LUMBOVERTEBRAL SYNDROME AFTER EXTRADURAL BLOOD PATCH

We describe a patient who developed an immobilizing lumbovertebralsyndrome after an extradural blood patch and who was hospitalizedwith a. suspected extradural abscess. An infectious aetiologyof the persistent backache could be excluded and the patientrecovered with analgesics and physiotherapy. The probable aetiologyis discussed.     

Electromyographic activity while performing the anti-G straining maneuver during high sustained acceleration.

The purpose of this study was to measure the muscle activity during performance of the anti-G straining maneuver (AGSM) at high sustained acceleration stress (+Gz = head-to-foot inertial loading). Ten males were exposed on three separation occasions to a rapid onset rate of 6 + Gz. Subjects wore standard United States Air Force (USAF) anti-G trousers and performed the AGSM until perceived fatigue or until achieving light loss criteria. During each exposure, surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the erector spinae, external oblique, bicep femoris, vastus lateralis, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. The normalized root-mean squares (RMS) and mean power frequency (MPF) for each muscle were calculated and tested for significant differences with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure. The results of this study showed that mean amplitude decreased during the AGSM (35.40%) while MPF showed no significant change. The EMG amplitude of lower extremity muscles decreased (61.45%) while the amplitude of trunk muscles decreased slightly (3.45%). These results indicate that during the performance of the AGSM, motor unit recruitment in lower extremity muscles decrease without evidence of fatigue.     

AVIATION NURSING IN THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN KIMBERLEY

ABSTRACT: This article provides a brief overview of the Western Australian (WA) Kimberley Royal Flying Doctor Service and the role of the flight nurse who accompanies patients requiring aerial medical evacuation from rural and remote WA. Two short case histories of head injured patients evacuated from the Kimberley region will be outlined and some of the potential concerns associated with transferring patients at altitude in a confined and altered working environment will be discussed.     

Aluminium speciation in cerebrospinal fluid of acutely aluminium-intoxicated dialysis patients before and after desferrioxamine treatment; a step in the understanding of the element's neurotoxicity

Background: The association between aluminium and dialysis encephalopathy and deterioration of the neurological state during desferrioxamine treatment of dialysis patients is well established. At present little is known about the speciation and the mechanisms underlying the element's neurotoxicity. Methods. Aluminium speciation was performed in cerebrospinal fluid samples of acutely aluminium-intoxicated dialysis patients using a recently developed high-performance liquid chromatographic/electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometric hybrid method. Results: Baseline cerebrospinal fluid aluminium levels of samples taken shortly after the intoxication were low but elevated (5.0±2.0 &mgr;g/l, n=3) as compared to subjects with normal renal function (<1 &mgr;g/l). In contrast to the situation noted in serum and to the iron speciation in cerebrospinal fluid, aluminium was not bound to transferrin but appeared as two distinct compounds, the main fraction eluting at the elution volume of aluminium citrate/silicate. The second compound was not identified. Forty-four hours after desferrioxamine administration the cerebrospinal fluid aluminium levels had increased up to a concentration of 10.3±2.5 &mgr;g/l (n=3). This was accompanied by a change in the speciation profile with aluminium appearing at the elution volume of aluminoxamine. Conclusion: Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the neurotoxic effects of aluminium and its desferrioxamine chelate in dialysis patients.     

Distal Penile Gangrene in a Patient with Chronic Renal Failure

To date, only 10 cases of distal penile gangrene in patients with chronic renal failure have been reported. This rare condition is believed to result from progressive vascular calcification due to secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic renal failure. We report an additional case of distal penile gangrene in a 41-year-old man who presented with chronic renal disease and pulmonary tuberculosis. Since some authors have emphasized that aggressive surgical treatment in such cases has a significant mortality rate, we took a more conservative approach to treatment.     

Expression of the Human Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain VH6 Gene Element by Fetal B Lymphocytes

Fetal B lymphocytes in mice and humans use a limited number of the available V_H gene segments. Mouse fetal B cells primarily utilize 3' V_H elements, suggesting that the localization of these elements determines their rearrangement frequency. The previously reported non-random usage of human V_H genes has been more difficult to explain. In this study the authors analysed the expression of the most proximal 3' human V_H element (V_H6) using a monoclonal antibody (JE-6). V_H6 expression was assessed in various B cell differentiation stages from fetal liver, bone marrow and spleen at 12–20 weeks of gestation. The authors demonstrate that the level of V_H6 expression does not exceed a stochastic usage frequency. This suggests that the localization of V_H6 does not significantly promote its expression during human fetal life, and that other factors must affect the usage of V_H genes during human fetal development.     

结肠腺瘤与腺癌p53,c—erbB2蛋白及CEA的表达和意义

应用免疫组化法检测１５例正常结肠粘膜，４０例结肠瘤及４０例结肠癌组织的ｐ５３，ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ２和ＣＥＡ的表达。结果发现：结肠癌患者ｐ５３，ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ２及ＣＥＡ的阳性表达率均显著高于腺瘤（Ｐ〈０．０１）。ｐ５３阳性表达在不典型增生腺瘤患者中，重度显著高于轻度病例（Ｐ〈０．０１）；在结肠腺癌患者中低分化显著高于高分化病例（Ｐ〈０．０５）；ＣＥＡ的新型单克隆抗体ｃｏｌ－１对结肠癌的敏感性和特异性均高，阳