Gender differences in noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries

Female athletes have an increased incidence of ACL rupture. The cause of this increased injury rate is unclear, but it is most likely from a complex interplay between multiple variables. The relative risk of incurring an ACL injury is still low. The increased risk of ACL injury in women compared with men should not discourage female participation in sports. Instead, the focus should be on strategies to prevent injuries. Intrinsic factors are difficult or impossible to change; modifiable risk factors need to identified and prevention strategies should be employed.     

Novel polyketide metabolites from a species of marine fungi

Fermentation of a marine fungal species obtained from a tissue sample of a marine sponge collected in Indonesia in October 1996, yielded the novel hexaketide compounds iso-cladospolide B (1); seco-patulolide C (2); the 12-membered macrolides, pandangolide 1 (3) and pandangolide 2 (4); and the known terrestrial fungal metabolite, cladospolide B (5).     

Shoulder and elbow injuries in the young athlete

The skeletally immature athlete sustains upper extremity injuries unique to the epiphyseal plate, articular cartilage, musculotendinous units, and specific to the sport itself. Specific shoulder and elbow conditions can be predicted based on the biomechanics of the sport and age of the patient. In the young athlete, recognition of these unique injury patterns with early activity modification and treatment can prevent permanent deformity and functional disability.     

Increased vascular density associated with lesions of canine globoid leukodystrophy

Two control dogs and 2 dogs that had globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) were studied to document vascular alterations associated with the leukodystrophic lesion. Spinal white matter was sampled by transverse and frontal planes of section from dorsal and ventral halves of the lateral funiculus of five spinal segments. Vessel profiles were classified as capillaries or larger vessels. GLD lesion was associated with an increase in capillary mean diameter. Vascular density, estimated by profiles per area, was compared in affected and control tissues. Capillary density was not significantly different, but the density of larger vessels was increased in proportion to the extent of GLD lesion. The increased density is presumed to be the result of lengthening or proliferation of vessels which had normal density prior to lesion formation.