Lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (nodular paragranuloma)–a bcl-2 negative germinal centre lymphoma

Hodin's disease, lymphocyte predominance type (nodular paragranuloma), is of germinal centre origin and the tumours cells have a B-cell phenotype. As the t(14;18) translocation, and the subsequent expression of bcl-2 protein by germinal centre cells, is the most characteristic finding of centroblastic-centrocytic lymphoma, we have tested a series of 11 cases of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease, using Southern blot analysis for the major breakpoint region and the minor breakpoint cluster region, polymerase chain reaction with primers for the major and minor breakpoint cluster region, and immunohistological studies with a monoclonal antibody specific for the bcl-2 protein. All three techniques gave negative results in the cases of Hodgkin's disease, establishing a clear differentiation from centroblastic-centrocytic lymphoma. These findings are useful in the differential diagnosis between the two entities and raise the question of the non-clonal nature of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease.     

Anesthetic considerations of an infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

The case of a 3-day-old infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome who required anesthetic care during closure of an abdominal wall defect is presented. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome comprises a constellation of clinical features, including macroglossia, macrosomia, omphalocele, visceromegaly, mild microcephaly, facial nevus flammeus, horizontal earlobe creases, and renal medullary dysplasia. Due to the high rate of omphalocele in this syndrome, anesthetic care is frequently required during the neonatal period. Many of these infants (greater than 50%) are born prematurely. Therefore, their anesthetic care may be further complicated by associated diseases of prematurity, such as hyaline membrane disease. Additional anesthetic implications of this syndrome relate to the occurrence and management of hypoglycemia and polycythemia. Careful intraoperative management of glucose homeostasis is particularly important, since eventual neurologic outcome and intelligence will be normal provided prolonged neonatal hypoglycemia is avoided. Preoperative evaluation of the cardiac and genitourinary system, including echocardiography and renal ultrasound, are recommended because of the frequent occurrence of associated anomalies with omphalocele.     

Haemangiopericytomas: the prognostic value of immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)

Forty-two cases of haemangiopericytoma were studied retrospectively using immunohistochemical staining with PC10, a monoclonal antibody to PCNA. The percentage of tumour cells with positive staining for PCNA was found to correlate well with histological grading. Clinical follow-up data were available in 25 adults and showed no known deaths in 11 cases with a low proportion (less than 14%) of positive cells. Out of 14 cases with a high number (greater than or equal to 14%) of positive cells, seven patients are known to have died, two had metastases, and in a further two there have been multiple recurrences of tumour. DNA flow cytometry was performed on 26 cases but this showed no correlation with PC10 staining or clinical outcome. Staining with PC10 may be of particular value in the identification of patients at greatest risk of rapid tumour metastasis and early death.     

Antisocial personality disorder, HIV risk behavior and retention in methadone maintenance therapy

In a sample of 55 consecutive methadone maintenance admissions to our clinic, 42% were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) using the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule NIMH DIS. Individuals with ASPD exhibited greater risk for HIV infection as defined by more sexual contacts, needle use and equipment sharing. Data at 1 year follow-up were obtained on this group of patients. The objective was to compare the ASPD and non-ASPD groups with regards to demographics, drug abuse history, outcome and retention in treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups on any demographic or treatment outcome variables. Survival analysis indicated that there were no group differences in treatment retention. In conclusion, although there were no differences in treatment outcome between ASPD and non-ASPD groups it is possible that ASPD patients who drop out of treatment will be at higher risk for contracting and spreading HIV within the IV drug using population. These data also suggest that in this population the diagnosis of ASPD using primarily behavioral traits as measured in the NIMH-DIS-III, has little utility in predicting treatment outcome.     

Acute transverse myelitis in the emergency department: A case report and review of the literature

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a neurologic condition that presents with bilateral lower extremity weakness and sensory loss associated with bowel and bladder dysfunction. Whereas the time of onset may be hours to days, the time to either partial or complete recovery may require months. The etiology is varied and may be idiopathic. Laboratory and radiographic evaluation may be nonrevealing. Corticosteriods have been used for treatment, but their efficacy is controversial. As illustrated by this case report, the essential aspect of the initial management of ATM is the elimination of potentially treatable causes.     

