[Noninvasive intra-abdominal pressure measurement]. / Nichtinvasive intraabdominelle Druckmessung.

In critically ill patients an intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a frequent phenomenon. An IAH is defined as an intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) persistently ≥ 12 mm Hg and an abdominal compartment syndrome is defined as an IAP with a persistent pressure ≥ 20 mm Hg in combination with newly occurring organ failure. The bladder pressure serves as a surrogate parameter for the IAP, which should be measured noninvasively in a standardized manner. An undetected and untreated IAH worsens the prognosis of critically ill patients.

Evidence for a dysfunction and disease-promoting role of the circadian clock in the diabetic retina.

Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of chronic hyperglycemia and a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. In the present study the interaction between diabetes and retinal clocks was investigated in mice. It was seen that in the db/db mouse - a widely used animal model of diabetic retinopathy - clock function and circadian regulation of gene expression was disturbed in the retina. Remarkably, elimination of clock function by Bmal1-deficiency mitigates the progression of pathophysiology of the diabetic retina. Thus high-fat diet was seen to induce histopathology and molecular markers associated with diabetic retinopathy in wild type but not in Bmal1-deficient mice. The data of the present study suggest that Bmal1/the retinal clock system is both, a target and an effector of diabetes mellitus in the retina and hence represents a putative therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Large Nasal Defects with Exposed Cartilage: The Folded Transposition Flap as an Innovative Alternative to the Paramedian Forehead Flap.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer removal surgery involving the tip or dorsum of the nose often results in large-sized defects with exposure of cartilage. In such cases, the paramedian forehead flap is a frequently used reconstruction technique; however, this method is complex and can result in a cosmetically unsatisfying outcome. OBJECTIVE: To describe the folded transposition flap as an aesthetically pleasing alternative to the paramedian forehead flap for large nasal defects with exposed cartilage. METHODS: The folded transposition flap is a 2-stage surgical modification of the transposition flap. In the first stage, an overlong axial cheek pedicle is used to cover the defect. In the second stage, the flap is thinned and the nasal scars are revised. RESULTS: All 4 patients experienced aesthetically pleasing results. CONCLUSION: The folded transposition flap is an alternative for reconstructing large surgical defects of the nasal tip or distal dorsum of the nose.

Becker Naevus Syndrome of the Lower Body: One Case and Review of the Literature.

Becker naevus syndrome is a rare epidermal naevus syndrome defined by the co-occurrence of a Becker naevus with various cutaneous, muscular and skeletal anomalies. In the majority of cases, abnormalities exclusively consist of ipsilateral hypoplasia of the breast, areola and/or nipple in addition to the naevus. Here, we report on a 42-year-old woman with an extensive Becker naevus reaching from the left buttock to the left calf verified on histological examination. In addition, there was marked hypoplasia of the fatty tissue of the left thigh confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging in contrast to hyperplasia of the fatty tissue of the left gluteal area. Underlying muscles and bones were not affected. There was no difference in leg lengths. In addition, we review and discuss the features of Becker naevus syndrome with emphasis on 10 reported cases with involvement of the lower body.

High-Resolution Ultrasonography of the Superficial Peroneal Motor and Sural Sensory Nerves May Be a Non-invasive Approach to the Diagnosis of Vasculitic Neuropathy.

High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) is an emerging new tool in the investigation of peripheral nerves. We set out to assess the utility of HRUS performed at lower extremity nerves in peripheral neuropathies. Nerves of 26 patients with polyneuropathies of different etiologies and 26 controls were investigated using HRUS. Patients underwent clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological assessment, and a diagnostic sural nerve biopsy as part of the routine work-up. HRUS was performed at the sural, tibial, and the common, superficial, and deep peroneal nerves. The superficial peroneal nerve longitudinal diameter (LD) distinguished best between the groups: patients with immune-mediated neuropathies (n = 13, including six with histology-proven vasculitic neuropathy) had larger LD compared to patients with non-immune-mediated neuropathies (p < 0.05) and to controls (p < 0.001). Among all subgroups, patients with vasculitic neuropathy showed the largest superficial peroneal nerve LD (p < 0.001) and had a larger sural nerve cross-sectional area when compared with disease controls (p < 0.001). Enlargement of the superficial peroneal and sural nerves as detected by HRUS may be a useful additional finding in the differential diagnosis of vasculitic and other immune-mediated neuropathies.