A survey of 4478 biopsy specimens of oral lesions

A surgery of 4478 biopsy specimens in dental institute in India was carried out to compare and correlate results obtained from such studies carried out elsewhere. The study revealed that there are more than 150 common and rare oral diseases which are diagnosed and treated by dentists. 13 common diseases comprised majority (60.37%) of the biopsy specimens studied. Of these, tumors (25.53%) and Cysts (14.38%) constituted the majority of the bulk. The study also shows that most of the benign tumors were mesenchymal in origin (almost 5.5:1) while malignant tumors were epithelial (almost 20:1) in origin. Cystic lesions included the most common radicular cyst (7.12%) and the rare hydatid cyst (one case reported). Gingival hyperplasia mainly due to local aetiology, constituted the 3rd largest group. The purpose of this report is to provide some information about the type and frequency of oral lesions usually diagnosed, with the help of histopathological examination in India.     

Projection-slice synthetic discriminant functions for optical pattern recognition

The projection-slice synthetic discriminant function (PSDF) filter is introduced and proposed for distortion-invariant pattern-recognition applications. The projection-slice theorem, often used in tomographic applications for medical imaging, is utilized to implement a distortion-invariant filter. Taking M projections from one training image and combining them with (N - 1)M projections taken from another N - 1 training image accomplishes this. With the projection-slice theorem, each set of these M projections can be represented as M one-dimensional slices of the two-dimensional Fourier transform of the particular training image. Therefore, the PSDF filter has the advantage of matching each of the training images with at least M slices of their respective Fourier transforms. This filter is theoretically analyzed, numerically simulated, and experimentally implemented and tested to verify the simulation results. These tests show that the PSDF filter significantly outperforms the matched-filter and the basic synthetic discriminant function technique for the particular images used.     

Clinical picture of gonadal dysgenesis in the children's and adolescents' consulting hours

Report on 34 patients with gonodal dysgenesis and chromosomal aberrations ranging in age from 4 to 28 years. The observation time amount to five years on the average. 23 urological examinations revealed 12 kidney malformations (=52,2 percent). Special pathological x-ray findings on hands and writs were significantly more frequent in Turner's disease than in normal population. In T.S. the average value of conspicicous dactyloscopic findings was about 3,0 patient, (in family members it was 0,9 test person). In the most of all cases the psychological examination resulted in dependence and less of contact. Sexuell inclinations are denied. The hormonal substitution was carried out with "Mestranol" or with "Sequenz-Ovosiston".     

Oral teratoma (epignathus) with intracranial extension: a report of two cases

Epignathi are unusual congenital tumours presenting as oropharyngeal masses, often resulting in rapid asphyxia following birth. Occasionally, intracranial extension of the tumour is present, and two such cases are described. The presence of this complication, diagnosable by ultrasound examination, indicates that aggressive surgical treatment is inappropriate.     

Twenty-four-hour L-[1-(13)C]tyrosine and L-[3,3-(2)H2]phenylalanine oral tracer studies at generous, intermediate, and low phenylalanine intakes to estimate aromatic amino acid requirements in adults

Daily pattern and rates of whole-body tyrosine oxidation and phenylalanine hydroxylation were determined in young adults (15 men, 1 woman) receiving [13C]tyrosine and [(2)H2]phenylalanine via primed, constant oral infusion and [(2)H4]tyrosine by vein (five subjects also received [(2)H3]leucine simultaneously by vein) continuously for 24 h (12 h fast then 12 h fed). Subjects were given a diet supplying 96.6 (n = 5), 35.6 (the proposed requirement; n = 5), and 18.5 mg phenylalanine x kg(-1) x d(-1) (n = 6) based on an otherwise adequate L-amino acid mixture for 6 d before the 24-h tracer study began. [Each diet was low in tyrosine: 6.79 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1).] Our hypothesis was that subjects would be in tyrosine equilibrium, positive balance, or both, at the 96.6- and 35.6-mg intakes and in distinctly negative balance at the 18.5-mg intake. The diurnal pattern in phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics was dependent on the intake and, presumably, on the adequacy of dietary phenylalanine. Wholebody tyrosine balances, determined from rates of phenylalanine hydroxylation and tyrosine input and oxidation were negative (0.05 < P < 0.1 from zero balance) with the low (18.5 mg) phenylalanine intake [total aromatic amino acid (AAA) intake: 25.3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)] but at equilibrium (P > 0.05 from zero balance) with the two higher phenylalanine intakes. Whole-body AAA balance (AAA intake - tyrosine oxidation) was negative (P < 0.05 from zero balance) with the low intake, at equilibrium with the intermediate intake, and apparently distinctly positive (P < 0.05) with the generous intake. Despite model limitations, as discussed, these findings lend further support for a proposed, tentative value for a total mean requirement of 39 mg AAA x kg(-1) x d(-1).     

