OVERHEATING IN BED AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN MANY COMMON DERMATOSES

Background. Extensive questioning of patients with a wide variety of skin disorders led to the impression that nocturnal overheating was probably an important factor in the initiation and the perpetuation of many skin disorders. Methods. In order to test the hypothesis, 12 “clean-skinned” subjects (6M/6F) aged 18 to 45 years were monitored electronically every 30 seconds during an 8 hour sleep period (2300 to 0700 hours), sleeping under a standard 10 tog duvet. Results. All the subjects were too hot by 3 to 4°C. All showed changes in their EEG patterns with reduced REM sleep, increased awakenings, and all showed changes in their sleep stage patterns. In addition, they all showed evidence of increased sweating in the “heat-sink” area. Conclusions. The mechanisms where by such changes could be implicated in the precipitation and perpetuation of skin disease are discussed. “Lifestyle” modification as a very effective, noninvasive, therapeutic regime is recommended. Further research along these lines would probably be very valuable and instructive.     

Aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus and interrupted aortic arch: A case report

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery -     

Choice of x-ray diagnostic methods in chronic odontogenic sinusitis

On the basis of our experiences the selection of diagnostic methods for chronic odontogenic sinusitis is discussed. The selection is based on the primary sign, the reduced transparency of the sinus, detected with conventional radiography. Its purpose is the determination of the extent and nature of the opacity. Conventional methods, contrast investigations, conventional and computed tomography are used.     

CT tomography of normal parotid and mandibular salivary glands

Computed tomography (CT) allows the differentiation of tissues by measurement of their roentgenologic densities. There are a few controversial literature data on the roentgenologic densities of the parotid and submandibular glands. These differences are, in our opinion, due to several factors: 1. The complex anatomic structure of the facial region of the skull, that demands an exact centering. In daily practice the respective imaging parameters are not always kept constant (including partial volume effects), thus introducing density errors. 2. Metallic prostheses and obturators as well as the high-density bones of the facial skull cause artefacts that impair image quality and density measurements. 3. The small density differences between the salivary glands and the adjacent soft tissues makes their differentiation difficult. 4. Different devices and parameters are used for scanning, resulting in different densities. Considering these facts, we have devised a complex method for the investigation of the parotid and mandibular salivary glands.     

Abrogation of adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity by selenium in rabbits.

Adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy in rabbits was produced by intravenous injections of the drug with a short therapeutic schedule (3 mg/kg body wt administered as four intermittent doses). Animals receiving selenium supplementation of Adriamycin showed preservation of the normal pattern of the heart histologic picture. The protective effect of selenium was accompanied by increased selenium levels in the plasma and the heart muscle. An eventual interaction between the antitumor effect of Adriamycin and the protective effect of selenium was ruled out by in vitro experiments using the L1210 cell line. Selenium did not abrogate the antiproliferative effect of Adriamycin when the cells were treated simultaneously with both agents. The results from this study indicate that Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity could be prevented by selenium if the animals were pretreated with selenium, rather than simultaneous administration of both agents. The mechanism of this effect is not entirely understood.