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Sequence analyses of the non-structural protein gene NS3/NS3A of eight Greek bluetongue (BT) virus (BTV) field isolates from the 1979 and 1999-2001 epizootics provide preliminary molecular data on the epidemiology of BT in Greece. These isolates from infected sheep belonged to serotypes BTV-1, BTV-4, BTV-9 and BTV-16. Phylogenetic analysis of the NS3/NS3A gene segregated these Greek isolates of BTV into two monophyletic groups. The first group was formed by all isolates of BTV-4; all were identical in their sequences, regardless of the area and year of isolation in Greece, and clustered with strains from Tunisia and Corsica. The isolates of BTV-1, BTV-9 and BTV-16 segregated into a second monophyletic group and clustered with Asian strains, showing a high homology (97-99%). From an epidemiological point of view, these preliminary results infer that one group of isolates is Mediterranean, whilst the second appears to be of Asian origin.

A total of 216 local crossbred sheep from 16 scrapie-affected Greek flocks and 210 purebred sheep of the milk breeds Chios and Karagouniko from healthy flocks were analysed for scrapie-linked polymorphisms in the prion protein (PrP) gene. Of the 216 sheep in this case-control study, 96 sheep were clinical cases, 25 subclinical cases (asymptomatic at the moment of euthanasia but positive by histopathology and/or ELISA detecting proteinase-resistant PrP) and 95 healthy controls (negative by all evaluations). Polymorphisms at codons 136, 154 and 171 were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, followed by RFLP and sequencing. Scrapie, both clinical and subclinical, was associated with the genotypes ARQ/ARQ (88 of 110 sheep of that genotype), ARQ/TRQ (9 of 13), ARQ/AHQ (15 of 38) and VRQ/VRQ (9 of 17). Histopathological lesions were more severe in the clinical cases. Genotypes ARQ/ARR (26 sheep), ARQ/ARK (seven sheep), AHQ/ARR (one sheep), ARH/ARH (one sheep) and ARR/ARH (three sheep) were detected exclusively in healthy control sheep. In the purebred survey, four genotypes were present in the Chios sheep (ARQ/ARQ, ARQ/TRQ, ARQ/AHQ and ARQ/ARR) and four in the Karagouniko sheep (ARQ/ARQ, ARQ/AHQ, ARQ/ARR and ARQ/ARH).

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine administration followed by the combination of fluorouracil (5-FU) modulated by folinic acid in patients with advanced, symptomatic pancreatic cancer. The main objective was to estimate tumour response and any improvement in patients' quality of life., Patients: The study included 48 evaluable patients with metastatic disease with no prior chemotherapy. The study duration was 3 years., Interventions: Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) intravenously was given on days 1 and 8 followed by fluorouracil 350 mg/m(2) intravenously as a bolus biologically modulated by folinic acid 350 mg/m(2) intravenously given on days 1, 2, 8 and 9 in order to develop the conditions for any potential drug synergism. The regimen was administered every 3 weeks for 1 year or until disease progression., Results: Objective partial responses were documented in ten (21%) patients (95% CI 10.5, 35). Twenty-two (46%) patients had stable disease while 16 (33%) patients had progressive disease. The median response duration was 8 months (range 4-20). The median time to progression was 6 months (range 2-24), while the median survival of the group was 7 months (range 3-36) and the probability of surviving beyond 12 months was 20%. Of the 44 patients with tumour-related symptoms who were considered evaluable for clinical-benefit response, 28 (70%) patients had pain improvement, 25 (52%) patients had improvement of their performance status, and nine (28%) patients experienced weight gain during treatment. Serum concentrations of cancer antigen (Ca-19-9) were decreased by more than 50% in 14 (37%) of the 38 assessable patients. Chemotherapy was well tolerated, with mild myelotoxicity. Gastrointestinal toxicity was moderate with mild mucositis., Conclusion: The regimen of gemcitabine and fluorouracil administered in this study was well tolerated and showed a moderate antitumour activity and a significant palliative effect on tumour-related symptoms. Because fluorouracil is a low toxicity combination agent for gemcitabine, other forms of the two-drug combination warrant further investigation.