Focal areas of increased renal tracer uptake on bone scans can mimic metastases in the lower ribs

Focal renal concentration of radioactivity can simulate metastatic deposits in the lower ribs on bone scintigrams. 400 consecutive bone scintigrams were reviewed for focal areas of increased tracer activity in the kidneys. 62 patients (15.5%) had at least one renal hot spot. In 42 of these 62 patients (67.7%) there was an increased focal uptake in the left kidney (18 upper pole, 18 middle pole and six lower pole). 50 out of 62 bone scans (80.7%) showed increased activity in the right kidney (14 upper pole, 32 middle pole and four lower pole). With the incidence of focal areas of activity in the upper poles of the kidneys being 8%, the interpretation of a single focal abnormality projected over the lower ribs should be made with particular care, especially in cancer patients.     

Mating behaviour in mixed infections of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mattheei

In mixed infections of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mattheei, homospecific and heterospecific pairs are formed, with a preponderance of homospecific pairs indicating the existence of a mate preference system. S. haematobium apparently exhibits a greater specific mate recognition system than does S. mattheei. In sequential infections when mice are exposed to S. mattheei 4 weeks after infection with S. haematobium, S. haematobium males are better at pairing with S. mattheei females than are S. mattheei males. Hence, genetic exchanges between S. haematobium and S. mattheei giving rise to viable hybrids poses the problem of the genetic identity of these species of schistosomes. The most important reproductive isolating mechanisms are definitive host specificity, S. haematobium being primarily a parasite of man, whereas S. mattheei is a parasite of domestic stock and wild ungulates, and the preference for homospecific pairings in simultaneous infections. In contrast, when S. haematobium is the older infection, S. haematobium males are better than S. mattheei males at pairing with females of either species. Hybridisation is the likely outcome of such interactions. The lack of viability of S. mattheei male X S. haematobium female indicates genetic differences between the two species. Occurrences of natural hybridisation between S. haematobium and S. mattheei may lead to a change in the response of the parasite to chemotherapeutic treatment.     

Management of pulmonary tuberculosis suspects with negative sputum smears and normal or minimally abnormal chest radiographs in resource-poor settings

SETTING: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the proportion of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) suspects with negative sputum smears and a normal/minimally abnormal chest radiograph (CXR) who are culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 2) to determine how many develop smear or radiographic evidence of PTB (TB CXR) during follow-up. METHODS: PTB suspects with negative sputum smears and a normal/minimally abnormal CXR were given a second course of antibiotics and followed up at 3-week intervals over 3 months with repeat sputum smears and chest radiography. RESULTS: Of 79 patients (38 men and 41 women, mean age 33 years) with negative smears and a normal/minimally abnormal CXR, 16 (21%) were culture-positive for M. tuberculosis. Of 15 culture-positive patients who were alive and attended follow-up, seven (47%) developed a TB-CXR by 3 months. Of 41 culture-negative patients who were alive and attended follow-up, 13 (32%) developed a TB-CXR, including one patient who became sputum smear-positive. TB-CXRs were found only in patients with a cough. CONCLUSION: TB suspects with negative smears and normal/minimally abnormal CXRs in high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalent countries should be given a second course of antibiotics. If cough improves, patients can be advised not to return for further follow-up. If cough continues, patients should return for further follow-up with sputum smear examination and chest radiography. Approximately 50% of those who have culture-positive PTB will develop a TB-CXR by 3 months and can be identified if radiographic facilities are available.