Acetylcholine but not sodium nitroprusside exerts vasodilation in pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic congestive heart failure.

Background: Reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation contributes to the development of pulmonary hypertension in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). We investigated pulmonary endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation in patients with CHF.

Methods: We studied 42 patients with CHF (age 55 +/- 10, NYHA Classes II-III, left ventricular ejection fraction 27 +/- 10%, mean PAP 29 +/- 12 mmHg).

Structural changes of dental enamel in both dentitions of cleft lip and palate patients.

The aim of this study was to register the incidence, the location and the character of structural changes in dental morphology in cleft lip and palate patients and to examine the connection between defects of dental enamel and the development of clefts. Twenty-two children and adolescents from a cross-section study carried out in 1987/89 with cleft lip and palate patients could be covered in a second study (longitudinal study). The frequency, the extent and the location of changes of dental hard tissues in both dentitions were assessed in the form of a static and a dynamic examination.

[Myocardial ischemia caused by ICD electrodes?].

We report on a 65 year old man, in whom an ICD was implanted. Seven months later we found a remarkable close relation between the tip of the ICD electrode and the distal part of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). LAD seems to be compressed from electrode during systole.

Impaired ventilatory efficiency in chronic heart failure: possible role of pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Background: Patients with chronic heart failure show impairment of ventilatory efficiency, defined as the relation between ventilation and carbon dioxide output. It is caused by ventilation of excess physiologic dead space. We hypothesized a role of active vasoconstriction in the increase of physiologic dead space, presumed to lead to alveolar hypoperfusion.

Bilaterally cleft lip, limb defects, and haematological manifestations: Roberts syndrome versus TAR syndrome.

We report on a 13-year-old patient followed since birth. He is the only offspring of young, non-consanguineous German parents. His mother has an isolated left cleft of lip and a cleft palate.

Effects of reperfusion on arrhythmias and death after coronary artery occlusion in the rat: increased electrical stability independent of myocardial salvage.

Objectives: This study sought to delineate salvage-dependent from salvage-independent coronary reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction and the effects on spontaneously occurring arrhythmias and arrhythmic death in rats.

Background: Reperfusion of the infarct-related artery might increase electrical stability independently of salvage of ischemic myocardium.

Methods: In 98 conscious rats the electrocardiogram was monitored by telemetry for 48 h after MI, and all episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) were analyzed.

[Nager syndrome].

In this publication, Nager syndrome was analyzed in the literature and six patients from our clinic were evaluated in relation to symptoms, etiology and pathogenesis. The diseases to be considered when making a differential diagnosis are pointed out. Clarification of the etiology is still pending.

Oculo-facio-cardio-dental (OFCD) syndrome.

The association of facial dysmorphy, congenital cataracts, microphthalmia, heart disease, and dental radiculomegaly is very rare. We describe a girl with atrial septal defect, unilateral congenital cataract, unilateral microphthalmia, radiculomegaly of incisor and canine teeth with open apices and other dental crown anomalies. This combination of symptoms clearly represents a distinct syndrome and has recently been described as oculo-facio-cardio-dental (OFCD) syndrome.

Relationship between haemodynamics and morphology in pulmonary hypertension. A quantitative intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound imaging of the pulmonary arteries has been demonstrated to be a reliable method of quantifying vessel diameter, luminal area and pulsatility. Simultaneous measurement of flow velocity and its response to vasodilators allows the relationship between morphology and functional compromise to be studied, especially endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: In 51 patients (mean age = 49.

[Median facial dysplasia in patients with lip-jaw-palate clefts. Characteristics and problems in interdisciplinary orthodontic-oral surgery treatment].

The diagnosis of median facial dysplasia is made in cases of a typical deficiency of the median facial structures without concomitant abnormalities of the brain, and presence of unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate. The identification and description of this type of cleft lip and palate are important because such patients have severe growth disturbances and tissue deficiencies. These make surgical reconstruction and orthodontic treatment difficult.

[Aerosolized prostacyclin for preoperative evaluation and post-cardiosurgical treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension].

Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to selectively lower pulmonary vascular resistance and is applied in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT). However, application and monitoring is complex and not always successful ("non-responders"). We evaluated the effect of aerolized prostacyclin (aePGI2) as a therapeutic alternate to NO.

Unilateral cleft lip and palate. Relationship between morphology of the dentition and functional parameters of the tongue.

The relationship between orthodontic and logopedic findings was evaluated with statistical contingency analysis. The investigation was focused on selected dentomorphologic parameters and oral function/malfunction of 100 patients between 3 and 7 years of age with unilateral cleft lip and palate. For further classification into contingency tables "normal" and "abnormal" attributes were defined.

Maxilla dimension in patients with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate. Changes from birth until palate surgery at age three.

This study traces the changes in maxillary dimension in 44 unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients and 28 bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients from birth up to the time of palate surgery at age 3. Measurements on dental casts were carried out at 4 defined registration stages. The results revealed a continuous reduction in cleft dimension parallel to an increase in the transversal and sagittal maxillary dimensions.

