Fast-track pulmonary conditioning before urgent cardiac surgery in patients with insufficiently treated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important risk factor for perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Despite high clinical relevance, current guidelines lack clear recommendations on the optimal approach for patients with insufficiently treated COPD and urgent need for cardiac surgery. The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficacy of short-term pulmonary conditioning (PC) in this subset of cardiopulmonary patients.

Rudimentary claws and pigmented nail-like structures on the distal tips of the digits of Wnt7a mutant mice: Wnt7A suppresses nail-like structure development in mice.

Background: As Wnt7a mutant mice exhibit double ventral structures in the digits of autopods, it has been accepted that dorsal-ventral identity in limb development is regulated by the Wnt7a signal. The most important evidence for this was the presence of surface pads, typical characteristics of ventral structures, on the dorsal side of digital tips and at the base of digits and their pigmentation.

Methods: The morphologic features of the appendages on the distal tips of digits were inspected in the fore- and hindlimbs of mice having a different Wnt7a mutation.

Ectopic dermal ridge configurations on the interdigital webbings and postaxial marginal portion of the hindlimb in Hammertoe mutant mice (Hm).

The effects of the hereditary malformation of Hammertoe mutant mice (gene symbol Hm) on the digital pads and dermal ridge configurations on their hindlimbs were examined. In the wild-type (+/+) mice with normally separated digits, dermal ridges developed only on the pads. Heterozygous (Hm/+) and homozygous (Hm/Hm) mutant mice, however, had a broad big toe, fused interdigital soft tissues, reduced claws, an extra rudimentary postaxial digit and camptodactyly.

Different hemodynamic stress of the ascending aorta wall in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve.

It is unclear whether ascending aorta dilation in patients with bicuspid aortic valve is caused by abnormal hemodynamics or by a common developmental defect of the aortic valve and aortic wall. We performed an echocardiographic study to examine the differences in hemodynamic stress at the ascending aorta in patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve. We studied prospectively 58 consecutive patients referred for preoperative echocardiographic examination with aortic valve stenosis and either bicuspid or tricuspid valve and an ascending aortic diameter of View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ectopic dermal ridge configurations on the interdigital webbings of Hammertoe mutant mice (Hm): another possible role of programmed cell death in limb development.

Background: The mechanism underlying the development of aberrant phalangeal pads and dermal ridge configurations in malformed limbs is not well understood. The forelimbs of Hammertoe (Hm) mutant mouse fetuses were examined sequentially to clarify the relationship between the occurrence of abnormal programmed cell death (PCD) and the formation of phalangeal pads and dermal ridge patterns.

Methods: Relevant morphological features, with special emphasis on pads and dermal ridge configurations, were inspected on the exposed dermal surface of the forelimbs of adult Hm mutant mice.

Comparative investigations of human and rat dermatoglyphics: palmar, plantar and digital pads and flexion creases.

The morphological features of the palmar, plantar and digital areas of the rat were studied and compared to the corresponding human traits. The location and the timing of appearance of the volar pads and flexion creases of human and rat fetuses were investigated to determine the feasibility of using rats as an experimental model for studying the factors influencing early development of the dermatoglyphics in humans. Comparisons between analogous developmental stages of human and rat fetuses demonstrate striking similarities in overall fetal development.

Wound-healing disturbances after vein harvesting for CABG: a randomized trial to compare the minimally invasive direct vision and traditional approaches.

Background: Harvesting the great saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass grafting is often associated with complications in wound healing, insufficient cosmetic results, and delay in mobilization of the patients. The aim of this study was to compare the results of our minimally invasive technique with the traditional method.

Methods: We report our experience of minimally invasive direct vision harvesting the great saphenous vein with the Aesculap retractor system (Aesculap AG Co KG, Tutlingen, Germany) by performing 3 (to 5) small cutaneous incisions.

[Metastasizing malignant germ cell tumor of the testis with infiltration of the thoracic aorta--a case for metastasis surgery].

History And Findings: A 33-year-old man was admitted 7 years after a testicular teratomatous carcinoma had first been diagnosed, treated by a right orchiectomy and two-stage radical retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Five years later the first mediastinal metastases were treated with high-dosage chemotherapy and autologous germ-cell transplantation, and remaining paraaortic--mediastinal tumour tissue was resected. Two years later another tumour at that site was only partially resected.

Pads and flexion creases on the plantar surface of hammertoe mutant mouse (Hm).

The purpose of the present work was to determine the effects of the hereditary malformation of Hammertoe mutant mice (gene symbol Hm) on the surrounding morphological structures and, specifically, on the volar pads, i.e., the sites of the epidermal ridge patterns (dermatoglyphics).

Palmar and plantar pads and flexion creases of genetic polydactyly mice (Pdn).

Attempts to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the epidermal ridge patterns (dermatoglyphics) and flexion creases on the volar aspects of human hands and feet and specific medical disorders led to a search for a suitable animal model, allowing studies of the fetal development of the pertinent structures. A common experimental animal, the rat (Rattus norvegicus), was found to be an excellent candidate, owing to the strong resemblance of the volar pads and flexion creases on its palmar and plantar surfaces to those of human subjects. A hereditary preaxial polydactyly mouse (Pdn) provides an opportunity to study the effects of this malformation on the surrounding morphological structures and, specifically, on the volar pads, i.

