[The optimal approach to severe facial trauma following a horse's kick]. / Optimale behandeling van ernstig aangezichtstrauma na trap van paard.

A 15-year-old girl was brought to the emergency department of a hospital by ambulance with extensive facial trauma following a horse's kick. The considerable impact resulted in a combination of injuries to the bone, teeth and soft tissue. Following the transfer from the ambulance, the AE physician immediately consulted an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Consequently, the patient could be brought to the operating theatre almost straight after stabilisation. There, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon first repositioned her teeth in anatomical position, followed by repositioning and fixation of the mandibular fracture. Next, the teeth in the upper front were stabilised with an acid-etch composite splint and the lip was reconstructed.

Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina, case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Presentation of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina. Summary of clinical findings and management. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Nemocnice Pardubického kraje a.s., Porodnicko-gynekologická klinika, Pardubice. OBSERVATION: We report a case of primary malignat melanoma in a 44 year old woman, with symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding and painful intercourse. CONCLUSION: Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is rare disease. Goal of therapy is complete removal of primary tumor.

Cardiac malformations in relatives of children with truncus arteriosus or interruption of the aortic arch.

Familial recurrence risks for congenital cardiac malformations have been estimated at 1 to 4%, but little is known of recurrence risks for uncommon congenital cardiac malformations. This study determined the incidence of congenital cardiac malformations in relatives of patients with either truncus arteriosus (TA) or interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) seen between 1955 and 1985. Prior to this study, only 2 cases of IAA in siblings had been reported and the recurrence risk of TA had been estimated at 1.2%. In the families of 36 index cases of IAA, there were 98 siblings, 2 with congenital cardiac malformations (2.1%). All recurrences were in IAA type B families. Single cases of congenital cardiac malformations were found in second- and third-degree relatives and 2 cases in more distant relatives. In the families of 49 index cases of TA, there were 106 siblings, 7 with congenital cardiac malformations (6.6%). Two had TA, 3 had other conotruncal anomalies and 2 had other congenital cardiac malformations. Two parents had congenital cardiac malformations, 1 with TA and 1 with conotruncal malformation. Among second- and third-degree relatives, 7 had congenital cardiac malformations (5 were conotruncal, including 1 half sibling). Among greater than third-degree relatives, 3 had congenital cardiac malformations. Thus, in IAA, the recurrence rate of congenital cardiac malformations (2.1%) was higher than expected and could be related to the etiology of IAA type B as a conotruncal malformation. In TA, the recurrence rate of congenital cardiac malformations was 6.6%, higher than previously reported. When TA was complex the recurrence risk was higher (13.6%). These findings must be taken into consideration for satisfactory genetic counseling.

Development of scintillation-proximity assays for alpha adrenoceptors.

Binding assays have long been used to determine compound affinity and selectivity for various seven-transmembrane receptors. Over time, the degree of complexity has significantly reduced, whereas the throughput of the various assays has greatly increased. In this article, we detail the development of a filter-binding assay and a scintillation-proximity assay (SPA) designed to quantify a compound's affinity for the three alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes, alpha1A, alpha1B, and alpha1D. The various components of the assays such as ease of assay performance, robustness, cost, and generation of radioactive waste are compared and contrasted. On the basis of the results, the SPA offers many advantages of high-throughput assay formats over the traditional filter-binding assay. To follow up on the success of the alpha1-adrenoceptor SPA, SPAs for the three alpha2-adrenoceptors were developed and are detailed in this article. Affinity data generated for a select number of alpha2 compounds agree with reported literature values. These assays, like those for alpha1 subtypes, are very amenable to high-throughput screening campaigns. In conclusion, scintillation-proximity assays offer significant advantages over filter-binding assays.

Kidney transplantation in Alport's syndrome: long-term outcome and allograft anti-GBM nephritis.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) nephritis occurring in kidneys transplanted in patients with Alport's syndrome (AS) has been reported repeatedly. Therefore, we studied graft survival and course of renal function in all 30 AS patients grafted at Hannover Medical School and compared them with non-diabetic, age and sex matched patients, transplanted on the date closest to the transplantation of the AS patient. Serum creatinine, proteinuria, urinary sediment and anti-GBM antibodies were examined in all AS patients with functioning grafts. Cases of patient or graft loss in the AS group were analyzed retrospectively. One- and five-year patient survival was 100 and 91% in AS and 89 and 78% in controls (p > 0.05, respectively). One- and five-year first graft survival was 79 and 66% in both groups. Graft histology was available in 34 biopsies obtained from 21 kidneys in 15 AS patients. Anti-GBM nephritis was not detected in any of the biopsies. No graft was lost due to anti-GBM nephritis. Anti-GBM antibodies were detectable temporarily only in one AS patient. He also had linear IgG staining in his graft GBM, but no other signs of anti-GBM nephritis. We conclude that patient survival and graft survival in AS patients following kidney transplantation is not different from non-AS patients. Allograft anti-GBM nephritis is a rare complication in patients with Alport's syndrome.

The Effects of Suburethral Tape on the Symptoms of Overactive Bladder.

