Myelinated fiber regeneration after crush injury is retarded in sciatic nerves of aging mice

To compare nerve regeneration in young adult and aging mice, the right sciatic nerves of 6- and 24-month-old mice were crushed at the sciatic notch. Two weeks later, both groups of mice were perfused with an aldehyde solution, and, after additional fixation, the sciatic nerves were processed so that the transverse sections of each nerve subsequently studied by light and electron microscopy included the entire posterior tibial fascicle 5 mm distal to the crush site. The same level was sectioned in unoperated contralateral nerves; these nerves served as controls. Electron micrographs and the Bioquant Image Analysis System IV were used to measure areas of posterior tibial fascicles and count the number of myelinated axons, the number of unmyelinated axons, and their frequency in Schwann cell units. In aging mice, the total number of regenerating myelinated axons was significantly reduced, but totals of regenerating unmyelinated axons in aging and young adults did not differ significantly. In aging mice, the frequency of Schwann cells that contained a single unmyelinated axon was greater, suggesting that before myelination began, Schwann cell ensheathment of axons also was slowed. After axotomy by a crush injury, the area of the posterior tibial fascicle was less than that in young adults and the distal disintegration of myelin sheath remnants also appeared to be retarded. The results indicate that responses of neurons, axons, and Schwann cells could be important in slowing the regeneration of myelinated fibers found in sciatic nerves from aging mice.     

Growth cones and axon trajectories of a sensory pathway in the amphibian spinal cord

Central axons of sensory ganglion (SG) neurons of the Xenopus tail enter the spinal cord via the ventral roots and travel dorsally and rostrally following a diagonal course within the lateral marginal zone (LMZ) to reach the dorsolateral fasciculus (DLF) (Nordlander et al.: Brain Res., 440:391-395, 1988). Axons are dispersed as they cross the cord. At the DLF they turn and travel together rostrally, sharing the fascicle with axons of primary sensory neurons (Rohon-Beard cells) already present in the tract. In this paper we analyze the growth patterns of the central projections of SG axons in the tail by using HRP applied to proximal branches of tail spinal nerves. Growth cones of the diagonal route are variable in configuration, often bearing processes that spread within the LMZ. Once the DLF, growth cones change shape, becoming distinctly linear. While growth cones navigating the diagonal part of the route never contact or fasciculate with other diagonal SG axons, SG growth cones and axons of the DLF are more closely associated with their fellows. Measurements of the slopes of SG axons in the diagonal route indicated a limited range with a mean of 23 degrees with respect to the cord axis. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that 1) navigational patterns for growth cones of this pathway differ for the diagonal versus the DLF part of its course, and 2) fasciculation is not a mechanism used by SG axons to reach the DLF, but that instead, each axon is able to find its way independently.     

Opportunistic intracranial infection in AIDS detection by technetium-99m DTPA brain scintigraphy

Radionuclide brain scintigraphy and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated cerebral lesions in two patients with acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome (AIDS) complicated by opportunistic infection of the brain. In the detection of these cerebral lesions, [99mTc]DTPA radionuclide scintigraphy was as reliable as CT. Since malignant lymphoma involving the brain has been seen with increasing frequency in patients with AIDS, the positive brain scan alone is nonspecific and should be correlated appropriately with the clinical setting.     

Anleitung für eine vollständige Kehlkopfpräparation

Zusammenfassung Anhand von 9 Abbildungen wird eine Methode zur Kehlkopfpräparation beschrieben, bei der sämtliche Knorpel, Gelenke und Muskeln dargestellt werden. Nach Ablösung des Schildknorpels und des Hypopharynx werden die Mm. postici und arytaenoidei isoliert, die Cricoarytaenoidgelenke sowie die Arytaenoidknorpel präpariert und die Mm. laterales eingeschnitten. Ein Horizontalschnitt durch den Ringknorpel und die median-sagittale Spaltung des proximalen Fragmentes liefern schließlich den Zugang zu den inneren Kehlkopfweichteilen.     

Mobile intraventricular cyst of the third ventricle treated with stereotactic puncture. Report of a case

A case of a pedunculated arachnoid cyst within the third ventricle is presented. The cyst was small so as not to appear as a significant expanding lesion on CT. The clinical history, however, suggested intermittent increase of the intracranial pressure. On CT there was some widening of the lateral and third ventricles, while the fourth ventricle had normal width. This finding in combination with the clinical history prompted further neuroradiologic examinations, including pneumoencephalography and ventriculography. The presence of a pedunculated mobile cystic lesion within the third ventricle was shown and its nature further elucidated by stereotactic puncture combined with contrast injection into the cyst. After emptying of the cyst, the patient has been free of symptoms during an observation time of 2 years. The diagnostic and differential diagnostic aspects are discussed and the value of traditional neuroradiologic methods emphasized.     

Accuracy of an anthropometric estimate of the muscle and bone area in a transversal cross-section of the arm

To standardize the maximal static force (Fo) of the arm flexors, the accuracy of an anthropometric method for estimating the mid-arm cross-sectional muscle and bone area (MBA) was investigated. This was done by comparing the anthropometrically determined area (MBA.A) with the area measured by means of computerized tomography (MBA.S). In the same way, the accuracy of Heymsfield's equations (Heymsfield et al., 1982) for predicting MBA (MBA.H) from anthropometric measures was tested. MBA.A was significantly larger than MBA.S, the relative difference increasing with the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer. This difference was attributed to a 27% underestimation of the fat layer thickness as measured with the skinfold caliper. Women being fatter than men, this caused the standardized maximal static force (Fo/MBA) to be lower in women than in men. MBA.H was 12% smaller than MBA.S. This may have been due to a difference in the way of measuring the arm circumference between the present authors and Heymsfield et al.     

Flow requirements for the Bain breathing circuit during anaesthesia for caesarean section

We studied the relationship between arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) and fresh gas flow (FGF) during use of the Bain breathing circuit for Caesarean section anaesthesia. Thirty-one patients undergoing Caesarean section were anaesthetised using the Bain circuit with intermittent positive pressure ventilation. The PaCO2 were measured at FGF of 70 ml X kg-1 X min-1, 80 ml X kg-1 X min-1, and 100 ml X kg-1 X min-1. The FGF requirement to maintain a given PaCO2 during Caesarean section anaesthesia is the same as the requirements for nonpregnant subjects, despite the increase in carbon dioxide production associated with pregnancy. This is probably because the total FGF determined by body weight and given during Caesarean section anaesthesia is 15-20 per cent higher than nonpregnant levels, due to the weight gain associated with pregnancy. A FGF of 100 ml X kg-1 of pregnant weight/min maintains PaCO2 of 4.44 kPa predelivery, which is in the desirable range of PaCO2 during Caesarean section.     

Localized osteolysis in stable, non-septic total hip replacement

We are reporting four cases of extensive, localized bone resorption adjacent to a rigidly anchored, cemented total hip replacement. None of these hips showed evidence of infection on clinical, bacteriological, or pathological evaluation. The tissue from the regions of osteolysis showed sheets of macrophages and foreign-body giant cells invading the femoral cortices. Abundant methylmethacrylate particulate debris was present in the tissues, but polyethylene wear debris was absent. The histological appearance of this tissue resembled that reported about loosened total hip implants with the exception of the synovial-like layer at the cement surface. The cases reported here show that aggressive bone lysis may occur around stable cemented total hip arthroplasties without the presence of sepsis or malignant disease.