Supracricoid partial laryngectomy after failed laryngeal radiation therapy.

Twelve patients managed with supracricoid partial laryngectomies (SCPLs) after failed laryngeal radiation therapy (RT) were evaluated. None of the recurrent tumors were amenable to vertical or horizontal partial laryngectomy. Results were analyzed for tracheostomy decannulation, oral alimentation, morbidity, local control, and survival.

Donor-recipient size matching in pediatric heart transplantation: a word of caution about small grafts.

Background: The increased shortage of donor organs led centers to extend the conventional donor criteria, particularly regarding donor-recipient size mismatching. Little information is available in the pediatric age group.

Methods: Between December 1987 and May 1994, 73 pediatric orthotopic heart transplantations were performed.

Acoustic parameters and speech analysis after supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy.

Selected characteristics of speech and voice were compared in 10 patients who had undergone supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy (SCHLP) and 20 normal adult laryngeal (NAL) speakers. Durational features of tape-recorded speech samples were measured using a stopwatch. Frequency features were analyzed with the Computerized Speech Lab and the multidimensional voice program.

Duration and frequency characteristics of speech and voice following supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

Selected characteristics were compared in the speech and voice of 28 treated with a supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) and of 14 normal adult laryngeal (NAL) speakers. Tape-recorded speech samples were measured for durational features with a stopwatch. Frequency features were analyzed with the Computerized Speech Lab and a multidimensional voice program.

Evolution of speech and voice following supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

The evolution of voice and speech parameters following supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) has been evaluated in a prospective fashion over an 18-month period of time in three patients using the Computerized Speech Lab (from Kay Elemetrics). Preliminary results demonstrate the post-operative instability of voice parameters. Speech parameters remain stable with time.

Sutton's disease (periadenitis mucosa necrotica recurrens).

Sutton's disease is characterized by giant necrotizing ulcers around minor salivary glands and is of unknown cause. We report a case, review the medical literature, and discuss the treatment of this affliction.

Intracellular pH during hypoxia in normal and hypertrophied right ventricle of ferret heart.

The effects of preventing oxidative phosphorylation on pHi were compared in papillary muscles from right ventricles of normal and pressure-overloaded ferret hearts. Hypertrophy was induced by pulmonary artery clipping for 30-45 days. pHi was recorded with pH-sensitive microelectrodes.

Glucocorticoids rescue CD4+ T lymphocytes from activation-induced apoptosis triggered by HIV-1: implications for pathogenesis and therapy.

Objective: During HIV-1 infection, CD4+ T lymphocytes migrate to immune-reactive lymphoid organs where they are infected by the virus and/or killed by apoptosis on immunoregulatory stimuli--a potential mechanism underlying fatal CD4+ T-cell depletion observed in AIDS. This study seeks to determine the effects of glucocorticoids (GCC) on the activation-induced T-cell apoptosis triggered by HIV-1.

Methods: CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were purified from HIV-negative donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by positive selection and exposed to HIV-1 (primary isolates).

Total conservative parotidectomy for primary benign pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: a 25-year experience with 229 patients.

A 25-year experience with total conservative parotidectomy for primary benign pleomorphic adenoma (PBPA) of the parotid gland in a consecutive series of 229 patients has been reviewed. This study focuses on survival, morbidity, PBPA recurrence, postoperative facial nerve dysfunction, and Frey's syndrome. Surgical death was never encountered in this study.

A clinical trial of continuous cisplatin-fluorouracil induction chemotherapy and supracricoid partial laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma classified as T2.

Background: Vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) and radiation therapy (RT) are the recommended conventional conservative options for glottic carcinoma classified as T2. In series presenting more than 100 patients with a minimum 3-year follow-up, however, local recurrence rates were reported as 22-43.5%.

Endomyocardial biopsies: a new approach for studying the electrical and mechanical properties of human ventricular myocardium.

The novel endomyocardial biopsy approach described here could facilitate the study of some human pathologies for which tissue specimens are currently unavailable. Electrical and mechanical characteristics such as rat responses, effect of extracellular calcium concentration changes and beta-adrenergic tone were similar to those determined for other human ventricular tissues, indicating that endomyocardial biopsies are suitable for physiological studies. This new source of cardiac tissues should facilitate the investigation of cellular mechanisms involved in the development of previously inaccessible human diseases.

Comparison of lansoprazole with omeprazole on 24-hour intragastric pH, acid secretion and serum gastrin in healthy volunteers.

Background: Lansoprazole and omeprazole are proton pump inhibitors which both strongly inhibit acid secretion, resulting in a significant increase in serum gastrin levels. However, no direct comparison of recommended doses (20 mg for omeprazole and 30 mg for lansoprazole) has been reported so far. Our aims were to compare the effects of omeprazole 20 mg/day and lansoprazole 30 mg/day on intragastric acidity and serum gastrin concentration in 12 healthy volunteers.

Surgical treatment of multiple ventricular septal defects using a biologic glue.

The closure of multiple ventricular septal defects remains a surgical challenge. Mortality and morbidity are high. Left ventricular incision and multiple patches or stitches impair septal motion and function.

Arterial switch operation: a new technique of coronary transfer.

A successful outcome after arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) depends in large part on the adequacy of transfer of the coronary arteries to the neoaorta. The present paper describes a new technique of coronary transfer which was used in 43 patients: 28 neonates with TGA and intact septum (with coarctation in one), 10 neonates with TGA and ventricular septal defect (with coarctation in one), 2 children undergoing ASO after failed Senning operation and 3 patients with complex TGA. A standardized uniform technique of coronary transfer was used; this technique involved reimplantation of the two coronary ostia side by side after excision of a single button of neoaortic wall.

A highly unusual combination of pulmonary pathogens in an HIV infected patient.

We report on a case with an unusual combination of pulmonary pathogens including Pneumocystis carinii, Rhodococcus equi and Toxoplasma gondii in an HIV infected patient. The multiple microbiological procedures required to ascertain the etiological diagnoses of pneumonitis in HIV-seropositive subjects are discussed.

Pediatric cardiac transplantation for congenital heart defects: surgical considerations and results.

Among 54 children who underwent 55 heart transplantations, 24 (44%) (mean age, 4.9 +/- 4.8 years; range, 9 days to 18 years) had congenital defects with the following diagnoses: single-ventricle variants (6), hypoplastic left heart syndrome variants (5), transposition complex (6), and miscellaneous defects (7).

Lack of isolate-specific neutralizing activity is correlated with an increased viral burden in rapidly progressing HIV-1-infected patients.

Objective: To delineate the interaction between in vivo HIV replication and host antiviral immunity during disease progression in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of AIDS.

Design: In a cohort of HIV-seropositive patients, the serum concentration of viral particles, the blood concentration of mononuclear cells harbouring infectious virus and the serum titre of isolate-specific neutralizing antibodies were correlated with the rates of CD4+ T-cell depletion and disease progression.

Methods: Using a quantitative reverse-transcriptase linked polymerase chain reaction assay, the concentration of viral particles was measured in blood samples from 103 initially symptom-free subjects who were followed up for > or = 24 months.