Severe but temporary injury to rabbit orbicularis oculi muscle using dihematoporphyrin ether and laser photochemomyectomy.

The use of local dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) injections, followed by laser light activation, was investigated as a potential permanent myectomy treatment for muscle spasms, in particular blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. DHE was injected into the eyelids of rabbits, followed by laser activation, as used in photochemotherapy. Four days after treatment, histological examination indicated that doses of greater than or equal to 0.5 mg of DHE and laser treatment with an energy density of at least 100 J/cm2 resulted in an almost total destruction of the orbicularis oculi muscle in the treated eyelid. The amount of muscle injury was dependent on both dose of DHE and energy density levels. Histologically, the tarsal glands and conjunctiva were damaged. Glandular tissue was markedly reduced, and the conjunctival epithelium showed hyperplasia and a loss of mucous cells. Six months after DHE and laser treatment, the majority of the muscle tissue had regenerated, although there was evidence of previous injury. While DHE injections combined with laser light activation were lethal to muscle at the site of treatment, this treatment was not permanent. The orbicularis oculi muscle retained its ability to regenerate. However, photochemomyectomy may be studied further as an adjuvant treatment to temporarily injure and debulk large muscles when botulinum toxin is contraindicated due to the large doses involved or as a permanent treatment when used together with an antimitotic agent such as doxorubicin.     

One-year results: palatal implants for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term effectiveness of palatal implants for treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 26 referred patients with a pretreatment apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 10 to 30 and a body mass index of < or =30, representing an extended follow-up of a subset of 41 patients enrolled in previous short-term trials. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 26 patients (80.8%) experienced a decrease in AHI. Fifteen of 26 patients (57.7%) had a follow-up AHI <10 at 1 year, whereas 13 patients (50%) had a 50% or greater reduction to an AHI <10 at 1 year. Mean AHI was reduced from 16.5 +/- 4.5 at baseline to 12.5 +/- 10.5 at 3 months (P < 0.014) and to 12.3 +/- 12.7 at 1 year (P < 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Patients initially responding to palatal implants with improved AHI maintained improvement through long-term follow-up at 1 year.     

No germline TP53 mutations detected in familial and bilateral testicular cancer

Mutations in the TP53 gene are considered to be among the most common genetic alterations in human cancers. Both somatic and germline mutations have been found. Using potymerase chain reaction (PCR), constant denaturant gel electrophoresis (CDGE), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), we have examined 32 patients with bilateral and familial germ cell tumors (GCT) and two patients with sporadic GCT for germline mutations within the conserved regions of the gene. In addition, 15 tumors were screened for somatic mutations and analyzed for loss of heterozygocity (LOH) at the TP53 locus. Twelve tumors were analyzed for expression of TP53 via immunohistochemistry. Neither germline nor somatic TP53 mutations were deteeted. LOH was observed in one of five informative cases. No tumors showed increased expression of TP53 protein. These results indicate that alterations in the TP53 gene are not important for the predisposition to and development of GCT. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cellular morphometric changes in cat hearts subjected to three hours of regional ischaemia

Summary We have studied the histogenesis of malignant lymphoma (ML), small cleaved cell of the B-cell type and intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma (mantle zone lymphoma) by comparing immunophenotypes and ALP-activity of neoplastic cells with those of germinal center cells (follicular center cells) anti mantle zone (MZ) cells of secondary follicles in non-neoplastic lymphoid tissues. The neoplastic cells in 3 cases of ML, follicular, small cleaved cell and 1 case of ML, small cleaved cell expressed the phenotypes similar to those of germinal center (GC) B lymphocytes (SIgM⁺, B1⁺, B2⁺, CALLA⁺, SigD^–, IL-2R^–, Leu-1^– and ALP^–). The neoplastic cells in 2 cases of ML, follicular, small cleaved cell and 12 cases of ML, diffuse, small cleaved cell displayed the characteristic phenotypes of MZ B lymphocytes (SIgM⁺, SIgD⁺, BA-1⁺, IL-2R⁺, Leu-1⁺ and ALP⁺). The phenotypes of 2 cases of mantle zone lymphoma were closely comparable with those of MZ B lymphocytes. These findings indicate that the histogenesis of ML, small cleaved cell of the B-cell type is heterogeneous and can be divided phenotypically into 2 types (GC B lymphocyte origin and MZ B lymphocyte origin). It is also apparent that intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma (mantle zone lymphoma) is derived from MZ B lymphocytes of secondary follicles.This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research From the Ministry of Health and Welfare (NO. 61-2)     

Comparison of the three-level and the five-level versions of the EQ-5D

The European Journal of Health Economics - EQ-5D is a generic instrument to measure health-related quality of life. In 2009, a new version, EQ-5D-5L, was introduced as an attempt to reduce ceiling...     

