Radical forequarter amputation with hemithoracectomy and free extended forearm flap: Technical and physiologic considerations

Background: A radical forequarter amputation with partial chest wall resection (one to four ribs) has been reported for benign and malignant lesions involving the shoulder and chest wall region. Concerns about reconstruction and postoperative pulmonary function have previously limited more extensive chest wall resections. The current report describes the first case in which a complete unilateral anterior and posterior chest wall resection and pneumonectomy (hemithoracectomy) accompany a forequarter amputation. A novel reconstructive technique used the full circumference of the forearm tissue with an intact ulna as a free osseomyocutaneous flap. Methods: In this case, a 21-year-old patient presented with an extensive recurrent desmoid tumor that involved the shoulder, brachial plexus, subclavian vein, and chest wall from the lateral sternal border to the midportion of the scapula and down to the eighth rib. The operative technique involved removal of the entire right hemithorax from the midline sternum to the transverse process posteriorly, down to the ninth rib inferiorly. Due to the absence of a rigid hemithorax, the uninvolved ipsilateral lung was also removed. The forearm flap was prepared before final separation of the specimen and division of the subclavian vessels. Results: Postoperatively, the patient maintained excellent oxygenation without atelectasis or fever and was extubated on the 15th postoperative day. As expected after pneumonectomy, significant decreases from preoperative to immediate postoperative values were noted for the vital capacity (VC) (from 4.87 L to 1.29 L), forced 1-s expiratory volume (FEV1) (from 3.77 L to 1.02 L), and inspiratory capacity (IC) (3.33 1 to 0.99 1). Rehabilitation included a specially designed external prosthesis to provide cosmesis and prevent scoliosis. By the 15th postoperative week the patient had returned to normal social and physical activities, with a gradual improvement in all respiratory parameters: VC 1.52 L, FEV1 1.29 L, IC 1.04 L. There has been no evidence of tumor recurrence at 1 year. Conclusions: This report provides evidence that a complete hemithoracectomy, pneumonectomy, and forequarter amputation can be safely performed for selective tumors involving the shoulder region with extensive chest wall invasion. Reconstruction may be achieved with an extended forearm osseomyocutaneous free flap with an excellent functional outcome. Presented at the 46th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Los Angeles, California, March 18–21, 1993.     

MR imaging in patients with intracranial aneurysm clips

Four patients with intracranial aneurysm clips made from a variety of alloys were studied without incidence by MR imaging at field strengths ranging from 0.35 to 0.6 T. Knowledge of the type of alloy used in the manufacturing of an aneurysm clip is important in determining whether the clip will or will not deflect in a magnetic field. Ferromagnetic clips show deflection and torque in a magnetic field and have the potential to dislodge from the aneurysm. Nonferromagnetic or weakly ferromagnetic aneurysm clips such as the Sugita (Elgiloy), Yasargil (316 LVM stainless steel), Heifetz (Elgiloy), Yasargil (Phynox), and Vari-Angle McFadden (MP35N) do not deflect or deflect weakly in the magnetic field and therefore would not be expected to dislodge during MR. The option of imaging many patients with intracranial aneurysm clips with MR extends the usefulness of the technique to a previously excluded population.     

Euripides' Medea: a psychodynamic model of severe divorce pathology

Analysis of Euripides' play, Medea, and a divorcing family suggests that divorce between a narcissistically scarred, embittered, dependent woman and a pathologically narcissistic, devaluing man may lead to the mother's attempt to sever father-child contact as a means of revenging the injury inflicted on her by the loss of a selfobject, her hero-husband.     

The evolution of a neo-XY1Y2 sex chromosome system by autosome–sex chromosome fusion in Dundocoris nodulicarinus Jacobs (Heteroptera: Aradidae: Carventinae)

Sibling subspecies of Dundocoris nodulicarinus, inhabiting different isolated indigenous evergreen forests in South Africa, have chromosome numbers of 2n(male) = 14XY, 9XY1Y2 and 7XY1Y2. The ancestral chromosome number of Dundocoris is probably 2n(male) = 28XY and several chromosome fusions were involved in the karyotype evolution of these taxa. The XY1Y2 sex chromosome system of the 9XY1Y2 D. nodulicarinus novenus originated by the fusion of a large autosome with the X-chromosome, forming a neo-X with the homologue of the fused autosome forming the neo-Y (=Y1) and the original Y-chromosome, the Y2. While the original X- and Y-chromosomes are heterochromatic and heteropycnotic during prophase I, the autosomal part of the neo-X and the neo-Y stay euchromatic and behave like a normal autosomal pair, forming synapsis and chiasmata. The XY1Y2 sex chromosome system of the 7XY1Y2 D. nodulicarinus septeni probably originated from the 9XY1Y2 karyotype when the homologous chromosomes of a small autosomal pair fused with the original X- and Y-chromosomes, respectively. In both the subspecies with the neo-XY1Y2 systems, the original sex chromosomes still undergo chromatid segregation at anaphase I (= post-reductional). The evolution and behaviour of the karyotypes and sex chromosome systems during the course of meiosis in the subspecies of D. nodulicarinus are described, discussed and illustrated.     