Fetal and postnatal development of palmar, plantar, and digital pads, and flexion creases of the rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Fetal development of the hands and feet of rats was investigated to determine the feasibility of using rats as an experimental model for studying the factors influencing early development of the hands and feet, and especially the dermatoglyphics in humans. Eighty rats fetuses of 14-21 days gestational age and 80 newborn rats of 0-7 days of age were used to study the morphological features of the palmar, plantar, and digital areas and to determine the timing of appearance and the location of the volar pads and flexion creases. Comparisons between analoguous developmental stages of rat and human fetuses demonstrate striking similarities in overall fetal development.

Palmar and plantar pads and flexion creases of the rat (Rattus norvegicus).

The recent detection of dermal ridge configurations on the volar pads of the rat (Rattus norvegicus) has created opportunities for experimental studies of dermatoglyphics. In the present work, the palmar and plantar surfaces of the rat were studied to establish the feasibility of comparative rat and human dermatoglyphic investigations. The studied features included the volar pads and flexion creases.

Family history of seizures in posttraumatic and alcohol-associated seizure disorders.

The potential role of genetic factors in the etiology of posttraumatic and alcohol-associated seizures was studied in 289 male patients with recurrent seizures and in 174 individuals who had never experienced a seizure. The incidence of seizures in first-degree relatives of probands was compared with that in relatives of unaffected individuals. Relatives of patients with alcohol-associated seizures had a rate ratio of 2.

Effect of antiepileptic drugs on growth of murine lymphoid tumor cells in single-cell culture.

The effect of three commonly used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), and valproate (VPA), on the growth of lymphoid tumor cells was assessed in vitro. A single-cell culture method was used to determine growth rates by direct visualization. The amount of free drug was determined by ultrafiltration to ascertain its correlation to therapeutic drug levels.

A micro-enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique plate assay for antiepileptic drugs.

Underutilization of antiepileptic drug monitoring in research situations has made comparison of data difficult to interpret. Experimental animal studies of the effects of antiepileptic drugs are similarly hindered by the lack of methods utilizing small blood samples to determine drug levels. To alleviate both problems, a standard enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) assay was modified and scaled down.

Toxic effects of antiepileptic drugs on immunoglobulin gene expression.

Murine myeloma cells were exposed to toxic, growth-retarding levels of two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs2), phenytoin (PHT) and carbamazepine (CBZ). J558L cells were treated for 12 days, washed free of drug and, upon recovery of growth, cloned to determine the frequency of lambda light chain secreting lines. Our results indicate that short-term exposure to high, toxic levels (5-10 times the therapeutic dose) of PHT and CBZ reduces or eliminates lambda light chain secretion at a high frequency.

Segregation of the growth slowing effects of valproic acid from phenytoin and carbamazepine on lymphoid tumor cells.

One human and six murine tumor cell lines of lymphoid origin were assessed for growth in the presence of three commonly used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). All seven lines were sensitive to the growth slowing effects of phenytoin (PHT) and carbamazepine (CBZ). Six lines showed a similar effect when exposed to valproic acid (VPA), while one murine B cell line was resistant to inhibition of growth by VPA.

Dermatoglyphics in juvenile hypertension.

Dermatoglyphics of 172 children and young adults (116 males, 56 females) with hypertension, 13-27 years old, were compared with those of 130 healthy male and 110 female controls. Several differences were observed between the two groups. Hypertensive patients had a somewhat lower frequency of fingertip ulnar loops, higher frequency whorls and a higher total finger ridge count.

Palmar, plantar, and digital flexion creases: morphologic and clinical considerations.

The above overview illustrates the areas of interest in flexion creases in human biology studies in general and in studies of medical disorders in particular. Clearly, flexion creases have a significance of their own rather than only as appendices of the dermatoglyphic analysis and should, therefore, be approached appropriately. In some instances, they may be of more interest than the dermatoglyphics.

Clinical aspects of dermatoglyphics.

As demonstrated above, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the associations between dermatoglyphics and various medical disorders, as a result of which dermatoglyphic analysis has been established as a useful diagnostic and research tool in medicine, providing important insights into the inheritance and embryologic development of many studied clinical disorders. Many unanswered questions and misconceptions still remain, though. Further well-designed investigations, avoiding the pitfalls of many earlier studies, will be needed to reevaluate some of the existing claims and to determine the real value of dermatoglyphics in medicine.

Comparative effects of phenytoin and/or phenobarbital treatment on sister chromatid exchange.

The potential of the widely prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) phenytoin (PHT) and phenobarbital (PB) to interact with genetic material was tested using sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay. Thirty adult male patients with epilepsy receiving long-term AED therapy (16 with PHT, 6 with PB, and 8 with combined PHT and PB therapy) and 30 healthy controls were selected for the study of SCE frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes. The patients and controls were carefully screened and matched for sex, age, and smoking habits.

Embryological development and prevalence of digital flexion creases.

The embryological development and morphology of digital flexion creases were studied in 178 human embryos and fetuses 6-20 weeks of gestational age. The results suggest the existence of two types of digital flexion creases, that differ from each other in their development. The regular creases, with the exception of the distal crease of the proximal interphalangeal creases, and the oblique and extra creases of the irregular creases, develop concurrently with the appearance of the digital pads by about 11 weeks of gestation.