The efficacy and efficiency of an in-vitro fertilization programme including embryo cryopreservation: a cohort study

A cohort of 485 couples starting their first in-vitro fertilization(IVF) attempt between January, 1989 and February, 1991 inclusive,were followed until June 1, 1992. A total of 1086 treatmentcycles were initiated (mean 2.2, range 1–6). Of these,235 (21.8%) cycles were cancelled, giving a total of 851 embryoreplacements (mean 1.7, range 1–5). After IVF treatment,189 women have either delivered or have an ongoing pregnancyin the second or third trimester. This gives a baby take-homerate of 17.4% per started cycle and 22.2% per embryo replacement.For 91 (18.6%) of the couples, the treatment was abandoned priorto completion of the three scheduled IVF attempts and 57 (11.7%)of these had no completed IVF cycles. In the group of coupleswith reduced sperm quality, the delivery rate was significantlylower than that of the other groups. A total of 193 women hadembryos cryopreserved in at least one IVF cycle; 124 of thesewomen started a frozen embryo replacement cycle and 88 had atleast one cycle with replacement of frozen/thawed embryos, resultingin 25 deliveries/ongoing pregnancies. Due to the Norwegian lawon assisted procreation 65 (33.7%) of the women have had theirfrozen embryos thawed and discarded after 12 months of storage.The cryopreservation programme, with the limitations of theNorwegian law, gives a 5.2% increase in the baby take-home ratefor women entering the IVF programme, an increase of 13.2% inthe number of ongoing pregnancies/deliveries and an 11.6% increasein number of children/viable fetuses. A total of 214 women havedelivered or have ongoing pregnancies in the second or thirdtrimester. This represents 44.1% of the 485 women accepted forIVF treatment, irrespective of whether they were treated ornot, and 50.0% of those couples who completed at least one IVFcycle.     

Validation of an ELISA for the diagnosis of recent Campylobacter infections in Guillain–Barré and reactive arthritis patients

Weeks or months following Campylobacter infection, a small proportion of infected individuals develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) or reactive arthritis (ReA). Stool culture for Campylobacter is often negative in these patients, and serology is therefore the method of choice for diagnosing a recent infection with Campylobacter. This study developed a capture ELISA system to detect anti-Campylobacter IgA and IgM antibodies indicative of a recent infection. The sensitivity of the assay was 82.0% in uncomplicated Campylobacter enteritis patients, 96.2% in GBS patients who were culture-positive for Campylobacter, and 93.1% in culture-positive ReA patients, with a specificity of 93.0%. The assay allows identification of Campylobacter infection in patients with post-infectious neurological and rheumatological complications.     

肱骨远端的解剖观测与肱骨假体的设计

目的:为临床肱骨远端假体的设计与安放提供相关数据。方法:测量120块(男35对、女25对)成人干燥肱骨远端相关结构,对所测得结果用SPSS软件处理。结果:(1)肱骨远端前倾角和肱骨滑车外旋角,男女分别为(35.78±5.12)°、(36.33±5.06)°和(5.35±1.13)°、(5.55±1.22)°。(2)内上髁至外上髁最大宽度、滑车最内侧缘至小头最外侧缘宽度、肱骨滑车和肱骨小头宽度男女分别为(58.92±4.03)、(55.75±3.85);(45.34±3.15)、(42.18±3.01);(24.82±1.74)、(21.78±1.51)和(17.69±1.23)、(16.39±1.21)mm。(3)肱骨滑车和肱骨小头最大矢径男女分别为(23.35±2.06)、(23.13±2.15)和(19.47±1.38)、(19.13±2.19)mm。男女之间和左右之间各测量数据无显著性差异(P>0.05)。个体间有较大差异。结论:肱骨远端各项目的测量值,可供设计与安放肱骨假体提供解剖参数。     

The Mainz Severity Score Index: a new instrument for quantifying the Anderson-Fabry disease phenotype, and the response of patients to enzyme replacement therapy

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is an X-linked disorder caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The availability of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for this debilitating condition has led to the need for a convenient and sensitive instrument to monitor clinical effects in an individual patient. This study aimed to develop a scoring system--the Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI)--to measure the severity of AFD and to monitor the clinical course of the disease in response to ERT. Thirty-nine patients (24 males and 15 females) with AFD were assessed using the MSSI immediately before and 1 year after commencing agalsidase alfa ERT. Control data were obtained from 23 patients in whom AFD was excluded. The MSSI of patients with AFD was significantly higher than that of patients with other severe debilitating diseases. The MSSI indicated that, although more men than women had symptoms classified as severe, overall, the median total severity scores were not significantly different between male and female patients. One year of ERT with agalsidase alfa led, in all patients, to a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in MSSI score (by a median of nine points). This study has shown that the MSSI score may be a useful, specific measure for objectively assessing the severity of AFD and for monitoring ERT-related treatment effects.     