Multimodal, Multidimensional Models of Mouse Brain

Summary:  Naturally occurring mutants and genetically manipulated strains of mice are widely used to model a variety of human diseases. Atlases are an invaluable aid in understanding the impact of such manipulations by providing a standard for comparison and to facilitate the integration of anatomic, genetic, and physiologic observations from multiple subjects and experiments. We have developed digital atlases of the C57BL/6J mouse brain (adult and neonate) as comprehensive frameworks for storing and accessing the myriad types of information about the mouse brain. Along with raw and annotated images, these contain database management systems and a set of tools for comparing information from different techniques and different animals. Each atlas establishes a canonical representation of the mouse brain and provides the tools for the manipulation and analysis of new data. We describe both these atlases and discuss how they may be put to use in organizing and analyzing data from mouse models of epilepsy.     

A leg ulcer as manifestation of metastatic squamous cell vaginal carcinoma

Cutaneous metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is extremely rare. So far, the total number of reported skin metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is only one. We present another case with an unusual manifestation of vagina carcinoma metastasis: skin metastasis presenting as a leg ulcer on the lower leg.     

Diagnosing osteoporosis by using dental panoramic radiographs: the OSTEODENT project.

OBJECTIVES: Measurement of cortical thickness and subjective assessment of cortical porosity on panoramic radiographs are methods previously reported for diagnosing osteoporosis. The aims of this study were to determine the relative efficacy of the mandibular cortical index and cortical width in detecting osteoporosis, both alone and in combination, and to determine the optimal cortical width threshold for referral for additional osteoporosis investigation. STUDY DESIGN: Six hundred seventy-one postmenopausal women 45 to 70 years of age were recruited for this study. They received dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the left hip and lumbar spine (L1 to L4), and dental panoramic radiographic examinations of the teeth and jaws. Three observers separately assessed the mandibular cortical width and porosity in the mental foramen region of the mandible. Cortical width was corrected for magnification errors. Chi-squared automatic interaction detection analysis (CHAID) software was used (SPSS AnswerTree, version 3.1, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Chi-squared automatic interaction detection analysis showed that the cortical porosity was a poorer predictor of osteoporosis than mandibular cortical width. For the 3 observers, a mandibular cortical width of <3 mm provided diagnostic odds ratios of 6.51, 6.09, and 8.04. The test is therefore only recommended in triage screening of individuals by using radiographs made for purposes other than osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: When evaluating panoramic radiographs, only those patients with the thinnest mandibular cortices (i.e., <3 mm) should be referred for further osteoporosis investigation.     

Growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone and clonidine in patients with type I diabetes and in normal controls: effect of age, body mass index and sex

OBJECTIVE  Increased plasma concentrations of GH and increased GH responses to provocative stimuli are reported in patients with poorly controlled type I diabetes and are suggested to be related to complications. Our aim was to investigate GH concentrations in moderately controlled patients.
PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS  We have investigated IGF-I concentrations and fasting GH concentrations and the response to 1 μg/kg body weight GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) intravenously and/or to 150 μg clonidine intravenously in 77 moderately controlled patients with type I diabetes and in 46 healthy controls.
RESULTS  Median HbA1c in the patients was 8.5% (upper level of normal 6.3%). Fasting GH and GH concentrations after the administration of GHRH were not significantly different in patients with type I diabetes compared with normal controls. Fasting and stimulated GH concentrations after the administration of clonidine were significantly higher in the patients, but this could be explained by their lower age and body mass index compared with controls. In controls but not in patients there was a negative correlation between GH and glucose concentrations. IGF-I was significantly lower in patients with diabetes than in controls, even after correction for age, body mass index and sex.
CONCLUSIONS  Patients with moderately controlled type I diabetes mellitus have normal baseline and stimulated GH concentrations after the administration of GHRH or clonidine compared with healthy controls, when corrected for age, body mass index and sex. However, these 'normal' GH concentrations must be considered inappropriately high in view of the hyperglycaemia in these patients. The low plasma IGF-I concentrations might be responsible for the GH over-production.     

A single-blind randomised trial comparing adrenaline 1.0% with dipivalyl epinephrine (propine) 0.1% in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

The results of this single-blind randomised trial comparing adrenaline 1% with dipivalyl epinephrine (Propine) 0.1% confirm that both have a significant effect in lowering the intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, but it is generally insufficient to warrant their use as the first line medical treatment of these two conditions. There was no significant difference between the intraocular lowering effect of the two preparations, and 60% of patients receiving Propine and 66% of those receiving adrenaline noted side effects.