Direct or indirect energy savings in food and beverage services? Visitors' preferences in hotel restaurants

Food processing in hotels is one of most energy-intensive activities in the tourism industry. There is an urgent need to reduce energy consumption in hotels to limit their environmental impact. This research aims to assess tourists' preferences for the provision of food that require low energy preparation and to compare them with tourists' preferences for other indirect energy saving options. A quantitative survey with 944 tourists visiting six tourist sites across the Czech Republic was used for primary data collection. Data were analyzed using linear regression models. Our findings signal that direct energy savings tend to be perceived differentially and surprisingly as the least preferred option among tourists. Those who support direct energy savings in food processing are rather older respondents and also respondents who declare stronger pro-environmental everyday behaviour and subjective norms. We claim that as tourists show highly diverse preferences for various ways of energy savings, we need to ensure that multiple energy saving options are offered so that tourists contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of hotels. At the same time, it has to be highlighted that only few surveyed tourists voluntarily accepted reduction of comfort in the food and beverage provision. There is room for many technological and social innovations and raising environmental awareness among tourists to overcome this contradiction.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in Ixodes ricinus ticks in urban green areas in Prague

Ixodes ricinus ticks are considered as the vector of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex in urban areas, including city parks and green recreational areas. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s. l. in urban areas in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. In selected public green areas in Prague, a total of 2819 I. ricinus ticks were collected in spring, from April to June, in 2014-2020. Quantitative real time PCR revealed 28.1% of ticks (31% of males, 33.7% of females and 25.8% of nymphs) to be positive for B. burgdorferi s. l. The prevalence varied significantly (p˂0.01) between collection sites, with the highest numbers of infected ticks found in the central city areas. The places serving people for recreational and sport activities in urban areas are characterized by a lower diversity of reservoir hosts, provide opportunity for exposure to Borrelia infected ticks, and pose a higher infection risk. We have detected seven Borrelia species in ticks: B. garinii, B. afzelii, B. bavariensis, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. valaisiana, B. spielmanii, and B. finlandensis. Most positive ticks were infected by B. garinii (35%) and B. afzelii (36.9%). Our results show that the Borrelia transmission cycle occurs within urban biotops and highlight the need for surveillance of tick-borne pathogens in public green areas.

Presence of an alien turtle accelerates hatching of common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles

The presence of a predator affects prey populations either by direct predation or by modifying various parts of their life history. We investigated whether the hatching time, developmental stage, and body size at hatching of common frog (Rana temporaria) embryos would alter in the presence of a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) as a predator. The presence of a predator affected all factors examined. We found that in the absence of the slider, the embryos hatched in 12 days, while hatching was accelerated by two days in slider treatment. At the same time, the embryos hatched smaller and at a lower stage of development with the slider than without it. Our study extends the range of predators studied, including the effect on different phases of development of potential amphibian prey.

Metabolic plasticity of cancer cells

BACKGROUND

A general characteristic of cancer metabolism is the skill to gain the essential nutrients from a relatively poor environment and use them effectively to maintain viability and create new bio-mass. The changes in intracellular and extracellular metabolites that accompany metabolic reprogramming associated with tumor growth subsequently affect gene expression, cell differentiation, and tumor microenvironment. During carcinogenesis, cancer cells face huge selection pressures that force them to constantly optimize dominant metabolic pathways and undergo major metabolic reorganizations. In general, greater flexibility of metabolic pathways increases the ability of tumor cells to satisfy their metabolic needs in a changing environment.

PURPOSE

In this review, we discuss the metabolic properties of cancer cells and describe the tumor promoting effect of the transformed metabolism. We assume that changes in metabolism are significant enough to facilitate tumorigenesis and may provide interesting targets for cancer therapy.

Regeneration of Post-Agricultural Brownfield for Social Care Needs in Rural Community: Is There Any Transferable Experience?

