Retinal detachment following meningococcal endophthalmitis.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Kirkpatrick.
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BACKGROUND: The rhytidectomy approach for parotidectomy allows the incision to be hidden, and post-operative scarring minimised. Furthermore, separate elevation of the Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS) reduces the incidence of Frey's syndrome, and provides vascularized soft tissue for contour reconstruction. The technique has gained popularity particularly with plastic surgeons, but concerns persist that with this approach, particularly with lesions located anteriorly, access to the gland may be inadequate, and facial nerve identification may be compromised. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook an anatomical study to quantitatively compare the surgical access achieved using the facelift approach with the conventional Blair incision, by comparing the distances between the parotid edge and the retracted flaps. RESULTS: Despite reduced tissue elasticity due to formaldehyde fixation, it proved possible to demonstrate all regions of the parotid gland to the operating surgeon with either approach. There were no significant differences in the distance between the parotid edge and the retracted skin flaps (P > 0.1; paired t-test). CONCLUSIONS: The facelift approach provides at least equal access to all regions of the parotid gland when compared to a Blair's incision. It is a superior approach aesthetically and its more widespread use in parotid surgery is advocated.
The most common congenital midline nasal masses are nasal dermoid sinus cysts (NDSC) [Hughes GB, Sharpino G, Hunt W, Tucker HM. Management of the congenital midline nasal mass--a review. Head Neck Surg 1980;2:222-33.]. Their clinical importance hinges on their potential to communicate with the central nervous system. Preoperative diagnosis of an intracranial extension allows for referral to a craniofacial team with the appropriate skills and experience for a transcranial approach. All patients with a NDSC require imaging with high resolution multiplanar MRI scans and complimentary fine cut CT scan to reveal the anatomical extent of the tract and its relationship to the anterior cranial fossa. A single-stage craniofacial approach to resection of midline NDSC extending to the anterior cranial base is effective with minimal morbidity [Yavuzer R, Bier U, Jackson IT. Be careful: it might be a nasal dermoid cyst. Plast Reconstr Surg 1999;103:2082-3; Denoyelle F, Ducroz V, Roger G, Garabedian EN. Nasal dermoid sinus cysts in children. Laryngoscope 1997;107:795-800; Rohrich RJ, Lowe JB, Schwartz MR. The role of open rhinoplasty in the management of nasal dermoid cysts. Plast Reconstr Surg 1999;104:2163-70; Rahbar R, Shah P, Mulliken JB, et al. The presentation and management of nasal dermoid-a 30-year experience. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:464-71; Posnick JC, Bortoluzzi P, Armstrong DC, Drake JM. Intracranial nasal dermoid sinus cysts: computed tomographic scan findings and surgical results. Plast Reconstr Surg 1994;93:745-54 [discussion 755-56]; Bartlett SP, Lin KY, Grossman R, Kratowitz J. The surgical management of orbitofacial dermoids in the pediatric patient. Plast Reconstr Surg 1993;91:1208-15.]. The cyst and tract are accessed through a combination of a nasal and transcranial approach. This allows visualisation and dissection of the tract with only a small incision on the nasal dorsum to include the cutaneous punctum when present. Transnasal endoscopic techniques have been advocated where the dermoid is located within the nasal cavity and there is little or no cutaneous involvement [Weiss DD, Robson CD, Mulliken JB. Transnasal endoscopic excision of midline nasal dermoid from the anterior cranial base. Plast Reconstr Surg 1998;101:2119-23.]. We present a review of five cases referred to our unit between 1999 and 2004 with a diagnosis of a midline nasal dermoid sinus cyst and radiological evidence of intracranial communication. All cases had a communication with the anterior cranial fossa diagnosed preoperatively and were treated surgically with a craniofacial approach. An intracranial extension was identified at operation in each case and this was confirmed on histopathology. The only significant complication resulted from an early postoperative infection, requiring re-operation. There were no recurrences and acceptable aesthetic outcomes have been observed in all cases.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a major role in angiogenesis. Alternative splicing causes the production of several different isoforms (VEGF-A 121, 145, 165, 189, 206). VEGF is essential for tumor angiogenesis and several studies have correlated elevated VEGF levels with tumor stage, metastases and progression. Antibody phage display was employed to isolate two scFv antibody fragments, D8 and F10, with specificity for the VEGF165 isoform. It was shown by ELISA and competitive immunohistochemistry that each clone bound to VEGF165 but not VEGF121. Immunohistochemistry with D8 and F10 on colorectal carcinoma and adenoma sections revealed positive staining similar to that shown by a polyclonal VEGF antibody. The scFv antibody fragments, D8 and F10, will be useful in specifically detecting circulating VEGF165 in cancer patients as most studies to date have quantified the total level of circulating VEGF (121 and 165). These reagents will allow further elucidation of the role of VEGF in tumor angiogenesis.
