Heterogeneity of schizoaffective disorder compared with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Objective: Low diagnostic reliability, the need to meet criteria of two disorders, and its status as residual diagnosis in clinical practice led us to hypothesize that schizoaffective disorder (SAD) is characterized by considerable heterogeneity, particularly in comparison with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). As this has not been investigated the aim of this study is to test whether heterogeneity is larger in SAD than in SZ and BD.

Method: Systematic search for studies simultaneously comparing all three diagnoses regarding demographic, clinical, psychometric (clinical rating scales and IQ tests), and biological parameters; comparison of heterogeneity as measured by standard deviation (SD).

Stability of lithium treatment in bipolar disorder - long-term follow-up of 346 patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and stability of long-term lithium treatment in a prospective, international, multicenter cohort of bipolar patients in a naturalistic setting.

Methods: Patients were selected according to DSM IV criteria for bipolar disorder and required long-term treatment. They were prospectively followed and documented in five centers belonging to the International Group for the Study of Lithium-Treated Patients.

In vitro measurements of flow using multislice computed tomography (MSCT).

To examine in vitro whether an assessment of flow in normal and obstructed vessels is essentially possible using modern multislice CT-scanners. An experimental model allowed known stenoses to be perfused at defined flow rates. Aorta and coronary arteries were simulated by silicone tubes.

CME in a general medical journal: three-year evaluation of CME in Deutsches Arzteblatt.

Purpose: There is a dearth of data regarding journal-based continuing medical education (CME) programs. Deutsches Arzteblatt has been publishing CME articles since 2004. Articles are accompanied by a test on the article's content as well as a readers' evaluation questionnaire.

Image quality of digital direct flat-panel mammography versus an analog screen-film technique using a low-contrast phantom.

Objective: The objective of our study was to compare the detectability and distinguishability of simulated soft-tissue opacities of 50 variants of an anthropomorphic breast phantom in mammograms acquired with a digital direct flat-panel detector versus an analog system; we also compared the image settings "analog film," "digital film," and "digital monitor."

Materials And Methods: The studies were performed on digital (Lorad Selenia) and analog (Mammomat 3) mammography systems. Four hundred fifty silicone cubes devised with different randomly distributed columns, holes, or both columns and holes (diameter, 3-7 mm; height, 0.

Transbrachial thrombolysis, PTA and stenting in the lower extremities.

We present an analysis of 37 interventions in the arteries of the lower limbs via a transbrachial arterial approach. Twenty-six patients (42-79 years) underwent 37 interventional procedures in the lower extremities (iliac n = 6, iliac + femoro-popliteal n = 1, femoro-popliteal n = 30) with a vascular approach via the brachial artery (33 left sided, 4 right sided, introducer sheath 4-7 F). The transbrachial approach was chosen to avoid puncture of femoral bypass graft material.

Management of bilateral arytenoid cartilage fixation versus recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

Bilateral arytenoid cartilage fixation (ACF) closely resembles vocal cord immobility due to recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP). This study sought to determine the etiologic differences between these two entities and to derive conclusions about treatment. The charts of 218 consecutive adult patients with immobility of both vocal cords requiring surgery for airway restoration were reviewed.

Endovascular gamma-irradiation to prevent recurrent femoral in-stent restenosis. A case report.

We report about a patient with twice recurrence of femoral in-stent restenoses. Centered endoluminal gamma-irradiation with 192 iridium was performed immediately after the second stent recanalization. The irradiation dose was 14 Gy calculated at 2-mm depth of vessel wall.

Proinflammatory responses to lipo-oligosaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis immunotype strains in relation to virulence and disease.

Inflammatory responses to lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) contribute to the severity of meningococcal disease. Strains that express the L(3,7,9) LOS immunotypes are isolated from the majority of patients, but other immunotypes are isolated predominantly from carriers. Inflammatory responses elicited from a human monocytic cell line (THP-1) that had been pretreated with vitamin D3 (VD3) were compared after stimulation with purified LOSs from standard immunotype strains.

Phosphorus-31 MR spectroscopy of normal adult human brain and brain tumours.

Localized phosphorus-31 MR spectra were obtained in vivo in a large series of normal human brain tissue specimens of healthy volunteers (n=36) and various brain tumours (n=52). Tumour types examined included grade II and grade III gliomas (n=15 and n=1, respectively), glioblastomas (n=16) and meningeomas (n=12). An additional eight tumours were analysed during chemo- or radiotherapy.

Image quality of digital chest X-rays: wet versus dry laser printers.