In the 21st century, rural communities face many challenges, including implications of dynamic population aging, a lack of social care services, and the occurrence of abandoned post-agricultural brownfields. This paper is methodologically based on the findings derived from a set of qualitative in-depth interviews with the key rural stakeholders, explores the decisive factors and limits, accelerators, and barriers governing successful regeneration of the post-agricultural brownfield in the post-socialist environment. We are using the case of the regeneration project of a large-scale former communist agricultural cooperative, located in Vranovice, the Czech Republic, to illuminate how complex and challenging the redevelopment of a post-agricultural brownfield into a social care facility for elderly people is. A wide agreement among the experts in the field of community development exists that this regeneration project can serve as a model example for other rural municipalities that are sharing similar local development issues. Our findings illustrate how important and challenging at the same time are the matters of good governance, the active and long-term participation of stakeholders in the regeneration project, and the real-life introduction of the public–private partnership concept, particularly in immensely transforming the post-socialist countryside.

Comparison of spring and summer clutches of Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus)

The intensively farmed fishponds of the Třeboň Basin in South Bohemia, Czech Republic host a substantial number Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) pairs that nest later than the expected spring season and instead in summer, which may be associated with fishpond farming. A two-factor nested ANOVA of Great Crested Grebe egg and clutch characteristics showed no differences between spring (May-June) and summer (July - August) seasonal clutches. High egg total volume in spring nests was significantly related to both decreasing distance between nests and decreasing number of nests on the fishpond. The increase of total egg volume in summer nests was significantly related to the distance to the edge of littoral vegetation. There is no substantial difference between spring and summer egg characteristics, but total egg volume in spring nests is dependent on other characteristics that those in summer nests.

Emergency management and internal audit of emergency preparedness of pre-hospital emergency care

One of the negative components of international travel is the higher likelihood of emergencies that affect a large number of people (mass negative impact on health), for example the transmission of infectious diseases, as e.g. SARS CoV-2 pandemic. The frequency and sources of mass-casualty incidents are currently changing dynamically, especially with the onset of terrorist attacks and large-scale natural disasters. Health services and emergency medical service (EMS) take part in addressing these emergencies. For this reason, this paper deals with the EMS emergency preparedness in the Czech Republic for an emergency events with a large number of affected people. EMS in the Czech Republic are not provided by the state but by individual regions. EMS in the Czech Republic do not have central management, nor do they use uniform data documentation. The investigation of the current situation has shown that the attitudes of EMS in individual regions of the Czech Republic to the tasks of emergency preparedness for mass casualty incidents are not identical. The current method of evaluating improvements in the quality of EMS emergency preparedness lacks consistency and is not comprehensively supervised. To tackle this, the paper presents an internal audit methodology for assessing the level of emergency preparedness of the emergency medical services. The authors therefore defined the decisive criteria and indicators assessing the quality level of EMS emergency preparedness at major disaster with multiple victim incident. When developing the methodological procedure of the preparedness evaluation, an algorithm was chosen, based on the gradual verification of the evaluation criteria and indicators by an expert group. Some findings and recommendations based on a research carried out in EMS in individual regions of the Czech Republic are presented.

Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

With advancements in diagnostic techniques, oligometastatic prostate cancer is diagnosed in patients who were, in the past, considered to have localized disease. Moreover, evidence of the effectiveness of treatment intensification for this disease is increasing, focusing on primary tumors as well as metastatic lesions. Thus, we can delay the start of systemic palliative treatment and improve overall survival. Many questions remain unclear, such as the definition of oligometastasis disease, or which patients should be offered aggressive treatment. Data are limited and come from small retrospective studies but show conclusively the benefits of survival in targeted primary prostate and metastatic prostate cancer therapy with surgery or radiotherapy. Often, stereotactic radiotherapy is used in this indication, with minimal side effects. In retrospective studies, 3-5 metastatic lesions were generally accepted for definition of oligometastatic disease, but patient subgroups were heterogeneous. A recent study attempts to better define oligometastatic disease and find out the right degree of intensification of treatment. When and in which patient to use metastasis-targeted therapy and when the standard systemic treatment is already meaningful. It is already clear that selected patients benefit from targeted personalized treatment.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this review is to offer an update of the problem of oligometastatic prostate cancer. The article presents an overview of data from contemporary literature, modern possibilities of diagnostic imaging methods and treatment options of oligometastatic prostate cancer including surgery and radiotherapy.  authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers. Submitted: 8. 2. 2019 Accepted: 5. 3. 2019.

