Oral high-dose methylprednisolone treatment improves recovery from ON at 1 and 3 weeks, but no effect could be demonstrated at 8 weeks or on subsequent attack frequency.

This prospective study was carried out to develop a model for the prediction of cardiac risk in non-cardiac surgery. Detailed data were collected concerning the preoperative status of 2609 consecutive patients, who were followed closely during the postoperative course. Fatal or life-threatening cardiac complications occurred in 68 patients (2.6%). By utilizing logistic regression, a model for prediction of cardiac risk was developed. The model contained six significant preoperative predictor variables: Congestive heart failure (with 3 degrees of severity); ischaemic heart disease (with 2 degrees of severity); diabetes mellitus; serum creatinine above 0.13 mmol l-1; emergency operation; and the type of operation (two categories). With this model it seems possible to discriminate between patients with very different levels of cardiac risk.

Sexual dysfunction is a well-known complication of chronic somatic illness. Eighty-six consecutive epileptic outpatients, 38 men and 48 women, without accompanying disorders, were studied. The frequency and symptoms of sexual dysfunction were compared with results from previous studies using identical sexological methodology. The previous studies were of diabetic patients and healthy controls. Eight percent of the epileptic men reported a sexual dysfunction compared to 44% of the diabetics and 13% of the controls. Epileptic women, diabetic women, and controls showed no significant differences in sexual dysfunction (29%, 28%, and 25%, respectively). In both sexes, the sexual function measured by frequencies of coitus and masturbation was normal. Most patients had good control of epileptic attacks on a treatment of monotherapy. Hormonal status was generally within normal limits in both men and women; only a few minor differences were found and they showed no correlation with sexual dysfunction. Psychologically and socially the patients did not differ appreciably from normals, and they exhibited a high degree of disease acceptance. This study, using a biopsychosocial approach in understanding sexual dysfunctions, is in contrast with previous, mainly uncontrolled, studies of epileptic patients that reported high frequencies of "hyposexuality" in males. We conclude that epilepsy does not necessarily increase the risk of sexual dysfunction in male or female.

In this study, we have characterized bone cell cultures derived from the human maxillary alveolar ridge, which could be a potential cell source for tissue engineering of the severely resorbed maxilla. From 10 individuals, an osseous core was obtained. Without the use of collagenase, 10 explant cultures were established and the morphology of the cells (human maxilla-derived cells (hMDCs)) was studied with light microscopy (LM). Explant cultures were analyzed by flow cytometry with respect to size, granularity and surface marker expression. Fluorochrom-conjugated monoclonal antibodies (CD13, CD31, CD44, CD90 or CD73) were used. hMDCs were cultured in standard medium (SCM) or osteoinductive medium (OIM) for 21 days and analyzed for the presence of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium deposits (Von Kossa). Furthermore, osteogenic gene expression (osteocalcin [OC], ALP, collagen type 1) were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). LM demonstrated that hMDCs had a polygonal morphology containing a central nucleus with two to three nucleoli. Size/granularity analysis revealed differences between individuals. Immunophenotypically, these cells were positive for CD13, CD44, CD90 and CD73 while negative for CD31. Cells cultured in SCM for 21 days showed moderate ALP staining and many calcium deposits. Culturing cells in OIM for 21 days significantly increased both ALP staining and the number of calcium deposits. RT-PCR demonstrated expression of osteogenic marker genes and the ability to upregulate osteocalcin and ALP in response to osteogenic inducers. To our knowledge, it is the first time that surface marker expression has been studied on bone cells originating from this site. Cells were positive for markers characteristic for immature mesenchymal stem cells and had osteogenic differentiation capability. This study indicates that cells derived from maxillary biopsies could be a potential cell source for bone tissue engineering.