Low temperature a/b nanotwins in Ni50Mn25+xGa25-x Heusler alloys.

We have found low temperature a/b nanotwins having (110) twinning plane in a five-layered modulated martensite phase of Ni50Mn25+xGa25-x (at. %) Heusler alloys and identified the particular region in phase diagram where the nanotwinning occurs. Evolution of the structure with decreasing temperature was studied by X-ray diffraction using single crystals exhibiting magnetic shape memory effect. The merging of (400) and (040) lines upon cooling for 2.6 < x < 3.5 indicated a/b nanotwinning originating from the refinement of initially coarse a/b twins. Refinement of the twins with decreasing temperature was observed directly using scanning electron microscopy. The prerequisite for nanotwinning is an extremely low twin boundary energy, which we estimated using first-principles calculations to be 0.16 meV/Å2. As the nanotwinning distorts the relation between the crystal lattice and the X-ray diffraction pattern, it should be taken into consideration in structural studies of Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloys.

[Identification of an Unknown Person through the Bone Implant]. / Identifikace neznámé osoby za pomoci kostního implantátu.

It is always a big challenge to identify unknown dead persons. All the more so if their body is found decomposed beyond recognition by effects of the environment and decay. Usually, layman and forensic methods (e.g. fingerprint identification) and, in case of the absence of evidence, also medical methods are used for post mortem identification. A method very rarely used in practice is the identification of the deceased through the implants. The described case concerned a finding of a decomposed body of an unidentified man. During the autopsy, apart from the signs of multiple surgeries, a dynamic hip screw implant with a well identifiable serial number was found. Based on this number, health care facilities were traced back in which such an implant had been used, and through studying the documentation of 117 cases, a male patient was finally identified whose other autopsy findings matched the clinical finding. Without the excellent cooperation of orthopaedists and medical examiners, the man would most likely remain unidentified. Key words: identification, autopsy for identification purposes, bone implants, dynamic hip screw.

[The correlation of results of breath analysers and laboratory blood examinations of blood-ethanol concentration (Czech and Slovak study)]. / Mezirepubliková Cesko-Slovenská studie korelace výsledku dechových analyzátoru a výsledku laboratorní analýzy pri zjistování hladiny alkoholu v krvi.

The target of this study was to compare the results of breath analysers and "lege artis" laboratory blood examinations when determining alcohol levels. This was then used to determine whether any differences exist between the two methods, and how large these differences are. 610 cases from 11 workplaces in the Czech Republic and Slovakia were analysed. The type of breath analyser was not taken into consideration. All cases had to be in the elimination phase. Difference of time between breath test and blood test were rectified through the use of reverse recomputation. It was detected that only 20.8% of the results of respiratory analyser tests correspond to the detected real alcohol level in blood. The maximum difference when a respiratory analyser measured more than a blood test was 1.34 g x kg(-1). and the maximum difference when the analyse measured less was 1.86 g x kg(-1).

[Impact of acute alcoholism on the women's mortality in the northern region of Slovak Republic]. / Dopad akútneho alkoholizmu na mortalitu zien v regióne severného Slovenska.

Problem of women's alcoholism doesn't belong among main topics of Slovak or Czech public discussions. Though everyone meeting the phenomenon of women's alcoholism can feel the fatal consequences of this mistake, our society used to perceive alcoholism as a men's problem. The authors performed the complex analysis of the mortuary files with particular focusing on the cases of women's deaths caused by alcohol intoxication, and the cases of deaths where an alcohol played the dominating role, in the northern regions of Slovak republic. Submitted article is author's next referring to urgent need of public discussion concerning the alcohol consumption in Slovakia, the phenomenon being widely tolerated by the society.

[Determination of AB0 blood group system from degraded blood stains on serological and molecular genetic level]. / Urcování krevního systému AB0 z tepelne degradovaných krevních stop na sérologické a molekulárne genetické urovni.

The AB0 blood group system typing remains one of the basic laboratory tasks in a forensic practice. However, problems arise when the analysed samples are seriously degraded. We took blood samples from six volunteers (three men, three women) and made blood stains on pieces of sterile cotton cloth. Blood stains were incubated at three different temperatures (22 degrees C, 37 degrees C, 56 degrees C) for various periods of time (1 day, 1 week, 14 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year). For blood stains degraded at 22 degrees C we also analysed the samples after 3.5 hours of incubation. Moreover, we tried to determine the AB0 blood group system after thermal degradation at high temperature, accurately at 200 degrees C for 10 min. For the AB0 blood group system typing a Polymerase Chain Reaction method was used to amplify glycosyltransferase gene, when DNA had been isolated from artificially created blood stains, followed by their subsequent artificial thermal degradation. For serological AB0 typing the mixed agglutination and the Therkelsen method were used. The DNA analysis seemed to solve problems with seriously degraded blood stains but we found out that classical serological methods were even better in some cases.