Due to the probable role played by rodents as a reservoir for the transmission of the EMC virus to pigs, the experiment reported here was performed in order to assess the transmission rate of EMCV within a rat population. Twenty-five eight-week-old Wistar rats housed in individual plastic cages were experimentally infected either with a Greek myocardial EMCV strain (5 rats with a 0.2 x 10(6) TCID50 dose per rat and 10 rats with a 0.5 x 10(4.5) TCID50 dose per rat, oronasally) or a Belgian myocardial EMCV strain (10 rats with a 0.5 x 10(4.5) TCID50 dose per rat, oronasally). Two to five days later, each inoculated rat was moved to a new clean cage and coupled with a contact rat to compare the pathogenicity of the two strains and to estimate the basic reproduction ratio R0, indicating the level of EMCV transmission. During the experiments, faecal virus excretion was measured as well as the serological response against EMCV. After euthanasia, virus isolation was attempted from different rat tissues. Neither strains produced mortality, nor clinical signs and only low titres of neutralising antibodies were found. All contact rats, however, were infected and the virus was isolated from their faeces and from various tissues. Both 10-pair experiments revealed a point estimate for the R0 of infinity (95%-CI for both the Greek and Belgian EMCV strains = 4.48 - infinity), as did the 5-pair experiment with a higher dose of the Greek strain (95%-CI = 1.83 - infinity). Combining the results from the two 10-pair experiments resulted in an estimate for R0 of infinity (95%-CI: 9.87 - infinity). These results indicate that the EMC virus can spread very easily within a rat population by horizontal rat-to-rat transmission (R0 >> 1).

The problem of availability of immunological products in minor species and minor indications/uses is complex and should be well defined. Data for species are available, but not for minor uses. "Case-by-case" decisions should be avoided, as far as possible. The following categories can be recognized: (a) a vaccine has not been authorized anywhere; (b) a vaccine is authorized for major species/indications only; (c) an authorized vaccine exists in another Member State and (d) a vaccine has been withdrawn. Old, well established products, with limited data for an updated dossier could be the problem in categories "c" and "d". Proposed measures and incentives include: "cascade" (not recommended), human orphan-like drug policy, provisional authorization, acceptance of bibliographical data (if justified), procedural and financial assistance. Standards of quality, safety and efficacy cannot be minimized, but specific tests can be considered.

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with the management of patients with complicated cardiothoracic problems by the use of pedicled myocutaneous or muscle flaps, and discuss the various methods of reconstruction. Over the last 11 years, we have treated 54 patients with complicated cardiothoracic problems by reconstruction with pedicled myocutaneous or muscle flaps. The underlying causes were chest wall tumours (n = 13), radionecrosis of the chest wall (n = 12), deep or chronic sternal infections (n = 25), and bronchopleural fistulas (n = 4). The most commonly used muscles for reconstruction were pectoralis major and the rectus abdominis. Our results compare favourably with those reported elsewhere. We conclude that although the use of pedicled myocutaneous or muscle flaps is not free of complications, it is an effective and reliable method for the management of patients with complicated cardiothoracic problems.

A total of 51 goats, including seven clinical cases, from the first herd in Greece reported to have scrapie was examined to discern an association between scrapie susceptibility and polymorphisms of the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP). Each animal was evaluated for clinical signs of the disease, histopathological lesions associated with scrapie, the presence of detectable protease-resistant PrP in the brain and PrP genotype. Eleven different PrP genotypes encoding at least five unique predicted mature PrP amino acid sequences were found. These genotypes included the amino acid polymorphisms at codons 143 (H-->R) and 240 (S-->P) and 'silent' nucleotide alterations at codons 42 (a-->g) and 138 (c-->t). Additionally, novel caprine amino acid polymorphisms were detected at codons 21 (V-->A), 23 (L-->P), 49 (G-->S), 154 (R-->H), 168 (P-->Q) and 220 (Q-->H) and new silent mutations were found at codons 107 (g-->a) and 207 (g-->a). The following variants were found in scrapie-affected goats: VV(21), LL(23), GG(49,) SS(49), HH(143), HR(143), RR(154), PP(168), PP(240), SP(240) and SS(240). All scrapie-affected animals carried the HH(143)RR(154) genotype, with the exception of two goats (HR(143)), both of which had detectable protease-resistant PrP but showed no clinical signs or histopathological lesions characteristic of scrapie.

