A case of embryonal carcinoma arising in the basal ganglia of the cerebrum]

The occurrence sites of intracranial primary germ cell tumors are most often the pineal and suprasellar regions. The histological type observed most frequently in these tumors is germinoma. Cases of embryonal carcinoma arising in the basal ganglia are rarely reported. To our knowledge, only 4 such cases have been previously reported in the literature. A case of an embryonal carcinoma arising in the basal ganglia is reported. A 17-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital on July 30, 1988 because of headache and vomiting, and a right hemiparesis. On admission, physical inspection showed no abnormalities and neurological examination revealed obtunded consciousness, a right central facial paresis and a right hemiparesis with Hoffman and Babinski reflexes. Noncontrast CT scan showed a large mass of low-to slightly high-density in the region of the left basal ganglia accompanied with midline shift and ventricular dilatation. Enhancement of the lesion was made by contrast CT scan. It was not homogeneous. Cerebral angiogram displayed a contralateral shift and an unrolling of the anterior cerebral artery, a lateral stretch of middle cerebral artery, a downward stretch of anterior choroidal artery and a tumor stain fed by the Heubner artery. On August 3, left frontotemporal craniotomy was performed. The tumor was totally removed in a piecemeal manner using microsurgical techniques. Histopathological diagnosis was mixed-type of germ cell tumor comprising embryonal carcinoma and teratoma. Postoperative CT scan showed complete disappearance of the tumor. A course of radiation of 4950 rads and two courses of a combination chemotherapy with cis-platinum, vinblastine and bleomycin were given within 3 months after the operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Simultaneous assay of felbamate plus carbamazepine, phenytoin, and their metabolites by liquid chromatography with mobile phase optimization

Felbamate is an investigational antiepileptic drug (AED) in clinical trials. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous analysis of felbamate, phenytoin (PHT), 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, carbamazepine (CBZ), carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, and carbamazepine-10,11-diol in serum was developed by a mobile phase optimization technique. Capacity factors for the compounds of interest and 12 other AEDs and metabolites were determined with mixtures of methanol, acetonitrile, or tetrahydrofuran and a 0.01 M ammonium phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, on a reversed-phase C8 column. An optimized mobile phase composition was determined that could separate the compounds of interest and three internal standards in less than 15 min. Serum was extracted with CH2Cl2/ethyl acetate (2:1) after addition of three internal standards. The method was validated for within-day and between-day precision and accuracy for the six compounds. Coefficients of variation were generally less than 10% at all concentrations and less than 5% in the typical therapeutic range for each compound. The lower limit of detection was estimated at 0.2 micrograms/ml for CBZ and its metabolites and 0.5 micrograms/ml for felbamate and PHT. For felbamate, the lowest point on the standard curve was 1.88 micrograms/ml with a between-day variability of 10.3%. The assay was used to determine the serum concentrations of PHT and CBZ and its metabolites in a subject before, during, and after felbamate therapy.     

The Dk project: an interlaboratory comparison of Dk/L measurements

The oxygen transmissibilities (Dk/L) of a set of 48 contact lenses made from 8 different materials were measured by 4 laboratories. The L/Dk measurements from each laboratory were compared and correlated. Samples which were not masked with a fixed front surface aperture during measurement were corrected for edge effects. This paper shows that provided L/Dk is calculated for each lens using the same technique and Dk is derived using a graphical method of calculation, similar results can be obtained by all laboratories. However, the agreement was less good for materials of Dk greater than 70 x 10(-11) (cm2/s) (ml O2/ml x mm Hg).     

Illuminating Negative Results in Evaluation of Smoking Prevention Programs

Evaluation of program implementation can help illuminate negative results of school-based smoking prevention programs. In three conventional quasiexperimental evaluations, no statistically significant impacts of smoking prevention programs on children's knowledge, attitudes, intentions, or behavior were detected. Complementary evaluations of program implementation along several dimensions using naturalistic methods suggested reasons for null effects were different at each site. These data were used to form hypotheses and recommendations for future interventions.     

Use of ultraviolet irradiation of the blood in the complex treatment of peritonitis

According to the data of tetrasolium nitroblue test and titer of the blood serum antibodies to the most frequently cultured microflora in complex treatment of 27 patients with diffuse purulent peritonitis, it was established, that the use of ultraviolet irradiation of the blood stimulated the specific and non-specific organism resistance.     

Lateral shoulder graft for microsurgic plasty of hand and foot

The authors have thoroughly studied the versions of anatomic structure, peculiarities of blood circulation and innervation of lateral arm graft at 20 recent cadavers. The graft can be utilized in different modifications; cutaneofascial, subcutaneofascial, musculocutaneous, osteocutaneous. In the clinic were made 8 free microsurgic transplantations of lateral arm graft for plasty of tissues of different genesis in functionally important zones of hand and foot. In long-term post-operative period all patients demonstrated good functional and cosmetic results.     

Development of the arthroplasty method in coxarthrosis

On the basis of analysis of surgical treatment of 753 patients with coxarthrosis during 1970-1987, the authors set forth the stages of arthroplasty development in the USSR, using the experience of the Kharkov research institute of orthopaedics and traumatology named after M. I. Sitenko on the problems of arthrodesis operations, endoprosthetics and biological arthroplasty. In the article are presented the peculiar features of diagnostic and surgical tactics in case of patients with idiopathic and dysplastic coxarthrosis; operation technique for each form is presented in details. The authors have developed a new perosseous access to the hip joint, which made a good showing and permits to preserve the integrity of periarticular muscles and neurovascular formations. Application of the given access made possible the extension of indications for arthroplasty in case of grave forms of coxarthrosis, met earlier in a reserved manner.     

Morbidity among anaesthetists

Anaesthetists may be exposed to a number of occupational hazards. These include exposure to infections, environmental pollution with volatile anaesthetic agents and psychological and stress-related illness which may predispose to drug dependence or suicide.