Management of carotid 'blowout' with endovascular stent grafts.

Objectives/hypothesis: Since 1992, endovascular techniques for vascular occlusion and stenting have evolved significantly. Endovascular occlusion of the carotid artery has been used in the management of carotid "blowout." Although it seems logical to expand this application to the use of arterial stents to repair rather than occlude the artery when cerebral cross-circulation is inadequate, concerns remain regarding the placement of a foreign body in a contaminated field.

Stability of tubocurarine chloride injection at ambient temperature and 4 deg C in polypropylene syringes.

The stabililty of 3 mg/mL tubocurarine chloride injection in 3-mL polypropylene syringes stored at ambient temperature and at 4 deg C for up to 90 days was investigated. A high-performance liquid chromatographic stability-indicating assay was used to determine concentration levels of tubocurarine chloride injection 0, 1, 4, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days after preparation of the syringes. Benzyl alcohol, which was used as a preservative, did not interfere wiht the assay.

The possible effects on health, comfort and safety of aircraft cabin environments.

A consultation was undertaken to investigate the views and concerns of stakeholders in the aircraft industry about the possible harmful effects on personal health, comfort and safety of aircraft cabin environments. Stakeholders were identified from a variety of sources including Government agencies, the Internet, House of Lords inquiry, and suggestions of interviewees. They represented: aircraft crews, aircraft constructors and engineers, government departments and authorities, holiday/flight companies, insurance companies, non-governmental organisations, occupational health physicians, passenger representatives, and independent researchers and consultants.

Stability of Ephedrine Sulfate at Ambient Temperature and 4 deg C in Polypropylene Syringes.

The stability of 5 mg/mL ephedrine sulfate in 0.9% sodium chloride in 10-mL polypropylene syringes stored at ambient temperature and at 4 deg C for up to 60 days was investigated. Concentration levels of ephedrine sulfate were determined by means of a high-performance liquid chromatography stability-indicating assay at 0, 1, 4, 7, 14, 30, 45 and 60 days after preparation of the syringes.

Unilateral swollen disc due to increased intracranial pressure.

Truly unilateral papilledema is rare and poses a diagnostic problem. The authors have prospectively looked for patients with truly unilateral papilledema and found 15 patients, 10 of whom had idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neuroimaging did not indicate a reason for the lack of swelling in the other nerve.

The stability of remifentanil hydrochloride and propofol mixtures in polypropylene syringes and polyvinylchloride bags at 22 degrees-24 degrees C.

Remifentanil and propofol mixtures may be prepared extemporaneously. This study demonstrated that such mixtures are stable for 0 to 36 h, depending on relative concentrations of the drugs and the storage container used. The most stable mixtures were stored in syringes and used large concentrations of the two drugs.

Infantile cerebral aneurysms with visual pathway compression.

Intracranial aneurysms are rare in infancy. The commonest presentation is intracranial hemorrhage, but signs of mass effect are more frequent than in adults. We report 2 infants with cerebral aneurysms, one presenting with macrocephaly and another with strabismus.

Stability of ondansetron hydrochloride and 12 medications in plastic syringes.

The stability and compatibility of ondansetron hydrochloride with neostigmine methylsulfate, naloxone hydrochloride, midazolam hydrochloride, fentanyl citrate, alfentanil hydrochloride, atropine sulfate, morphine sulfate, meperidine hydrochloride, propofol, droperidol, metoclopramide monohydrochloride, and glycopyrrolate were studied. Ondansetron 1.33 or 1.

Solitary scapula mass: atypical presentation of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is an aggressive malignancy that frequently occurs with lymph node involvement. Current management strategies may incorporate adjuvant therapeutic modalities in an attempt to improve the typical dismal outcome. There is frequent association of esophageal adenocarcinoma with Barret's metaplasia.

Aspirin reduces the incidence of second eye NAION: a retrospective study.

The objective of this study was to determine if aspirin reduces the incidence of second eye involvement after nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in one eye. Records were reviewed of 131 patients who sustained unilateral NAION. Of these, the 33 patients who sustained second eye NAION were compared to those followed for a minimum of 2 years without sustaining a second eye NAION (67).

Change in borderline symptoms one year after therapeutic community treatment for severe personality disorder.

Background: The view that severe personality disorder (SPD) is untreatable derives from poor-quality studies of treatment outcome which use indirect measures of SPD pathology. This study evaluates the impact of psychotherapeutic in-patient treatment on core personality disorder symptoms.

Method: 137 SPD patients completed the Borderline Syndrome Index (BSI) on referral and one year post-treatment ('admitted', n = 70) or one year post-referral ('non-admitted', n = 67); 22 of the non-admitted group were refused extra-contractual referral funding for their treatment.

Beneficial effects of corticosteroids on ocular myasthenia gravis.

Objective: To determine if moderate-or low-dose corticosteroid therapy can reduce the diplopia and frequency of deterioration to generalized disease in ocular myasthenia gravis.

Design: Retrospective record review.

Setting: Two university-based neuro-ophthalmology services.

Venous obstruction as the cause of retinal/choroidal dysfunction associated with arteriovenous shunts in the cavernous sinus.

Objective: To determine the hemodynamic abnormalities that result in visual acuity loss because of retinal or choroidal dysfunction associated with arteriovenous shunts (AVS) that involve the cavernous sinus.

Methods: Retrospective study of the records of 250 patients with either a carotid cavernous fistula or dural arteriovenous malformation revealed a total of 10 patients with vision loss secondary to retinopathy (group I) or choroidal effusion (group II). The cerebral angiograms of these 10 patients and 10 additional patients with visual dysfunction due to elevated intraocular pressure (group III) were evaluated to determine whether the three groups could be distinguished by a specific vasculopathic pattern.

Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei in women.

Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei is an infrequently diagnosed disorder thought to be more common in men, with only seven reported cases in women. This condition consists of the clinical triad of well-demarcated erythema, hyperpigmentation, and follicular plugging on the face. We describe two additional female patients with this condition and present a review of the literature.

Homonymous field defect as the first manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Purpose: Although in the early stage of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease most patients have obvious dementia, we found that the disease can be diagnosed in patients solely on the basis of a visual system disorder.

Methods: We examined three patients who initially complained of a nonspecific, insidious visual disturbance.

Results: The three patients were found to have Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, confirmed by histopathologic analysis.

Quantitative analysis of fosinopril sodium by capillary zone electrophoresis and liquid chromatography.

A capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method was developed for the quantitative analysis of fosinopril sodium. Validation parameters of the CZE method were evaluated and compared to an existing LC method. In terms of precision and sensitivity.

Stability of cefmetazole-doxycycline mixtures in sodium chloride and dextrose injections.

This study involved the mixing of cefmetazole 1 and 2 Gm with doxycycline 100 and 200 mg, in sodium chloride and dextrose injections. The mixtures were stored either at ambient temperature for 96 h or at 4 degrees C for 168 h followed by 8 h at ambient temperature. HPLC assay of both cefmetazole and doxycycline levels were performed at prescribed sampling times.