Objective: To evaluate the ultrastructural changes and localization of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and viral pathogenesis in the myocardium of experimentally infected piglets., Animals: Eight 20-day-old piglets., Procedure: Six piglets were inoculated oronasally with 5 ml (10(6) median tissue culture infective dose/ml) of EMCV suspension, and 2 were used as uninfected controls. Piglets were euthanatized or died between postinoculation days 1 and 3. Samples of heart tissue from all piglets were evaluated histologically, by virus isolation, and by use of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy., Results: All infected piglets had gross or microscopic lesions of interstitial myocarditis. immunohistochemically, EMCV antigen was detected in the cytoplasm of cardiac muscle cells, Purkinje fibers, and endothelial cells and in the nucleus of cardiac muscle cells and Purkinje fibers. Ultrastructural lesions were characterized by degeneration and necrosis of cardiac muscle cells and Purkinje fibers. Virus was present intracytoplasmically in cardiac muscle cells, Purkinje fibers, and endothelial cells of capillaries and intranuclearly in cardiac muscle cells. The cell membranes of the Purkinje fibers and endothelial cells had distinct protrusions that contained virus particles. In control piglets, no lesions were found, and no EMCV antigen was detected., Conclusions: Localization of EMCV intracytoplasmically or intranuclearly in various myocardial cells may well reflect the sites of viral proliferation. The presence of virus particles in cell membrane protrusions and in vacuoles within the lumen of capillaries indicates that virus is released not only by disintegration of the host cell but also via exocytosis.

Basal cell carcinoma of the skin is the most common neoplasia in humans. Previous studies have shown the existence of allelic imbalance (loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability) in BCC on several human chromosomes. Chromosome region 9p21-p22 harbors the CDKN2a/p16INK4a, p19ARF, and p15INK4b tumor suppressor genes. To determine the contribution of these genes to the development of basal cell carcinomas we looked for evidence of allelic imbalance in 67 sporadic basal cell carcinoma specimens from Greek patients and screened 28 of them presenting loss of heterozygosity at 9p21-p22 for germline mutations in p16INK4a and p19ARF genes. Chromosome regions 17q21 and 17p13 were also screened for allelic imbalance in all the 67 basal cell carcinoma specimens. Overall, 69% (46 of 67) of the specimens displayed loss of heterozygosity in at least one microsatellite marker, whereas only six of the 67 (9%) exhibited microsatellite instability. For the 9p21-p22 locus the overall frequency of loss of heterozygosity reached 55% (37 of 67) and is the highest reported. The overall frequency of loss of heterozygosity for the 17q21 locus is 34% (22 of 64) and for the 17p13 locus is 11% (seven of 65). Two of the 28 loss of heterozygosity positive cases were heterozygous for a previously described polymorphism, Ala148Thr, in exon 2 of the CDKN2a gene. This is the first demonstration of polymorphism in the CDKN2a gene in human basal cell carcinomas. No sequence variation in exon 1beta of the p19ARF gene was found. Our results provide evidence of a significantly high occurrence of loss of heterozygosity for the 9p21-p22 locus; however, lack of p16INK4a/p19ARF mutation suggests that these genes seem not to be implicated by mutational inactivation in the development of basal cell carcinoma. Other(s), yet unidentified, tumor suppressor gene(s) located in this locus may be related to this specific type of skin cancer.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a prion-associated disease where the infectious agent is thought to be a host-encoded protein with a protease-resistant conformation (PrP(Sc)). Here, data are presented on the solubilization of purified murine BSE material, using guanidine-HCl as a denaturing agent. This treatment led to loss of infectivity, which was partially recovered on renaturation after dialysis to remove the chaotropic agent. The renatured product was then fractionated on an isopycnic sucrose-density gradient and the fractions were analysed for the presence of PrP(Sc), nucleic acids and infectivity. It was found that the major part of PrP(Sc) (>90%) and the endogenous nucleic acids did not contribute towards the formation of infectious particles on renaturation. Infectivity was distributed in the top three, low-density fractions. Among these, the presence of considerable infectivity in the fraction of lowest density, with barely detectable PrP(Sc), is of particular interest.