Correlation between the course of the medial plantar artery and the morphology of the abductor hallucis muscle

The abductor hallucis muscle flap is commonly used as a proximally-based flap in the management of ankle, heel, and midfoot lesions, where it is ideally suited for closing defects. This study investigates the anatomical details of this muscle in 13 fresh male cadavers. The medial plantar artery (MPA) was studied by dissection and macroscopic analyses to document the relationship of its superficial and deep branches with respect to the abductor hallucis muscle (AHM). Three main patterns could be described. In Pattern A (54%) the MPA divides into two branches. The deep branch reaches the deep surface of the AHM, supplying its proximal part, and the superficial branch courses between the AHM and the flexor digitorum brevis, to end as the first plantar metatarsal artery. The latter supplies two to three small branches to the distal part of the AHM. The fibers of the AHM end symmetrically on the two sides of the tendon and the muscle presents an arciform shape. The MPA, in Pattern B (38%), lacks a deep branch and continues along the lateral border of the AHM as a superficial branch that supplies proximal and distal collaterals to the muscle. The muscle fibers of the AHM end mainly on the medial side of the tendon. The muscle belly presents an arciform shape and is located on the medial margin of the foot superomedially with respect to Pattern A. In Pattern C (8%) the MPA continues as a large deep branch on the deep surface of the AHM and ends as the medial collateral artery of the big toe. A smaller superficial branch of the MPA provides a few collaterals to the AHM from its proximal part and to the flexor digitorum brevis in its distal part. The AHM fibers end mainly on the lateral side of the tendon and morphologically the muscle presents a straight line on the sole of the foot compared to Pattern A. Although Patterns B and C, from a surgical point of view, necessitate interruption of the main trunk of the MPA, Pattern A may permit the vascularization of the muscles of the medial side of the sole of the foot by the superficial trunk of the MPA. Because preoperative radiological study of the plantar vessels correlate with the morphological characteristics of the AHM observed during surgery, such imaging may be useful in determining the appropriate flap design based on the patient's unique pattern of MPA branching.     

颞骨内面神经管的解剖测量及其临床意义

目的为避免中耳手术中对面神经的损伤。方法对50例(100侧)成人尸头颞骨内面神经管进行解剖测量。结果面神经管迷路段为4.53±1.21mm,鼓室段为9.32±1.25mm,乳突段为13.25±1.53mm,面神经管总长为29.86±0.57mm。结论熟悉颞骨内面神经管的解剖结构,可避免对面神经的损伤,减少和避免面瘫的发生。     

不同位置植入SMH人工腰椎间盘对小关节应力分布的影响

目的:通过三维有限元方法研究正常椎间盘、SMH人工腰椎间盘前置、中置和后置四组模型中小关节的应力分布情况,探讨不同位置植入SMH人工腰椎间盘对小关节应力分布的影响。方法:建立正常腰椎间盘、人工SMH腰椎间盘前置、中置和后置的三维模型,然后模拟腰椎节段的运动,进行小关节应力分布的比较研究。结果:与正常L4/5椎间盘模型相比,除SMH人工腰椎间盘前置模型前屈时比正常模型小关节应力小外,其余运动时SMH人工腰椎间盘前置、中置和后置模型中小关节的应力均高于正常腰椎间盘组,但后置SMH人工腰椎间盘组则相对较小。结论:SMH人工腰椎间盘后置可以更好地预防小关节的退变;人工椎间盘植入位置的不同对人工腰椎间盘术远期疗效的预测具一定的作用。     

一期全膝关节表面置换术治疗双膝骨关节病

目的：探讨一期全膝关节表面置换术治疗双膝骨关节病的可行性及疗效。方法：采用全膝关节表面置换术治疗双侧膝骨关节病患者16例，其中一期手术8例（Ⅰ组），分期手术8例（Ⅱ组）。结果：16例均得到随访1～3a，平均16个月。Ⅰ组术中出血量、输血量、手术时间、住院日，明显低于Ⅱ组（P〈0．05）；术后膝关节HSS评分，两组间比较其差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：应用一期全膝关节表面置换术治疗双膝骨关节病安全，且近期疗效满意。     

Anatomical variations of the ten triangles around the cavernous sinus

The dimensions of the 10 triangles around the cavernous sinus were measured to define the anatomical characteristics of the triangles and to compare their consistency in shape and area. Twelve tissue blocks containing the bilateral cavernous sinuses and medial two-thirds of the middle cranial fossae were obtained from Japanese adults at autopsy, fixed to a stereotactic frame, and examined with an operative microscope. The dimensions of each triangle were measured with calipers and compared, based on the same point and border. The anteromedial triangle and the superolateral (Parkinson's) triangle were more consistent in shape than the paramedial and oculomotor triangles, but the oculomotor triangle was larger in area than these other triangles. The posteromedial (Kawase's) triangle was more consistent in shape and larger than the anterolateral, lateral, and the posterolateral (Glasscock's) triangles. The anteromedial and superolateral (Parkinson's) triangles are important for the combined epi- and subdural approach to cavernous sinus lesions. The posteromedial (Kawase's) triangle is important for gaining access to the posterior cranial fossa from the middle cranial fossa.     

Mouse embryonic diastema region is an ideal site for the development of ectopically transplanted tooth germ.

The anterior eye chamber and the kidney capsule of the mouse have been traditionally used for long-term culture of tooth germ grafts. However, although these sites provide an excellent growth environment, they do not represent real in situ sites for the development of a grafted tooth germ. Here, we describe a protocol to transplant a tooth germ into the mandibular diastema region of mouse embryos using exo utero surgery. Our results demonstrate that the mouse embryonic diastema region represents a normal physiological environment for the development of transplanted tooth germs. Transplanted tooth germs developed synchronically with and became indistinguishable from the endogenous ones. These ectopic teeth were vascularized and surrounded with nerve fibers, and were able to erupt normally. Thus, the exo utero transplantation approach will provide a new avenue to study tooth development and regeneration.