A Misinterpreted Case of Aorta Prosthesis Endocarditis: Remember The Phenomenon of Microbubbles

A 17‐year‐old male with a history of newly implanted mechanical valve at the aortic position, presented with fever, rigors, and painful cutaneous abscesses on his lower extremities and was suspected for infective endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a vegetation‐like structure following the movement of the mechanical heart valve (MHV), which eventually proved to be a product of degassing microbubbles (MB).     

Impact of transducer frequency setting on speckle tracking measures

Speckle tracking echocardiography is an emerging technique, which is currently being included in clinical guidelines. We sought to investigate the impact of transducer frequency settings on speckle tracking derived measures. The study comprised of 22 subjects prospectively enrolled for a randomized controlled trial (LOOP-study, Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT02036450). Patients were above 70 years of age with increased risk of stroke, and had an echocardiogram performed, which included focused images of the left ventricle. Focused images were obtained with the transducer frequency set at both 1.7/3.3 and 1.5/3.0 MHz. The images were obtained immediately after each other at the exact same position for the two settings. Speckle tracking was performed in three apical projections, allowing for acquisition of layered global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate measures. Concordance between the frequency settings was tested for endo-, mid-, and epicardial GLS and strain rates by coefficients of variation, bias coefficients and visually displayed by Bland–Altman plots. Bland–Altman plots did not reveal any significant over- or underestimation of any speckle tracking measure. Bias coefficients showed that none of the measurements differed significantly between the two settings (bias for GLS_endo?=???0.07?±?2.94, p?=?0.91; GLS_mid?=?0.02?±?2.70, p?=?0.98, GLS_epi?=?0.07?±?2.53, p?=?0.90). Coefficients of variation were as follows: GLS_endo?=?15.11%, GLS_mid?=?15.28%, GLS_epi?=?17.26%, systolic strain rate?=?15.66%, early diastolic strain rate?=?38.46%, late diastolic strain rate?=?11%. Changing between transducer frequency settings does not systematically derange speckle tracking measures. One can safely reduce the transducer frequency without compromising the validity of speckle tracking derived measures.     

Gastric mucosa lesions induced by duodenogastric reflux increase penetration of N-[3H]-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine into corpus mucosa of rats

The mucosal changes by which duodenogastric reflux may predispose to gastric cancer have not been fully clarified. In this study in rats, duodenal fluid was directed into the stomach through a gastroenterostomy (jejunal reflux, N = 29) or through the pylorus (pyloric reflux, N = 30) and compared with 30 controls. Twenty-four weeks later the stomach was exposed to N-[³H]methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine ([³H]MNNG). The corpus mucosa was examined for proliferating cells (bromodeoxyuridine labeled) and cells at risk of methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced carcinogenesis (cells labeled with bromodeoxyuridine and [³H]MNNG). The number of double-labeled cells increased from 0.8 ± 0.1/mm mucosa in the control group to 5.2 ± 0.9 in the jejunal reflux group (P < 0.05) and 2.7 ± 0.5 in the pyloric reflux group (P < 0.05). An erosion or ulcer appeared at the gastroenterostomy in 52% of animals with jejunal reflux and 17% of those with pyloric reflux (P < 0.006). Within erosions the mean number of double-labeled cells was 9.6 ± 2.2 in the jejunal reflux group and 7.7 ± 4.8 in the pyloric reflux group, and significantly higher than in the nonlesion area of the mucosa (0.6 ± 0.2 and 0.8 ± 0.3). In erosions the distance between the gastric lumen and the proliferating cells was significantly shorter and the cell proliferation significantly higher than in the nonlesion area of the mucosa. We conclude that duodenogastric reflux increases the penetration of [³H]MNNG into the corpus mucosa of rats and also induces mucosa lesions, which further increase the penetration of [³H]MNNG into the corpus mucosa.     

Comparison of the centrifugal and roller pump in elective coronary artery bypass surgery—a prospective,randomized study with special emphasis upon platelet activation

Objective—Evaluation of the centrifugal pump vs roller pump concerning effects upon platelet function, hemolysis and clinical outcome in elective coronary artery bypass surgery.

Design—Thirty‐four patients were randomized to centrifugal or roller pump. Platelet activation was studied by flow cytometry before, during and up to 3 days after bypass.

Results—Duration of bypass, ischemic period, peripheral anastomoses, hospital stay and mortality did not differ. In roller pump patients, platelet aggregates increased by 250% between end of bypass and 3?h postoperatively (p?<?0.001). A secondary, fivefold increase in number of platelet aggregates was found on the 3rd postoperative day (p?<?0.001). In the centrifugal pump group, these changes were not significant. Hemolysis increased (20%) at end of bypass and 3?h postoperatively (p?<?0.005), and decreased to preoperative levels the next day without group difference.

Conclusion—Platelet aggregation was significantly increased in roller compared with centrifugal pump patients, indicating higher susceptibility to postoperative thrombotic complications with the roller pump. Otherwise, there was no clinical evidence for superiority of the centrifugal pump.