Seven 40-day-old piglets were inoculated with encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) strain 424/90, isolated from an outbreak of the myocardial form of the disease in Greece. Two non-infected animals were used as controls. Of the seven inoculated piglets, five died suddenly on day 1.5, 2 (two piglets), 2.5 or 4 post-inoculation (p.i. ). The remaining two and the control piglets were killed on day 8 p. i. EMCV antigen was detected immunohistochemically in endothelial cells of capillaries from 1.5 to 2.5 days p.i. only, but was found in cardiac muscle cells, Purkinje fibres and macrophages on all occasions up to day 8 p.i. In endothelial cells and macrophages, EMCV antigen was detected intracytoplasmically, but in cardiac muscle cells and Purkinje fibres it was observed intracytoplasmically or intranuclearly, or both. The frequent presence of EMCV antigen in Purkinje fibres suggests an explanation for the sudden death of the piglets., (Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.)

The development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method with amplification of capripoxvirus in a single-step procedure from skin biopsies using three primer pairs, two specific for capripoxvirus and one specific for alpha-tubulin is described. A sensitive multiplex PCR was achieved by optimization of parameters such as the primer concentrations, magnesium and dNTPs concentrations. False negative results that sometimes arise due to inhibitors of DNA amplification may be avoided by the inclusion in the assay of alpha-tubulin primers. The results reported on 42 skin biopsies from sheep suspected to have poxvirus infection, indicated that the assay could monitor simultaneously DNA extraction from skin biopsy samples and allow improved detection of capripoxvirus within 24 h of specimen receipt in the laboratory.

Increasing evidence suggests that the pathological alterations observed in brains affected by neurodegenerative disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Alzheimer's disease also involve changes in glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). In the present study, we have isolated, purified, and characterized total GAGs from brain stems of healthy cows or those infected with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent and we report on the differences between the two groups. Purification of the GAGs was achieved by gel filtration after homogenization, delipidation, and sequential treatment with pronase, DNase, and alkali borohydride. Fractionation of the total GAGs by Superose 6 gel filtration and HPLC revealed four major fractions, with average molecular masses of 360, 180, 15, and 2.3 kDa, respectively, both in controls and infected tissues. Enzymatic characterization, using GAG-degrading enzymes, showed that in both infected and normal brain stems, the 360- and 180-kDa fractions correspond to hyaluronic acid, which was also the most abundant GAG, while the 15-kDa fractions correspond to chondroitin sulfates as well as heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate, the latter being the least prominent GAG. Electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes revealed that the relative ratio of GAGs was not significantly modified in infected brain stems, compared to controls. However, total GAGs in infected brain stems was significantly decreased by approximately 40%, compared to controls, and this decrease applied equally to all of the above GAG fractions. The diminution observed in total GAGs in infected brain stems is in good agreement with the recently reported neuroprotective role of certain GAG molecules and offers an additional criterion for differential diagnosis of BSE-infected animals., (Copyright 1999 Academic Press.)

A simple, rapid and specific diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for sheep poxvirus identification. The primers used were from the sequenced genomes of the capripox viruses KS-1 and InS-1. Six different sheep pox isolates were tested against two orf (parapox) and three animal herpesviruses as controls. Material from uninfected cell cultures was also used as control. The sensitivity of the PCR was approximately equivalent with each of the two primers and for the six sheep pox isolates. All the negative control virus DNAs were negative and differed clearly from those of the sheep pox strains.

Introduction: The authors report three cases of "Hyalinosis cutis et mucosae"; the first and the second case concern two siblings children (brother and sister) while the third is reported on a 42-year-old woman., Presentation of Cases: The case history and the personal anamnesis, the morphology of the skin lesions, the symptoms indicating laryngeal mucous affection as well as the histopathological picture, are compatible with the "Urbach-Wiethe disease". Furthermore, in the third case, the electron microscopic findings confirm the diagnosis., Discussion: The particularities of the present cases are discussed in connection with the corresponding bibliographical data.