Small terrestrial mammals living along streams acting as natural landscape barriers

Riparian stands along streams are important landscape elements – biocorridors, allowing the dispersal of many small terrestrial mammals. Streams are, however, also barriers limiting dispersal, which leads to isolation and population-genetic changes. Communities of small terrestrial mammals (Eulipotyphla, Rodentia) were studied in 2004 to 2006 on five watercourses of varying widths in Central European cultural landscape situated in South Bohemia (Czech Republic). In total, 547 individuals from 10 species were captured by the Capture-Mark-Recapture method (CMR). Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) were eu-dominant species at all locations. Species diversity and equitability rose with the degree of the barrier – proportional to the width of the stream.

The terrestrial mobility of selected species was also assessed. Apodemus flavicollis indicated overall highest values of mobility, and Myodes glareolus males also scored higher values, however, the width of the stream did not correlate with mobility in these species. The animals crossed water-courses on the order of tens of meters wide in the period of 3 months. The frequency of crossing of Apodemus flavicollis decreased exponentially with the width of the stream and was dependent on population density.

Abstract P1-07-16: Triple-negative breast cancer: A single-centre retrospective cohort study of 408 TNBC cases with a focus on elderly patients

Background: TNBC represents a heterogeneous group of breast cancers that do not express ER-α, PgR and Her-2 receptors. Generally, these tumors are aggressive and more common in younger women. The aim of our study was to create a representative set of patients with TNBC, which could be analyzed and the data gathered to build basic epidemiological, molecular and clinical characteristics of Czech patients with TNBC. In particular, we focused on older patients (≥70 and ≥75 y.o.). Methods: We retrospectively studied a consecutive cohort of 408 patients diagnosed and/or treated for TNBC at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute between 2004 and 2010. Some clinical-pathologic/molecular correlations were performed to identify prognostically different groups of patients.

Results: The median age of patients was 56 years (25–88). A total of 9.3% of TNBC cases were diagnosed in patients under the age of 34, another 15,2% and 15,0% of cases were in the age group of 35 to 44 years and ≥70 years, respectively. In the group of patients aged ≥70 years (61), 59 % (36) were ≥75 y.o. Incidence of CK5/6+ and BRCA1 mutated tumors decreased with increasing age of patients, while the number of AR+ tumors increased (Chi-square test for trends: p=0,0245, p=0,0049 and p=0,0047, respectively). We confirmed the aggressive nature of this disease: in the follow-up period (median 77,2 months) we observed a relapse in 27,2 % (111) of patients: 71 % of deaths due to disease progression occured within 2 years after diagnosis of the disease. Patients ≥70 and especially ≥75 years of age had, together with patients ≤30 y.o., the highest risk of death due to tumor progression. DFS and OS of patients ≥75 y.o. was significantly worse in comparison with other patients (OS: p=0,035, HR 0,515; DFS: p=0,0077, HR 0,475). Simultaneously, adjuvant chemotherapy and anthracyclines were much less frequently administered in this age group (p<0,0001), despite the fact that the distribution of clinical stages did not differ among the age groups. In the whole cohort, the most important negative prognostic factors in relation to disease specific OS were: higher clinical stage and pT (both p<0.0001), pN–positive status (p<0.0001), absence or early withholding of chemotherapy (p<0.0001) and minimal disease response to neoadjuvant treatment (TRG4-TRG5) (p=0.005). High levels of BCL2 expression predicted poor OS in basal-like TNBC patients treated with adjuvant anthracycline-based regimens (p=0.033, HR 3.04). Contrariwise, longer OS was associated with the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (p=0,0004, HR 2,40).

