Objective assessment of nerve injury after greater saphenous vein stripping.

AIM: The complication of nerve injury after greater saphenous vein stripping for varicosity is subjective, and a method for objective evaluation has never been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative sensory changes by quantitative assessment of current perception threshold (CPT), and to clarify the relation between CPT and symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2003 and August 2005, 27 limbs in 18 patients were enrolled. Quantitative sensory function was determined through CPT using a Neurometer (Neurotron, Inc., USA), with which saphenous nerve neural fiber selective minimum sensing values against three electrical stimuli (2000, 250, 5 Hz) were measured. CPT measurements were scheduled on the day before the operation, and 2-7 days, 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: An increase in CPT value of more than 20% or decrease to below 50% compared to the preoperative value with at least two stimuli was defined as CPT abnormality. Subjective symptoms were observed in 13 limbs in the early postoperative period, and 10 limbs showed CPT abnormality. In 6 limbs with a CPT increase over 20% with all three stimuli, neurological symptoms continued for 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: CPT evaluation provides an objective indication of neurological symptoms in the lower limb following varicose vein surgery.     

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

From 1975 to 2004 a total of 38 children handicapped by congenital multiple arthrogryposis were cared for. The congenital joint contractures demand a major effort in terms of surgical reconstruction. In the case of distal arthrogryposis the chances that patients will be able to walk without help are good, while those with amyoplasia are likely to be dependent on mobility aids throughout their lives. The ultimate goal of treatment for patients is to develop into self-confident adults who can cope with life despite their handicaps. The hip in arthrogryposis shows variable forms of pathology, ranging from the almost normal hip to hip contractures with dislocation. Its treatment has some limited advantages, but hardly improves mobility. The knee contractures are actively treated to allow patients to sit, stand and walk better. The club foot and the rocker-bottom foot need sophisticated conservative and operative treatments. If conservative manipulation of bilateral extension contractures of the elbow fails operative treatment is carried out on the dominant side. For shoulder, hand and finger contractures conservative manipulation brings about little improvement, and surgical approaches help hardly at all.     

Tubercular pseudoaneurysm of aorta: a rare association with vertebral tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Pseudoaneurysm of the aorta in association with vertebral tuberculosis is a rare phenomenon. With the resurgence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and associated resistant tuberculosis, this life-threatening complication requires greater awareness. PURPOSE: Our purpose is to report the rare presentation and successful management of tubercular pseudoaneurysm of the aorta in association with vertebral tuberculosis, and to highlight the clinicoradiological features for early and prompt diagnosis of this potentially fatal, but treatable, disease. STUDY DESIGN: A single case report and overview of the disease comprises the design of this study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The patient, already surgically intervened, is a 27-year-old male with increasing abdominal and back pain, upper motor neuron signs, and constitutional signs and symptoms. OUTCOME MEASURES: At 33 months follow-up, there is complete resolution of the signs and symptoms, and the patient is back to his previous vocation. METHODS: The diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and contrast computed tomography. Endoaneurysmorrhaphy of the pseudoaneurysm along with a complete course of antitubercular treatment was given to the patient, and he has presently been followed up for 33 months. RESULTS: The patient's signs and symptoms have been completely resolved without any recurrence. CONCLUSION: Despite the use of modern chemotherapy and imaging techniques, this disastrous complication still occurs and reinforces the need for early suspicion, diagnosis, surgical resection, and antitubercular therapy along with close postoperative follow-up to prevent recurrence. With the resurgence of HIV (and other immunocompromised states) associated and resistant tuberculosis, we should be more alert than ever to this life-threatening complication.     

Bedeutung molekular-zytogenetischer Befunde bei Speicheldrüsentumoren am Beispiel des Mukoepidermoidkarzinoms

