Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Vanwijck.
We present a case of aneurysmal bone cyst in the jaw investigated with plain film, US, computed tomography (axial, precontrast) and magnetic resonance (1 Tesla, axial T1 weighted before and after Gadolinium administration, axial and coronal T2-weighted after Gadolinium administration). The zygomatic arch is a very rare location for an aneurysmal bone cyst: as far as we know, only a few cases are found in the literature.
Formerly, if one would decide to get some interest in vascular anomalies, one would be abashed by the multiplicity of classifications, the empiricism of treatments but mainly by the poverty of fundamental research due to the lack of animal models. Today progress in molecular Biology and imaging allow to establish a coherent classification of vascular anomalies. Thanks to the development of quantum physics, pulsed dye laser is very efficacious in the treatment of capillary malformations (port-wine stains). Plastic surgery and reconstructive microsurgery allow wide resection of venous and arteriovenous malformations in collaboration with interventional radiology. Finally, recent discoveries in molecular genetic will allow the creation of transgenic mice with vascular anomalies phenotypically similar to human malformations. So, in the near future, we will be able to test experimentally new therapeutic approaches but especially set up research protocols directed to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of these vascular anomalies.
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Human genes MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 code for antigens that are recognized on melanoma cells by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes. These antigens may constitute useful targets for specific anti-tumor immunization of cancer patients, since genes MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 are expressed in a number of tumors of different histological types, but are not expressed in normal adult tissues other than testis. This also applies to genes MAGE-2 and MAGE-4, which are closely related to MAGE-1 and MAGE-3. We have analyzed the expression of these 4 MAGE genes in cutaneous melanoma. Sixteen of 100 primary tumors vs. 69 (48%) of 145 metastases from individual patients expressed MAGE-1. Similar differences in the frequency of gene expression between primary and metastatic tumor samples were observed for MAGE-2, MAGE-3, and MAGE-4. MAGE expression in primary tumors was correlated with tumor thickness: there was a significantly increased frequency in the expression of MAGE-1, -2 and -3 in tumors of greater thickness. Benign and dysplastic nevi, as well as in situ melanomas, did not express any of the 4 MAGE genes.
Based on a series of eight cases of severe extravasations of contrast medium injected under pressure, the authors suggest the use of liposuction for the elimination of the toxic agent and of the infiltrated cellular tissue. If applied promptly, this simple and semi-conservative treatment salvages the skin and prevents the development of scar sequelae of the soft tissues.
Spherical expanders (30 ml) were implanted under the skin vascularised by the left inferior epigastric pedicle in rats. When expansion was complete, the expander was removed and the animals divided into three groups of 15. In the first group, the floor of the capsule was simply everted. In the second group, a capsule island flap was raised; in the third group, a capsule free flap was raised, transferred to the heterolateral vessels by microanastomosis; the inner side of the various capsule flaps was covered with autologous skin graft. In the three experimental groups, there was complete "take" of the skin grafts in 80% of the animals. Pedicle or free flaps of capsular tissue may be raised and transferred safely in rats.
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Neonatal cleft lip repair is no longer an unusual procedure and several series have been published to date. We present our 3-year experience from the anesthesiologist's point of view. Preoperative evaluation, perioperative management, and postoperative problems are described. A thorough preoperative evaluation in order to exclude associated malformations (especially cardiac) and experience in neonatal anesthesia are essential for the sake of safety.
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A case of malignant pleural mesothelioma is presented. The initial pleural abnormalities were radiologically rather non-specific and were wrongly interpreted anatomo-pathologically as pleural metastases. Chemotherapy however resulted in an exceptional survival of more than 10 years. CT scan showed the extensive pleural damage. The histologic, symptomatologic and radiologic features of this rare tumor are discussed.
We studied the healing process in surgically created cleft lips in fetal mice and compared it with that in newborn mice with cleft lips. Our purpose was to determine the time for optimal healing, defined as minimal scarring, for a repaired cleft lip. Full-thickness paramedian lip incisions were made in NMRI mice in utero, in 2- and 4-day-old neonates, and in adults (n = 10 in each experimental and control group). The healing process was studied by biochemical analysis of hyaluronic acid and hydroxyproline content in the repaired cleft tissue. We found that the production of hyaluronic acid remained stable during the healing period and was similar in all experimental groups. However, there was an unexplained but consistent depression in the hyaluronic acid content of fetal tissue 2 days after repair. Hydroxyproline was present in the fetal healing tissue, but in a low concentration, starting 4 days after surgical incision of the lip. The production of hydroxyproline in 2-day-old neonates was similar to that in the fetuses throughout the healing period (p less than 0.0005). However, the production of hydroxyproline increased in 4-day-old neonatal and adult tissues. In conclusion, we found an optimal healing period for mice with minimal collagen production in the late fetal stage, and this lasted 2 days after birth.
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Metastases to the hand are rare, particularly those of soft tissues. As a rule they arise in lung, breast, or kidney but other primary sites such as the bladder, have been described. We report a silent primary malignant tumor of the bladder, which came to light as soft tissue hand metastases.
The authors report 19 cases of congenital ring-constriction syndrome of the limbs. Complications arose in eight of the pregnancies. The limb anomalies were always congenital ring-constrictions together with distal amputation. Moreover, 13 patients also had syndactyly and 15 associated anomalies were registered in 9 patients--8 of the limbs, 3 craniofacial and 4 visceral. One patient had a family history of hypospadias and cardiac malformation. Treatment usually required several operations, staged Z-plasty being the procedure of choice in surgical release of constriction bands. The acrosyndactylies were released early in life. More extensive fusions required division and skin grafting even if the webs did exist. The aetiology of the condition is still under discussion. The number of cases in the literature that cannot be explained by the exogenous theory of the congenital ring-constriction syndrome is increasing. Among them are four cases in our series.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.