A simple method for PCR based analyses of immunohistochemically stained, microdissected, formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded material.

Microdissection was performed on sections cut from formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded archival material, which had been subjected to conventional immunohistochemistry. Crude DNA extracts, which were obtained from these microdissected samples by a simple microwave step, were then added directly to amplification reactions. Analyses using a range of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques, including microsatellite repeat polymorphism analysis at the NM23-H1 locus and sequencing of exons 5, 7, and 8 of the p53 gene, were performed successfully. Universal PCR amplification was also carried out on the microdissected material and probes suitable for use in comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) were obtained in all cases. This technique will enable a range of effective genetic analyses to be carried out on specific subsets of cells that have been characterised previously by immunohistochemistry.     

Aspects of the nurse tutor-student nurse relationship

This paper is focused on selected items from an exploratory study of nurse tutor-student nurse role-relationships. Aspects of the teacher-student and counsellor-client dimensions of the relationship are reported. The research was conducted from a sociological perspective using role theory as the organizing theoretical framework. An 'ideal type' tutor-student relationship was proposed from the findings. There was concensus between tutors and students that tutors acted in a caring way towards students but many constraints were identified which inhibited students with problems from seeking help from tutors and prevented tutors from offering all the help which they wished to give to students.     

Are clinicians failing to supply adequate information when requesting a histopathological investigation?

AIMS: There is a perception among histopathologists that specimens are often received without adequate clinical details. This is the first study to determine the adequacy of information provided when histopathological investigations are requested. METHODS: Two thousand sequential requests for histological examination were assessed for adequacy and completeness. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the demographic details supplied by physicians and surgeons. Clinical details were inadequate in 6.1% of cases: those from physicians were significantly more often adequate (98.7% v 90.6%) and more often included a diagnosis (74.4% v 38.8%) than those from surgeons. Physicians were more likely to supply their name and contact number but requests frequently lacked details of the sender. CONCLUSIONS: Specimens are infrequently received with inadequate demographic details, but clinical details and details of the sender are more often lacking. Education of clinical colleagues is required if pathologists are to manage the demand for the service.     

"Cataplexy" and muscle ultrasound abnormalities in Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

The Coffin-Lowry syndrome is a rare cause of mental retardation recognised by its distinctive facial and digital features. We have observed an unusual, non-epileptic, cataplexy-like phenomenon in three subjects with the syndrome and we speculate that this feature may go unrecognised. We also provide evidence of neuromuscular dysfunction as part of the phenotype by showing abnormalities on muscle ultrasound in four gene carriers.     

Open sutureless lumbar hernia repair using a ‘memory ring’ patch

Various techniques have been used to repair lumbar hernias. We describe here a sutureless repair with a flat ‘memory ring’ patch performed as a day case.     

儿童房室结折返性心动过速患者经冷冻消融和射频消融的结果比较

目的 比较经导管冷冻消融和射频消融治疗儿童房室结折返性心动过速（AVNRT）的临床效果。方法 73例年龄在18岁以下，诊断为AVNRT的患者入选本研究，根据治疗方法分为冷冻消融组（冷冻组）和射频消融组（射频组），记录并分析比较两组的临床特点、冷冻标测次数、消融次数、X线曝光时间、消融术总时间、成功率、并发症发生率以及复发率。结果 共73例患者入选，冷冻组33例，男性16例，女性17例，平均年龄（12．4±2．8）岁；射频组40例，男性18例，女性22例，平均年龄（13．6±2．2）岁。冷冻组和射频组的消融次数分别为（2．7±1．7）次和（11±6．3）次（P〈0．001），X线曝光时间分别为（20±7）min和（25±9）min（P〈0．05），消融术总时间分别为（214±33）min和（164±36）min（P〈0．05），消融成功率88％（29／33）对100％（40／40）（P〈0．01），一过性房室阻滞的并发症发生率为12％对2．5％（P〈0．01）。冷冻组所有术中发生的传导阻滞均在5min内恢复。两组的复发率差异无统计学意义（6％与2．5％，P=NS）。结论 经导管冷冻消融治疗儿童AVNRT安全有效，但成功率低于射频消融，目前可作为后者的一种补充。