Effects of mailed preoperative instructions on learning and anxiety

This study sought to contrast mailing a booklet to accomplish preoperative instruction with teaching performed by nurses after hospital admission. Sixty-six patients were studied in a 700-bed medical center and were assigned to three teaching groups and a control group which did not receive teaching. The researcher compared the four groups preoperatively after admission to determine the patients' knowledge and ability to perform surgical exercises, as well as their anxiety levels.

Findings were that patients who received a booklet by mail preadmission learned surgical exercises equally well compared to patients taught postadmission, and mastered significantly more exercise behaviors than those receiving no instruction. No statistical difference in anxiety level was found among groups. One may infer that mailing preadmission material should be considered as an effective teaching mode and alternative to postadmission instruction.     

支气管结核48例临床分析

目的：探索支气管结核的临床特征及诊断方法。方法：分析48例1995-2001年支气管结核临床表现，影像学及纤支镜检查结果。结果：48例患者中青年女性明显高于其他组占66.7%(32/48)，咳嗽42例（87.5％），咯血10例（20.8％），胸痛13例（27%），气促28例（58.3%），发热12例（25%），乏力盗汗19例（39.5%）。胸片及CT示：肺内浸润渗出性病灶32例（66.7），空调6例（12.5%），肺不张20例（41.7%），阻塞性肺炎18例（37.5%），肺门及纵隔淋巴结肿大9例（18%），痰涂片结核菌阳性率为37.5%，纤支镜刷检结核菌阳性率为45.8%，组织活检中57.5%证实为结核。结论：当有支气管结核临床表现时，应行胸部X线、CT检查，有条件者行张支镜检查，纤支镜检查是诊断支气管结核最重要的方法。     

Repetitive lifting and spinal shrinkage, effects of age and lifting technique

The assumed advantages of the so-called leg-lifting technique over the back-lifting technique are still the subject of much debate. The present study was aimed at studying the consequences of performing both lifting techniques on net lumbar moments and spinal shrinkage. Furthermore, the relation between age and spinal shrinkage was studied. Five subjects approximately 40 years old and six subjects 20 years old performed six 5-min bouts of repetitive lifting using each technique on a separate day. Net lumbar moments were calculated using a two-dimensional dynamic linked segment model. Spinal shrinkage was measured at T₁₂ and at the head after each bout of lifting and every 5 min during 1 h preceding the lifting bouts. The peak moments were marginally but significantly higher in the leg-lift. No differences in mean moments and shrinkage between lifting techniques were found. The shrinkage after the back-lift was more pronounced in the older subjects and a similar tendency was found after the leg-lift. The creep rate, i.e. the rate at which the shrinkage approaches its equilibrium was higher in the older subjects. No clear relations of anthropometrical variables and net moments with shrinkage was found. The common advice of using a leg-lift rather than a back-lift was not supported by the present study. Both the mechanical load on the low back (net moments) and the resulting shrinkage show considerable interindividual variation, the causes of which need further elucidation.

The leg-lifting technique is still widely advocated, thought its merits from a biomechanical point of view have been questioned. In this study spinal shrinkage and lumbar moments calculated by means of a dynamic linked segment model are used to compare the leg-lift to the more commonly used back-lift.     

Functional anatomy and biomechanics of the meniscus

The meniscus is no longer considered the evolutionary remnant in the knee joint.Rather, it is now well established as an important structure that is integral to the complex biomechanics and proper functioning of the knee. The medial and lateral menisci form two crescent-shaped wedges of fibrocartilage between the femoral condyles and tibial plateaus.The knee joint biomechanics are based on a complex interaction of these intra-articular structures. The functions ascribed to the menisci include load transmission, shock absorption, stability, proprioception, joint lubrication, and joint nutrition. Load transmission generally is accepted as one of its primary functions. The menisci transmit a portion of the axial forces across the knee joint by converting this load into “hoop stresses.” This is accomplished by their unique shape, composition, and anatomic attachments. The menisci are relatively mobile structures and their motion during knee flexion also is determined by their shape and soft tissue attachments/constraints. Preservation of the meniscal functions is essential, and the authors review the basic anatomic and biomechanical concepts necessary to understand techniques for repair and restoration of these functions.