Locus heterogeneity in autosomal dominant congenital external ophthalmoplegia (CFEOM)

An autopsy case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma of a centenarial male is described. He complained of abdominal pain in his left side 1 month before his death. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a large mass in the left abdominal cavity. At autopsy, a circumscribed mass, 15 cm in diameter, was found in the left-upper abdominal cavity, and seemed to be derived from the retroperitoneum in an exophytic manner. Histologically, spindle cells with slight eosinophilic cytoplasm and blunt-ended nuclei showed interwoven fascicular growth, and mitotic figures were easily encountered. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were labeled by alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin. To our knowledge, this case of leiomyosarcoma has presented in the oldest patient ever reported. The rarity of soft tissue sarcomas in the extremely elderly is also discussed.     

Assessment of childhood phobias

Childhood phobias can be successfully treated using a variety of behavioral strategies, provided there has been a psychometrically sound assessment. Measures are also important for the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the testing of hypotheses generated by new ideas and theories of children's phobias. This paper outlines broad-based assessment procedures used in the evaluation of children's phobias, including the behavioral or problem-focused interview, the diagnostic interview, self-report inventories, caregiver completed instruments, behavioral observations, self-monitoring and physiological assessment. Reflecting recent theoretical and clinical advances in the study of childhood internalizing disorders, we also explore laboratory-based measures and family assessment measures. Particular attention is given to psychometric issues and developmental sensitivity in our discussion of these assessment procedures.     

Pigmentation of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with oil-extracted astaxanthin from the langostilla (Pleuroncodes planipes)

The purpose of this contribution is to inform about the activities of the local ethics commission established at one of our largest teaching (University) hospitals. In 1995 the following priorities were recognized: studying international ethical standards of research involving human subjects and strictly adhering to them; bilingual administrative agenda in Czech and English; enforcing the patients' rights in health care and emphasizing them in education of medics and other students of health related disciplines; stimulating effective communication between doctors, other health care workers and lay persons in the commission as well as between the members of the commission and authors of research projects applying for ethical evaluation. Since 1993 the commission has been revising and storing in the archives more than 600 research projects. In 1996, 181 new research projects were reviewed, which is 35% more than in 1995. Approval was granted in 154 cases (85.08%), 3 cases (1.66%) were rejected, 15 cases (8.29%) approved on condition of complying with the recommendations of the commission, 6 cases (3.31%) recommended for another commission, and in 3 cases reviewing the project was postponed for lack of necessary data. The members of the commission agree that the future activities should lead to forming a broader group of consultants of the commission and other professional and lay people interested in clinical ethics. According to their meaning, legislation concerning ethical commissions in the Czech Republic, including material and financial support and administrative help, is urgently needed.     

The use of AC potentials in electrospraying and electrospinning processes

The use of AC potentials in electrospraying and electrospinning processes was demonstrated. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was electrosprayed onto semiconducting and insulating substrates using both DC and AC potentials. On the semiconducting substrate, both AC and DC methods were capable of producing significant CMC coverage. However, only the AC potential was capable of producing significant coverage on the insulating substrate, possibly due to a reduction in the amount of surface charging. In the electrospinning investigation, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fibers were spun into mats using both DC and AC driving potentials. The AC potential resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of fiber ‘whipping’ and the resulting mats exhibited a higher degree of fiber alignment but were observed to contain more residual solvent. The average fiber diameter for both DC and AC-spun mats exhibited a strong dependence on solution concentration.     

Cardiac syncope due to transient coronary artery occlusion: the role of percutaneous angioplasty

A case of cardiac syncope is presented, associated with single vessel coronary disease. The mechanism of the syncope would appear to be a ventricular arrhythmia with transmural myocardial ischaemia due to transient occlusion of the diseased coronary artery. The symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities were reproduced and subsequently abolished by percutaneous coronary angioplasty.     

The effects of deprenyl on methamphetamine-induced dopamine depletions

The effects of deprenyl on methamphetamine-induced dopamine depletions were studied in mice. Four SC injections of 12.5 mg/kg of methamphetamine at two-hour intervals caused substantial (72-82%) and long-lasting depletions of striatal dopamine. Pretreatment with either 25 or 40 mg/kg of deprenyl did not significantly alter the magnitude of this depletion. These results indicate that, unlike what is observed following MPTP, there is no protection afforded dopaminergic cells by deprenyl pretreatment in the methamphetamine model of parkinsonism.     

Incidence risk and aetiology of mammary abnormalities in dry ewes in 10 flocks in southern Greece

In a field investigation of 10 flocks in Southern Greece, 3367 dairy ewes were examined twice, in order to estimate the incidence risk and the aetiology of mammary abnormalities during the dry-period. Abnormal secretion, lumps, nodules, diffuse hardness, abscesses and cysts were the abnormalities detected. The cumulative incidence of mammary abnormalities during the dry-period was 5.1% (95% confidence interval: 4.4-5.8%); 47% of the cases detected developed during the first three weeks after cessation of lactation. Despite variation in the flock size, there was no between-flock variation in the risk of a ewe developing mammary abnormalities. Staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative isolates) were the most frequently isolated bacteria from mammary samples; Actinomyces pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens, streptococci and Escherichia coli were also isolated. Resistance was encountered among the staphylococcal isolates.