The aim of this study was to compare the image quality of digital chest x-rays (Thoravision) obtained with 2 "wet" laser imagers of different matrix sizes and a "dry" system. Fifty chest x-rays in 2 planes were printed out in normal (100%) and reduced (61%) format using 3 different systems: 2 "wet" laser imagers (Agfa Matrix LR 3300, 4256 x 5174 pixels, 315 dpi; Agfa Scopix LR 5200, 8512 x 10348 pixels, 630 dpi), and one "dry" system (Agfa Drystar 3000,4352 x 5295 pixels, 330 dpi). All tests yielded normal findings.

Detection of porcine bone lesions and fissures: comparing digital selenium, digital luminescence, and analog film-screen radiography.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to compare the diagnostic performance of a digital selenium detector (Thoravision) with that of analog film-screen systems and digital luminescence radiography in skeletal radiography for the detection of fissures and lesions in porcine bones.

Materials And Methods: One hundred bones taken from domestic pigs (50 ribs and 50 femurs) were divided into two equal groups. Fissures and bone lesions were created in 50 bones and 50 served as controls.

Cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitor 1 (CDKN1A) in the squamous epithelium of the oropharynx: possible implications of molecular biology and compartmentation.

The cdknlA gene encodes CDKN1A, a protein that regulates cell cycle progression, terminal differentiation, and apoptosis. Polymorphisms or loss of heterozygosity of this usually biallelically expressed gene have no major impact on carcinogenesis. The prevalence of somatic mutations in malignancies is low.

MRI and CT of adenomatous tumours of the middle ear.

We report three adenomatous middle-ear tumours, an adenoma, an adenocarcinoma and a semimalignant adenomatous tumour, with special attention to CT and MRI findings. In all cases we found small intratympanic masses in which the ossicles were embedded. All showed contrast enhancement and similar signal intensity as brain tissue on T1- and T2-weighted images.

Abdominal lymphoma staging: is MR imaging with T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo sequence a diagnostic alternative to contrast-enhanced spiral CT?

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging in abdominal lymphoma staging, in comparison with that of the established spiral CT, within the context of a prospective study.

Methods: 50 patients with non-Hodgkin (n = 27) and Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 23) were examined with a plain T2-weighted TSE sequence (parameters: TE 90 ms, TR >2.500 ms, slice thickness 8 mm, slice interval 0.

Results of electrochemical therapy of colorectal liver metastases in rats followed up by MRI.

Rationale And Objectives: Direct-current or electrochemical therapy is an alternative method for local tumor therapy. Until recently, it was mainly applied in China and was relatively unknown in the Western world. This study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of applying direct-current therapy in liver metastases of colorectal carcinomas in an animal model.

Limitations of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of perineural tumor spread causing facial nerve paralysis.

Objective: To present and discuss the clinical presentation and treatment in patients with long-duration unilateral facial paralysis and normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Design: Case series.

Setting: Ear, nose, and throat department of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Turban tumour with involvement of the parotid gland.

Familial autosomal dominant cylindromatosis (FADC, turban tumour syndrome, Brooke-Spiegler-syndrome and many more, MacKusick catalogue numbers 123850, 313100) is a rare hereditary disease usually presenting in the second or third decade. With female preponderance dermal cylindromas predominantly arise in hairy areas of the body with approximately 90 per cent on the head and neck. Transformation to malignancy seems to be scarce.

Human herpesvirus type 8 in salivary gland tumors.

Background: The new human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) has been detected in all types of Kaposi's sarcomas, as well as in body-cavity lymphomas and Castleman's disease, furthermore molecular biologic studies have identified a number of potential viral oncogenes. There is evidence for sexual transmission of HHV-8 in HIV-seropositive patients, but the route of infection among the HIV-seronegative population is uncertain. Findings of HHV-8 DNA in saliva in some cases are suggestive of nonsexual transmission associated with latent infection of the salivary gland (as it is known for EBV, CMV, HHV-6 and HHV-7).

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver: case report of a 13-year-old girl and review of the literature.

Background: Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) of the liver is a multi-acinar regenerative nodular lesion in a non-cirrhotic liver. It is a rare entity, especially in children, and remains of unknown aetiology.

Objective: NRH is often seen in association with other diseases or drug intake.

Ultrasonography in suspected acute appendicitis in childhood-report of 1285 cases.

Objective: For the assessment of the diagnostic value of real-time ultrasonography (US) in children with suspected acute appendicitis (a.A.) the results of graded compression US are compared with clinical and histological final diagnoses.

Human pathogenic virus-associated pseudolymphomas and lymphomas with primary cutaneous manifestation in humans and animals.

The etiologic role of viruses in cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders is still controversial. In benign cutaneous pseudolymphomas of the human skin, human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) type I (HTLV-I), varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 (HHV-6) are the viruses most often identified, whereas in malignant lymphoproliferation human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HTLV-I/II, and EBV are more common. Coinfections with more than one virus species have occurred in a number of cases.