Prolonged running does not improve muscle coordination after cross-union of tibial and peroneal nerves in mice

Several months after cross-union of the tibial and peroneal nerves and full muscle reinnervation motor behavior was monitored and was tested by electromyographic recordings from both musculus tibialis anterior (TA) and musculus gastrocnemius medialis (MG). In addition spinal motoneuron pools were labelled by injecting wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into experimental and control TA muscles. Though the location of TA motoneurons was similar in all 9 mice tested and suggested successful cross-reinnervation, running behavior and EMG patterns varied remarkably. In some animals the alternating activities of TA and MG muscles remained more or less clearly separated from each other but were out of phase with the running cycle. A somewhat better motor behavior was accompanied by simultaneous activity in both muscles. Voluntary running in wheels for several kilometers per day did not visibly improve motor coordination indicating the absence of activity-related synaptic readjustments.     

Paratesticular desmoid tumor

A primary intrascrotal mass clinically mimicking a testicular tumor was found to be a desmoid tumor originating from the spermatic cord. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a paratesticular desmoid tumor.     

Lesser metatarsophalangeal joint implants

A double-stemmed MTP joint silastic implant has been described that acts as a flexible spacer for a number of pathologic conditions that affect the lesser metatarsophalangeal joints. Preliminary results suggest that this is a feasible alternative to joint destructive procedures with advantages over previously described implants.     

Effectiveness and nutritional consequences of amino acid-based vs glucose-based dialysis solutions in infants and children receiving CAPD

Excessive glucose absorption and dialysate amino acid and protein losses contribute to malnutrition in children on glucose-based continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We used 2.5 and 4.25% glucose and 1.1 and 2.0% amino acid dialysates to assess short-term effectiveness and nutritional consequences of amino acid-based dialysis solutions. Plasma and effluent urea and creatinine concentrations were similar with amino acid and glucose dialysis although 16% less fluid was removed with amino acid dialysates. Absorption of 77.3 +/- 5.3% of dialysate amino acids exceeded losses of amino acids and protein in glucose effluent. With amino acid dialysates, fasting plasma glucose concentrations were maintained while plasma amino acid levels rose, peaked at 1 h, and, excepting methionine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine with the 2.0% solution, returned to initial levels after 5 h. Compared with glucose, amino acid dialysates provide reduced but satisfactory fluid and waste removal, maintain normoglycemia, and more than compensate for effluent losses of amino acids and protein.     

Rifampin alone or with trimethoprim for contacts of children with Haemophilus influenzae type b infections.

We carried out a nonrandomized, unblinded study to compare the efficacy of rifampin alone with that of rifampin in combination with trimethoprim in the eradication of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) carrier state among contacts of patients with invasive HIB infection. The study population comprised 17 index patients admitted to hospital with severe HIB infections and 233 contacts, 43 of whom had nasopharyngeal colonization with HIB of the same biotype as that of the index patient. Rifampin in a daily dose of 20 mg/kg (maximum 600 mg) for 4 days eradicated the carrier state in 86% of cases, as did the combination of rifampin at the same dosage and trimethoprim in a daily dose of 5 mg/kg (maximum 160 mg) for 4 days.