Endoscopic sinus surgery for orbital subperiosteal abscess secondary to sinusitis.

Subperiosteal orbital abscess (SPA) is a serious complication of paranasal sinusitis, which can lead to blindness or even death. A quick response is necessary as this condition is treatable. Early surgical intervention is indicated if there is risk of visual loss, or if no improvement is observed within 48 hours of starting medical therapy. Three patients with orbital SPA secondary to sinusitis treated successfully by Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) are presented in this case series. The surgical indications were impending visual loss with an abscess and cellulitis impinging on the optic nerve in one child and in the other two patients, a lack of clinical response within 48 hours after starting systemic antibiotic. CT scans, nasal endoscopy, and ophthalmologic examinations are mandatory during the evaluation process. The advantages of FESS in these patients were the avoidance of external ethmoidectomy and its external facial scar, an early drainage of the affected sinuses, SPA, and the eradication of the disease from the fronto-ethmoidal region leading to an enhanced recovery and a reduced hospital stay. FESS is also a safe, convenient and minimally invasive procedure in patients presenting with serious complications of sinusitis.

Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome in siblings.

Two siblings with familial encephalopathy, calcification of the basal ganglia, and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, constituting the triad of Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome, are reported. This syndrome resembles congenital intrauterine infections, which must be meticulously excluded. Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome is extremely rare and is being reported from the Arab world for the first time to our knowledge.

Corpus callosum agenesis.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives are to analyse corpus callosum agenesis in children with various neurological problems in a hospital set-up, and to study the neurological and systemic abnormalities associated with this condition. METHODS: The children with various neurological problems who underwent computerized tomography brain from January 1993 to December 1997, and were found to have corpus callosum agenesis, formed the subjects of this study. These children were examined for any syndromic association, congenital infections or metabolic defects. RESULTS: Out of 2164 children who underwent computerized tomography brain, 22 had corpus callosum agenesis (1%). Most cases were not syndromic and 64% were males. Epileptic disorders were noted in about one third of cases. CONCLUSION: Corpus callosum agenesis is an important anomaly in children with neurodevelopment handicaps, usually detected by neuroradiology.

Corpus callosum agenesis.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives are to analyse corpus callosum agenesis in children with various neurological problems in a hospital set-up, and to study the neurological and systemic abnormalities associated with this condition. METHODS: The children with various neurological problems who underwent computerized tomography brain from January 1993 to December 1997, and were found to have corpus callosum agenesis, formed the subjects of this study. These children were examined for any syndromic association, congenital infections or metabolic defects. RESULTS: Out of 2164 children who underwent computerized tomography brain, 22 had corpus callosum agenesis (1%). Most cases were not syndromic and 64% were males. Epileptic disorders were noted in about one third of cases. CONCLUSION: Corpus callosum agenesis an important anomaly in children with neurodevelopment handicaps, usually detected by neuroradiology.

External hydrocephalus: a report of 16 cases from Oman.

Sixteen cases of external hydrocephalus (EH) were seen from January 1993 to June 1995. There were 13 (81 per cent) male and three female children. Fourteen (88 per cent) were under 12 months of age. Three siblings with EH were seen in one family. All, but three recovered over time without medical or surgical intervention. These three needed cerebral decongestants in the acute phase. This is the first report of EH from Oman.

Induction of direct somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).

Pepper (cv. New Mexico - 6 and Rajur Hirapur) plants were regenerated from immature zygotic embryos via direct somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryos were formed directly, without any intervening callus, on the zygotic embryo apex, embryo axis and cotyledons on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 2,4-D (418 µM), thidiazuron (10 µM) and a high concentration of sucrose (6-10%). The best response was observed on MS medium containing 2,4-D (9 µM), coconut water (10%) and high sucrose (8%). The entire process of induction and maturation of the embryos was completed on the same medium. Histological examination indicated that secondary embryogenesis also occurred directly from the primary somatic embryos. Differentiation of embryos was nonsynchronous, and some embryos were swollen and distorted with fasciation. More than 70% of the mature normal somatic embryos germinated readily on MS medium containing GA3 or TDZ, alone and in combination, and following transfer to pots developed into normal plants.

Promotion ofin vitro shoot formation from excised roots of silktree (Albizzia julibrissin) by an oxime ether derivative and other ethylene inhibitors.

