Gunshot Wounds to the Spine: The Effects of Bullet Fragments in the Spinal Canal

Abstract

The incidence and pathological features of colorectal carcinoma in a population of veterans disabled by myelopathy were examined by record review.

Thirteen cases of colorectal carcinoma were found among the 1023 such individuals (99 percent male) who were hospitalized and subsequently followed between April 1, 1973 and September 22, 1983. The age adjusted incidence rates ranged from 316 per 100,000 person years in the sixth decade to 1886 per 100,000 person years in the ninth decade of age. These rates were two to six times the highest reported rates for general male populations (P < 0.05).

The location of carcinoma was proximal to the rectosigmoid colon in 62 percent of the 13 paralyzed patients, but in only 12 percent of 31 nonparalyzed male patients With colorectal carcinoma diagnosed at the same hospital in 1977-1979 (P < 0.001). The stage of the tumor at diagnosis was Dukes Kirklin C in 83 percent of paralyzed patients and 48 percent of the non paralyzed patients (P < 0.001).     

Chronic Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection and mortality or lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis patients

BackgroundChronic Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection is an independent risk factor for severe pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of chronic S. maltophilia infection on mortality and the need for lung transplantation in a longitudinal study of children and adults with CF.MethodsThis was a cohort study of CF patients from the Hospital for Sick Children and St Michael's Hospital (Toronto, Canada) from 1997 to 2008. A Cox Regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) to time of death or lung transplantation adjusting for age, gender, genotype, pancreatic status, CF related diabetes (CFRD), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), body mass index, number of pulmonary exacerbations, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia complex, Aspergillus and chronic S. maltophilia infection.ResultsA total of 687 patients were followed over the 12 year study period; 95 patients underwent a lung transplantation (of which 26 died) and an additional 49 patients died (total 144 events). In a Cox Regression model adjusting for baseline FEV₁, baseline infection with B. cepacia complex (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.09–2.71) and baseline chronic S. maltophilia infection (HR 2.80, 95% CI 1.65–4.76) were significantly associated with death or lung transplant. However, in a time-varying model, infection with B. cepacia complex and chronic S. maltophilia infection were no longer significant.ConclusionsBaseline chronic S. maltophilia infection is associated with an almost three-fold increased risk of death or lung transplant in CF patients. It is still unclear, however, whether chronic S. maltophilia infection is simply a marker of severity of disease and ultimate mortality or whether it is causally related to disease progression.     

Vessel wall enhancement in herpes simplex virus central nervous system vasculitis

Infection is a well-known cause of cerebral vasculopathy and vasculitis. We report a 36-year-old woman with cerebral vasculitis and ischemic stroke secondary to herpes simplex virus (HSV). MRI studies revealed a pontine stroke with basilar artery stenosis and vessel wall gadolinium enhancement. This case demonstrates the ability of HSV to cause a focal brainstem vasculitis and the utility of enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of stroke related to HSV central nervous system vasculitis.     

COVID-19 manifestations in people with Parkinson’s disease: a USA cohort

Journal of Neurology - With the explosion of COVID-19 globally, it was unclear if people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were at increased risk for severe manifestations or negative outcomes....     

Automated solutions for total RNA isolation from diverse sample types

In response to the increasing demands to generate larger amounts of quality data faster, specifically in the area of RNA isolation to support gene expression assays, the authors have adopted several automated solutions for isolating total RNA from a variety of sample types, (eg, blood, cells, and tissue). By using automated solutions, the authors were able to increase their throughput without compromising data integrity.     

Hypnotic enhancement of creative drawing

A hypnotically based intervention to enhance creativity in drawing was evaluated in a controlled study. Participants were randomly assigned to either a hypnotic treatment or a nonhypnotic (task-motivational) control treatment. Subjects drew a standard still-life tableau twice. The first drawing involved no special instructions and provided a baseline measure of creativity in drawing. The second drawing was completed after the creativity-enhancement procedure. The drawings were rated blindly on several dimensions of artistic creativity. Hypnotizability, absorption, and debriefing measures were also administered. Results indicated that the hypnotic procedure had significantly greater effects on creativity in drawing. However, there were no significant main effects or interactions involving hypnotizability or absorption. Hypnotic and task-motivational groups did not differ on debriefing measures regarding their experience.