Harvesting large fascia lata sheaths: a rational approach.

This article describes an "S"-shaped incision for the open approach of harvesting wide sheets of fascia lata with reference to the important anatomical landmarks. Forty-three patients required dural replacement in cases of tumors, trauma, or cerebrospinal fluid leak involving the anterior skull base. The extended anterior suberanial approach to the skull base was used for all patients.

[The subcranial approach for tumors involving the anterior skull base].

The technical approach for anterior skull base tumors has progressed considerably during the last decade. In the classical combined craniofacial resection (CFR) technique, anterior skull base lesions have been approached through bi-frontal craniotomy coupled with Weber-Ferguson and related modifications incisions. The purpose of this work is to present our experience with the subcranial approach for treatment of anterior skull base tumors.

Comparative effects of different doses of ribavirin plus interferon-alpha2b for therapy of chronic hepatitis C: results of a controlled, randomized trial.

Compared to either drug alone, therapy with the combination of ribavirin and interferon-alpha leads to improved rates of response in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Side effects often mandate downward dose adjustment or cessation of therapy, and the optimal dose of ribavirin has not been established. The aim of this study was to learn whether 600 mg ribavirin per day would prove as efficacious as 1,000-1,200 mg/day when combined with interferon (3 million units thrice weekly) for therapy of patients previously treated with standard interferon who had failed to respond or who had relapsed.