[The current approach to hemangiomas and vascular malformations of the head and neck].

Though most hemangiomas do not need treatment, a significant minority are associated with complications and external deformities that demand intervention. Steroids play an important role in therapy, but not infrequently afford only partial and temporary benefit. Thanks to improvements in the surgical approach and equipment, hemostasis control devices and laser techniques, we can now treat patients who would otherwise go untreated. Moreover, in certain cases, we can now recommend earlier intervention, saving patients from years of living with deformities and the concomitant psychosocial problems. Vascular anomalies of the head and neck include venular, venous and arteriovenous malformations. These lesions are slow growing vascular ectasia that never involute spontaneously and almost always require intervention. Treatment includes laser therapy, injection of sclerosing agents, embolization through angiography and surgery, which in many cases is the only definitive treatment. We present the current treatment approach and describe our experience in the treatment of 16 patients.

A new CD44V3-containing isoform is involved in tumor cell growth and migration during human breast carcinoma progression.

CD44 isoforms belong to a family of cell adhesion molecules expressed on the cell surface of many tumor cells during human breast cancer progression. In this study we have analyzed the expression of CD44v3-containing isoforms [containing heparan sulfate addition sites for growth factor binding] in primary breast tumors, axillary nodal metastases and normal breast tissue. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot, cloning, nucleotide sequencing and RT-in situ-PCR analyses, we have found that at least two CD44v3-containing isoforms, including one new species of CD44v2,deltav3-10 (deltav3 defined as a v3 exon lacking the first 24 base pairs) and another previously reported CD44v3,8-10 are preferentially expressed in human primary breast tumor and axillary nodal metastases but not in normal breast tissues. These finding suggest that these CD44v3-containing isoforms are closely associated with breast cancer metastasis.

Scorched eyelashes--do we treat them right?

Scorched eyelashes and burned eyelids are a common finding in facial burns, though the eye itself is often spared. Affected patients often complain of foreign body sensation and ocular discomfort in the absence of objective physical findings, other than scorched eyelashes and burned eyelash particles in the conjunctival sacs. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic trimming of scorched eyelashes as a treatment for these findings and complaints. Eleven consecutive facial burn patients with bilateral eyelash scorching and no accompanying ocular damage were included. The eyelashes of one eye were trimmed, and those of the fellow eye served as untreated controls. Ophthalmic examinations were performed and eye-related complaints noted every other day for 10 days. We found that symptoms of foreign body sensation and discomfort occurred at a lower rate in the treated eyes (P<0.002) and no scorched eyelash particles were found in their conjunctival sacs (P<0.004) as compared to the untrimmed side. Conjunctival hyperemia was reduced. We suggest that shedding of scorched eyelash particles is a major cause of the ocular complaints in facial burn patients. Trimming the eyelash affords a simple and effective method of prophylactic treatment.

Rubber foam and staples: do they secure skin grafts? A model analysis and proposal of pressure enhancement techniques.

The significance of even pressure application and protection against shearing forces using a tie-over dressing of skin grafts has been stressed previously. Several methods for pressure enhancement have been described with no quantification or comparison between the different techniques. Rubber foam and metal staples are commonly used for simple and quick application of the dressings. We developed a model for analyzing the contact interface of the dressing with the skin graft and the pressure exerted by it. A stapled rubber foam tie-over dressing was compared with the original silk thread tie-over dressing. Six different embodiments were also analyzed, all constructed using only rubber foam and metal staples. Imprint and maximal projection analyses of the undersurfaces were performed. The original silk thread tie-over dressing exerted a relatively low pressure but was uniformly distributed. A regular stapled tie-over dressing applied a ring-shaped pressure with minimal projection. Other methods are described providing different contact areas with the grafts and different pressures.

[The age-related characteristics of the hormonal regulation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity in the kidney cortex of rats]. / Vozrastnye osobennosti gormonal'noi reguliatsii aktivnosti Na+, K(+)-ATFazy v kore pochek krys.

The aldosterone binding in isolated distal convoluted and cortical collecting tubules of renal nephrons and the influence of hormonal induction on the Na, K-ATPase activity in membrane fraction of kidney cortex were studied in 10-day- and 2-month-old rats. No reliable difference in aldosterone-specific binding was revealed (0.26 +/- 0.04 and 0.22 +/- 0.03 fmol/mm of tubule length, respectively, at the age of 10 days and 2 months). It was found that Na, K-ATPase activity increased with age from 0.39 +/- 0.06 to 0.72 +/- 0.10 mumol Pi/mg of protein.1 hour.100 microliters. Aldosterone induction caused approximately a 3-fold increase of the enzyme activity in both age groups comparing to the control level. Co-induction of aldosterone and spironolactone resulted in a 50% decrease of Na, K-ATPase activity in adult rats, but did not influence that in young rats. The revealed age-related differences in the mechanism of hormonal Na, K-ATPase regulation are supposed to underlie the absence of physiological reaction of the kidney to aldosterone in early postnatal ontogenesis.

High-precision laser gravimeter.

A ballistic gravimeter has been constructed using a laser interferometer to measure the vertical distance traversed by a free-falling body and a rubidium frequency standard to measure elapsed time. The error in distance and time measurement are estimated to be less than 2 x 10(-8) and 2 x 10(-11) respectively. The systematic error in measuring gravitational acceleration, after corrections have been made, does not exceed 0.02 mgal.