Conclusion: TNBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer, which may occur in patients of all ages, but more frequently in younger patients. Early detection and intensive treatment od these tumors gives a high chance of cure. Patients ≥70 and especially ≥75 years of age, together with patients ≤30 y.o., are at the highest risk of death due to tumor progression. While in younger patients it is likely due to the aggressiveness of disease, in older patients, in particular, because of an absence of adjuvant systemic therapy. The introduction of targeted therapies could potentially improve prognosis in both groups of patients (eg. PARP inhibitors, antiandrogens).

Supported by IGA MZ CR: NT14599-3.

Citation Format: Svoboda M, Navrátil J, Palácová M, Fabian P, Bareková L, Kabut T, Coufal O, Fait V, Jurácek J, Selingerová I. Triple-negative breast cancer: A single-centre retrospective cohort study of 408 TNBC cases with a focus on elderly patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-16.

[Immunotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer]

The immune system is believed to play a dual role in carcinogenesis. On one hand, it could prompt tumorigenesis and cancer progression, on the other hand, it has the capacity to eradicate tumor cells. There has been an evidence of natural immunogenicity in breast cancer and we have also witnessed several attempts to stimulate non-specific antitumor immune response (Coleys toxin, BCG vaccine etc.). New technologies and further knowledge of molecular basis of immune system and its function encouraged the development of effective immunotherapy capable of inducing a solid antitumor activity. These agents appear promissing in the prevention and therapy of breast carcinoma as well. The assumption is based on the results of several antitumor vaccine trials targeted against HER2, MUC1, CEA and mammaglobin-A, as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. CTLA-4, PD-1/ PD-L1, LAG3). With regards to different mech-anisms of action of these agents, their combination might bring about synergistic antitumor effects. Nonetheless, monoclonal antibodies and cytostatic agents already approved for breast cancer treatment might be exploited for their immunomodulation effect as well. This article addresses prospects for immunotherapy of breast carcinoma in detail.

[Function of CDK12 in Tumor initiation and progression and its clinical consequences]

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) participate in many cellular processes and play a crucial role in the regulation of cell cycle and transcription processes. Recently, CDK12 was identified as a key factor orchestrating transcription of genes, such as BRCA1, ATM, ATR, FANCI and FANCD2, which are involved in the DNA-damage response pathway. Importantly, inhibition of function of these genes commonly leads to induction of genomic instability followed by cancer development, but the precise contribution of CDK12 to these processes is to be unveiled. Nevertheless, several mutations affecting function of CDK12 were already identified in a variety of tumors of different origin (ovary, breast, prostate, intestine) making tumors sensitive to cytostatics promot-ing DNA damage (platin derivatives, alkylating regimens) and inhibitors of DNA repair (PARP inhibitors). Such an effect has been already observed in the model of high grade serous ovarian carcinomas. Thus, CDK12 is becoming a potential therapeutic target of drugs causing synthetic lethality in these cells. Our review summarizes most recent information about CDK12 function in cancer and discusses potential use of CDK12 in clinics.

[Triple Negative Breast Cancer]

BACKGROUND

In the Czech Republic, around 6,500 women get breast cancer each year; out of this number, nearly 1,000 women are triple negative subtype. Triple negative breast cancer is characterized by lack of expression of α-estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Vast majority of these cases are low-differentiated carcinomas, majority belonging to the basal-like subgroup defined originally by DNA chips. Clinically, they are characterized by greater aggressiveness, frequent rate of local recurrence and organ metastases. They are more common in younger women and are associated with the occurrence of hereditary forms of breast cancer caused by pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1 gene and in rare cases also BRCA2.

AIM

The objective of this review is to provide comprehensive information about current knowledge of triple negative breast cancer. This paper summarizes information about epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of this disease, describes risk factors for both sporadic and hereditary forms of triple negative breast cancer, addresses histopathologic and molecular classification of triple negative breast cancer, and these characteristics associates with treatment and prediction of disease development. The article also addresses new anticancer drugs tested for triple negative breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Triple negative breast cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases with limited therapeutic options. The key to further shift in therapy is detailed knowledge of its clinical and molecular diversity and identification of predictive biomarkers. Further improvement of therapy results of triple negative breast cancer cannot be expected before targeted therapy of this disease is found.

