Fixation of facial and auricular prosthesis with osseous implants in cranial bone

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of osseointegrated implants to fix facial and auricular prostheses. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: University Hospital Groningen, the Netherlands. METHODS: Thirty patients were treated with Br?nemark implants for fixation of auricular (21 patients) and orbital (9 patients) prostheses during May 1988-December 1995. The complications during the procedure, the success rate of the implants, skin reactions around the implants and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 97 implants were placed. One implant had to be removed after the healing period because it was loose. No other implants were lost during the follow-up period (mean 36 months; range: 12-91). The skin around the implants sometimes showed a mild reaction which could be adequately treated. In most of the cases no inflammation of the skin was observed. Retention, ease of handling and wearing comfort of the facial prostheses were excellent. CONCLUSION: Fixation of facial and auricular prostheses can be improved by osseointegrated implants resulting in high patient satisfaction.     

A familial syndrome of cranial, facial, oral and limb anomalies

A family is described in which two male infants have microcephaly, abnormal ears, anti-mongoloid slant, small mouth, cleft palate, flexed overlapping fingers with syndactyly of digits three and four, syndactyly of the second to the fifth toes, and normal karyotype. This seems to be a new syndrome.     

Phase transformations in the Zr-rich part of the Zr-Fe system resulting from heat treatment and plastic deformation

Phases and phase transformations occurring in the Zr-rich part of the Zr-Fe system during heat treatment and plastic deformation were identified by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Low iron alloys (<0.02 wt pct Fe) undergo a complete β → α_m reaction (martensitic type) on quenching. For higher iron content alloys (0.02 to 0.25 wt pct Fe) the β → α_m ransformation is accompanied by formation of metastable intermediate phase designated θ. The iron concentration of θ-phase is much higher than that of αZr(Fe). During the aging process, at the outset of the equilibrium state, the θ-phase disappears by transforming to Zr₂Fe intermetallic. Cold rolling of quenched(α _m + θ) specimens leads to formation of the athermal ω-phase. Presence of the intermediate θ-phase seems to be a prerequisite for the athermal ω-phase formation. A decrease in specific volume (ΔV_θ < 0) accompanying the α→ θ transition was suggested as a possible mechanism of the α →θ → ω transformation. Mössbauer parameters for the thermal and athermal ω -phase were determined. Presence of θ and athermal ω -phases were identified by Mössbauer spectroscopy only, being undetectable by X-ray diffraction, because of their minute quantities. Solubility of iron in the α Zr(Fe) solid solution was determined in the range of temperatures 713 to 943 K (440 to 670 °C).     

Oral, facial and cranial manifestations of von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF)

19 patients with neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1 were evaluated retrospectively. Many patients presented not only with orocraniofacial neurofibromas but also with cranial skeletal deformities--involving skullbase, skull, orbit, midface and mandibula--and ophthalmological and dental symptoms, as well as neurological disorders. Malignant transformation of NF was observed in 1 case. Severe manifestations of NF were associated with the plexiform growth type. Due to the nature of NF surgical treatment most often is only palliative.     

Estimating the number of different selection decisions resulting from the use of alternate predictor composites.

A method was described whereby d, the number of different selection decisions resulting from the use of alternate predictor composites may be rapidly estimated from the proportion of applicants accepted and the correlation between the composites. It was further demonstrated that the correlation between 2 optimally weighted composites based upon m and n variables (m n) is equal to the ratio of the 2 multiple correlations. 2 examples were used to illustrate the use of d in evaluating selection strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cochlear damage resulting from exposure to four different octave bands of noise at three ages.

93 CBA/J inbred mice, divided into 3 age groups (20, 60, and 180 days), were exposed for 5 min to 1 of 4 octave bands of 124-db noise. Threshold shifts of the cochlear nerve action potential were determined 4 days following the noise exposure. Pure-tone bursts of 2–64 kHz were used to elicit these responses. Noise-induced threshold shifts were progressively greater in those responses that originated from a more basal (high-frequency) portion of the organ of Corti (OC). The 20- and 60-day-old Ss were more severely affected than the 180-day-old Ss. Susceptibility to damage at the apex and middle of the OC declined as a function of age during exposure, but the base of the OC remained equally susceptible to damage from 6–48 kHz noise bands from weaning age to adulthood. It is concluded that an early sensitive period exists for noise-induced damage to the apex and middle of the OC but that the base maintains its susceptibility for a much longer age span. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of repair activity in different genomic regions

Getting involved in the public policy process empowers health care professionals to help ensure the preservation of patient rights. An organization must form strong relationships with legislators using simple yet occasionally unconventional strategies. Too few patients currently have access to rehabilitative services. Passing national legislation promoting patient access to pulmonary rehabilitation will have a great impact by enabling more and more patients to take advantage of pulmonary rehabilitation programs because they are fully reimbursed.     

