Reference Correlations for the Thermal Conductivity of 13 Inorganic Molten Salts.

The available experimental data for the thermal conductivity of 13 inorganic molten salts have been critically examined with the intention of establishing thermal conductivity reference correlations. All experimental data have been categorized into primary and secondary data according to the quality of measurement specified by a series of criteria. Standard reference correlations are proposed for the following molten salts (with estimated uncertainties at the 95 % confidence level given in parentheses): LiNO3 (7 %), NaNO3 (7 %), KNO3 (15 %), NaBr (15 %), KBr (15 %), RbBr (15 %), LiCl (17 %), NaCl (20 %), KCl (17 %), RbCl (17%), CsCl (10 %), NaI (17 %), and RbI (20 %).

Reference Correlations for the Thermal Conductivity of Liquid Bismuth, Cobalt, Germanium and Silicon.

The available experimental data for the thermal conductivity of liquid bismuth, cobalt, germanium and silicon have been critically examined with the intention of establishing thermal conductivity reference correlations. All experimental data have been categorized into primary and secondary data according to the quality of measurement specified by a series of criteria. The proposed standard reference correlations for the thermal conductivity of liquid bismuth, cobalt, germanium, and silicon are respectively characterized by uncertainties of 10, 15, 16 and 9.5% at the 95% confidence level.

A comparative study of marine litter on the seafloor of coastal areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas.

In the present work, abundance, spatial distribution and qualitative composition, of benthic marine litter, were investigated in five study areas from the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas (Saronikos, Patras and Echinades Gulfs; Limassol Gulf; Constanta Bay). Surveys were performed using the monitoring protocol proposed by the Technical Group for Marine Litter. Densities ranged from 24items/km(2) to 1211items/km(2), with the Saronikos Gulf being the most affected area. Plastics were predominant in all study areas ranging from 45.2% to 95%. Metals and Glass/Ceramics reached maximum values of 21.9% and of 22.4%. The size distribution of litter items showed that ⩾50% fall into medium size categories (10×10cm, 20×20cm) along with an elevated percentage of small-sized (<5×5cm) plastic litter items. The comparative analysis of the data highlighted the dependence of the marine litter problem on many local factors (human sources and oceanographic conditions) and the urgent need for specific actions.

Trauma, solitary bone cyst and delayed eruption of permanent mandibular incisors. an unusual case in a 7-year-old patient.

BACKGROUND: Solitary bone cysts (SBC) are uncommon non-neoplastic bone lesions, which present mainly in the mandible. Their aetiology is still obscure, but it has been suggested that they may be a result of trauma in the region. Due to their asymptomatic nature, SBCs are revealed mainly accidentally during routine radiographic examination. Sometimes, patients complain of pain or delayed eruption of teeth. Treatment is recommended because, otherwise, the cyst may become symptomatic or cause a pathologic mandibular fracture. CASE REPORT: A 7-year-old Caucasian boy presented with delayed eruption of his permanent incisors. His parents reported a history of trauma at 3 years of age. The radiographic examination revealed a bony lesion, largely displacing the permanent incisors and preventing their eruption. TREATMENT: Surgical exploration of the lesion was carried out and the histopathological examination result was consistent with a SBC. FOLLOW-UP: Two years after the surgical curettage there was radiographic evidence of considerable bony regeneration. The permanent incisors erupted and were vital. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware that SBC is associated with trauma, mainly of the mandible, and with a possible delay of eruption of the corresponding teeth.

5-Fluorouracil and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced oral cancer.

The benefit of the effect of chemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell tumors have been demonstrated by recent meta-analyses of randomized studies. However, the role of chemotherapy-especially in advanced oral cancer-is not fully clear, because of the very small amount of phase II literature available. From January 1994 to December 2000, a total of 44 pts aged 33-75 years (mean age 60 years) with advanced and histologically proved squamous cell carcinoma's of the oral cavity received at least one chemotherapy course. Seven patients had stage III and 37 stage IV disease. The chemotherapy was the initial therapy in a group of 21 patients. In a second group of 23 patients the chemotherapy was delivered after relapse of their disease. The pre-chemotherapy treatment of the second group was radiotherapy in 11, surgery in 4, combination of radiotherapy and surgery in 8 patients. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) in 3-h infusion, day 1 and 5-FU 1000 mg/m(2) in 24-h infusion, days 1-5. Treatment was repeated every 21 days. A total of 154 treatment courses (3.5 per patient, ranged 1-10) were administered. Myelotoxicity, nausea and vomiting were the major treatment complications. The overall response rate to the induction chemotherapy was 52.3%, with 19% complete (CR), and 33.3% partial response's (PR) and to the chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic disease 30.4% with 8.7% CR, and 21.7% PR. No difference was found in the median survival of the two subgroups (12 months). The median survival of the responders was 15 months (95% CI 11.3-18.7 months), and of the non-responders 9 months (95% CI 5.6-12.4 months) (P = 0.0067). Chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-FU combination is effective in pts with advanced squamous cell oral cancer and appears to improve the survival of patients who have a good response.

