Cervicothoracic junction and upper thoracic spine down to T4 can be reached through anterior approach via sternotomy. Transsternal approach is the best route to gain access to lesions localized within vertebral bodies of the upper thoracic spine allowing for their resection, interbody fusion and replacement with bone cement. Consecutive modifications of transsternal approach evolved toward less extensive osteotomy from full median sternotomy, through manubriotomy with clavicle resection and partial lateral manubriotomy. Less extensive modifications provide limited lateral exposure of the spine and are more demanding technically. We present two cases of upper thoracic spine tumours operated on through full medial sternotomy. We believe that median sternotomy has several advantages over less extensive modifications: it is technically simple to perform for trained thoracic surgeon, safer as it provides better exposure of the mediastinum and thus sufficient control of great vessels including subclavian ones, gives better exposure of T3, T4 and even T5 vertebral bodies, allows perpendicular sight and attack to anterior surface of the upper thoracic spine and therefore good visualizing of the posterior longitudinal ligament and dura, do not destabilize shoulder girdle nor affect function of the upper limb. Additional caudal exposure of the thoracic spine as down as T5 can be obtained by dissecting a plane between the brachiocephalic vein, vena cava superior and ascending aorta.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Value of determination of mononuclear blood cell proliferation in vitro in the diagnosis of lymphosarcoma].

The authors describe mitotic activity in non-stimulated cultures of mononuclear cells obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with lymphosarcoma. The investigations were carried out on 3 patients in stage 3rd and 4th of this disease and 5 patients in the stage of sarcomatous-cell leukaemia. During a period of 24-48 hours after setting up of culture a rise was observed in the number of blast cells and appearance of up to 10% of mitotic figures. This observation may be useful for differentiation of sarcomatous-cell leukaemia from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in which cells obtained from the peripheral blood and cultured in vitro without addition of mitogen do not demonstrate mitotic activity.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma renin activity in patients with chronic cor pulmonale syndrome.

In 22 patients with chronic cor pulmonale syndrome plasma renin activity (PRA) was determined at rest and after stimulation by means of intravenous injection of furosemide. In 50% of cases PRA was raised exceeding 250 ng/100 ml/3 hours. The systemic arterial pressure in these patients was normal. The degree of PRA increase after stimulation was lower than in healthy subjects.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Examination of the visual system in boxers].

Ophthalmological examinations were performed in 139 boxers. They showed that the injuries concerned most frequently the ocular adnexa and not the eye globe itself. Only two contestants who practiced boxing for more than 10 years exhibited peripheral opacities of the lens and pale foci with shifting of the pigment at the fundus periphery connected with a deepening of the filtration angle; this could be caused by a contusion of the eye. It was demonstrated that the introduction of safety helmets distinctly reduced the number of eye injuries in boxing.

Boxing↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Results of the pilot treatment of 9 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or CLL lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma by the CHOP protocol].

In a group of 9 patients with chronic lymphocytic or lymphoplasmocytic leukaemia in clinical stage from 2 to 4 (classification of Rai et al.) 8 various CHOP programmes (cyclophosphamide, hydroxyldaunomycin, oncovin, prednisone) were used. In 6 cases (67%) partial remission was obtained, with normalization of peripheral blood and bone marrow patterns, with statistically significant decrease of the proportion of cells forming rosettes with murine erythrocytes, and with reduction or full normalization of the size of previously enlarged lymph nodes. In one case the control examination of a lymph node failed to demonstrate the previously present clone of cells with chromosomal aberration, although in histological examination the diagnosis of lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma was maintained. In the remaining 3 cases no partial remission was noted, and in one case progression was recognized. We think similarly as the French haematologists studying chronic lymphatic leukaemia, that the CHOP programme is effective in the treatment of chronic lymphatic or lymphoplasmocytic leukaemia.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hairy cell leukemia in the light of an observed case].

A case of hairy-cell leukaemia was observed in a man aged 40 years. The diagnosis was based on the whole of clinical investigations and laboratory investigations, especially cytoenzymatic examination of leukaemic cells and examination of their structure in electron microscope. In treatment radiotherapy was appleid initially followed by splenectomy.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied