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Presents an experiment investigating the stationary expansion of an ionized uranium vapor, created in an electron-beam evaporator. Methodology used to conduct the experiment; Information on the probe design and geometry; Details on plasma expansion; Findings of the experiment.

Presents information on a study that conducted a spectroscopic observation of both CF and CF[sub2] species densities by both actinometry and laser-induced fluorescence. Experimental procedure; Results and discussion; Summary.

After flexor tendon injury, most attention is given to the quality of the tendon repair and postoperative early passive dynamic mobilisation. Schemes for active mobilisation have been developed to prevent tendon adhesions and joint stiffness. This paper describes five patients to demonstrate the cerebral consequences of immobilisation allowing only passive movements, which implies a prolonged absence of actual motor commands. At the end of such immobilisation, PET imaging revealed reduced blood flow in specific motor areas, associated with temporary loss of efficient motor control. Effective motor control was regained after active flexion exercises which was reflected in normalised cerebral activations. This suggests that temporary, reversible cerebral dysfunction may affect the outcome of flexor tendon injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to measure the “preparation time” that is the speed of information processing in the brain, and discuss the relevance of this parameter in the restoration of hand function following flexor tendon repair. The preparation time of 48 healthy adult participants was measured twice at a 6-week interval and compared with that of 12 patients after flexor tendon repair. There was no difference between the left and right hands of the healthy participants. The correlation between repeated measurements was high, although healthy participants performed 2.6% faster 6 weeks after the first measurement. After 6 weeks of immobilisation, patients showed a significant deterioration with respect to the speed of information processing by the brain on both the injured and uninjured sides compared with healthy participants, who had improved between the first and the second measurements. The results indicate that a period of lack of normal use of the hand leads to a change in cerebral control of hand movements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study discusses the number of reoperations in 10 years after silicone gel breast implantation in a cosmetically augmented group and a reconstructive group. Information was obtained from a total of 185 medical records. The aesthetic group contained 105 patients, the reconstructive group 37; 43 patients were excluded because of insufficient follow-up. The mean number of reoperations in the cosmetic group was 0.72 (SD=1.40); 67 patients had no revisions. In the reconstructive group, the mean number of reoperations was 2.59 (SD=2.03); five patients had no revisions. In the entire group of 142 patients, 72 (50.7%) had only the primary operation, 29 (20.4%) had one revision, and 41 (28.9%) had two or more revisions after breast implantation in the ten-year follow-up period ( p=0.00). Reconstructive patients have a higher risk of reoperation than cosmetic patients. The most common complication in both groups was capsular contracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral facial paralysis is a rare condition that leads to many functional problems such as salivary incontinence, expressionless face, and speech and chewing difficulties. When the condition appears irreversible, surgical treatment may be required. The clinical records of six patients treated surgically for bilateral facial paralysis were examined. They were treated with bilateral temporal muscle transposition flaps as described by Rubin, and a tendon graft through the lower lip. Four patients had moderate to excellent improvement in speech and reduction in salivary incontinence. Two patients needed surgical revision of a tendon graft which was too tight. The authors consider this technique useful for the treatment of bilateral facial paralysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to compare the long-term results of full-thickness and split-thickness skin grafts after the correction of congenital syndactyly, 27 patients have been investigated after an average follow-up of 21 years. Post-operative functional and cosmetic results have been assessed by patient records, questionnaires and physical examination. The webs that had received split-thickness grafts showed more flexion and extension lags and the overall spreading of the operated fingers was significantly decreased compared to the control fingers. On the other hand, more re-operations because of web creep had to be performed after full-thickness grafts. Hyperpigmentation and hair growth in the grafts was found in most of the full-thickness grafts, while breakdown of the graft was found in some of the split-thickness grafts. Therefore, based on the results of this study, either full- or split-thickness skin grafts can be used when treating of congenital syndactyly. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 1841, Sir Alfred Poland described congenital deficiency of the pectoralis major muscle associated with brachysyndactyly. In this report a description of the variety of Poland's syndrome is presented by reviewing 23 patients treated in three different hospitals in The Netherlands. Sixteen patients were subjected to a meticulous physical examination and the medical records of all patients were reviewed. There were 15 males and 8 females in our group. Nineteen patients had right-sided Poland's syndrome, four left-sided. Two patients were related to each other (mother–daughter). The severity of the syndrome varied from mild hypoplasia of the pectoralis major muscle and mild hypoplasia of the hand to aplasia of the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles, rib and sternal defects, aplasia of the breast, and complete aplasia of the radius and hand. Thirteen patients required surgery for hand, chest, or breast deformities, ranging from 1 to 8 operations per patient. This study shows that Poland's syndrome is an extremely varied condition, which appears to involve an entire upper quadrant. The milder forms may easily be overlooked and do not require surgical intervention. The more severe cases may require hand, chest wall, and/or breast reconstruction. In general, expert specialist attention in a multidisciplinary setting is required for patients with this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study assessed the long-term outcome of brachial plexus neuropathy in 16 patients. The mean follow up was 8 years. Nine patients complained of persistent pain and muscle weakness, four had continuing problems with various activities of daily living and 11 had trouble with some housekeeping activities. Furthermore, eight of the patients had to change their occupation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper reports estimates of a reliable fundamental value of the S&P index, standing & for a long run target value in Error-Correction Modelling of the dynamics of subsequent returns. The Present Value Model suggests two fundamentals: dividends and a discount rate factor, specified as a risk free rate plus an ex ante risk premium, to capture structural breaks in the expectations. The dates of the shifts are identified by estimating recursively a cointegration relationship. Monte Carlo simulations are used to compute appropriate statistics for stationarity tests. The predictive performance of the Error-Correcting Model is then used to implement winning portfolio-investment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of subatmospheric pressure to promote wound healing has gradually found support in the past few years. The vacuum-assisted closure system uses a pump providing a continuous negative pressure of preferably 125 mmHg, which is distributed over the wound surface by an airtight covered foam. The exact mechanisms of vacuum therapy are not yet understood, but clinically soft tissue defects seem to heal faster when subatmospheric pressure is applied. Our experience with the first 100 patients with soft tissue defects of different origin that were treated with vacuum therapy is presented. In 29 patients, the wounds healed without further surgical intervention, 53 patients underwent secondary wound closure and 11 patients required more than one procedure. Seven patients died due to their underlying disease. Few complications were seen. Vacuum sealing is a new therapeutic concept in wound healing which can precede and sometimes replace surgical wound closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report concerns a 26-year-old male-to- female transsexual who had received a large volume liquid silicone injection of unknown grade into her upper lateral thighs to gain female contour. She presented at our outpatient clinic 4 years after the silicone injection with complaints of pain and silicone sagging down as far as both ankles. On physical examination a massively swollen right ankle with signs of inflammation was seen. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), massive diffuse and localized silicone infiltration in the soft tissues of the entire lower limbs was seen. After conservative treatment of the soft tissue infection, the first attempt to solve this problem was excision of large solid infiltrates of silicone in combination with liposuction. Liposuction was not able to reduce the silicone load. After a recurrent inflammation had subsided, radical subcutaneous debridement was performed. The local skin was used as a full-thickness skin graft. As of now, there has been no recurrence of pain and inflammation for the first 15 months. It is concluded that, even now, large-volume silicone injections are performed. These procedures will end in disaster without exception. The treatment of these disasters is complicated and never satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A patient is described with multiple cysts in the palms of both hands in association with the basal cell naevus syndrome. A cause for the origin of the cysts is postulated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Interplast is a humanitarian charitable organization which sends plastic surgery teams to developing countries or areas. Interplast-Germany has operated in Cochin, southwestern India on eight occasions since 1984. The activities and experiences of the last five visits are reported in an attempt to stimulate others to participate in such projects or undertake new projects on their own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial palsy is treated by many different operative procedures. In addition, factors such as the varying degree of paralysis, make postoperative comparisons difficult. The limited number of patients treated by free muscle transplantation at any one center also complicates evaluation of alternative treatments. This limitation has been overcome by development of an International Muscle Transplant Registry for collection, storage and analysis of data from different centers. As of June 1, 1988, 137 patients from 6 countries have been entered into the Registry. Significantly more USA/European patients had a congenital deficit and significantly more Japanese patients had a deficit resulting from surgery. According to a modification of the paresis scoring system proposed by Stennert et al. [3], USA/European patients also had a higher degree of nonsurgical facial paresis than Japanese patients. The most frequent preoperative treatment used in Japan was electrostimulation in 24% of cases, only 6% of European and American patients received this treatment. Evaluation of surgical procedures performed by the 2 groups of surgeons showed similar dimensions of muscle grafts used in the face, with a length of about 8.5 cm and a width of 3.4 cm. The extensor digitorum brevis muscle was the most popular, being used in 58% of European and American cases, whereas the Japanese choice was the gracilis muscle in 94% of cases. The length of the nerve graft used by Japanese surgeons was 6 cm, longer than that used by European and American surgeons. At this time, these preliminary data suggest evidence for paresis improvement in 79% of patients overall. Ultimately, the Registry should permit evaluation of the efficacy of different operative techniques and should influence experimental research and clinical application of muscle transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinodactyly and Kirner’s deformity are generally regarded as independent anomalies. We present the first family in which both deformities are present. This concurrence raises the question as to whether these deformities are variable expressions of the same genetic disorder. However, because a conclusive genetic test could not be performed, coincidence cannot be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter is presented in response to the commentary on the article on revision operation after silicone gel breast implantation published within the issue of this periodical.