Immunoblotting of streptococcal antigens in guttate psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis may be precipitated by acute streptococcal infection, usually of the upper respiratory tract. We have studied the immune response to streptococci in 26 patients presenting with a first or recurrent episode of acute guttate psoriasis (AGP), using immunoblotting. Eighteen of 26 patients studied had a demonstrable response to a wide range of streptococcal antigens using this approach, compared with 14 of 26 patients who demonstrated a response using more conventional anti-streptococcal antibody tests. Patients with AGP had a significantly higher antibody detection score using immunoblotting than did control subjects (P<0.005). We conclude that immunoblotting is a useful technique in studying this condition and may be of benefit in exploring the immunopathogene-sis of AGP.     

Effects of intracavernosal trazodone hydrochloride: animal and human studies

Trazodone hydrochloride is an oral antidepressant agent which has been associated with the improvement of erections in impotent men and the development of prolonged erections or priapism in potent men. An in vivo study in animal and human subjects was performed to gain experience with the effect of intracavernosal trazodone. In the anesthetized New Zealand White rabbit, intracavernosal trazodone or its major metabolite m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) produced full penile erection in 76% and 84% of animals studied respectively with doses ranging from one to 15 mg. On the other hand, intracavernosal administration of five mg. papaverine resulted in a prolonged erection in 90% of animals studied. In 13 selected volunteer patients, intracavernosal trazodone caused tumescence but not full penile erection with corporal body pressures of 28.2 +/- 5.8 mm. Hg. Intracavernosal papaverine or papaverine and phentolamine in these subjects resulted in significantly higher corporal body pressures of 58 +/- 18 mm. Hg (p less than .05). Intracavernosal administration of alpha adrenoceptor agonists but not normal saline resulted in complete detumescence of trazodone- or m-CPP-induced prolonged erection in the animal studies. Intracavernosal trazodone results in erectile activity that appears in part based on its local alpha blocking activity but like other intracavernosal alpha-blocking agents is not as effective in initiating penile erections as are intracavernosal agents that directly induce smooth muscle relaxation.     

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.     

Hydrocephalus in an achondroplastic child treated by venous decompression at the jugular foramen. Case report

A 10-month-old child with achondroplasia with progressive head enlargement, ventriculomegaly, and wide subarachnoid spaces over the hemispheres was referred for evaluation. A steady-state lumbar infusion test revealed increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow resistance (14 mm Hg/ml/min), and intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) demonstrated bilateral venous outflow obstruction due to stenosis of the jugular foramen. Surgical decompression by opening the right jugular foramen relieved the clinical signs of intracranial hypertension. During the following year, the patient's head enlargement was moderate with relative normalization of size. Repeat DSA demonstrated improved venous runoff on the right side, and a steady-state lumbar infusion test demonstrated reduced CSF outflow resistance (10 mm Hg/ml/min). Venous decompression is causal therapy and may prove to be preferable to shunting in children with hydrocephalus and bilateral stenosis of the jugular foramen.     

Biocompatibility of zirconia dispersed hydroxyapatite ceramics

Because of the lack of adequate strength and toughness, hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic can not be used for a substitute for a bone and joint despite its excellent affinity for the bone. The present authors have succeeded in producing a new type of HA ceramic containing zirconia. This new ceramic material is superior to ordinary HA ceramic in quality and exceeds compact bone in bending strength and fracture toughness. The Young's modulus was about 3-4 times greater than that of compact bone. The new ceramic material contained either 1.6 or 50% of zirconia by volume and was produced using a special technique to disperse the metal dioxide. In order to assess their affinity for the bone, the new ceramic materials were implanted into rabbit femurs. Sections of the bones removed at different times after operation were prepared without decalcification and subjected to optical microscopy, scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM), and electron-probe X-ray microanalyser (EPMA). The formation of direct chemical bonds with the bone was seen without intervening membrane. Thus, the new ceramic material was shown to have an excellent affinity for the bone, comparable to that of ordinary HA ceramic.     

A surgical case of aortic regurgitation with Beh?et disease

A case of Beh?et disease associated with aortic valve regurgitation treated with aortic valve replacement is reported. The patient was treated successfully with special surgical techniques for prevention of post operative paravalvular leakage and occurrence of pseudo aneurysm because the patient was under long-term steroid therapy for Beh?et disease.