Syringomyelia after decompressive laminectomy for cervical spondylosis

We describe a case of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in which deterioration occurred a month after decompressive laminectomy. Syringomyelia was then in evidence as seen by myelography and delayed metrizamide computed tomography scanning. The etiology of this finding and its possible relation to the course and treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy are discussed.     

Chronic intravascular hemolysis after aortic valve replacement with Ionescu-Shiley xenograft: Comparative study with Bjork-Shiley prosthesis

Twenty patients with a prosthetic valve (Ionescu-Shiley or Bjork-Shiley) in the aortic position were studied for evidence of intravascular hemolysis. Serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum haptoglobin levels were used as the most sensitive indicators of hemolysis. Elevated concentrations of lactic dehydrogenase were found in all 10 patients with an Ionescu-Shiley prosthesis (mean 402 IU/liter) and in 7 of 10 patients with a Bjork-Shiley prosthesis (mean 234 IU/liter). The mean serum haptoglobin was 15 mg/dl (range 10 to 28) in patients with the Ionescu-Shiley valve and 96 mg/dl (15 to 284) for those with the Bjork-Shiley valve. This study indicates the presence of chronic intravascular hemolysis in patients with the Ionescu-Shiley aortic valve. The increase in lactic dehydrogenase was significantly greater in patients with the Ionescu-Shiley prosthesis than in those with the Bjork-Shiley prosthesis, indicating a slightly shorter red cell life span in the former group.     

Primate upper limb muscles exhibit activity patterns that differ from their anatomical action during a postural task

The present study examined muscular activity in the primate proximal forelimb during a posture task. By applying loads selectively to the shoulder, elbow, or both joints, we observed that monoarticular shoulder and elbow muscles varied their activity with loads at the unspanned joint. Shoulder monoarticulars changed activity with elbow torque and elbow monoarticulars changed activity with shoulder torque. Due to this additional modulation, the maximal activation of monoarticular muscles was deviated from their anatomical action toward either shoulder-extension/elbow-flexion or shoulder-flexion/elbow-extension. Biarticular muscles also expressed deviations in their preferred torque direction toward either shoulder-extension/elbow-flexion or shoulder-flexion/elbow-extension. The biased distribution of preferred torque directions in proximal forelimb muscles could be modeled by the minimization of a global measure of muscle activity. Moreover, arm-related neurons of primary motor cortex exhibit a similar bias in preferred torque directions consistent with the intimate relationship between the primary motor cortex and the motor periphery.     

Granulocyte Transfusions in Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation or Gene Therapy

Journal of Clinical Immunology - Granulocyte transfusions are sometimes used as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of infection in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). However,...