A skin abscess model for teaching incision and drainage procedures

Background  

Skin and soft tissue infections are increasingly prevalent clinical problems, and it is important for health care practitioners to be well trained in how to treat skin abscesses. A realistic model of abscess incision and drainage will allow trainees to learn and practice this basic physician procedure.     

Comparison of the effects of three different combinations of general anesthetics on the electroretinogram of dogs

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of three different anesthetic combinations on the electroretinogram in the same animals under similar laboratory conditions. Thiopental–isoflurane (TI), medetomidine–ketamine (MK), and xylazine–ketamine (XK) were used on each of 12 healthy miniature schnauzer dogs (MS) with a period of at least 3 weeks in between subsequent anesthesia protocols, using the Dog Standard Protocol. The scotopic ERGs consisted of scotopic low stimulus strength (S) responses designated S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after dark adaptation, respectively, and scotopic standard stimulus strength (S-ST) responses. The photopic ERGs consisted of a photopic single flash (P) response and 31 Hz flicker (P-FL) responses. For S-ST (2.5 cd s/m²), the amplitude of the a-wave using TI was significantly lower than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.05) and XK (adjusted P = 0.03), and the implicit time of the a-wave was significantly shorter than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.04). For P (2.5 cd s/m²), the amplitude of the b-wave using XK was significantly higher than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.01). The implicit times of the b-wave using TI was significantly longer and shorter than that of MK for S1, S2 and P-FL and for S4 and S-ST, respectively, and than that of XK for S2 and P-FL and for S5 and S-ST, respectively. The results of the present study showed that TI affected both the amplitude and the implicit time of the a-wave for S-ST and the implicit time of the b-wave relatively more so than was the case when using XK or MK. Therefore, it appears that either XK or MK could be advantageous to use rather than TI for clinical studies.     

Primary Hemiarthroplasty for Proximal Humeral Fractures in the Elderly: Long-Term Functional Outcome and Social Implications

Abstract Background: Primary shoulder hemiarthroplasty is an established treatment modality for complex fractures of the proximal humerus. Long-term functional outcome is often disappointing. However, little is known about social implications particularly in the elderly. Methods: A single-institution case series of consecutive geriatric patients (age > 70 years) treated with shoulder hemiarthroplasty for complex fractures of the proximal humerus between 1994 and 1997 was analysed. Postoperative morbidity, long-term function, radiological outcome and social implications were evaluated. Results: Seventy-seven patients fulfilled the study criteria. Median age at the time of operation was 80 years (range 70–93 years). Systemic and local postoperative complications were observed in 8% including 2 patients (3%) with revision surgery. Postoperative mortality was 1%. Forty-eight patients (62%) were available for follow-up (median 49 months, range 25–80 months), 22 (29%) died from causes unrelated to hemiarthroplasty before follow-up and 7 patients (9%) did not attend follow-up examination. Median Constant-Murley score was 41 points (range 17–77 points). Long-term results concerning pain were satisfying. The Oxford shoulder score ranged from 14 to 40 (median 30). Forty-one patients (85%) still lived in their original environment and managed their daily life independently despite poor shoulder function. Four patients (8%) lived in a retirement home and 3 (6%) in a nursery home. Eighty percent of our patients were still able to use public transportation, do the daily shopping and wash their whole body by themselves. Conclusion: Most patients managed their daily life independently despite poor shoulder function.     

Ruptured pediatric posterior cerebral artery aneurysm 9 years after the onset of Kawasaki disease: a case report

CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old boy who had a history of Kawasaki disease 9 years ago experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage by ruptured right posterior cerebral artery aneurysm. On day 1 operation, as the aneurysm was very fragile and bled easily, two intraoperative ruptures, including a very premature rupture, were encountered. As a result, a left hemiparesis especially severe in the left hand was caused by the right anterior thalamic infarction due to the occlusion of a thalamo-perforating artery arising near the neck of the aneurysm. DISCUSSION: The histopathological examination of the intraoperative excised aneurysmal dome disclosed the thickening of the endothelial inner due to the endothelial hypertrophy and the invasion of inflammatory cells. This finding of the aneurysm was partially mimicking the finding of the coronary artery of the patients with Kawasaki disease. The combination of cerebral aneurysm and Kawasaki disease has never been reported until now, and the etiology of the aneurysm of this patient is unclear.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bcl11b</Emphasis>mutations identified in murine lymphomas increase the proliferation rate of hematopoietic progenitor cells

Background  

The telomeric region of mouse chromosome 12 has previously shown frequent allelic loss in murine lymphoma. The Bcl11b gene has been identified and suggested as a candidate tumor suppressor gene within this region. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether Bcl11b is mutated in lymphomas with allelic loss, and whether the mutations we detected conferred any effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis.     

Genetic Analyses of the Mouse Deafness Mutations Varitint-Waddler (Va) and Jerker (Espnje)

Genetic studies on spontaneous mouse mutants with hearing defects have provided important insights into the function of genes expressed in inner ear hair cells. Here we report on our genetic analyses of the deaf mutants varitint-waddler (Va) and jerker (Espnje). A high-resolution genetic map localizes VaJ to a 0.14 ± 0.08 cM region between D3Mit85 and D3Mit259 on distal chromosome 3. By comparative mapping, the human ortholog resides at 1p22.3 between markers D1S3449 and D1S2252. To study the effect of different genetic backgrounds on the hearing phenotype, Espnje and VaJ were crossed to various inbred strains. Auditory-evoked brainstem response tests on F2 progeny demonstrate that expression, inheritance, and penetrance of the hearing phenotype are solely controlled by the mutant allele. To test for a genetic interaction between Espnje and Cdh23v, auditory function was analyzed in double heterozygotes; no significant increases of thresholds of sound pressure levels were observed. The results establish the framework for cloning the Va gene and provide valuable insights into the genetics of deafness mutations in the mouse.