgical techniques are used.     

Pharmaceutical Marketing: Implications for Medical Residency Training

An educational intervention was developed to improve family practice residents' ability to obtain useful information from pharmaceutical representatives. The curriculum is based on the traditional one-on-one drug detail. The objectives are to develop residents' skills in controlling the interview, promote skills for critically analyzing drug-promotional material, and discuss ethical issues. The contents include an assessment tool, suggested readings, and interview questions with rationale. After 5 years, residents' confidence in all areas of the curriculum improved significantly.     

Power Doppler sonography enhances visualization of orbital vessels.

Our study was intended to determine whether power Doppler sonography can be considered superior to color Doppler technique in depiction of normal orbital vasculature. Ten healthy volunteers (20 eyes) were examined with a 10 MHz linear probe; each orbital vessel was recorded with both color and power Doppler methods; the images were reviewed independently by all the observers, who agreed that power Doppler clearly is superior to color Doppler technique for evaluation of the anatomy of orbital arteries and veins.     

Differential distribution of N-acetylaspartylglutamate and N-acetylaspartate immunoreactivities in rat forebrain

Summary Contradictory immunohistochemical data have been reported on the localization of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in the rat forebrain, using different carbodiimide fixation protocols and antibody purification methods. In one case, N-acetylaspartylglutamate immunoreactivity was observed in apparent interneurons throughout all allocortical and isocortical regions, suggesting possible colocalization with GABA. In another case, strong immunoreactivity was observed in numerous pyramidal cells in neocortex and hippocampus, suggesting colocalization with glutamate or aspartate. Reconciling these disparate findings is crucial to understanding the role of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in nervous system function. Antibodies to N-acetylaspartylglutamate and a structurally related molecule, N-acetylaspartate, were purified in stages, and their cross-reactivities with protein conjugates of N-acetylaspartylglutamate and N-acetylaspartate were monitored at each stage by solidphase immunoassay. Reduction of the cross-reactivity of the anti-N-acetylaspartylglutamate antibodies to N-acetylaspartateprotein conjugates to about 1% eliminated significant staining of most pyramidal neurons in the rat forebrain. Utilizing highly purified antibodies, the distributions of N-acetylaspartylglutamate and N-acetylaspartate were examined in several major telencephalic and diencephalic regions of the rat, and were found to be distinct. N-acetylaspartylglutamate-immunoreactivity was observed in specific neuronal populations, including many groups thought to use GABA as a neurotransmitter. Among these were the globus pallidus, ventral pallidum, entopeducular nucleus, thalamic reticular nucleus, and scattered non-pyramidal neurons in all layers of isocortex and allocortex. N-acetylaspartate-immunoreactivity was more broadly distributed than N-acetylaspartylglutamate-immunoreactivity in the rat forebrain, appearing strongest in many pyramidal neurons. Although N-acetylaspartate-immunoreactivity was found in most neurons, it exhibited a great range of intensities between different neuronal types.