[Frey syndrome]. / Frey-Syndrom.

AIMS: The incidence of Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy as cited in the literature varies distinctively. Strategies for successful treatment are also assessed differently. PATIENTS: Between 1980 and 1994 a total of 372 parotidectomies were performed in 364 patients at the Bochum University Hospital. RESULTS: After an average of 18 months following parotidectomy, 86 patients (23.5%) developed Frey's syndrome. Thirty-five patients were treated with scopolamine ointment. The symptoms improved in nine cases after an average of 25 months of therapy. Of the patients receiving no treatment (n = 20), seven improved after an average follow-up of 20 months. Therapy with scopolamine ointment did not elicit significantly better results compared to no treatment at all. CONCLUSION: Gustatory sweating after parotidectomy still has to be regarded as an unpleasant complication which is difficult to cure.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with extensive miliary metastases: a case report.

We report the course of a 19-year-old female who presented with a 13-year history of an occipital dermal tumor. Only five weeks after excision, the patient succumbed to cerebral dysregulation due to extensive miliary cerebral, hepatic, and pulmonary metastasis. The histologic features of the surgical specimen and the autopsy material differed suspiciously: a peculiar malignant progression of the tumor seemed to have occurred within five weeks.

Computer assisted serum/biological fluid storage: hemophilia serum/plasma bank.

Samples are drawn from hemophiliacs to retrieve plasma and serum for testing and storage. The samples for testing are tested and the results compiled using a database computer program. The samples for storage are coded and stored at -70 degrees C under controlled conditions. The location of the samples is then entered into the database computer program. The results of the tests, or the stored sample location, can be easily retrieved using the computer.

Lupus anticoagulant testing: effect of the platelet count on the activated partial thromboplastin time.

The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) is often used as a test to diagnose patients with lupus anticoagulants. It is recommended that platelet-poor plasma be used in the APTT test. In this study the effects of residual platelet contamination on lupus anticoagulant and antiphospholipid antibody testing are described. In fresh samples the residual platelet contamination has no significant effect whereas in frozen samples the effect of residual platelet contamination can have a significant effect on the APTT testing.

Molecular cloning and characterization of ARO7-OSM2, a single yeast gene necessary for chorismate mutase activity and growth in hypertonic medium.

The chorismate mutase structural gene, ARO7, which is necessary for both phenylalanine and tyrosine biosynthesis was cloned by complementation in yeast. Genetic analysis showed that ARO7 was identical to a gene necessary for growth in hypertonic medium, OSM2, which mapped nearby. After restriction mapping and subcloning of the plasmid, the cloned gene was used to detect mRNA levels in several growth conditions. Enzyme activities were measured in various genotypes. At our level of detection ARO7-OSM2 is a low level constitutively expressed gene.

Intraventricular haemorrhage and haemostasis defects.

Twenty five of 106 preterm infants of 34 weeks' gestation or less developed intraventricular haemorrhage within the first 48 hours of life. A comparison of infants with and without intraventricular haemorrhage showed no significant differences in their haemostatic parameters at birth. At age 48 hours the group with intraventricular haemorrhage showed a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and reduced factor II, VII, and X activity. There was a significant correlation between the severity of intraventricular haemorrhage and the degree of haemostasis abnormality both in cord blood and in blood obtained at age 48 hours. Those infants sustaining grade IV intraventricular haemorrhage had a significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, reduced factor II, VII, and X activity; and a decreased fibrinogen concentration at birth. At age 48 hours these defects were accompanied by reduced platelet counts and an increased megathrombocyte index. Although intraventricular haemorrhage is multifactorial, we postulate that correction of haemostasis abnormalities at birth may prevent progression to more severe grades of haemorrhage.

'Normal' haemostasis parameters: a study in a well-defined inborn population of preterm infants.

Coagulation studies were performed in a well-defined inborn population of preterm neonates in cord blood and arterial blood obtained at age 48 h. Eighty infants fulfilled all the inclusion criteria. Our results show an increase in the hepatic vitamin K1 dependent and independent factors with postnatal age. The APTT became shorter, the factor II-VII-X, alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen activities and fibrinogen level rose with increasing postnatal age. We found no change in the platelet parameters measured with postnatal age except that the megathrombocyte index was increased at age 48 h in infants less than 29 weeks gestation. There was little change with gestational age of any factors except the vitamin K1 dependent factors. Factor II-VII-X activity rose and the APTT became shorter with increasing gestational age. Many of the haemostasis results did not fall within the normal adult range. We discuss the significance of 'abnormal' and 'normal' results in preterm infants.