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Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

In general, periodontal tissues are clinically assessed using calibrated periodontal probes and radiographs. Due to technical developments and the availability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), 3-D imaging has become feasible and offers some advantages and potential for the evaluation of complex anatomical structures. The present pilot study illustrates and validates the possibility of radiographically visualizing and metrically assessing hard and soft tissue. Artificial periodontal pockets were created in porcine mandibles and measured by clinical (i.e. pocket probing) and radiographic means (CBCT). For the latter method, pockets were filled with a radiopaque material allowing visualization by CBCT. Clinically simulated pocket depth probing and CBCT measurements were compared. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two methods. Thus, the CBCT visualization approach points towards the development of a new and promising radiographic all- in-one evaluation system of the periodontal status. However, more research and development is required.

History: We report three male patients who had atrial fibrillation with a rapid and irregular ventricular rate, aged 60, 69 and 70 years, respectively, in whom development of acute pancreatitis occurred simultaneously with other ischaemic events., Investigations: One of these patients simultaneously suffered from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), another developed a stroke and an infarction of the spleen, while the third one had a splenic infarction and an embolism in the region of the mesenteric arteries. Two patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, while the third suffered from ischemic cardiomyopathy with chronic atrial fibrillation., Diagnosis and Treatment: Oedematous pancreatitis occurred in one patient while, in the two others, the diagnosis of severe necrotizing pancreatitis was made., Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice and a recognized risk factor for the development of peripheral embolism, which often takes the form of an ischaemic stroke. It is a major cause of stroke, especially in the elderly. Because of the simultaneous occurrence of thromboembolic events in all three patients, an ischaemic cause for the acute pancreatitis can be assumed with a high degree of probability. This is one of the first reports of acute ischaemic pancreatitis probably caused by microembolization secondary to atrial fibrillation. Because of the relatively frequent occurrence of atrial fibrillation, this factor deserves increased attention in the differential diagnosis of supposedly idiopathic pancreatitis.

Background: The most important complications of deep vein thrombosis are pulmonary embolism and postthrombotic syndrome. While the medicine of lethal pulmonary embolism is reduced to less than 2% by conventional anticoagulation, fibrinolytic therapy aims at a reduction of the greater than 50% incidence of postthrombotic syndrome. The optimal therapeutic regimen concerning risks and effect has not been established yet., Results: A review of 26 studies involving ultrahigh-dose streptokinase (UHSK), urokinase (UK), and tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) shows the highest success rate for UHSK (45% complete and 40% parital patency), whereas there are lower rates for UK (25% and 40%) and low-dose locoregionally applied rt-PA (22% and 44%). The studies were not directly comparative, however. Published data concerning complications range from 1.7% mortality for UHSK to 0.9% for UK and 0.0% for rt-PA. Success criteria, however, are varying and not well defined. The influence of fibrinolytic therapy on the incidence of postthrombotic syndrome has not been established prospectively, but a reduction by 40 to 50% can be assumed. Calf vein thromboses are not indication for lytic therapy. In patients with iliacal vein thromboses there is an increased risk of pulmonary embolism using UHSK., Conclusions: UHSK can be regarded the standard concerning success rate in deep vein thromboses. DATA involving locoregional therapy with rt-PA are inconsistent and worse, but bleeding complications might be less frequent. Large prospective studies evaluating the impact on incidence and severity of the postthrombotic syndromes, which involve a controlled application of compression therapy are needed.

History and Clinical Findings: For one week a 23-year-old man had been suffering from nausea and upper abdominal pain, followed by several bouts of haematemesis. On admission the haemoglobin level was 7.8 g/dl., Investigation: Endoscopy revealed a bleeding vessel stump at the posterior gastric wall: adrenaline was injected around it. A chest radiogram showed numerous round foci in the lung, while physical examination found gynaecomastia and changes in the left testis suspicious of tumour. beta-HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) activity was 230,000 U/l., Treatment and Course: Histological examination of the immediately resected testis showed a necrotic non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (pT1N2M1). Repeat gastroscopy because of renewed tarry stools and haematemesis revealed bleeding from an area of polypoid mucosa. At laparotomy the lesion was excised. Histologically it was a submucosal metastasis of the testicular carcinoma. Chemotherapy resulted in normalisation of the beta-HCG-level. Subsequently retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and bilateral thoracotomy with resection of residual tumour tissue were performed: no active tumour was found histologically. There has been no sign of tumour recurrence after 56 months., Conclusion: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a haematogenous metastasis is a very rare initial manifestation of a testicular carcinoma. But a malignant tumour should be thought of in a young patient with unexplained haematemesis.

