Persistent and transient clones of Salmonella typhimurium of phage type 141 recognized by biotyping

Among the 81 cultures of Salmonella typhimurium of phage type 141 examined, 72 had been isolated from Sheffield incidents in 1984-5 and 9 were Scottish isolates from 1986-7. All of these cultures from diverse sources belonged to primary biotype 31; 79 were of full biotype 31beg and 2 anaerogenic cultures were of full biotype 31begj. This is the first known occasion on which an epidemic strain of S. typhimurium of phage type/biotype 141/31beg has been implicated in outbreaks of human or animal infection in the UK. Because previous epidemic strains of S. typhimurium of phage type 141 in the UK belonged to biotypes 1f and 9f which are phylogenetically unrelated to biotype 31beg, the likely origin of this most recent epidemic S. typhimurium strain of phage type/biotype 141/31beg is discussed.     

Brachial plexus injury: association with subclavian and axillary vascular trauma

Proximal upper extremity (subclavian and axillary) vascular injury (SAVI) and brachial plexus injury (BPI) occur uncommonly. However, BPI may be associated with SAVI and frequently is an important determinant of long-term disability. The medical records of patients with traumatic SAVI, BPI, or both over a 5-year period were reviewed. A total of 31 patients were identified. The group was predominantly male (28 men/3 women) with a mean age of 30.5 +/- 1.8 years (range, 15-63 years). Blunt trauma accounted for 43.5% of SAVI cases and 77.8% of BPI cases. Thirteen patients (41.9%) sustained SAVI alone (group I), 10 patients (32.2%) had combined SAVI and BPI (group II), and 8 patients (25.9%) had BPI alone (group III). Subclavian and axilliary vascular injury occurred in 10 of 18 patients (55.6%) with a BPI. Brachial plexus injury occurred in 10 of 23 patients (43.5%) with a SAVI. Patients with SAVI from blunt trauma were significantly more likely to have an associated complete BPI than patients with penetrating trauma. All patients with a complete BPI (6 patients) had an associated SAVI regardless of mechanism of injury. Only one patient with a partial BPI from blunt trauma had an associated SAVI. The Injury Severity Score was significantly higher for patients in group II. An average of 2.8 and 3.3 associated injuries were observed in patients with SAVI (groups I and II) versus patients without SAVI (group III), respectively. No patient who had a complete BPI showed an improvement in neurologic status during a mean follow-up of 7.2 months. No late vascular sequelae occurred in group-III patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Functional use of the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant in the elderly

A questionnaire was sent to 101 Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant recipients aged 65 years and older to investigate the perceived impact of cochlear implantation on their quality of life. The questionnaire was designed to gain insight into the patient's daily use of the Nucleus implant. Sixty-seven questionnaires were returned over a 3-month period. The results of the survey showed that elderly cochlear implant patients obtained similar benefits to younger adult patients who were implanted with the same device. We believe that the results of this study will aid other centers when counseling elderly patients on the expected daily functional benefits of this device.     

Quantitative proton MR spectroscopic imaging of the human brain

Multislice proton MR spectroscopic images (SI) of the brain were quantitated, using the phantom replacement technique. In 16 normal volunteers, ranging in age from 5 to 74 years, average “whole brain” concentrations of choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) were found to be 2.4 ± 0.4, 7.9 ± 1.3, and 11.8 ± 1.0 (mM, mean ± SD), respectively. These values are in good general agreement with those previously determined by single-voxel localization techniques. Cortical gray matter was found to have lower Cho and NAA levels, compared to those of white matter, corpus callosum, and basal ganglia. Cho was also found to increase significantly with age in several locations. Quantitative multislice proton SI is feasible in the clinical environment, and regional and age-dependent variations occur that must be accounted for when evaluating spectra from pathological conditions.     

Successful treatment of failed AID cases by use of gamete intra-fallopian transfer using donor semen (GIFT (D)).

