Unusual case of pulmonary hypertension.

Truly reversible pulmonary hypertension is rare. Acquired systemic arteriovenous (A-V) fistulas following spinal surgery (laminectomy) are a less recognized cause of secondary pulmonary hypertension. We describe a patient who presented with symptoms and clinical evidence of pulmonary hypertension and underwent endovascular correction of an acquired A-V fistula, which led to improvement according to clinical and noninvasive hemodynamic criteria.

First Report of Occurrence of Potato Tuber Necrotic Ringspot Disease in Greece.

Potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD), caused by potato Y potyvirus isolate NTN (PVYNTN) of the N virus strain group, was first described in Hungary in 1980. It has spread throughout Europe, with the most recent reports from Portugal and Italy in 1997 to 1998 (1). Superficial necrotic ringspot areas on tubers, typical of PTNRD, were first observed in commercial potato fields of the Nevrokopi region in northern Greece in 1994. Affected cultivars included Timate and, to a lesser extent Spunta, the original seed of which came from the Netherlands. PVY was identified from all tubers tested by indexing on Nicotiana tabacum and subsequent testing of the plants by double antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). The potato seed lots were rejected by the local authorities. PTNRD reappeared in the same area in 1998 in a more aggressive manner. Cultivar Hermes, imported from Scotland, was most affected, with very severe symptoms in 80% of the tubers. Symptoms appeared in early September, 40 days after defoliation of the plants. Other cultivars were affected at lower rates; cv. Spunta showed typical symptoms and cvs. Fabola, Santana, and Irvila exhibited atypical cracks and blisters. In all cases, PVY was isolated in N. tabacum and its presence confirmed by DAS-ELISA. Immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with specific PVYNTN primers (2) detected the characteristic 835-bp product in all cultivars tested. The incidence of PTNRD seems to be expanding in northern Greece, where it has become a threat to potato production. PTNRD symptoms were also observed in southern Greece (Ahaia) in experimental "crossing" fields of seed stocks. In this case, the disease seems to have spread especially in cv. Marfona. References: (1) L. Tomassoli et al. Plant Dis. 82:350, 1998. (2) H. L. Wiedemann and E. Maiss. Z. Pflanzenkrankh. Pflanzenschutz 103:337, 1996.

[Treatment of sialolithiasis and its complications with intraglandular injection of biotherapeutic solution]. / Therapeutike antimetopise tes sialolithiases kai ton epiplokon tes me endoadenike egchyse biotherapeutikou dialymatos.

The creation of sialoliths in the ductal system of major salivary glands causes characteristic symptoms due to the obstruction of the flow of produced saliva. If sialolithiasis is not treated early obstructive sialadenitis will develop and its repeated relapses may lead to fibrosis and degeneration of glandular parenchyma. In this study we present the method of intraglandular injection of biotherapeutic solution (1.000.000 I.U. penicillin G in 5 cc normal saline) to achieve treatment of obstructive sialadenitis and rejection of the sialolith. Our results as shown in tables I and II and in figures 1-9 are very encouraging. From the conclusions drawn it looks like this method can be recommended as an optional solution to surgery (lithectomy-adenectomy) under the conditions mentioned in the discussion.

[Allergy to ethylene oxide in dental patients]. / Anazetese euaisthetopoieses pros to aithylenoxeidio se odontiatrikous astheneis.

IgE antibodies to human serum albumin-ethylene oxide conjugates were determined by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) in 50 patients who underwent multiple oral surgery during which Et-O sterilised material was used. Total serum IgE levels were also tested by enzyme immunoassay and possible sensitivity to common aeroallergens was investigates by the use of a newly introduced screening test (Phadiatop). IgE serum levels ranged between 12 and 98 IU/ml (normal values) and Phadiatop results were negative. We failed to demonstrate Et-O sensitisation between our patients, therefore we suggest that such a risk is minimal among dental patients.

[Submandibular swelling and its differential diagnosis]. / Hypognathies diogkoseis: prosegise ste diaphorike tous diagnose.

The lump in the submandibular area is not too unusual. Nonmalignant swelling may be caused by mumps, sialadenitis, Sjögren syndrome, cysts and infections. Submandibular lymphadenopathy may also result from infections of teeth, upper respiratory track, sinuses and tonsils or infections mononucleosis and cut scratch disease. The neoplastic growths in the submandibular area may include in most of the case tumors of the submandibular gland, the tail of the parotid gland, the Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. However, since the greatest cause of asymmetric submandibular enlargement, especially in people elder than 40 years old is the metastatic disease, the physician should always first seek to eliminate a primary site in the head, face and mouth area. Possible origin from other parts of the body should also be ruled out. In this article we are presenting representative cases of submandibular swelling.

[Management of oral problems after radiation of the head and neck]. / E antimetopise ton stomatikon problematon meta apo aktinotherapeia tes perioches kephales kai trachelou.

In this article we discuss the various oral problems that afflict the patient undergoing radiation therapy for malignant disease involving the head and neck, the effects of which may be physiologically disastrous unless the patient is forewarned and the problems managed effectively. The oral complications arise as a result of radiation injury to the salivary glands, oral mucosa and alveolar bone mainly. They may vary in duration and intensity, but may be found to a greater or lesser extent in most patients.

[Radiologic evaluation of cervical metastatic adenopathy]. / Aktinologike ektimese ton trachelikon metastatikon lemphadenon. Anaphora se dikes mas periptoses.

A radiologic evaluation in nine patients with cervical adenopathy because of metastatic disease at a known or unknown primary site, inflammatory lymphadenitis or with masses simulating with cervical adenopathy was done. All patients were examined normally by an oral and maxillofacial or E.N.T. surgeon before the radiologic evaluation with CT, ultrasonography and/or sialography. CT was done in seven out of nine patients as the unique technique or in combination with ultrasonography and/or sialography, while ultrasonography was used in two of the cases as a unique imaging technique and in one case in combination with a CT examination, without any intravenous contrast administration. A primary site was diagnosed in five cases, while in a sixth case was not diagnosed. In an eighth case of submandibular nodal enlargement, the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease was established after a biopsy. For the last two cases the diagnosis of tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy was confirmed. From the above cases it is clearly shown that computerized tomography, especially with intravenous contrast administration, ultrasonography and sialography in some of the cases, are necessary as routine examinations, before a diagnosis of cervical metastatic disease is to be done.

[Radiologic techniques for the evaluation of the T.M.J]. / Eugchrones technikes apeikonises tes krotaphognathikes diarthroses.

A large number of techniques are available for the soft and hard tissue evaluations of the temporomandibular joint. For an initial hard tissues examination conventional methods are indicated. If a more particular evaluation of the hard tissues is necessary conventional tomography, and especially hypocycloidal variety may be used. Of course modern tomographic techniques like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging afford more particular imaging of the hard mainly and the soft tissues of the temporomandibular joint. In cases where soft tissues (disc, posterior ligament) evaluation of the joint is necessary, arthrographic techniques as methods of choice are indicated. In addition computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be used as they image hard and soft tissues synchronously, something which is important as the osteoarthritis frequency increases with meniscal disorders. In this study, we are discussing the radiologic techniques we use for T.M.J. radiologic evaluation and show cases that we have examined and diagnosed.