Cephalometric investigations concerning the geometry of the viscerocranium of human anencephalic fetuses.

Cephalometric investigations were carried out on 16 macerated skulls of anencephalic fetuses aged around 6 months and compared with the values obtained from a group of 18 normally developed specimens. The skull geometry of the anencephalic fetuses was different from normal proportions: anencephalic fetuses showed a clear mandibular prognathism, and a maxilla tilted in anterior direction. The values describing length of maxilla and length of the anterior cranial base, and NS-Ba angle were found to be within the normal range.

Arrhythmias and death after coronary artery occlusion in the rat. Continuous telemetric ECG monitoring in conscious, untethered rats.

Background: The onset of acute myocardial infarction (MI) is accompanied by a rapid increase in electrical instability and often fatal ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to assess the continuous arrhythmia profile during the initial 48 hours after coronary artery ligation in the rat in relation to time course, mortality, and infarct size.

Methods And Results: Continuous ECG recording were obtained in 26 conscious, untethered rats for 24 hours before and 48 hours after coronary ligation by use of an implantable telemetry system.

[A contribution to the controversial discussion on a preoperative orthodontic treatment for infants with unilateral cheilognathopalatoschisis].

A longitudinal study of 39 casts of pre-operative orthodontically treated unilateral cleft lip and palate children from birth to palate operation was carried out with a special coordinate measuring technique to quantify changes in the maxilla. A significant reduction in width of the alveolar cleft was found. The anterior alveolar arch width remained constant, while the posterior region slightly increased.

[Problems of orthodontic care in a patient with Wiedemann-Beckwith-syndrome].

A review of cases with Wiedemann-Beckwith-syndrome in the literature and a comparison with our case is presented. The specific craniofacial and stomatognathical findings are highlighted. Aspects and problems of orthodontic treatment are discussed.

[Maxillofacial growth in difficult conditions: on orthodontic rehabilitation of patients with cleft lip-jaw-palate].

The orthodontic treatment of cleft palate patients extends from birth to youth and is divided into three phases: pre-operative phase, deciduous dentition, mixed and permanent dentition. Therapeutic concepts for each particular phase are presented. Information is also provided on research into the growth of the jaw and face area in cleft palate patients compared with a control group.

[Follow-up observation in case of cherubism].

It is described the development of cherubism by a boy during the time of 10 years. All symptoms of this syndrome could be shown. In progress of the illness the lateral mandibular-swellings be reduced, but the roentgenological alterations continue to exist in change figure, extension and position.

[Frequency and prevalence of anomalies in shape, number and structure in locally limited disorders of the odontogenesis].

Anomalies in shape, number and structure of deciduous and permanent teeth in patients with different kinds of clefts are a sign of a disturbed developmental process. Their localisation, typically in the immediate vicinity of the cleft formation, and their exclusive presence at the upper medium and lateral incisors led to the presumption of a direct correlation with the genesis of the cleft formation. An early preventive individual care and the consequent complex stomatological therapy are a prerequisite for the realization of the morphological, functional and aesthetic conditions that effectively assist in the social accommodation of patients with different kinds of clefts.

[Three-dimensional recording of changes in infant jaws with bilateral lip-maxilla-palate clefts with special reference to the results of preoperative orthodontic therapy].

Bilateral clefts are more difficult to treat than unilateral ones. The most important step during the orthopedic therapy is the retrusion of the premaxilla between the lateral segments of the maxilla. Thus the anterior cleft width, as opposed to the medial and posterior cleft width, did not become smaller.

[3-dimensional recording of changes in the infant jaw with unilateral cheilognathopalatoschisis with special reference to the results of preoperative orthodontic therapy].

The changes of jaws of cleft palate children were examined from birth until after the operative lip closure by the aid of a method of coordinate measurement technique. The examination resulted in a significant reduction of the anterior, medial and posterior cleft width during the preoperative treatment period. The anterior and posterior width of alveolar crest arch remained nearly constant in the examination period.

[Normal and pathologic development of the secondary palate--a new concept].

Wether the secondary palate develops in the normal or pathological manner is determined by the following processes: Within the contact-epithelium of each palate process there is a still invisible differentiation boundary between the potential oral and nasal epithelium. It extends from rostral to pharyngeal. A genetically determined and timed regular separation of nasal and oral epithelium and an initial epithelial shift along these differentiation boundaries allow the well-timed "primary" fusion of mesenchyme.

[A new concept of the normal and pathological development of the primary palate. 1. The normal fate of Hochstetter's epithelial wall].

The following conclusions as to the normal development of the primary palate were drawn from literary and own embryological studies and from morphological evaluations of congenital malformations in this region: 1. The nasal fin or so-called "Epithelmauer" consists of two epithelial layers. It is build, if the epithelial surfaces from the medial and lateral nasal processes touch each other.