Suburethral tension-free vaginal tape is used for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence with a high success rate. Often patients report having stress incontinence, as well as co-existing micturition problems which are attributable to overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). The present study examines the effect of suburethral tape on the symptoms of OAB. In the study, we used the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out technique (TVT-O). Materials and Methods: 53 patients were included in the study, all had proven urodynamic stress incontinence and symptoms of overactive bladder. The patients were examined preoperatively and 3 months after the TVT-O placement. Results: The individual OAB symptoms improved significantly, with urinary frequency and urge incontinence improving more than nocturia. The frequency of micturition decreased on average from 16.1 to 10.1 episodes/24 hours, while nocturnal frequency of micturition decreased from 2.2 to 1.1. Not a single patient experienced the simultaneous worsening of all three measured variables, however 19 % of patients did report their simultaneous disappearance. Their quality of life that had been affected by OAB was measured on the basis of validated questionnaires, and found to have improved significantly. Only 28 % of patients reported a desire for drug treatment of OAB symptoms following tape placement. Conclusions: TVT-O placement leads to a significant improvement of the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome. Patient quality of life - which was affected by OAB - was also enhanced by the tape placement. This accounts for a substantial share of the overall success of the suburethral tape.

[Case management for maintaining occupational status of handicapped patients. A model trial by the Bavarian federal district office]. / Case-Management zur Erhaltung von Arbeitsverhältnissen Behinderter. Ein Modellversuch des Landesarbeitsamts Bayern.

Under the German social security system, medical benefits and services fall under the health insurance system, while vocational ones are the responsibility of the employment offices. In seamless transition cases, health funds almost exclusively rely on the relevant provisions of Book three--employment promotion--of the Social Code. Notwithstanding, sickness benefits frequently extend over the maximum period possible, i.e., 18 months, although the presence of disablement has been confirmed much earlier, and transition into unemployment certainly is no perspective either. Case Managements targeted at keeping disabled persons in employment have now been set up in several Bavarian employment offices. In close cooperation with the health funds' medical services, as well as in a number of other instances, they undertake early interventions to maintain employment, thus seeking to stem the traditional further course of disabled people still employed into the long waiting lines faced with at the rehabilitation agencies, or into unemployment and subsequent costly occupational reorientation, with continued joblessness awaiting them afterwards. The Case Management approach set out and analyzed in this article is intended as a model to be taken up elsewhere, having proven its benefit for people with disabilities while being cost-effective from an overall economic perspective due to its preventing the need to grant unemployment benefits and costly retraining. Guided by rehabilitation counsellors, the Case Managements are directed at rehabilitees and companies alike, and may take action through technical work aids, integration allowances, or skills adjustment programmes. For speedier, focussed implementation of the services offered, they "purchase" support and back-up from experienced agencies in the field, drawing on so-called "free" funding resources available under book three of the Social Code. Very good results using the model outlined have already been reported by the Nuremberg, Traunstein and Würzburg employment offices.

[Immunohematologic studies on the correlations between (+)-cyanidanol-3-(catergen) therapy and hemolytic anemia]. / Immunhämatologische Untersuchungen über Zusammenhänge zwischen (+)-Cyanidanol-3-(Catergen)-Therapie und hämolytischer Anämie.

The serological findings of three patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and hepatitis accompanied by immunohemolytic anemia (IHA) are described. As a cause of the observed hemolyses the administration of (+)-Cyanidanol-3 (Catergen) was supposed. In contrast to three cases reported in literature antibodies against Catergen were not detectable, therefore a causal connexion between the development of IHA and Catergen could not be proved.

No association between GLO I and Hp in the Austrian population.

In contrast to the data published by Payne and Huntsman in 1982, no association between GLO I and Hp phenotypes could be found in a sample of 973 unrelated Austrians.

Familial interruption of the aortic arch.

Interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) is an important congenital cardiac malformation occurring in 1.4% of cases with a congenital cardiac malformation. Only two reports have described IAA in siblings, each with type B and an anomalous right subclavian artery. We report the occurrence of IAA type B with an anomalous right subclavian artery in two siblings and their half-sibling, each of whom had additional conotruncal cardiac malformations. Recent evidence suggests that conotruncal cardiac malformations, including IAA type B, are related to abnormalities of neural crest cell migration. Thus, the family reported herein may manifest a syndrome related to alterations in mesenchymal tissue/neural crest cell migration.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses against mutated p21 ras peptides: an analysis of specific T-cell-receptor gene usage.

Generation of cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses against mutated ras peptides from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was attempted in a group of HLA-A2.1+ healthy donors. Bulk PBMC cultures were stimulated in vitro with a mixture of peptides encompassing 12 Gly --> Val, 61 Gln --> Lys or 61 Gln --> Leu ras mutations and displaying HLA-A2.1 binding motifs, selected by a computer program. A promiscuous tetanus toxoid peptide was also added. Weekly thereafter, PBMC were re-stimulated with peptide pulsed autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells. After 8 rounds of re-stimulation, reproducible cytotoxic activity against peptide-pulsed target cells was detectable in one donor. The CTL line recognized 2 nonamers encompassing ras 61 Gln --> Leu mutation. Killing was mediated by CD8+ T cells displaying alphabeta TCR and was inhibited by anti-HLA-A2.1 monoclonal antibodies. No killing of tumor cells expressing the specific mutation could be observed. More than 60 CTL clones were generated. Fine specificity studies revealed effective, though differing cytotoxic activity against both 53-LDILDTAGL-61 and 55-ILDTAGLEE-63, but not against 54-DILDTAGLE-62 mutated peptides, in all but one of the clones. None was able to exert effective cytotoxic activity against tumor cells expressing the specific mutation. T-cell-receptor (TCR) usage was then analyzed phenotypically, by reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) and by sequence analysis. This study revealed the monoclonal nature of the CTL response against mutated nonamers, with TCR expressing Vbeta14 gene product in combination with, Jbeta2.7 and Cbeta2.