[B0 aberrant genotype of AB0 blood group system]. / Aberantní genotyp B0 v krevním systému AB0.

The AB0 blood group system typing remains one of the basic laboratory tasks in a forensic practice. However, problems arise when the analysed samples are seriously degraded. The DNA analysis promised to solve this but an unexpected complication was encountered. For the AB0 blood group system typing a Polymerase Chain Reaction method was used to amplify glycosyltransferase gene, when DNA had been isolated from artificially created blood stains, followed by their subsequent artificial thermal degradation. In the B0 genotype an aberrant genotype was suprisingly found and its structure was confirmed by sequencing. This meant that a newly formed B00 (not the original BO) genotype was present. Such a finding, to our best knowledge, had not been observed yet and we were unable to find any references in the professional literature. The explanation of this result thus remains unclear.

[Findings in the detection of fibronectin in skin burns]. / Nekteré poznatky získané pri prukazu fibronectinu u popálenin kuze.

Occurrence of fibronectin was detected in paraffin sections of burn skin samples, excised from surviving patients, as well as skin samples removed from the death persons, who succumbed burn wounds. The other groups of samples, used for comparison with the previous one, consisted of the intact skin excisions and skin samples post-mortem exposed to thermic changes. Indirect immunoperoxidase reaction was the immunohistochemical method used in all examinations. In post-mortem burn skin samples there was a loss of fibronectin activity in the epidermo-dermal junction area as well as in the papillary dermis. In burn skin samples, excised from patients who only survived for very short time their (serious skin) burns, no evidence of any fibronectin activity was seen. Also in two other cases, when patients--due to their severe burns--survived for several hours only, there were no conspicuous differences in the intensity of fibronectin activity seen in comparison with features found in the intact skin samples. Fibronectin activity was, however, increased in all other burn skin samples, where the survival time of patients was from 30 minutes to 5 weeks and there were following differences in its intensity and also in its pattern of distribution. In the 1st-degree and in a superficial 2nd-degree skin burn wounds, fibronectin was also present in the epidermis. In the papillary dermis, fibronectin was distributed rather diffusely or in a spot-like pattern while in the reticular dermis, there was a tendency to form net-like structures among collagen fibers. In deeper 2nd-degree and in the 3rd-degree burn wounds, fibronectin was deposited in vicinity of blood vessels and skin appendages in a fibrillar pattern. In 6 out of 11 samples, where the survival time ranged from 7 to 21 days, fibroblasts were arranged among fine collagen fibers and some of these cells exhibited positive fibronectin activity on their surface. Numerous fibroblasts with finely scattered fibronectin spots and also a decrease of fibronectin activity were observed in more mature granulation tissue, present in burn skin samples where survival time of patients was five weeks.

[Effect of Stopangin mouth spray on blood alcohol levels measured by the Alcotest 7410 analyser made by Drager]. / Ovlivnení hodnoty hladiny alkoholu merené analyzátorem Alcotest 7410 fy Dräger sprayem Stopangin.

During a check-up of a driver by a police patrol in the Czech Republic by means of a breath analyzer of Dräger Co. an alcohol blood level of 0.50 g/kg was assessed. Later the driver reported that before the test he used at 30- and 5-minute intervals the drug Stopangin spray. In the Institute of Forensic Medicine the authors made an experiment which revealed that 22 minutes after administration of the drug the apparatus gave a negative result. Agreement with these conclusions was expressed also by a representative of Dräger Co. and the results were published as an expert opinion with a recommended procedure for the police of the Czech Republic in the South Moravian region.

[Iatrogenic injuries of the facial nerve in the mastoid region]. / Iatrogenní poranení lícního nervu v mastoidálním úseku.

During the past ten years nine patients were referred to our hospital with lesions of the VIIth nerve. These lesions were inflicted during operation on account of chronic otitis media. One patient recovered after conservative treatment. Based on the EMG examination and clinical picture, eight patients were operated. In one who had an extensive lesion it did not prove possible to find the proximal stump and the patient improved after Normann-Dott's operation. In the remaining seven subjects also severe damage was involved: five times complete severing of the nerve occurred, twice partial severing and contusion, always in the mastoid portion of the VIIth nerve. The authors achieved as a rule a 50-75% restoration of function of the VIIth nerve Ballance-Duel's operation, using a graft of the n. suralis with microsuture of the epineurium and gluing of the nerve by plasma. Evaluation of late functional results was made 1-8 years after Ballance-Duel's operation. The authors recommend to reduce the risk of iatrogenic lesions of the VIIth nerve in beginners by assistance of experienced surgeons at several operations.

[Reconstructive procedures in war injuries of the larynx and trachea]. / Rekonstrukcní výkony po válecných poraneních hrtanu a prudusnice.

