Clinical features of Lassa fever in Liberia.

Two hundred thirteen cases of Lassa fever (LF) were diagnosed by virus isolation and seroconversion at Curran Lutheran Hospital in Zorzor, Liberia, between July 1980 and April 1986. An additional 40 cases of probable and presumptive LF were diagnosed on the basis of single serum samples. Of the 246 assessable patients, 23 (9%) died; no data were available for seven patients.

A comparison of ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine in relieving pain following wisdom teeth removal.

Although dihydrocodeine (DF118) is widely prescribed by general dental practitioners, there is little evidence that it is successful in controlling post-operative dental pain. Ibuprofen is known to be effective in this situation. A single dose, double-blind study was carried out in 148 patients to compare 400 mg ibuprofen with 30 mg dihydrocodeine and placebo for treating moderate to severe pain following the removal of unilateral, impacted mandibular third molar teeth under local anaesthesia.

Optimal conditions for in vitro T cell depletion of human bone marrow by Campath-1a plus complement as demonstrated by limiting dilution analysis.

Quantitations of residual T cells by limiting dilution analysis (LDA), immunofluorescence analysis, sheep red cell rosetting, and proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin were done to identify treatment conditions that maximized the ex vivo T cell depletion (TCD) of human bone marrow (BM) with the rat monoclonal antibody Campath-1 (CP1) and complement (C'). Different treatment approaches achieved levels of TCD varying from 0.4 to 2.

The fate of meshed allograft skin in burned patients using cyclosporin immunosuppression.

Three patients with burns of 35%, 60% and 25% were treated with cyclosporin after the application of allograft skin. Biopsies of the allografts were taken at appropriate intervals. The drug was continued for 3 weeks, 3 months and 3 weeks respectively without ill-effects on the patients.

Tongue resection with the CO2 laser: the effects of past radiotherapy on postoperative complications.

A clinical study was undertaken in 21 patients to assess the effects of past radiotherapy on complications after tongue resection with the CO2 laser. Ten of the 11 irradiated patients experienced postoperative problems such as pain, haemorrhage, oedema, infection, delayed healing and poor function, while only one of the 10 non-irradiated patients had a problem due to minor bleeding after laser surgery. It is concluded that the CO2 laser is useful for primary excision of accessible tumours in the anterior tongue, but may be associated with more postoperative complications if the tongue has previously been irradiated.

A phase II trial of streptozotocin and adriamycin in advanced APUD tumors.

Thirty-three patients with advanced carcinoid tumors, islet cell carcinomas, or medullary carcinomas of the thyroid were entered into a phase II trial combining streptozotocin (STZ) and Adriamycin. Thirty-one patients are evaluable for response, and 29 are evaluable for survival. Six (19%) patients achieved objective partial responses (95% confidence limits: 5.

Early lymphopenia in burned children with and without the toxic shock syndrome.

The white cell count (WCC) response to thermal injury in children in week 1 postburn has been investigated in a prospective study of 33 patients. Two of these patients developed the toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and, together with seven previously diagnosed cases of the TSS, were studied as a separate group. The WCC response in the non-TSS (control) patients was compared with the response observed in the TSS group.

Hydroxyapatite as a biomaterial for alveolar ridge augmentation.

Hydroxyapatite is a useful biomaterial because of its excellent biocompatibility. It is extremely well tolerated by the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and jaws, and offers great potential for the future. This paper reviews the various physical forms of the material, both solid and porous, its biological behaviour in different implant sites, and the surgical techniques for its implantation.

The versatility of hydroxyapatite blocks in maxillofacial surgery.

There is considerable interest at present in the potential role of calcium hydroxyapatite as a biomaterial for bone augmentation in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Most of the published work has been on the particulate form, mainly in alveolar ridge procedures. However, hydroxyapatite is also available as solid or porous blocks.

Ridge augmentation using solid and porous hydroxylapatite particles with and without autogenous bone or plaster.

Edentulous areas of dog jaws were augmented with solid or porous particles of hydroxylapatite (HA) alone, or combined with either finely crushed autogenous bone or plaster of paris. At the end of the experiment (24 weeks), the augmented ridges were firm and stable and covered with healthy mucosa. The ridges augmented with only porous particles of HA demonstrated a greater amount of bone ingrowth compared with the solid, dense particles.

Therapeutic arterial embolisation of vascular lesions in the maxillofacial region.

The technique of therapeutic arterial embolisation involves the introduction of a thrombus-inducing material into the lumen of a blood vessel to occlude the vessel and reduce the blood supply to a lesion or to a specific part of the body. It is particularly useful in the maxillofacial region in the management of vascular lesions where marked diminution in blood flow can be achieved. This paper reviews the procedure and the materials for embolisation, and describes four patients for whom it was of considerable assistance.

Reconstruction of the middle third of mandible.

The radial forearm flap is established as a suitable method of providing bone with soft tissue lining or skin cover in reconstruction of the mandible. A simple and effective method of modelling the radius to provide the appropriate contour to the anterior arch of the mandible is described.

Pediatric Lassa fever: a review of 33 Liberian cases.

Thirty-three cases of pediatric Lassa fever were identified at Curran Lutheran Hospital and Phebe Hospital in Liberia between January 1980 and March 1984. All 18 fetal cases died and the case-fatality rate for 15 childhood cases was 27%. We identified four clinical presentations according to age, including a case of congenital Lassa fever, a condition not reported previously.

Mandibular reconstruction using split autogenous bone grafts.

A procedure is described for reconstructing the body, angle and ascending ramus of the mandible using split autogenous bone grafts from the iliac crest. These compound grafts have been monitored using clinical, radiological and radio-isotope scanning techniques which demonstrated early revascularisation and consolidation. The healing pattern is similar to that of one-piece cortico-cancellous grafts.

Glycosaminoglycans in human salivary-duct stones.

These were demonstrated using histochemical and biochemical techniques. The presence of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate was confirmed by enzymic digestion. These substances may arise from inflammation in peri-ductal tissue.

IgG subclass levels in thermally injured children.

In the light of the recognition of Toxic Shock Syndrome occurring in burned children in our Unit, IgG subclass levels were monitored during the first week post burn in a group of 16 children. There were marked differences between some of the subclasses.

Large calculi of the submandibular salivary glands.

Salivary calculi occur in the submandibular and parotid glands, and their ducts, and occasionally reach a large size. However, little information is available on the composition of these giant stones. 2 cases are reported of unusually large calculi of the submandibular salivary glands.