A 57-year-old man with a cough and increasing exertional dyspnoea for the past 6 weeks was found on examination to have a loud systolic murmur and cardiomegaly with pulmonary congestion. Echocardiography revealed congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cTGA: atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial discordance): a morphologically right ventricle with a tricuspid valve on the left, a morphologically left ventricle with bicuspid a-v valve on the right, the aorta arising ventrally from the left-sided (morphologically right) ventricle. The tricuspid valve showed an Ebstein-like anomaly with obvious regurgitation. Transoesophageal and contrast echocardiography defined valvar anatomy, attachment of the great arteries and cardiac chambers to the venous and arterial circulations, as well as absence of a left to right shunt. Angiography revealed a coronary anatomy typical for cTGA. The exertional dyspnoea responded to diuretics and low doses of ACE inhibitor. Follow-up monitoring of the valvar regurgitation and appropriate endocarditis prophylaxis were recommended. As the haemodynamics in cTGA is normal, in the absence of additional anomalies, it is a congenital cardiac defect which can, though rarely, present first in adulthood. Life expectancy depends on the nature of any additional defects and the degree of commonly associated tricuspid valve regurgitation. As this case demonstrates, echocardiography can largely define the anomalies.

Desmoid tumors are accounted among histologically benign soft tissue tumors. Though metastases do not occur the clinical course of the disease with their tendency to grow locally aggressive and to relapse after curative intended surgery is similar to sarcomas. After surgical excision adjuvant therapy of desmoid tumors is necessary in such cases, where a radical excision with a wide margin is not possible, or must be doubted or after the surgical excision of a locally recurrent tumor. Radiation doses of 50 to 60 Gy reduce the risk of local recurrence of desmoid tumors to 18%. In such cases, where surgery and radiotherapy have been leading to incomplete responses, systemic therapy with hormones (tamoxifen or progesterone), with alkylating agents (e. g. ifosfamide) or with prostaglandin antagonists (indomethacin) is possible. The published data on therapeutic responses to the treatment of desmoid tumors are scarce. We are reporting on seven of our own cases, treated with surgery and radiotherapy (four) or with a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, hormones and chemotherapy (three).

We report on 6 male patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma without prior chemotherapy. They were treated by recombinant alpha 2-interferon in a toxicity limited dosage. The maximal tolerated dose was 3 x 5 x 10(6) U/wk. to 3 x 20 x 10(6) U/wk., limited by flu-like symptoms in 5 cases, by thrombopenia in 1. We observed a response in 3 cases (2 partial remissions, 1 mixed response) lasting for 10, 11 and 13 months, respectively. This comparatively good result may be due to patient characteristics (little pretreatment, pulmonary metastasis, good performance status) as well as to a medium dosage. Occurrence of response after termination of interferon therapy in two cases are of particular interest.

Sister chromatid exchanges rates (SCE) were studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 10 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or leukaemic transformed non-Hodgkin-lymphomas (NHL) and in lymphocytes of 10 healthy juvenile donors (control). Following treatment the patient group has been in continuous complete remission for 11 months on the average. In the number of SCE's significant differences were found: 10,90/metaphases in the patients versus 7,56/metaphases in the controls. These results significantly show a long time influence of the treatment on the SCE rates, possibly inducing chromosome aberrations.

Fluctuating mononitrate plasma levels in the course of 24 h are a prerequisite for prevention of nitrate tolerance in patients with angina pectoris undergoing longterm treatment. In 12 patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (54 +/- 7 years) effects of 50 mg Isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) in a slow-release (SR) formulation on hemodynamics and exercise tolerance were evaluated after a first dose and at the end of a 1-week treatment period with 50 mg given once-daily. 1 and 2 h after medication mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) at rest was reduced by 30% (p less than 0.001) and 25% (p less than 0.01 respectively. During submaximal bicycle exercise (50 W, 3 min) PAP was significantly reduced by IS-5-MN by 35% (1 and 2 h after medication). At the end of exercise (discontinuation), drug-induced reductions of PAP were 19% (1 h) and 21% (2 h) (p less than 0.05), respectively. IS-5-MN led to a marked increase of exercise capacity (base-line: 396 +/- 119 W x min); 1 h: 646 +/- 153 W x min (p less than 0.01). At stress testing 2, 4 and 10 h post medication improvements were 67% (p less than 0.01), 49% (p less than 0.01) and 28% (p less than 0.01), respectively. 24 h after medication baseline values were reached again. After a 1-week treatment with 50 mg IS-5-MN SR daily, beneficial effects of the drug on hemodynamics and working capacity could be demonstrated. Again, significant effects could be shown up to 10 h after drug administration. Thus, IS-5-MN SR administered once daily proved effective in intermediate-term treatment of patients with coronary artery disease with regard to hemodynamics and exercise capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The stray light effect on the visual field was quantitatively studied in normal subjects under experimental conditions. Stray light comparable to that caused by lens opacities was produced by means of selective occluders or diascleral illumination. The results derived from this model were compared with the statistical evaluation of the visual fields of 123 eyes with glaucoma followed for a minimum of 10 years. As expected lens opacities resulted in a concentric constriction of the peripheral fields and a loss of the inner isopters. The light difference sensitivity as determined by static perimetry was generally reduced preferentially in the central fields. These calculations provide a measure to anticipate the degree of lens opacifications from a depressed visual without knowledge of the visual acuity.