In this article, the authors describe the technique, indications and contra-indications for removing various periorbital lesions with an endoscope. The principal reason for using this technique is the excellent postoperative cosmesis. Seven patients in total had lesions removed in this manner. The only complication noted was some leakage of the contents of a dermoid cyst intraoperatively. Cosmesis postoperatively was excellent in all cases. None of the cases had to be converted to an 'open' procedure.
30 healthy students produced saliva samples for Immunoglobulin A assay before and after sessions involving either progressive muscle relaxation (n = 15) or a control condition (n = 15). Levels of immunoglobulin A increased significantly in the relaxation group but not in the control group.
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We have measured peak plasma concentrations of lignocaine and bupivacaine after dual injection peribulbar block and investigated the influence of adrenaline and hyaluronidase. Twenty-four patients were allocated randomly to one of four groups: (I) local anaesthetic alone (lignocaine 10 mg ml-1-bupivacaine 3.75 mg ml-1); (II) local anaesthetic with adrenaline (5 micrograms ml-1); (III) local anaesthetic with hyaluronidase (75 iu ml-1); or (IV) local anaesthetic with adrenaline and hyaluronidase. Venous plasma concentrations of lignocaine and bupivacaine were measured in 24 patients using gas liquid chromatography before and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 300 and 540 min after completion of the peribulbar injections. Main outcome measures were analysed using two-way analysis of variance. All patients, with one exception, received 10 ml of the local anaesthetic mixture. Overall peak plasma concentrations varied from 230 to 1910 micrograms ml-1 for lignocaine and from 160 to 1090 micrograms ml-1 for bupivacaine. Adrenaline significantly reduced peak plasma concentrations of lignocaine to 57% (P = 0.001) and bupivacaine to 61% (P = 0.004) compared with the nonadrenaline groups. Hyaluronidase had no significant effect on peak plasma concentrations of lignocaine and bupivacaine, which were 90% (P = 0.34) and 100% (P = 0.84) of the non-hyaluronidase groups. The area under the plasma concentration-time curves to 300 min (AUC300) behaved similarly. There was a reduction in AUC300 for lignocaine (P = 0.005) and bupivacaine (P = 0.011) in the adrenaline groups compared with the non-adrenaline groups, in contrast with no significant effects of hyaluronidase on AUC300 for lignocaine (P = 0.14) or bupivacaine (P = 0.53) compared with the non-hyaluronidase groups.
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The white-rot fungus Coriolus versicolor increased the brightness of hardwood kraft pulp by two mechanisms depending on the concentration of available nitrogen. In low-nitrogen conditions, the brightening process was a chemical effect mediated by the fungus, associated with the removal of residual lignin in the pulp; kappa number was used as an indicator of lignin concentration. A five-day treatment in low-nitrogen conditions increased the brightness of hardwood kraft pulp from 36.2 to 54.5%, with a corresponding decrease in kappa number from 12.0 to 8.5, equivalent to a reduction in the lignin concentration from ca. 2.0% (wt/wt) to ca. 1.4% (wt/wt). Under these conditions, we concluded that the brightening of the pulp was a secondary metabolic event initiated after the depletion of available nitrogen. This method of brightening has been described as bleaching or biobleaching. By contrast, in high-nitrogen conditions, the brightening was a physical effect associated with the dilution of the dark pulp fibers by the relatively high levels of brighter fungal mycelium produced. Since this method of brightening was not evidently associated with lignin removal, it cannot be described as bleaching. In pulp samples brightened in high-nitrogen conditions, as brightness increased, there was a corresponding increase in kappa number. This observation was explained by the consumption of potassium permanganate by the fungal mycelium, which interfered with kappa number determinations at high fungal biomass levels.
This article describes the benefits and challenges of floating.