[Lobular breast cancer in man - case report and review of the literature]

CASE

Herein we report a case of a man with a B- cell non-Hodgkin lymfoma, primarily diagnosed by topographic and morfology tokens as lobular breast carcinoma and, as such, it was treated by chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. The treatment resulted in complete remission for 3,5 years. However, the subsequent relapses that arised in retrocrural and left axilary area did not respond adequately to breast cancer targeted chemotherapy. Therefore the patient underwent re-exstirpation of axillary lymph node yielding a surprising histology finding of folicular lymphoma. The primary biopsy specimen was histologicaly reevaluated and the initial dia-gnosis was reclassified as folicular lymphoma. The patient was given an adequate chemotherapy and targeted treatment that established a complete remission. Six months afterwards there was a relapse detected in the retrocrural area. The patient underwent palliative radiotherapy that brought about complete remission and, so far, he is in good condition. It has been eight years since the cancer dia-gnosis was established. This case report is appended by review of literature dealing with diagnostic confusion of these two malignancies.

CONCLUSION

Re -biopsy plays a significant role in case of treatment strategy controversies, predominantly on condition of atypical course of malignant disease. It should always be considered in case of cancer relapse, especially if the phenotype specfication could affect the treatment decision.

[Triple-negative breast cancer: analysis of patients diagnosed and/or treated at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute between 2004 and 2009]

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a heterogeneous group of breast cancers that do not express ER-α, PgR and Her-2 receptors. Generally, these tumors are aggressive and more common in younger women, in which an association of TNBC with mutations in the BRCA1 gene was documented. The aim of our study was to create a representative group of patients with TNBC, which could be analyzed and the data gathered to build basic epidemiological, molecular and clinical characteristics of Czech patients with TNBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed basic clinical-pathologic correlations in a group of 335 patients diagnosed and/or treated for TNBC at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute between 2004 and 2009. We also performed immunohistochemical examination of expression of cytokeratin 5/6, cytokeratin 14 and EGFR to identify the basal-like subset of TNBC.

RESULTS

The median age of patients with TNBC was 56 years, range 25-88 years. A total of 9.25% of TNBC cases were diagnosed in patients under the age of 34, and another 15.22% of cases were in the age group of 35 to 44 years. 'Basal-like' carcinomas accounted for 75% of TNBC. We confirmed the aggressive nature of this disease: in the follow-up period we observed a relapse in 25% of patients: 55% of deaths due to disease progression occured within 2 years after diagnosis of the disease. Treatment strategies include chemotherapy, in most cases (88.4%). Chemotherapy was mostly based on regimens with anthracyclines or in combination with taxanes. The most important negative prognostic factors in relation to OS (disease specific OS) were: higher clinical stage (p < 0.0001), pN - positive status (p < 0.0001), high proliferative activity (as measured by Ki-67, cut-off 50%, HR = 0.4740, p = 0.0411) and positive expression of CK5/6 (HR = 0.4274, p = 0.0338). In relation to DFS, the negative prognostic significance was found for these factors: higher clinical stage (p < 0.0001), pN positive status (p < 0.0001), high proliferative activity (Ki-67, cut-off 50%, HR = 0.04993, p = 0.0240). DFS was longer in patients with a higher number of applied cycles of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (> 4 cycles, HR = 1.7273, p = 0.0467).

CONCLUSION

TNBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer, which may occur in patients of all ages, but more frequently in younger patients. Only early detection of disease and intensive treatment gives a high chance of cure. Unfortunately, no reliable predictive factors have been identified so far. Better therapeutic results can be expected from targeted therapy.

