Intracranial stenoocclusive disease: double-detector helical CT angiography versus digital subtraction angiography.

Background And Purpose: To our knowledge, no large-scale studies comparing the accuracy of CT angiography (CTA) to intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of intracranial stenosis have been reported. We attempted to determine the diagnostic value of intracranial CT angiography (CTA) of normal vasculature and variants as well as of stenoocclusive disease.

Methods: One-hundred and twelve patients underwent CTA and intraarterial angiography, and 2205 vascular segments were examined to ascertain presence, visibility, and degree of arterial stenoses (n = 105) as well as anatomic variants.

The continuous-injection technique to reduce complications during retrobulbar anesthesia.

Retrobulbar as well as peribulbar anesthesia remain relatively risky procedures; retrobulbar hemorrhage and especially globe penetration or perforation can have blinding consequences. Our continuous-injection-technique greatly reduces these risks whether used for retrobulbar or peribulbar anesthesia. If the ophthalmologist starts injecting the agent while advancing the needle, the fluid pushes tissues away, possibly preventing a hemorrhage.

Cocaine-induced cardiovascular effects: lack of evidence for a central nervous system site of action based on hemodynamic studies with cocaine methiodide.

It has been suggested that cocaine acts directly in the brain to enhance central sympathetic outflow. However, some studies suggested that the cardiovascular effects of cocaine are related to a peripheral action. To characterize further the site of cocaine's cardiovascular effect, we compared the hemodynamic effects of cocaine (2 mg/kg, i.

DNA and protein interactions of the small subunit of herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA polymerase.

Herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase (HSV pol) holoenzyme consists of a large catalytic (UL30 gene product) and a small auxiliary subunit (UL42 gene product). The DNA binding of HSV pol, its cofactor, and the assembled holoenzyme complex was studied by bandshift analysis using purified proteins expressed via recombinant baculovirus. The functional activity of the recombinant UL42, purified by phenyl-Sepharose chromatography, was confirmed by its ability (1) to convert the salt sensitivity of both, 3'-5' exonuclease and polymerase, activities of HSV pol and (2) to enhance the processivity of polymerization.

Combined endoscopic intranasal and external frontal sinusotomy.

We review our experience treating patients with medically refractory frontal sinusitis that could not be relieved with endoscopic intranasal surgery alone. Fourteen combined external and intranasal endoscopic frontal sinusotomies were performed on a consecutive sample of 11 patients presenting over a 38-month period of study. Postoperative results were classified as cured, improved, unchanged, or worse, based on patient symptoms and physical findings.

[3-phase spiral CT of the liver, Value of non-contrast arterial and portal venous studies in the diagnosis of focal liver lesions].

Purpose: To assess the value of noncontrast, arterial and portal venous phase of triphasic helical CT in detecting and characterising focal liver lesions.

Material And Methods: 120 patients with focal liver disease underwent triphasic helical CT examinations with a collimation of 6.5 mm at a table feed of 6.

Endoscopically guided frontal sinus beclomethasone instillation for refractory frontal sinus/recess mucosal edema and polyposis.

Despite its metabolic complications, systemic corticosteroid therapy remains a mainstay in the treatment of refractory polyposis after endoscopic frontal sinusotomy. Furthermore, topical nasal corticosteroids often fail, presumably due to the relatively small dosage actually absorbed by the polyps. In order to minimize steroid complications while increasing the locally absorbed dose, beclomethasone (approximately 1 cc, 84 mcg/100 microliters) was instilled under endoscopic guidance directly into the frontal sinus in 31 instances in 16 patients with postoperative frontal recess/sinus polyposis and mucosal edema.

[Epidemiology of severe eye injuries. United States Eye Injury Registry (USEIR) and Hungarian Eye Injury Registry (HEIR)].

Background: Both in industrialized and in developing nations, the devastating impact of ocular trauma on society is increasingly recognized. Lacking standardized surveillance systems, however, comparable epidemiological information has not been available previously.

