Three-dimensional measurement of radiographic bone–implant contact lengths of zygomatic implants in zygomatic bone: a retrospective study of 66 implants in 28 patients

Zygomatic implant treatment is widely applied for severe maxillary atrophy to help rehabilitate the maxillary dentition. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the actual radiographic bone–implant contact (rBIC) lengths of zygomatic implants. The records of 28 patients who underwent zygomatic implant surgery and subsequent follow-up examinations between August 2013 and September 2018 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital were reviewed. The surgeries were performed by a single surgeon using the same treatment protocol. All patients had a computed tomography scan at 1 year after the surgery. Using three-dimensional imaging software, an investigator measured the rBIC lengths of 66 implants and documented their clinical status. The implant survival rate was 100%. The mean rBIC length was significantly longer in male patients than in female patients (20.80 ± 5.88 mm versus 17.79 ± 6.34 mm; P = 0.028). The mean rBIC length of double zygomatic implants was significantly longer when compared to that of single implants (21.11 ± 6.23 mm versus 17.75 ± 5.85 mm; P = 0.027). This article is novel in reporting the exact rBIC lengths of zygomatic implants in a clinical setting. The results showed that zygomatic implants are a viable treatment modality for full-mouth rehabilitation.     

New stand magnifiers do not meet rated levels of performance

A new range of stand magnifiers has been released by the COIL company in the United Kingdom. Examination of these magnifiers reveals that they fail to deliver the rated magnifications labelled prominently on the appliances, as a result of the manufacturer's conformance with the requirements of the German DIN standard and the use of back vertex power (F'_v) rather than equivalent dioptric power (F_m) of the magnifier. In this study we provide information on the optometric parameters of these new stand magnifiers that will assist the more accurate specification of improvements in vision expected from their use.     

von Hippel-Lindau disease affecting 43 members of a single kindred

We present a 6-generation kindred of over 221 members, 43 of whom were affected with von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease. Through a simple screening protocol, we diagnosed vHL retrospectively in 15 cases, and for the first time in 28, 11 of whom were presymptomatic. We found many complications of vHL in previously diagnosed relatives and in new cases. This study has demonstrated the utility and benefit of preventive surveillance in those known to have vHL, and of presymptomatic screening for affected relatives in families with vHL. The features of vHL were reviewed in our 43 cases and 511 cases from the medical literature. The patterns, frequencies, and ages of onset for each lesion were compared. Renal malignancies caused almost as much mortality in vHL as CNS malignancies. This family was exceptional for absence of pheochromocytoma and erythrocythemia, for more renal and pancreatic cysts and malignancies, and for slightly fewer eye or CNS lesions. Bilateral renal adenocarcinomata were found presymptomatically in five young subjects, who had bilateral nephrectomy and hemodialysis. Three survived long-term after renal transplants. Five relatives had pancreatic malignancies, which are definite although uncommon manifestations of vHL. Recommendations are made for family screening, which was economical and effective. Bayesian calculations help to predict risks for genetic counseling. The molecular basis of vHL may soon be found, since it has been linked to DNA markers on the short arm of chromosome 3.     

Prognostic significance of caspase-3 expression in primary resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

AIMS: The present study retrospectively examines the expression of caspase-3 in primary resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the correlation between the outcome of patients and the expression of proteins. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were used to analyse the expression of caspase-3 in 40 archival specimens of patients with primary resected ESCC. RESULTS: According to our cut-off point of the staining for caspase-3, 24 (60%) cases were positive and 16 (40%) negative. Caspase-3 expression correlated with a significant favorable prognosis in primary resected ESCC (P=0.02). A multivariate analysis of clinical and biological factors indicated that stage, tumor differentiation, and caspase-3 expression were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Caspase-3 expression might be a good and new prognostic indicator for primary resected ESCC.     

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: comparison of MR imaging with CT and I-131 MIBG scintigraphy

To ascertain the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas and to compare MR with computed tomography (CT) and iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-131 MIBG), 19 patients (18 with pheochromocytomas, one with a paraganglioma) were studied. The 18 patients with pheochromocytomas had had positive findings with I-131 MIBG scintigraphy. Abdominal pheochromocytomas were generally hypointense compared with normal liver on T1-weighted MR images and extremely hyperintense on T2-weighted MR images. MR imaging was preferable to CT in the evaluation of primary pheochromocytomas due to superior tissue characterization, particularly in the patient with hypertension and borderline catecholamine levels. For patients with recurrent or metastatic disease, the data suggest that I-131 MIBG scintigraphy is the examination of choice.