Association of rous sarcoma virus DNA with Xenopus laevis spermatozoa and its transfer to ova through fertilization

Mature Xenopus laevis spermatozoa are capable of binding plasmid pAPrC carrying the complete Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) DNA. Each sperm cell associates, on an average, with 70-160 molecules of the plasmid DNA in a DNase resistant form, if the spermatozoa were exposed to the DNA at a concentration of 1.0-1.4 micrograms/10(7) sperm cells. Fertilization with pAPrC-treated spermatozoa induced developmental malformations in 25-30% of embryos. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections from defective animals revealed aberrations in myotomal structures, and increased expression of pp60src protein in myoblasts, neuronal tube, and epidermis. The presence of characteristic v-src and RSV-long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences in X. laevis DNA was detected by PCR analysis. Embryonic RNA hybridized with a src-specific and an RSV-LTR specific probes indicating expression of the viral DNA. Plasmid DNAs without the v-src gene (pATV9) or completely free of any RSV sequences (pBR322) did not induce any changes in embryonic development. Our results provide evidence that the pBR322-cloned DNA form of the RSV genome associates with frog sperm cells in a DNase-resistant manner suggesting internalization and may be subsequently carried into eggs during the process of artificial fertilization. Correlation between the defective morphogenesis of X. laevis and increased expression of the src gene as well as an interference of RSV DNA with the developmental programs of frog embryos are discussed.

Fatty acids in lipids of nasoethmoidal polyps

In 29 samples of recurrent nasoethmoidal polyps removed from 11 patients, the relative fatty acids composition was established by means of gas chromatography. Four samples of nasal mucosa of patients without polyps were subjected to the same procedure. A significant increase in the content of linoleic acid (18:2, n-6) as well as in the index "linoleic acid/oleic acid" was found. Proportion of arachidonic acid was high both in polyps and in control samples of nasal mucosa. An orientation examination of fatty acids in individual fractions of lipids, compared to serum values, showed that the main source of arachidonic acid appears to be phospholipids.

[Disorders of the heart conduction system]

Disorders of the genesis and conduction of impulses in different parts of the cardiac conduction system are the result of functional or morphological damage of parts of the conduction system. Pathological processes which affect the cardiac conduction system are practically always comprehensive and ensue from the character of the basic disease. Previous embryological and histological investigations provide evidence of developmental and structural similarity of all portions of the cardiac conduction system. On this fact the assumption of a similar reaction of the conduction system to the acting pathological process is based. In a group of 127 patients with a positive finding, on invasive examination of the conduction system in 57 (45%) a pathological process was detected at several levels of the conduction system. This finding is consistent with experience reported in the literature and supports the justification of the term "disease of the cardiac conduction system" when there is evidence of multi-focal damage of the conduction system.

Interaction of egg-white glycoproteins and their oligosaccharides with the monomer and the hexamer of chicken liver lectin. A multivalent oligosaccharide-combining site exists within the carbohydrate-recognition domain

Binding of egg-white glycoproteins and their oligosaccharides to hexameric solubilized form of the chicken hepatic lectin and the monomeric soluble fragment containing the carbohydrate-recognition domain has been investigated by several techniques. Ligand blotting revealed significant differences in binding to two forms of the lectin only for glycoproteins bearing multiple N-linked oligosaccharide moieties in their molecule (riboflavin-binding glycoprotein, avidin or ovomucoid). Inhibition studies indicated that inhibitory potency in a series of linear and branched N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-terminated oligosaccharides is critically dependent on the number and spatial arrangement of the terminal monosaccharide residues for both forms of the lectin. Direct binding of 4-hydroxyphenyl-derivatized radioiodinated oligosaccharides measured by equilibrium dialysis and frontal affinity chromatography points to the existence of two N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-combining sites per one subunit of the lectin, as has been recently reported for the rabbit and rat liver lectin [Lee & Lee (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 155, 1444-1452]. Highly branch (penta-antennary) oligosaccharides interact with more than one subunit of the hexameric form of the lectin and thus resemble the more complex interaction of the whole glycoprotein.

[Congenital nasal cysts and fistulae]

Congenital nasal cysts and fistulae are relatively rare. Their localization is usually medial, sometimes lateral at sites of facial junctions during the embryonic period, either above or below the nasal bones. In a group of 16 children operated in the course of 25 years on account of a congenital nasal fistula or cyst the authors encountered in two instances junction of the fistula with the dura mater. According to the histological examination dermoids or epidermoids were involved. As the pressure of the cyst may cause usuration of bone and distension of the osseous nasal skeleton, it is recommended to operate as soon as possible.