Significance of short tau inversion recovery magnetic resonance sequence in the management of skeletal injuries

The conventional radiographs and urgent short tau inversion recovery (STIR) magnetic resonance image (MRI) examinations of 27 consecutive patients with occult bony injuries were prospectively analysed over a 12 month period. A STIR MRI study was undertaken where the plain films were normal (n=15) or inconclusive (n=12) and where the patients’clinical setting was highly suggestive of an underlying bony injury. In six patients, MRI only revealed soft-tissue injuries or joint effusions and did not demonstrate any bony injury but in the remainder fractures or bone contusions were shown to be present. The MRI studies were performed on a 0.2 Tesla lower field strength unit and the examinations were expeditiously performed, inexpensive, and done on a priority basis between electively booked patients. Radio-isotope studies were not available and hence were not included in the study protocol. Apart from demonstrating the value of STIR MRI (without additional T1-weighted sequences in most patients), the purpose of this study was to highlight the alteration in management in 18/27 patients (66%) and the significant alteration in management in six of these patients.     

Perforating eye injuries from external rear vision mirrors

Purpose: To highlight external rear vision mirrors as a cause of ocular injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Methods: Three cases of perforating eye injuries due to shattered external rear vision mirrors in motor vehicle accidents are described. The relevant Australian design rules are reviewed. Results/Conclusion: External rear vision mirrors can be responsible for serious ocular injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Further investigation of the incidence of such injuries is required to determine whether vehicle manufacturing methods and the design rules covering their production warrant revision.     

金丝桃甙镇痛作用的机制

用小鼠光热辐射甩尾模型证明,低钙和高钙分别能增强和拮抗Hyp的镇痛作用。在痛介质诱发传入神经放电的模型上,同样证明低钙或高钙能显著加强或拮抗Hyp对组胺和氯化钾诱发神经放电的抑制作用。促进Ca²⁺内流的A₂₃₁₈₇几乎完全拮抗Hyp的末梢镇痛作用,并且在蛙坐骨神经标本上,Hyp可抑制KCl诱发的Ca²⁺内流。提示Hyp的镇痛作用与减少感觉神经末梢Ca²⁺内流有密切关系。     

Ataxia Telangiectasia in the British Isles: The Clinical and Laboratory Features of 70 Affected Individuals

Seventy individuals with ataxia telangiectasia were studied:29 females and 41 males with an age range of 2 to 42 years.The majority (43/68) presented by 3 years of age with truncalataxia. All had progressive, handicapping neurological symptomsexhibiting ataxia (70/70), ocular motor apraxia (70/70), animpassive face (70/70), dysarthria (70/70), chorea (68/70),dystonia (55/70) and peripheral neuropathy (50/70). Clinicalimmune deficiency was present in 43 of 70 patients. Ocular telangiectasiawere seen in all but one case and excessive thinness in 54 of70. The mean age of loss of walking was 10 years and of writing8 years. All 60 tested showed increased sensitivity to ionizingirradiation, 43 of 48 had an elevated a-fetoprotein level and14 of 21 had an immunoglobulin deficiency. Although there wasa marked variation in disease findings sibs were always similar.The heterogeneity seen seems at odds with the unilocus linkageof ataxia telangiectasia to 1lq23.     

Invasive cervical carcinoma: comparison of MR imaging and surgical findings

The accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in staging invasive carcinoma of the cervix was determined retrospectively in 57 consecutive patients in whom the extent of disease was surgically confirmed. MR images were analyzed for (a) location and size of the primary tumor; (b) tumor extension to the uterine corpus, vagina, parametria, pelvic sidewall, bladder, or rectum; and (c) pelvic lymphadenopathy. The accuracy of MR imaging in determination of tumor location was 91% and for determination of tumor size within 0.5 cm, 70%. Its accuracy was 93% for vaginal extension and 88% for parametrial extension. Pelvic sidewall, bladder, and rectal involvement were accurately excluded in all patients, but the positive predictive values were 75%, 67%, and 100%, respectively. Overall, the accuracy of MR imaging in staging was 81%. MR imaging is valuable because it can accurately demonstrate tumor location, tumor size, degree of stromal penetration, and lower uterine segment involvement. It is also valuable for ruling out parametrial, pelvic sidewall, bladder, and rectal involvement.     

Chemoprotective effects of curcumin in esophageal epithelial cells exposed to bile acids

AIM:To investigate the ability of curcumin to counteract the impact of bile acids on gene expression of esophageal epithelial cells.METHODS:An esophageal epithelial cell line(HET1A)was treated with curcumin in the presence of deoxycholic acid.Cell proliferation and viability assays were used to establish an appropriate dose range for curcumin.The combined and individual effects of curcumin and bile acid on cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)and superoxide dismutase(SOD-1 and SOD-2)gene expression were also assessed.RES...