Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that usually presents itself in early childhood and is thought to be influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiology of neurological, neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer disease, Down's syndrome and autism. The biological fluid levels of the 15-F2t-Isoprostane (15-F2t-IsoP) are regarded as being the most significant biochemical index of oxidative stress. There are some studies that measured 15-F2t-IsoP in the plasma and urine of children with autism. However 15-F2t-IsoP has not been measured in the saliva of children with autism. This procedure is less stressful for the children with autism. The purpose of this study is to evaluate saliva levels of 15-F2t-IsoP in children diagnosed with autism. Saliva levels of 15-F2t-IsoP were determined in 18 children with autism age: 6.6±1.6 years and 21 healthy controls age: 7.5±1.4 years. Compared to the control group, the children with autism had significantly higher saliva levels of 15-F2t-IsoP. From the above-mentioned it is concluded that a) lipid peroxidative biomarker 15-F2t-IsoP is increased in autistic children, and b) saliva is the proper (optimal) biological fluid for the evaluation the lipid peroxidation in autistic children.

Background: Twenty percent of the long saphenous vein (LSV) grafts that are employed as coronary bypass conduits occlude during the first year after the operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological parameters of the LSV grafts before implantation as predictors for the early occlusion of the grafts. Methods: Forty-two samples of LSV grafts were examined via light, transmission electron, and scanning electron microscopy and evaluated clinically and by angiography at 6 months and 2 years after the operation. Morphological parameters were statistically analyzed and examined for their significance on the viability of the vein grafts. Results: Six (14.28%) of the examined grafts occluded within the first 6 months after the operation, and I I grafts (26.19%) occluded within the first 2 years. The grafts that occluded at 6 months were characterized by thick intima (mean value, 206 +/- 32.29 vs. 67.44 +/- 10.17 in the group functioning normally and 98.42 +/- 34 in the group occluded within 2 years), low endothelial coverage (22.7 +/- 4.04 vs. 64.61 +/- 2.89 and 26.06 +/- 1.78 in the corresponding groups), and narrow lumen (46.73 +/- 9.69 vs. 527.18 +/- 45.78 and 204.26 +/- 16.5 in the corresponding groups). The presence of foam cells, edema, calcification, neovascularization, and thrombus in the lumen of the veins is frequently observed in the wall of the occluded vein grafts, whereas fibrosis does not seem to be related. Conclusions: LSV grafts with low endothelial cell coverage, stenosis of the lumen, and thick walls are at an increased risk of developing intrawall lesions that lead to early graft failure. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The authors studied venous valve cusps from surgically removed great saphenous vein with essential lower limb varicosis from 20 patients without data about previous thrombophlebitis. Venous valves without varicose alterations were used as controls. The histological, immunohistochemical, ТЕМ and SEM techniques were applied. In morphologically complete valve cusps from non-varicose great saphenous vein, a small marginal thickening was observed by routine histology. The cells visualised in these thickenings showed positive reaction against anti-vimentin but negative reaction against anti—smooth muscle actin antibody. In varicose vein valve cusps a marginal thickening with considerably larger diameter was histologically observed. In the fibrin-like material which was disposed around these thickenings, proliferation of fibroblasts as well as collagen fibres' depositions were seen. The SEM study showed partial rollings of the free cusp border. In the marginal thickening, the cells showed negative reaction not only to anti—smooth muscle actin but they also lost the reaction to anti-vimentin monoclonal antibody. The process mentioned above advanced, it occupied a new part at the valve cusp and so the cusp shortened. According to our hypothesis, this was one of the ways of initiating and advancing incompetence in primary varicosis.

Patients with abdominal wall reconstruction present a difficult management problem to the oncological surgeon. There were 36 patients treated for abdominal wall primary and secondary tumors between the years 1973 and 1982 at the Memorial Hospital. There were 25 abdominal wall sarcomas, 6 recurrent colon cancers, 2 recurrent bladder cancers, 1 cervical cancer, 1 recurrent endometrial cancer and 3 complications of radiotherapy treated by excision and reconstruction of the defect. The desmoid tumors were closed primarily. The recurrent sarcomas after radical excision, were reconstructed with Marlex mesh and local mobilization of skin and subcutaneous tissue. The recurrent colon bladder and endometrial cancers had been treated with over 5,000 cGy each. Three patients had significant full thickness skin loss secondary to radiotherapy. These patients comprised the group that required a myocutaneous flap to provide full thickness skin and fascia. The tensor fascia lata flap was used in eight patients. This group of patients did extremely well in contrast to the group of radiated patients with Marlex mesh reconstruction. There were less complications in the TFL group. We recommended the TFL flap for a large abdominal wall defect and for a previously radiated abdominal wall.

Wide excision of soft tissues of the foot for sarcoma invariably creates a large defect requiring closure in a way that will withstand the trauma of bearing weight. Neurovascular flap reconstruction provides a thick, well‐vascularized cover with good sensation, functional durability, and brief immobilization.