Trauma is the main cause of lower limb soft tissue defects followed by tumor resection, vascular disease and osteomyelitis. 17 patients were operated on using microsurgical techniques during the last 10 years. 9 of the patients had traumatic defects, 5 had various malignant tumors, 2 patients had arterial insufficiency and finally 1 patient had chronic osteomyelitis. The latissimus dorsi either as muscle flap with a split thickness skin graft or as a musculocutaneous flap was used the most frequently in our series. Other flaps, including the radial forearm neurovascular flap, the rectus abdominis flap, the scapular flap, the groin and the dorsalis pedis flaps were used less often. Delayed primary cover was used, except in 1 case with an opened knee joint trauma, where emergency repair was performed. Complications included: 2 partial skin graft necroses which required revision and 2 flap necroses caused by venous thrombosis. With follow-up more than 4 years in all but 2 patients, functional results were found satisfactory. Cosmetic results, however, were less satisfactory.

Partial or total lower lid reconstruction implies the repair of three layers: the skin, the tarsus, and the conjunctiva. The method of reconstruction must, therefore, aim at three objectives: ensuring the stability of the lid by repairing the tarsoconjunctival layer, achieving an aesthetic result with the repair of the skin, and taking into consideration the primary role of the upper lid in the ocular protective system. We recommend a musculocutaneous flap, taken from the upper lid, with a single lateral or medial pedicle combined with a chondromucosal alar graft. During the last 10 years, 41 patients were operated on with malignant skin tumors requiring marginal, partial, and total lower lid reconstruction. The results were quite satisfactory from a functional and aesthetic point of view. We noticed two cases of partial flap necrosis and two cases of ectropion needing revision. We believe that the procedure described can be a tool in the armamentarium of the plastic surgeon involved in the field of the orbitopalpebral area.

Reconstructive surgery of the head and neck has particularly benefited from the rapid developments in microsurgery. Resection of tumours from the head and neck which are associated with serious physical and psychological problems, or which often require multiple reconstructive procedures, can now be performed as a single-stage procedure with good oncological and functional results. The present series reports on the treatment of 12 primary or recurrent malignant tumours of the head and neck using the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap. Complications consisted of two venous thromboses which required revision of the anastomoses. The oncological and functional results were good, while the aesthetic outcome was fair. We conclude that the latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous free flap is the method of choice to repair wide defects of the head and neck following the resection of malignant tumours.

Different procedures have been described for facial and oral reconstruction after malignant tumor removal, such as skin grafts and local and distal staged flaps. Myocutaneous island or free flaps are the method of choice for these reconstructions. Our experience concerns the use of the platysma myocutaneous flap in 12 patients after intraoral and extraoral malignant tumor resection. Six patients had squamous cell carcinomas, i.e., 2 malignant melanomas of the skin and 4 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa. The complete tumor resection was controlled by frozen-section biopsy in all patients, but for 7 of them a functional or radical neck dissection was performed. We suggest including in the flap the external jugular vein. The results were evaluated from an oncological, functional, and aesthetic point of view. We noticed 2 recurrences in a minimum follow-up of 4 years. The functional and aesthetic results were quite satisfactory and no serious complications were noticed in our series. However, the primary disadvantage of this interesting flap is that the dominant vasculature derived from the submental branch of the facial artery is seldom visualized. In spite of this, it should be regarded as very useful for limited intraoral or surface coverage problems in an arc extending 10 cm from the level of the facial artery at the mandible. This arc includes the cheek, the lower lip, the chin, the floor of the mouth, and the mastoid area.

The specialty which has benefited the most from the rapid development of reconstructive microsurgery over the last decade, has been plastic surgery. In particular, the authors refer to reconstructive microsurgery after malignant tumor resection. Resections which used to cause serious psychological problems or which required multiple reconstructive procedures, can now be performed as a single stage procedure with good oncological, functional and aesthetic results. This experience concerns the treatment of 14 primary or recurrent malignant tumors of the skin and soft tissues using microsurgical techniques. The free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was the flap most commonly used. The authors also used the groin flap, the scapular flap, the tensor fasciae latae flap, the dorsalis pedis flap and finally the jejunum combined with the second metatarsus to reconstruct the mandible and the floor of the mouth. Complications consisted of complete necrosis of a dorsalis pedis flap and two revisions were performed for venous thrombosis. With a minimum follow-up of 5 years, one patient has developed a local recurrence and another has developed regional lymph node metastases. The functional and aesthetic results were quite satisfactory. The authors believe that microsurgery is a very valuable technique to treat difficult reconstructive problems.