Chromosomentranslokationen in Tumoren führen nicht selten zur Ausbildung von Fusionsgenen, die für Proteine mit onkogenen Eigenschaften codieren können. Mukoepidermoidkarzinome sind charakterisiert durch eine Translokation t(11;19), die in 60% der untersuchten Tumoren vorkommt. Diese chromosomale Umlagerung führt zu einem Fusionsgen, das aus dem Exon 1 des MECT 1-Gens und den Exons 2–5 des MAML 2-Gens zusammengesetzt ist. In der Folge bildet sich ein Fusionstranskript, wodurch unabhängig von Notch-Liganden eine Aktivierung der Transkription von HES 1, einem Notch-Zielgen, erfolgt. Durch die veränderte Funktion von MAML 2 kommt es zur Unterbrechung des NOTCH-Signaltransduktionsweges, was einen neuen Mechanismus in der Tumorgenese vermuten lässt. Der Nachweis der Translokation mittels FISH und/oder RT-PCR könnte von erheblichem diagnostischem und möglicherweise auch prognostischem Interesse sein. Zuvor müssen allerdings die molekularen Ereignisse, die einem scheinbar identischen chromosomalen Rearrangement in Warthin-Tumoren zugrunde liegen, geklärt werden. Warthin-Tumoren sind gutartige Speicheldrüsentumoren mit einer vom Mukoepidermoidkarzinom abweichenden Histomorphologie und Histogenese.     

Ultrasonographic study on kidneys in patients with acute renal failure]

Ultrasonotomograms of 22 kidneys were obtained in 11 patients with renal-acute renal failure (renal-ARF). The underlying diseases of renal-ARF were acute tubular necrosis in 8 patients and acute on-set chronic glomerulonephritis in 3 patients. They were treated by hemodialysis in 10 patients and intermittent peritoneal dialysis in 1 patient. Ultrasonic measurement of the size of kidneys revealed that the thickness (anterior-posterior diameter) and the ratio of thickness to length (T/L) were greater in patients with ARF than in those with chronic renal failure and normal renal function. The patients with a low value of T/L (under 0.60) had a significantly greater urine volume than those with high a value of T/L (0.60 or more). The sonographic features of renal-ARF kidneys were marked increase in parenchymal echogenicity and appearance of hypoechoic swollen renal pyramids with sharpness of the corticomedullary border. In the course of ARF, these sonographic changes gradually disappeared when the patients had recovered from ARF. However, the prognosis was poor in patients with severer sonographic findings. We believe that repeated ultrasonic examination of the kidneys in patients with renal-ARF is useful for not only differential diagnosis of post-renal urinary obstruction but evaluating the course of ARF.     

Individual psychotherapy with schizophrenic outpatients in the public mental health system.

Forty-two therapists conducting individual psychotherapy with schizophrenic outpatients in a public mental health system responded to a questionnaire that focused on the types of interventions used and the issues and problems encountered in therapy. The therapists spent 59 percent of their time in supportive, problem-solving work and only 32 percent in traditional psychotherapeutic interventions, such as providing insight. The most common issues in therapy were relationship problems, family concerns, depression, losses, and the role of medications in the client's life. The most significant impediments to therapeutic work were the lack of community resources, the client's noncompliance with medications and lack of motivation, and dual diagnoses. Suggestions are offered for improving psychotherapy with schizophrenic outpatients in the public mental health system.     

MRI in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: correlation with clinical features

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed in 10 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the findings were evaluated. Four patients had asymmetrical areas of increased signal intensity in the white matter. All patients showing abnormal MRI were young, had a longer clinical course, and clinically were more disabled. These MRI abnormalities were related to the pathological changes in the central white matter of patients with ALS and possible explanations for these findings in ALS are discussed.     

Effects of crude oil and ultraviolet radiation on immunity within mouse skin

Previous studies indicate that crude oil leads to increased pigmentation and erythema (sunburn) in response to sunlight in exposed individuals. However, no information is currently available concerning whether crude oil exposure might enhance the immunosuppressive effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the skin. In order to address this question, the back skin of shaved, female C3H/HeN mice was exposed to crude oil with or without subsequent treatment with medium-wavelength (UVB) (200 J/m2) or long-wavelength (UVA) (20,000 J/m2) UVR. Immune function was assessed in treated mice by measuring their ability to mount contact hypersensitivity responses to a hapten (2,4-dinitro-1-flyorobenzene, DNGFB) applied to the site of crude oil and UVR treatment as determined by ear swelling upon subsequent challenge. Since Langerhans cells represent an important component of immunity within the skin and because suppression of contact hypersensitivity following UVR treatment is often accompanied by disappearance of Langerhans cells from the epidermis, the impact of these agents on epidermal Langerhans cell density was also analyzed. This was accomplished by enumerating IA-positive cells within the epidermis of treated skin. In these studies, crude oil alone induced inhibition of contact hypersensitivity but had no effect on epidermal Langerhans cells. In contrast, combined treatment with crude oil and UVA led to suppression of contact hypersensitivity, which was accompanied by depletion of epidermal Langerhans cells.