Over a 13-month period in a newly opened assisted conception unit at the Women's Hospital, Liverpool, gamete intra-fallopian transfer using donor semen, GIFT (D) was offered to eighteen couples who had failed to conceive after numerous cycles of treatment with artificial insemination by donor semen (AID). The indication for the use of donor semen was either azo- or severe oligoaesthenospermia, and, in addition, the female partners have been exhaustively investigated with no major cause found to account for the couple's infertility. Using a basic clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotrophin protocol it was possible to achieve a pregnancy rate of 56% per GIFT (D) cycle. As a consequence of these results it is now our policy to treat couples whose infertility is due to an unresolvable male factor with AID for 12 cycles only. If they have been unsuccessful in achieving a pregnancy after this time, they are offered GIFT (D).     

Direct assessment of the role of NK cells in autoimmune diabetes.

Considerable indirect evidence implicates participation of natural killer cells (NK) in the pathogenesis of diabetes in BB rats. The most convincing evidence derives from studies showing that anti-CD8 antibody effectively prevents both primary disease onset and autoimmune damage to transplanted islets. However, anti-CD8 treatment depletes both NK and cytotoxic T cells (CTL) since both cell types express the CD8 marker. To study directly the role of NK in diabetic BB rats we used MCA 3.2.3, a monoclonal antibody which selectively depletes normal Lewis rats of NK cells but not CTL. A regimen of ip injected antibody achieved rapid reduction of NK cells in diabetic and nondiabetic BB rats by FACS analysis. NK cell activity remained low in rats treated weekly as evidenced by YAC tumor cell killing. We next studied the effect of NK depletion on disease incidence in diabetes-prone BB rats of which about one half are expected to develop diabetes. Onset and incidence of diabetes in 3.2.3-treated and control antibody-treated aged matched litter mates were equal. These studies suggest that NK cells are not necessary for autoimmune islet destruction in spontaneously diabetic BB rats and support a role for CTL in pathogenesis of the disease.     

Implications of sub-specialisation on the waiting times of general surgical clinics.

INTRODUCTION: Controversy around sub-specialisation in a district general hospital (DGH) has been ongoing for years. AIM: To study the effect of colorectal sub-specialisation on general surgical cases. METHODS: A retrospective audit between October 2002 and September 2003, including all referrals to the outpatient clinics of a single consultant surgeon in a DGH. RESULTS: 1,055 patients were seen in outpatient clinics, of which 53% (563) were seen in rapid access colorectal clinics. Overall, 87% (914) of patients were diagnosed to have colorectal pathology. The majority of the colorectal cases were referred using the designated referral forms. There were 427 urgent, 162 soon and 325 routine referrals with colorectal pathology, and 35 urgent, 22 soon and 84 routine referrals with non-colorectal pathology. Median waiting times for urgent, soon and routine referrals were 12, 61 and 91 days, respectively, for patients with colorectal pathology, in comparison with 44, 75 and 397 days for non-colorectal pathology. CONCLUSION: This audit confirms that colorectal sub-specialisation has resulted in a significant delay in the management of patients with non-colorectal diseases. This has major implications within a DGH setting.     

Predictors of punding in Parkinson's disease: results from a questionnaire survey.

Dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) for Parkinson's disease (PD) has recently been linked to the development of a number of nonmotor behavioral control problems. Punding, one of these nonmotor problems, is a term used to describe complex, purposeless stereotyped behaviors such as the repetitive handling or sorting of objects. A self-report questionnaire was adapted to assess punding in the context of dysfunctional hobby-related activities. We report the results of a survey of PD outpatients from a PD research clinic (n = 141) and non-PD controls (n = 103); conducted to identify clinical and psychological factors predictive of punding behaviors. The PD group reported hobbies and activities, which scored significantly higher on the Punding Scale than controls. Higher impulsivity, poorer disease-related quality of life, younger age of disease onset, and concomitant daily medication dosage from dopamine receptor agonists were independently predictive of higher Punding Scale scores in the PD group. These findings are similar to those seen in dopamine dysregulation syndrome, and provide further evidence for the role of impulsivity and age at disease onset in DRT-related nonmotor behavioral problems in PD.