Dermatoglyphics and creases in patients with neurofibromatosis von Recklinghausen

Fingerprint and palmar dermatoglyphics and creases were investigated in 60 patients (20 males and 40 females) with generalized neurofibromatosis. Like previous investigators, we found a significantly increased frequency of digital central pocket patterns. Furthermore, affected males and females had an increased frequency of monocentric whorls (P = 0.0037), higher quantitative values on digit II of both hands (P = 0.04), more often a reduction of main line C (P less than 0.05) with decreased frequencies of patterns in the 3rd and 4th interdigital area of the left hand (P less than 0.05), and a lower ab ridge count (males P less than 0.005; females P less than 0.001) than control individuals. On the right hand of males the frequency of high endings (5' or 5') of line A was decreased (P less than 0.05). A significantly increased frequency of Sfl (Sydney line) was found in female patients (P less than 0.001). Male and female patients often showed a high number of secondary creases (P less than 0.001).     

Deciphering the molecular effects of non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment in an in vitro model of the non-keratinized mucous membrane

Lasers in Medical Science -     

Postoperative cardiac arrhythmias (author's transl)]

13 male patients suffering from arteriosclerotic heart disease and/or arterial hypertension were monitored continuously before and after vascular surgical procedures using an arrhythmia computer. Heart rate, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardias, ventricular fibrillation and prematurity index (QnQe/QTn) were recorded numerically. Ventricular arrhythmias were detected as follows preoperatively in 12 patients, after operation in all patients, paired ventricular extrasystoles or episodes of ventricular tachycardia were found in 5 cases before and in 7 after operation, ventricular fibrillation in one case. The incidence of ventricular dysrhythmias increased significantly (p less than 0.05) early after operation, as did the heart rate during the observed postoperative period (p less than 0.001). The prematurity index dropped below 1.0 during the two days following operation. This differed significantly from the preoperative value (p less than 0.05). The incidence of ventricular extrasystoles was related to postoperative myocardial infarction and heart failure (p less than 0.01), which occurred in 6 cases, with a lethal outcome in three. Only occasionally controlled by trained staff in a normal surgical ward the "Servomed Dysrhythmiemonitor" yielded reliable numerical results during the main part of the monitored period. In two cases it led to immediate detection and rapid institution of treatment of severe tachyar rhythmias.     

Iodine Images in Dual-energy CT: Detection of Hepatic Steatosis by Quantitative Iodine Concentration Values

Hepatic steatosis is a common condition and an early manifestation of a systemic metabolic syndrome. As of today, there is no broadly accepted method for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in contrast-enhanced CT images. This retrospective study evaluates the potential of quantitative iodine values in portal venous phase iodine images in dual-energy CT (DECT) by measuring iodine concentrations in regions of interest (ROI) and analyzing the absolute iodine concentration of the liver parenchyma as well as three different blood-normalized iodine concentrations in a study cohort of 251 patients. An independent two sample t-test (p < 0.05) was used to compare the iodine concentrations of healthy and fatty liver. Diagnostic performance was assessed by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis. The results showed significant differences between the average iodine concentration of healthy and fatty liver parenchyma for the absolute and for the blood-normalized iodine concentrations. The study concludes that the iodine uptake of the liver parenchyma is impaired by hepatic steatosis, and that the measurement of iodine concentration can provide a suitable method for the detection of hepatic steatosis in quantitative iodine images. Suitable thresholds of quantitative iodine concentration values for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis are provided.     

Short‐term Effects of Social Exclusion at Work and Worries on Sleep

The present study investigated short‐term effects of daily social exclusion at work on various indicators of sleep quality and tested the mediating role of work‐related worries using a time‐based diary study with ambulatory assessments of sleep quality. Ninety full‐time employees participated in a 2‐week data collection. Multilevel analyses revealed that daily workplace social exclusion and work‐related worries were positively related to sleep fragmentation in the following night. Daily social exclusion, however, was unrelated to sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency and self‐reported sleep quality. Moreover, worries did not mediate the effect of social exclusion at work on sleep fragmentation. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combination of betulinic acid with cisplatin--different cytotoxic effects in two head and neck cancer cell lines

Betulinic acid (BetA), a new experimental cytotoxic compound that is active against human melanoma cells and neuroectodermal tumor cells, has recently been shown to be also effective against head and neck squamous carcinoma cells (HNSCC). In this study we investigated BetA in combination with cisplatin in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines of the tongue. SCC25 and SCC9 were treated with BetA and/or cisplatin. Cells were counted with an automated analyzing system. Caspase activation was determined using the M30 Cyto-Death ELISA, expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 by Western blot analysis. Visualization of apoptotic cells was achieved by immunohistochemistry. Synergistic cytotoxic effect and the induction of apoptosis under combined treatment was observed in SCC25 cells only after 24 or 48 h, whereas treatment of SCC25 cells for 72 h with BetA and cisplatin showed antagonism or subadditive effects. In SCC9 cells, antagonism occurred over an increase of dose and time during treatment. Furthermore, we could not demonstrate a significant alteration in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Mcl-1. Our in vitro data demonstrate that BetA seems to be an unlikely candidate for combination with cisplatin in the treatment of head and neck cancer.     

Hypoglycaemic effect of Opuntia lindheimeri Englem in a diabetic pig model

The hypoglycaemic activity of Opuntia lindheimeri Englem. was investigated in non-diabetic (control pigs) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic pigs using an enteral (oral) route of administration. Following the administration of O. lindheimeri extract (0, 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight), blood glucose concentrations in control pigs fluctuated around initial baseline concentrations, but were not consistently affected by either the dose of O. lindheimeri or by the time following administration. In contrast, administration of O. lindheimeri extract to STZ-treated pigs resulted in both a dose- (p < 0.001) and time-dependent (p < 0.001) decrease in blood glucose concentrations. The hypoglycaemic effect of the extract was apparent within 1 h of administration, with maximal effects occurring at 4 h after administration. These results confirm the hypoglycaemic effect of O. lindheimeri extract in a diabetic pig model. In addition, given the physiological similarities of the pig to humans, this model will be of tremendous use in assessing the long-term effects of Opuntia administration on the secondary problems associated with diabetes.