The two-stage surgical treatment of an adult female patient who presented with a congenital divided nevus of the left upper and lower lid is described.

Plastic surgery of the peri-orbital area after tumor resection is a special and interesting field of reconstructive surgery. Our experience concerns the surgical treatment of 299 malignant tumors of the skin of the peri-orbital area in 291 patients. Basal cell carcinomas were the most common but we also had 8 squamous cell and 4 mixed carcinomas and 1 malignant melanoma. Among these tumors, 277 were primary and 22 were recurrences: 5 after X-Ray therapy, 9 after surgery elsewhere, 4 after electrocautery and 4 after combined treatments. The lower eyelids and the inner canthus areas were the most frequently involved in our series with relative infrequency in the outer canthus and upper eyelids. We used direct closure and local flaps in the repair of most of our patients, but we also used some full thickness skin grafts by preference for the upper eyelid. Complications consisted of 8 cases of ectropion and 2 flap necroses for which a revision was performed in some cases. Concerning our carcinological results among the 123 patients with one year minimum follow up we noticed 4 recurrences which represents a percentage of 3.2%.

An experiment was designed for a preliminary investigation of the caprine herpesvirus BHV-6 latency. The experiment was carried out in two steps. In the first, the virus inoculated six kids and the control, showed a mild infection and excreted the virus for 4-12 days. The second part started about one month after the cease of all symptoms and the virus isolations of the first part. No immunosuppression and therefore no virus reactivation could be achieved after eight daily administered injections of dexamethasone (0.15-0.50 mg/kg BW), as it was judged by the hematological, virological, pathological and serological findings.

The demand for the reversal of vasectomy in the treatment of sterility has been increasing over the past decade. Microsurgery is acknowledged to be the best non-traumatic procedure for this reconstruction. This article reviews 115 patients treated by microvasovasostomy over a period of six years. Evaluation of the results shows 76% of patients with a positive seminal analysis, and 52% informed the authors that their partners were pregnant. In addition to the technical aspects (i.e. the non-traumatic manipulation of tissues using microsurgical procedures) the titer of antisperm bodies in the patient's serum and seminal plasma seems to play some part in the recovery of fertility.

The surgical treatment of basal cell epitheliomas of the nose is based on wide excision and histological control with preferably an extemporaneous examination. The decision to operate should be made by a group consisting of the radiotherapist, the surgeon, and the dermatologist. Repair is usually carried out immediately, once it is certain that ablation is complete. There are no true contra-indications due to the age of the patient and treatment is less costly than irradiation. Surgery is essential for reconstruction of the nasal pyramid destroyed partially or completely by the tumor and consists of a reconstructive rhinoplasty using a frontal flap. Lesions that are of moderate dimensions but are too large to be treated by electrocoagulation, especially if they are close to the nasal orifices, are a good indication for surgery. A graft, especially a total skin graft taken from behind the ear or from the subclavicular region, is usually used. However, local flaps using the excess skin at the root of the nose (glabellar flap) or from the cheek (nasogenial flap) give excellent results. The authors describe the results obtained in a series of 93 patients in whom relapses were observed in only 7.6%. The only 3 cases in which the recurrence was not able to be treated, all three patients eventually dying, were cases in which the tumors had been operated upon for recurrences after radiotherapy.

We herewith present a review of 138 basal-cell carcinomas, mostly on the face, that were treated by surgical excision and immediate repair. In a few cases, frozen sections were taken to ensure complete excision of the neoplasm. Local flaps were favored; distant flaps and full-thickness skin grafts were required in selected case. The recurrence rate with a minimum of 3 years of follow-up is 2.1%. Cosmetic results, evaluated by the patients themselves and by one of the authors (G.D.) who did not participate in the surgery, were judged "excellent," that is, without visible scars or deformities, in 61.4% of the cases, and "good" in 31.4%. The results are discussed.