In recent years the authors operated three casualties from non-European battlefields with severe laryngotracheal stenoses due to war injuries. Median laryngotomy (thyrocricotracheotomy) made a revision and modification of the internal injury possible. An implanted tube from a vascular prosthesis, packed in Hydron kept the replaced cartilaginous cross bar and possibly mucous grafts from a gingivobuccal fold in the correct position. A cross bar made from a cartilaginous or bony portion of a rib also dilated the lumen. It was kept in position by the perichondrium of the cartilaginous cross bar sutured to the margin of the mucosal remnants. All three patients were decannulated.

[Our surgical approach in the treatment of otosclerosis over the past 10 years]. / Nase chirurgické postupy v lécbe otosklerózy za posledních 10 let.

The most frequently used technique of surgery of otosclerosis used during the past ten years in the Central Military Hospital was Schuknecht's technique of wire and fat. 575 thus operated patients account for 89.4% of the total number of 643 operations. A compensation of the bone reserve to 0-10 dB was achieved in the late results of 56.3% of the operated patients, in another 30% there were auditory gains of speech frequencies, on average above 10 dB. Favourable late results were thus achieved in 86.3% of the operated patients, deterioration of hearing was recorded in 4.8% (13 operated patients). Pistons of Schuknecht's type were used in 23 patients with the obliterating form of otosclerosis. As to late results, in 21 of the evaluated patients compensation of the bone reserve to 0-10 dB was recorded in 28.6%. The mean auditory gains as regards speech frequencies higher than 10 dB were achieved in 47.6%. Favourable late results were thus recorded in 76.2% of operated patients with the obliterating form of otosclerosis. Deterioration of hearing occurred in this group in one operated patient (4.8%).

[Late results in the replacement of auditory ossicles with silastic prostheses]. / Pozdní výsledky náhrady sluchových kustek silastikovými protézkami.

Silastic prostheses of the middle ear proved useful in the reconstruction of the chain of auditory ossicles. Following an observation period of 6 months to 6 years they led in type PORP in a group of 49 subjects to early functional positive results in 78% and late positive results in 71%. The authors tested type TORP in 56 patients with a 57% success as regards early and late results. They used pistons only in obliterated fossae of the fenestra ovalis or in case of thick immobile plates. Despite this they achieved excellent and good early and late auditory gains in 58%. Of 105 prostheses type PORP and TORP administered during the entire observation period rejection occurred only in four subjects, i. e. in 3.8%. They inserted a strip of fascia between the cap of the prosthesis and tympanic membrane.

[Revision after surgical procedures in the middle ear and mastoid]. / Revize po sanacních výkonech na stredousi a mastoideu.

In a group of 46 revised operations the most frequent cause of revision was persisting secretion--in 41 patients. After elimination of general causes and after failure of conservative treatment, during revision the following local causes were revealed: relapse of cholesteatoma in 44%, inflammation of the residual or repneumatized spaces in 41%, ostitis of the long process of the incus in 10% and inflammation in the divided trepanation cavities in 5%. By the first revision the authors achieved a dry trepanation cavity in 58.5% of the operated patients. By the second and third revision they increased the number of dry trepanation cavities to 83% and in the remaining ones there was only an occasional secretion. The revision involved usually a more radical procedure. In some of the patients operated by the "closed" technique the authors changed to the "open" technique. A radical approach to the auditory ossicles and the ear drum, if they were preserved during the primary operation, led to a deterioration of hearing in 22 of 41 operated patients, i. e. in 53.66%. This is the cost of obtaining a dry trepanation cavity.

A silastic prosthesis for total replacement of the middle-ear ossicular chain, its acoustic properties and clinical application.

The authors designed and made a prosthesis for total replacement of the middle ear ossicular chain (TORP) from Silastic MDX 44-516. A great advantage of this substitute is that it can easily be modified to a prosthesis for partial replacement of the middle-ear ossicular chain (PORP). The transfer properties of the PORP type prosthesis were verified by using an electroacoustic model measurement. Very good anatomical and functional results were obtained in the clinical testing of both types of middle-ear substitutes. No undesired reactions to the implanted polymer were observed.

[Clinical experience with silastic middle-ear prostheses]. / Klinické zkousení silastikových stredousních protézek.

The authors made clinical tests of silastic prostheses of the middle ear, type PORP, TORP and piston. They used 29 X PORP, 26 X TORP and 21 pistons. They did not reveal any signs of tissue intolerance to Silastic MDX 44-516, which is used for making prostheses. They achieved satisfactory anatomical and functional results. They recorded an auditory gain in more than half the patients (early: PORP 97%, TORP 73%, piston 52%; plasty transplants of ossicles obtained from subjects who died accidentallye For preserfic Council of the Ministry of Health, Czech Socialist Republic, recommended, based on the clinical tests, the manufacture of silastic prostheses of the middle ear.