The human skull base angle during the second trimester of gestation.

In an attempt to demonstrate and explain the radiographic findings and changes in the skull base angle (SBA) during the second trimester of gestation, we examined 26 human fetal heads of 15-25 weeks gestational age by direct sagittal and axial high resolution computed tomography. The fetuses were preserved in 10% formalin. On magnified sagittal tomograms tracings of the skull base were made and three anatomical landmarks (nasion, sella turcica and the lowest part of the clivus) were used to define the SBA formed between them. The changes in the SBA during the second trimester were related to the gestational age of the fetuses. We found a significant increase of the SBA, of approximately 27 degrees, during the second trimester of gestation. This is different from previous measurements.

Bony lid approach for apicoectomy of mandibular molars.

Apicoectomy in the lower molar region is indicated in many instances to avoid the need for prosthetic appliances. Nevertheless it is a method sometimes rejected by oral surgeons because of the thickness of the buccal compact bone in the lower molar area leading to extensive bone loss in addition to a restriction of vision and access during the operation. The present study reports twenty-four cases of apicoectomized mandibular molars treated with the bony lid approach which facilitates considerably the apicoectomy procedure. Once part of the buccal compact bone in the periapical area of the molars is removed, favourable conditions are created for the completion of the operation under direct vision of the operational field. The replacement of the buccal compact bone then minimizes the dimensions of the remaining bone cavity.

[The use of prophylactic antibiotics in oral and maxillofacial surgery]. / Prophylaktike antibiose ste stomato-gnathoprosopike cheirourgike.

Cultures of postoperative wounds after head and neck surgery reveal a variety of oropharyngeal anaerobic and aerobic flora, aerobic gram negative rods and fungi. Control clinical trials have shown that preoperative antibacterial prophylaxis reduces the incidence of postoperative wound infections. When an antibiotic is used prophylactically, it must be active against the micro-organisms known to cause the infection which the patient is supposed to be protected from. Antibacterial prophylaxis should begin just before the operation beginning, earlier is unnecessary and beginning later is less effective. It is indicated for a variety of surgical procedures that high risk of wound sepsis, superinfection and the emergence of resistance has not been shown to occur if antibacterial agents are used only "perioperatively".

Benign cysts of the parotid gland.

Benign cysts of the parotid gland are not frequently diagnosed. They occur in any portion of the parotid gland and may be difficult to diagnose. They present with considerable histological variation in their linings. Three cases are presented of unilocular benign cystic lesions of the parotid gland that have been treated by superficial parotidectomy. Two of them were lined by a single or pseudostratified layer of cuboidal epithelium and were diagnosed as retention cysts. The third was a lympho-epithelial cyst and was lined by stratified squamous and partially by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. A review of the relevant literature is also presented.

[Isolated fractures of the zygomatic arch]. / Memonomena katagmata tou zygomatikou toxou.

Out of 245 cases of zygomatic complex fractures which have been treated during 1978-1987, 20 were isolated zygomatic arch fractures. The analysis of the cases showed that the causing factors had been direct violence due to fight, sport and traffic accidents. It had been proved that these fractures are not very rare. Evaluation and treatment must be in time. Reduction of the fracture with the Ginestet hook and the Gillies method offer the most promising therapeutic results as it has been showed through this study.

[Extraoral odontogenic fistulas: a classification and a differential diagnosis from other type head and neck fistulas]. / Odontogene exostomatike syringia katataxe kai diaphorike diagnose apo alla syringia kephales kai trachelou.

The majority of extraoral facial fistulas are of odontogenic origin. Although the differential diagnosis of draining lesions should include various types of skin infection, infected tumour, specific infections, failed wound healing, foreign body, salivary gland fistula, sebaceous cysts and developmental cysts and fistulas. This report documents a group of patients with extraoral draining skin lesions and illustrates that their diagnosis is very important because clinically they can resemble many pathologic entities. One hundred and twenty-eight cases of extraoral fistulas are presented in this paper. This study aims to analyse a number of fistula cases so as to give a clear idea about relative frequency of etiology and to attract to some cases of non odontogenic etiology.