Methods: For several years, the United States Eye Injury Registry (USEIR) and the Hungarian Eye Injury Registry (HEIR) have been collecting data on all types of serious ocular trauma, based on identical operating criteria and using standardized reporting forms.

Terson syndrome. Results of vitrectomy and the significance of vitreous hemorrhage in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: The purpose of study A was to assess the effectiveness of vitrectomy for Terson syndrome. The purpose of study B was to determine the incidence and significance of vitreous hemorrhage in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Design: Study A is a retrospective review of case series.

Allergic fungal sinusitis in the southeastern USA: involvement of a new agent Epicoccum nigrum Ehrenb. ex Schlecht. 1824.

Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus spp., Bipolaris spicifera, Curvularia lunata, Epicoccum nigrum and Fusarium solani were isolated repeatedly from groups of patients among 96 diagnosed with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). Epicoccum nigrum was obtained consistently from four patients, one of whom yielded mycelial masses consistent in morphology with E.

[CT angiography of cerebral venous circulation: anatomical visualization and diagnostic pitfalls in interpretation].

Purpose: To show the frequency of visualisation of the dural sinuses and cerebral veins with CT-angiography (CTA) with special reference to anatomical variants.

Methods: 34 CTA (1 mm slice thickness, 120 ml nonionic KM, 2 ml/s flow, 40 s prescanning delay) were performed in 30 patients to examine the cerebral venous system. In an anatomic study of cadavers (n = 10) without known disease of the cerebral veins the great sinuses were opened and examined.

Allergenic fungi in allergic fungal sinusitis.

Background: Patients with allergic fungal sinusitis demonstrate skin test reactivity to many fungal extracts. Various fungi have been isolated from the characteristic allergic mucin.

Objective: This study was designed to identify allergens in allergic mucin and to compare them to those found in commercial fungal extracts.

Screening for ocular hemorrhages in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms: a prospective study of 99 patients.

Background: Terson's syndrome (vitreous hemorrhage) and other ocular hemorrhages (retinal hemorrhages) have been reported to occur in up to 40% of patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Because microsurgical vitrectomy can safely restore vision in patients with visual loss secondary to Terson's syndrome, we hypothesized that prospectively screening a selected group of patients with aneurysms would result in a higher rate of vitrectomy in patients with more extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms were prospectively screened for Terson's syndrome and other forms of ocular hemorrhage by an ophthalmologist.

Local and systemic eosinophil activation in allergic fungal sinusitis.

Background: In allergic fungal sinusitis diagnostic and monitoring criteria are not firmly established, and the role of eosinophils in pathogenesis is not clear.

Objective: To determine whether assessment of eosinophil activation by measurement of eosinophil cationic protein in serum or allergic mucin would be useful in distinguishing patients with allergic fungal sinusitis from patients with chronic sinusitis of other etiologies.

Methods: Thirteen patients referred for possible allergic fungal sinusitis were evaluated and given a definite allergic fungal sinusitis diagnosis if they met five of the following six criteria: (1) history and physical not suggesting another etiology, (2) sinus computed tomography consistent with allergic fungal sinusitis, (3) typical allergic mucin, (4) fungus isolated from allergic mucin, (5) presence of fungal-specific IgE, and (6) elevated total IgE.

pmg-1, a novel gene specifically expressed during the invasive growth phase of the mammary gland at puberty.

The acquisition of invasive properties is a crucial event during carcinogenesis, determining the clinical outcome. The mammary gland at puberty provides an ideal model for investigating the induction and control of invasive growth. During this growth phase, the mammary epithelium participates in a normal, hormonally controlled invasive penetration into the stroma.

Capsaicin's effect on rat nasal mucosa substance P release: experimental basis for vasomotor rhinitis treatment.

Substance P (SP) is one of several neuropeptides found in nasal mucosa. It exists primarily in sensory afferent neurons, which are best demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining. These substance P-like immunoreactive (SPLI) nerve fibers are unmyelinated C fibers, which connect to the trigeminal ganglion and the spinal trigeminal nucleus.