This report describes the regeneration response of excised seedling roots of silktree (Albizzia julibrissin) to added ethylene precursors/generators (1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid [ACC], 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid [CEPA]), biosynthesis inhibitors (aminoethoxyvinylglycine [AVG], an oxime ether derivative [OED={[(ispropylidene)-amino]oxy}-acetic acid-2-(methoxy)-2-oxoethyl ester], CoCl(2) [Co(++)]), and an ethylene action inhibitor (AgNO3 [Ag(+)]). When placed on B5 medium, about 50% of the control explants formed shoot buds within 15 days. Addition of ACC or CEPA (1-10 µM) to the culture medium decreased both the percentage of cultures forming shoots and the number of shoots formed per culture. In contrast, AVG and OED (1-10 µM) increased shoot formation to almost 100% and increased the number of shoots formed per culture. Likewise, both Co(++) and Ag(+) (1-10 µM) increased shoot regeneration, but the number of shoots produced after 30 days was less than with AVG or OED. The inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis were partially effective in counteracting the inhibitory effect of ACC on shoot formation. These results suggest that modulation of ethylene biosynthesis and/or action can strongly influence the formation of adventitious shoots from excised roots of silktree.

In vitro production of flowering shoots in 'German Red' carnation: effect of uniconazole and gibberellic acid.

Callus regenerated near the base of senescing petals of flower bud explants of 'German Red' carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) produced adventitious flowering microshoots on MS-medium containing benzylaminopurine (8.9 µM) and naphthaleneacetic acid (2.7 µM). When these microshoots were subcultured with some callus, additional adventitious flowering microshoots were produced from the callus. The production of adventitious flowering shoots continued for many subcultures spanning a period of more than two years. Uniconazole (6.9 µM) increased the number of adventitious shoots formed by as much as two-fold but decreased shoot length by about 50%. In contrast, GA3 (2.9 µM) decreased adventitious shoot formation and increased shoot length. Regardless of the growth regulator treatment, virtually all of the adventitious shoots produced flower buds. Thus, the growth regulators influenced flowering only indirectly by altering the number of adventitious shoots produced in vitro. These results demonstrate that the flowering habit of the adventitious shoots of 'German Red' carnation is highly persistent and the flowering stimulus continues to be transmitted to the newly formed microshoots through the callus.

Effect of gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors on shoot regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Albizzia julibrissin.

Hypocotyl explants of Albizzia julibrissin were placed on Gamborg's B5 medium supplemented with various levels of paclobutrazol, uniconazole, prohexadione calcium, or GA3. Callus formation was evident within one week after placement of the explants on the culture media. Green nodule-like structures protruded from the distal end of the explants within 10 days and developed into shoots within a month. These shoots readily formed adventitious roots when placed on fresh culture medium. All three of the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors increased shoot formation compared to the control. The number of shoots per explants was increased 107, 79, and 168% by 0.3-0.4 µM paclobutrazol, uniconazole, and prohexadione calcium, respectively. In contrast to the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitors, GA3 decreased shoot formation. These results indicate that modification of gibberellin status can have a strong impact on the number of shoots formed.

Influence of growth regulators on somatic embryogenesis, plantlet regeneration, and post-transplant survival of Echinochloa frumentacea.

After placement on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium supplemented with 3-5 mg/l 2,4-D, immature inflorescence expiants of Echinochloa frumentacea gave rise to three distinct types of callus: a) loosely arranged and soft; b) compact and translucent; c) compact, sticky and mucilaginous. Somatic embryo formation occurred in type 'b' callus in about 18-24 d. Callus types 'a' and 'c' did not produce somatic embryos. The highest percentage of cultures exhibiting somatic embryogenesis occurred on the medium containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin. Somatic embryos also formed directly on the inflorescence (without intervening callus formation) in about 15% of the expiants placed on this medium. The addition of paclobutrazol or uniconazole (0.25 or 1 mg/l) to the medium had no influence on the percentage of cultures exhibiting direct somatic embryogenesis, but paclobutrazol slightly increased the mean number of somatic embryos per culture. Many of the callus-derived somatic embryos germinated when subcultured on basal MS medium supplemented with kinetin. Addition of paclobutrazol or uniconazole to the culture medium at 0.25 or 1 mg/l decreased somatic embryo germination and shoot elongation but increased root length and leaf width. Both paclobutrazol and uniconazole increased survival of the plantlets following transplanting to soil. Increased post-transplant survival was accompanied by reduced water loss from plantlets produced on culture media containing triazoles.

Morphactin-kinetin interaction in lettuce seed germination and seedling growth.

Butylester of morphactin (n-butyl-9-hydroxy-fluorence-(9)-carboxylate) greatly inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of two strains of lettuce, "Attraktion" and "Hohlblättriger Butter". The inhibitory effect of morphactin on seed germination was completely overcome by kinetin but the latter chemical was ineffective in reversing the morphactin induced inhibition of seedling growth. Thus it appears probable that the two substances effect seedling growth independently.