Shape of the myopic eye as seen with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

We have obtained multislice magnetic resonance (MR) images of the eye and calculated ocular dimensions along the three cardinal axes: antero-posterior (A-P), equatorial, and vertical. We found no difference in the shape of hyperopic (average refractive error: +3.72 D) and emmetropic eyes, both of which had an equatorial diameter longer than the A-P and vertical diameters. Myopic eyes (average refractive error: -6.54 D) were larger than hyperopic eyes, and most had the same spheroelliptical shape as that of the emmetropic and hyperopic eyes. The results suggest that during myopic progression an overall enlargement or a radial volume expansion has occurred.     

Recurring bilateral renal agenesis diagnosed by ultrasound with the aid of amnioinfusion at 18 weeks' gestation.

Recurrent bilateral renal agenesis in siblings is very rare. Presented is a case diagnosed with sonographically aided amnioinfusion at 18 weeks in a woman with an infant affected with the same condition in a previous pregnancy.     

Chest hair micrografts display extended growth in scalp tissue: a case report.

Conventional follicle harvesting techniques for hair transplantation are limited by the available scalp donor hair. The development of an innovative technique of microsurgical single follicular unit extraction has made it possible to exploit body hair grafts for scalp transplantation. This case study reports on 18 months of follow-up on a patient with extensive scalp scarring who underwent a transplantation procedure using donor chest hair. The photographically documented results show a change in the length of the chest hair measuring an average of 4 cm at transplant to 15 cm by 18 months post-transplant. The transplanted chest grafts provided an excellent cosmetic result for hair replacement.     

Foramen of Winslow hernia

Foramen of Winslow hernia is a rare surgical condition that is notoriously difficult to diagnose and most patients are diagnosed only at the time of surgery. As such, a high index of suspicion is necessary to avoid potentially life‐threatening complications. The present paper describes two such cases. In the first case, a freely suspending gall bladder herniated into the lesser sac via the foramen of Winslow. This was diagnosed during a scheduled laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In the second case, the caecum herniated into the foramen of Winslow causing small bowel obstruction and ischaemic hepatitis. Diagnostic dilemma and treatment of the condition is also described.     

A peptide mimetic of calcium.

Proteins of the troponin superfamily use homologous amino acid sequences as binding sites for Ca2+ and seem to have evolved from an ancestral Ca2+ binding site. We have utilized this ancestral sequence to construct a peptide (Ca(2+)-like peptide) with inverted hydropathy to the calcium-coordinating region of this protein. This synthetic peptide acted like Ca2+ in that (i) it increased the calmodulin-dependent hydrolysis of cAMP by phosphodiesterase, (ii) it interacted with EDTA, and (iii) it enhanced contraction of urinary bladder smooth muscle in vitro. Unlike Ca2+, the peptide's effects were destroyed by acid hydrolysis. These findings demonstrate the synthesis of a peptide that can substitute for Ca2+ and may have considerable utility for the study of Ca(2+)-regulated pathways and possible therapeutic value as a pharmacologic agent.