Evaluation of pulmonary function tests in a population of young men from different regions of Poland

The aim of study was the evaluation results of pulmonary function test (PFT) relationships between air pollution particular ozone concentration and smoking habit. PFT 417 volunteers (men aged 18-23) living in two regions of Poland were studied. These men were divided into 2 groups according to their living place: Warsaw and Gizycko (north-agricultural region of Poland). Inside each group smokers and non-smokers were separated. PNEUMOBIL-mobile PFT laboratory Compact Lab-Jaeger was used. Mean values of PFT between these two groups were not statistically significant. However the percent of population with low values of FEF50 (< 70%) living in Warsaw was five times higher then in population living in Gizycko (10.1% vs 1.7%). It possible that these results were associated with high concentration of ozone in atmosphere in Warsaw.     

A holographic study of variations in bone deformations resulting from different headgear forces in a macerated human skull

The effects of headgear on maxillary displacement and the resulting growth modifications are not completely understood, especially regarding the complex relationships between initial and secondary skeletal reactions on one hand and the influence of the direction and magnitude of the applied force on the other. The aim of the present investigation was to study, by means of holographic interferometry, the initial bone displacement occurring in response to headgear traction applied at different force magnitudes and in different directions. Orthopedic forces of 560 grams and orthodontic forces of 354 grams were stimulated on a macerated human skull. The forces came from from high-, straight-, and low-pull headgear traction directed above, through, and below the center of resistance of the maxillary first permanent molars. Immediate skeletal changes were recorded by laser holography. Initial displacements of the maxilla and zygomatic arch in both horizontal and vertical planes were evaluated on frontal and lateral holograms. In most cases, both force magnitudes caused substantial displacements in both planes, albeit to different extents. Complex bending, and rotational, translational, and relative displacements were observed. The direction of displacement did not strictly coincide with that of the applied force. The results of this study indicate that both orthodontic and orthopedic headgear traction may lead to complex initial three-dimensional skeletal displacement in directions not always corresponding with the direction of the applied force.     

Sequence variation within three important cytomegalovirus gene regions in isolates from four different patient populations

We determined the nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) heterogeneities of three distinct regions of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) genome for 46 low-passage CMV isolates from four different patient populations (congenitally infected infants, children attending day-care centers, renal transplant recipients, and human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals) and for two laboratory strains (CMV Ad169 and Towne). The gene regions for the major immediate-early (MIE) exon 4 gene (nt positions 1702 to 1982, aa positions 152 to 244), the DNA polymerase gene (nt positions 2797 to 3046, aa positions 713 to 795), and the glycoprotein B (gB) gene (nt positions 1698 to 1884, aa positions 567 to 628) were sequenced. The sequence information was used to design sets of nested PCR primers directed against the most highly conserved regions identified. MIE was the most variable gene region compared to the variability of the DNA polymerase and gB gene regions. Comparison of the sequences of all 46 isolates with that of Ad169 revealed nt and aa sequence homologies of 87.9 and 87.2%, respectively, within the MIE gene compared to 92.8 and 100% homologies, respectively, within the DNA polymerase gene and 93 and 95.2% homologies, respectively, within the gB gene. Within the MIE gene, compared to the Ad169 nt sequence the homology at the nt level among isolates obtained from children attending day-care centers was high (96.4%), while it was lower (90%) among isolates obtained from the other three patient populations. Preliminary results of a nested PCR with oligonucleotide primers selected from the DNA polymerase gene region with a low level of nt sequence variation indicates that primers selected from this region might be more powerful for use in PCR than primers selected from the MIE gene region.     

