Reliability of the pre-operative imaging to assess neck nodal involvement in oral cancer patients, a single-center study.

Background: Primary sites for the metastasis of oral cancer are the cervical lymph nodes. Although there has been considerable technical advancement in the radiological imaging, capability to recognize all metastatic lymph nodes pre-operatively has remained as a challenge. Thus elective neck dissection (END) has remained as reliable practice to treat cervical lymph nodes.

External quality assessment providers' services appear to more impact the immunohaematology performance of laboratories than national regulatory and economic conditions.

Objectives: Medical laboratories may, at their own discretion, exceed but not undercut regulatory quality requirements. Available economic resources, however, may drive or hinder eagerness to exceed minimum requirements. Depending on the respective scopes of regulatory and economic framework conditions, differing levels of quality efforts to safeguard laboratory performance can be anticipated.

Laboratory assessment of novel oral anticoagulants: method suitability and variability between coagulation laboratories.

Background: Laboratory tests to assess novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are under evaluation. Routine monitoring is unnecessary, but under special circumstances bioactivity assessment becomes crucial. We analyzed the effects of NOACs on coagulation tests and the availability of specific assays at different laboratories.

Interactions between extraradical ectomycorrhizal mycelia, microbes associated with the mycelia and growth rate of Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones.

Despite their ecological relevance, field studies of the extraradical mycelia of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are rare. Here we examined in situ interactions between ECM mycelia and host vigour. Ectomycorrhizal mycelia were harvested with in-growth mesh bags buried under Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones planted in 1994 in a randomized block design.

Ectomycorrhizal community structure varies among Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones.

In northern boreal forests, the diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) species is much greater than that of their host trees. This field study investigated the role of individual trees in shaping the ECM community. We compared ECM communities of eight Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones planted in a clear-cut area in 1994 with a randomized block design.

Comparison of the effects of surface tension and osmotic pressure on the interfacial hydration of a fluid phospholipid bilayer.

The effects of three so-called kosmotropic solutes, namely, betaine, sucrose, and choline chloride on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine large unilamellar vesicles, were studied by measuring the generalized polarization (GP) for the fluorescence emission of the membrane partitioning probe Laurdan. The latter has been shown to be sensitive to the depth of water penetration into phospholipid bilayers. At equal osmotic pressures the three solutes produced different increments in GP, with a qualitative positive correlation.

Comparison of the effects of clozapine, chlorpromazine, and haloperidol on membrane lateral heterogeneity.

The interactions of three neuroleptic drugs, clozapine (CLZ), chlorpromazine (CPZ), and haloperidol (HPD) with phospholipids were compared using DSC and Langmuir balance. Main emphasis was on the drug-induced effects on the lateral organization of lipid mixtures of the saturated zwitterionic 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and the unsaturated acidic phosphatidylserine, brainPS. In multilamellar vesicles (MLV) phase separation was observed by DSC at X(PS)> or =0.

Difficult airway in a patient with Marshall-Smith syndrome.

Marshall-Smith syndrome is a rare clinical disorder characterized by accelerated bone maturation, dysmorphic facial features, airway abnormalities and death in early infancy because of respiratory complications. Although patients with Marshall-Smith syndrome have several features with potential anaesthetic problems, previous reports about anaesthetic management of these patients do not exist. We present a case, in which severe hypoxia developed rapidly after routine anaesthesia induction in an eight-month-old male infant with this syndrome.

Hypotensive anesthesia for middle ear surgery: a comparison of propofol infusion and isoflurane.

An infusion of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) was compared with isoflurane to induce hypotension for middle ear surgery. Forty patients (ASA physical status I-II, 16-55 years) scheduled for elective surgery were included in an open randomized study. The pharmacokinetics of propofol infusion were also studied in 6 patients.

Individual alcohol reaction profiles.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate interindividual variation in acute reactions to ethanol. Six young, healthy female subjects participated in a double-blind experiment consisting of two identical alcohol sessions and one control session where glucose was infused instead of ethanol. Alcohol was infused in a standardized way to reach blood alcohol concentration of 1 mg/ml in 1 hr.

Acute effects of intravenously given alcohol on saccadic eye movements and subjective evaluations of intoxication.

Effects of intravenously given alcohol on eye movements were analysed in ten voluntary subjects. Each subject served as his/her own control. Good correlations were found between the changes in saccade variables and subjective evaluations of alertness, eye movement control and intoxication.

A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of flunitrazepam.

Flunitrazepam was given as an induction agent i.v. to 12 patients undergoing otologic operations.

Hemodynamic effects of labetalol in healthy volunteers.

The hemodynamic effects of intravenous injection of 1 mg/kg of labetalol were measured in eight healthy volunteers, using impedance cardiography and systolic time intervals. The mean systolic blood pressure was reduced by 10% (p less than 0.01) and diastolic by 6% (p less than 0.

Comparison of midazolam and flunitrazepam for night sedation. A randomised double-blind study.

In a double-blind randomized study midazolam 15 mg and flunitrazepam 2 mg caused a significantly better night's sleep than placebo. Midazolam had a moderate sedative effect the following morning but, in other respects studied, no residual effects were found. In contrast, flunitrazepam decreased both the degree of apprehension and excitement the following morning.

Effect of age and cardiopulmonary bypass on the pharmacokinetics of lorazepam.

The pharmacokinetics of lorazepam after 0.03 mg/kg intravenous administration was investigated in 14 surgical patients (nasal surgery under local anaesthesia) ranging in age from 25 to 86 years (8 males and 6 females). No statistically significant changes in the kinetics of lorazepam associated with the aging process were found.

Midazolam compared with thiopentone as an induction agent.

In patients premedicated with scopolamine + morphine (+5 mg nitrazepam the evening before surgery), the sleep-inducing effect of midazolam 0.15 mg/kg i.v.

Comparison of old and new types of premedications.

By random allocation 41 patients received 1 mg flunitrazepam orally the night before operation and 1 mg on the morning of operation (group 1), and another 41 received 100 mg pentobarbital orally the night before operation, followed by intramuscular scopolamine (0.006 mg/kg) + morphine (0.02 mg/kg) on the morning of operation (group 2).

A comparative study on the clinical effects of flunitrazepam and oxazepam as oral premedication.

The clinical effects of flunitrazepam and oxazepam as oral premedicants were tested in a double-blind study of 69 otorhinolaryngologic patients. Flunitrazepam had a somewhat higher sedative effect (p less than 0.10) and moderated the increase in systolic blood pressure significantly (p less than 0.