Handcuff neuropathies

Compressive neuropathy due to tight application of handcuffs occurred in 5 patients. The superficial radial nerve was affected in 8 hands and the median nerve in two. Neurologic deficits persisted as long as 3 years after handcuffing. Nerve conduction studies helped to exclude malingering and other diagnoses. All patients had been intoxicated when handcuffed or had been arrested with force. The handcuff mechanism, which allows accidental overtightening after application, is an unrecognized factor in these neuropathies.     

Microencapsulated dopamine (DA)-induced restitution of function in 6-OHDA-denervated rat striatum in vivo: comparison between two microsphere excipients.

Biodegradable controlled-release microsphere systems made with the biocompatible biodegradable polyester excipient poly [DL lactide-co-glycolide] constitute an exciting new technology for drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). The present study describes functional observations indicating that implantation of dopamine (DA) microspheres encapsulated within two different polymer excipients into denervated-striatal tissue assures a prolonged release of the transmitter in vivo. Moreover, in this regard, the results show that there were clear cut temporal differences in the effect of the two DA microsphere formulations compared in this study, probably reflecting variations in the actual composition (i.e., lactide to glycolide ratio) of the two copolymer excipients examined. This technology has considerable potential for basic research with possible clinical application.     

Quantitative assessment of ALZ-50 immunoreactivity in Alzheimer's disease.

A quantitative assay for ALZ-50 immunoreactivity was evaluated in samples of superior temporal gyrus taken at autopsy from 13 Alzheimer patients and 11 controls. The assayable immunoreactivity appears to be stable for at least 24 hours postmortem but was lost with formalin fixation. The mean value of the Alzheimer patients was tenfold higher than that of the controls (P less than .002). The values of four Alzheimer samples overlapped with the low levels seen in controls, but no controls had elevated levels. In this sample population, therefore, the assay had a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 100%.     

Potential-dependent calcium channels of neurons of mollusks of various ages]

It is shown that with the holding potentials (Eh) ranging from -50 to -30 mV the amplitudes of the inward Ca current of identified neurons are significantly higher in old (20-24 months) Lymnaea stagnalis molluscs than in adult ones.     

Expression of rabbit Ig allotypes in litters of mothers immunized against a paternal allotype.

Sera of successive littermates of mothers producing anti-allotype antibodies (Ab) were analysed for altered a locus or b locus allotype expression. We measured the allotype concentration in sera of 66 individuals (17 litters) of seven mothers producing anti-a1 Ab, and 63 individuals (15 litters) of seven mothers producing anti-b4 Ab, in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We confirmed that the ability to induce allotype suppression in utero increases with the number of antigen boosts applied to the mother, even though the Ab titre in the maternal serum may be decreased. All individuals of a litter expressed the allotype in about equal concentration. This contrasts the results we obtained when newborn rabbits were injected with anti-allotype antiserum. Injection of the same amount of anti-allotype antiserum into nine offspring of two mothers caused allotype suppression in only five individuals, showing no effect in the others. No suppression was observed when IgG-depleted antiserum was injected into newborn rabbits. As expected, maternal antibodies to a paternal allotype do not affect the Mendelian distribution of the progeny phenotypes.     

Becoming an intentional teacher

This series of articles, Managing Your Academic Career, presents ways to intentionally improve your teaching. This first article explains the concept of becoming an intention teacher. Subsequent articles will deal with strategies that are useful in clinical teaching, such as preparing students to value and use research in practice, and providing feedback to students in the clinical setting.