Reconstruction of deformities resulting from penile enlargement surgery

PURPOSE: More than 30 patients presented for reconstruction of penile deformities secondary to penile enlargement surgery performed by other physicians. Lengthening was performed by releasing the suspensory ligament of the penis and advancing pubic skin with a V-Y advancement flap. Girth was increased by injecting autologous fat. Specific complaints relating to the lengthening procedure involve hypertrophic and/or wide scars, a proximal penile hump from a thick, hair-bearing V-Y flap, and a low hanging penis. Complications relating to autologous fat injections include disappearance of fat, penile lumps and nodules, and shaft deformities. The repair of these deformities is described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1994 through October 1996, 19 men underwent 24 various combinations of reconstructive operations, such as scar revisions, V-Y advancement flap reversal, and removal of fat nodules and asymmetrical fat deposits. RESULTS: Penile appearance and function were improved. Complications include 1 hematoma requiring drainage, minor wound complications and 1 inadequately reversed V-Y flap. CONCLUSIONS: The methods of various repairs are discussed, including reconstructive limitations, timing and staging. Significant improvement can be achieved with proper reconstruction of penile deformities.     

Dendritic arbors of neurons from different regions of the rat thalamic reticular nucleus share a similar orientation

Neurons in different regions of the rat thalamic reticular nucleus were labeled with biotin dextran amine and reconstructed. When viewed in coronal section, some neurons had a radial dendritic tree while others had dorso-ventrally elongated arbors. When rotated, all the neurons had a planar, disc-shaped dendritic field with the dendrites orientated parallel to the long axis of the nucleus. We conclude that all thalamic reticular nucleus neurons have a similar dendritic morphology and orientation.     

Resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam in Klebsiella pneumoniae: evidence for enhanced resistance resulting from the coexistence of two different resistance mechanisms

We investigated the in vitro activity and the in vivo efficacy of the beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combination cefoperazone-sulbactam against an isogenic series of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Both cefoperazone and cefoperazone-sulbactam were active in vitro against a susceptible clinical strain, and the combination was highly effective in the treatment of rat intra-abdominal abscesses. Loss of expression of a 39-kDa outer membrane protein resulted in at least a fourfold increase in the MICs of cefoperazone and cefoperazone-sulbactam but did not appreciably affect the in vivo efficacy of either regimen. Introduction of plasmid RP4, which encodes the TEM-2 beta-lactamase, into the susceptible strain resulted in the loss of in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy for cefoperazone. The in vitro activity of cefoperazone-sulbactam against this strain was diminished, but the antibiotic combination remained highly active in vivo. Introduction of RP4 into the strain lacking the 39-kDa outer membrane protein resulted in a fourfold increase in the in vitro MIC of cefoperazone-sulbactam in comparison with the beta-lactamase-producing susceptible strain and resulted in a loss of in vivo efficacy against infections caused by this strain. These results suggest that the combination of different resistance mechanisms, neither of which alone results in substantially diminished cefoperazone-sulbactam efficacy in vivo, can cause in vivo resistance to the beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combination in K. pneumoniae.     

Electromyographic activity over facial muscle regions can differentiate the valence and intensity of affective reactions.

In a pilot study, 16 undergraduates were exposed briefly to slides and tones that were mildly to moderately evocative of positive and negative affect. Facial electromyograph (EMG) activity differentiated both the valence and intensity of the affective reaction. Moreover, 8 independent judges were unable to determine from viewing videotapes of the Ss' facial displays whether a positive or negative stimulus had been presented or whether a mildly or moderately intense stimulus had been presented. In the main experiment, 28 Ss briefly viewed slides of scenes that were mildly to moderately evocative of positive and negative affect. Again, EMGH activity over the brow, eye, and cheek muscle regions differentiated the pleasantness and intensity of Ss' affective reactions to the visual stimuli even though visual inspection of the videotapes again indicated that expressions of emotion were not apparent. Results suggest that gradients of EMGH activity over the muscles of facial expression can provide objective and continuous probes of affective processes that are too subtle or fleeting to evoke expressions observable under normal conditions of social interaction. (76 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Judgmental biases resulting from differing availabilities of arguments.

Hypothesized that information which is disproportionately available in memory will have a correspondingly disproportionate impact on evaluative judgments. In a mock jury decision, the availability of selected information in memory was varied according to the relative vividness of the evidence (prosecution evidence more vivid or defense evidence more vivid) and the favorableness of the defendant ("good guy" or "bad guy"). 54 university students judged the defendant's guilt immediately and after 48 hrs; in addition, they recalled the evidence after the 48-hr interval. Ss recalled more vivid evidence and more evidence that disagreed with the defendant's favorableness. Their judgments of apparent guilt paralleled their differential recall of the prosecution and defense evidence. These availability differences occurred only after the retention interval and did not affect judgments given immediately after reading the arguments. Results support a model in which judgments are based on the availability and the diagnosticity of the information. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)