Mycobacterium chelonae cutaneous infection: efficacy of prolonged treatment by clarithromycin

The great auricular nerve is routinely divided during the operation of parotidectomy, however, some surgeons have suggested that preserving the posterior branches reduces the area of post-operative anaesthesia. A prospective study was performed comparing the area of anaesthesia and hypoaesthesia in patients undergoing parotidectomy. In 20 patients the great auricular nerve was preserved and in 11 it was sacrificed. Mapping of the area of sensory loss at 2 weeks, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months showed that there was no difference between the two groups. The area of sensory loss decreased in an exponential fashion in both groups. The majority of the change occurred within 6 months. We conclude that preservation of the posterior branches of the great auricular nerve is unnecessary.     

Probing the electronic properties of self-organized poly(3-dodecylthiophene) monolayers by two-dimensional scanning tunneling spectroscopy imaging at the single chain scale

Regioregular poly(3-dodecylthiophene) films self-organized on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and two-dimensional scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). Simulated spectra in very good agreement with the experimental data have been obtained by a method combining ab initio and semiempirical approaches, which allows a careful discussion of the polymer electronic states. From the experimental data, with the support of modeling, it is shown that the STS spectra give a direct access to the polymer semiconducting band gap without noticeable charge-transfer effects from the substrate. Spectroscopic images are achieved at the single chain scale, which allows scrutinizing the electronic consequences of chain folds and pi-stacking effects through spectroscopic contrasts. While chain folds do not locally increase the polymer band gap more than a few tens of millielectonvolt, a striking widening of the STS conductance gap is observed in the case of electronic tunneling through two interacting polymer layers. Scenarios based on nonplanar configuration of thiophene cycles within the second layer or variations of the charge screening effects are proposed to explain this phenomenon.     

High resolution ultrasound imaging: value in treatment of basocellular carcinoma by cryosurgery

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a prospective evaluation of the contribution of high-resolution ultrasound imaging prior to cryosurgery for basocellular carcinoma and in search for recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients seen between 1992 and 1994 at the skin tumor clinic and treated by cryosurgery were included. Ultrasound imaging using 20 MHz prototype was performed prior to cryosurgery and 2 months later. RESULTS: Among 101 patients treated, 112 basocellular carcinomas were treated by cryosurgery. Ultrasound imaging provided good visualization of the tumor limits in all cases. The ultrasound aspect was anechogenic, often with rare areas of highly dense echoes. The tumor limits described by ultrasound imaging were larger than the clinical limits in 32% of the cases. In 8 of the 16 cases of recurrent tumors, the ultrasound examination revealed the recurrence first. In the other 8 cases, clinical manifestations were confirmed by ultrasonography. In our series, recurrence of basocellular carcinoma was statistically more frequent when the depth of the tumor was 3 mm (ultrasonographic measurement) or when the lateral limits established by ultrasound assessment were greater than the clinical evaluation. DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate that high-resolution ultrasound imaging of basocellular carcinomas prior to cryosurgery: 1) visualizes tumor limits allowing adapted cryosurgery, 2) identifies factors with predictive value for recurrence, 3) can identify recurrences early. Ultrasound imaging of the skin is a useful non-invasive technique for pre- and post-therapeutic assessment of skin tumors and could be a particularly useful tool for "blind" cryosurgery destruction of skin tumors.     

Preparation of nanocomposite materials from mercaptoacetate-modified platinum nanoparticles and a layered nickel hydroxyacetate salt

Nanocomposites were prepared by a very simple route from preformed platinum particles and a nickel layered hydroxide salt (LHS), these compounds being first synthesized separately by the polyol process. The nanoparticles were treated with mercaptoacetate before being brought into contact with the lamellar compound. XPS and IR spectroscopies give clear evidence for interactions between the platinum nanoparticles and the mercaptoacetate species. XRD, TEM and magnetic characterizations show that the structure of the nickel hydroxide layers is retained and that some of the LHS sheets contain incorporated nanoparticles.     

Egomania rageosis: A proposed new syndrome for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (V).

This paper describes a serious new disorder--Egomania Rageosis--which is approaching epidemic incidence in academia. The symptoms, epidemiology, and treatment of Egomania are described, and empirical work is reviewed. It is proposed that the syndrome be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (V). Those persons in whom a prolonged relationship with academia has given rise to deep-seated, unconscious feelings of irreverence will find the paper of both heuristic and therapeutic value. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rheumatoid purpura in adults and mycoplasma infection

We have developed a clinical scale to assess severity or organophosphorus (OP) intoxication. Five common clinical manifestations of OP poisoning have been selected as parameters, each to be assessed on a 3 point scale varying from 0-2. Poisoning can then be graded as mild (score 0-3), moderate (score 4-7) or severe (score 8-11) when the patient first presents. The scale was validated using two consecutive series of 173 patients with OP poisoning. Correlations between the scores obtained on admission and three outcome variables, namely, death, the need for ventilatory support and the dose of atropine required in the first 24 hours after admission were significant. We believe that this scale would assist in grading severity of OP intoxication at first contact and help in predicting possible outcome.     

Psychology and the reconciliation of women's double bind: To be feminine or to be fully human.

The thesis is developed that femininity in a social context which values competence and individual achievement presents conflicts for women for whom the results are ambivalence, fear of success, guilt and anxiety. An androgynous conception of sex roles and the consequent implications for child rearing are discussed. The role presently played by psychologists in instructing students and advising parents is described and judged to be inadequate. The responsibility of the psychologist in contributing to a resolution of sex-role conflicts for both men and women is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Disseminated xanthosiderohistiocytosis with cardiac involvement and monoclonal gammapathy

Xanthosiderohistiocytosis is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis (4 reported cases). The clinical characteristics include diffuse, sometimes deep, dark-brown infiltrations of the skin. Histological examination reveals abundant deposits of haemosiderin within the histiocyte proliferation. This entity is a clinical form of Montgomery's disease (xanthoma disseminatum) which has been reported in over 100 cases. Our case of disseminated xanthosiderohistiocytosis was particular because it involved the heart and was associated with a monoclonal gammapathy. Five cases have been reported associating xanthoma disseminatum and monoclonal gammapathy, including one case of xanthosiderohistiocytosis. In our case, rapidly increasing levels of monoclonal immunoglobulin suggested an evolution towards a myeloma. A monoclonal gammapathy should be looked for and monitored in cases of xanthosiderohistiocytosis, and more generally xanthoma disseminatum because of the risk of developing lymphoma or myeloma.