Granular myoblastoma: perineal neoplasm of probable neural origin.

A seventy-year-old man with a painless, perineal neoplasm was found to have a granular cell myoblastoma densely adherent to the bulbar urethra. This case represents the fourth known perineal neoplasm of neural origin.     

Lymphocyte subpopulations in the surface secretion on the adenoid

The significance and protective efficacy of surface secretions on mucosal membranes in the upper airways are well recognized. The aim of our study was to reveal the role of the adenoids as a source of cellular components in the mucosal secretion. The adenoid removed because of its hypertrophy and the samples of surface secretions taken by "imprint method" described by Ebenfelt et al. from the group of 38 children were examined. By flow cytometry the lymphocyte subsets with following antigens: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD23, CD16+56, CD45RA, CD45RO, HLA-DR were analyzed. The results were compared between the groups of younger and older children and in the group of concomitant otitis media with effusion (OMS) and pure adenoid hypertrophy. The percentage of lymphocyte subsets in adenoid and secretion were similar, except for lymphocytes Th with memory phenotype which were more numerous in the adenoid and lymphocytes B CD23+ which were more numerous in the secretion. In the adenoid the percentage of T and Th lymphocytes increased with age and the percentage of B lymphocytes decreased. In the secretion the percentage of lymphocytes Th and B CD23+ was higher among older children. In cases of otitis media with effusion higher percentage of lymphocytes B (CD19+ and CD19+CD23+) and lower of lymphocytes Ts and Th with naive phenotype were observed in the secretion. In adenoid however lower percentage of lymphocytes B and higher of lymphocytes Ts was observed in cases of OMS.     

Reducing unnecessary morbidity from percutaneous thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia--part C: a starting point for a somatotopic map of the human Gasserian ganglion

OBJECTIVES: An original method and technique has been designed to reduce the significant morbidity associated with techniques currently used for percutaneous thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The current report deals with the mathematical and biostatistical analysis of verbal responses gathered using such a method in an attempt, as a starting point, to establish the somatotopic organization of the human gasserian ganglion. METHOD: A correspondence analysis was used to validate verbal responses. These were ordered in three 34 x 34 matrices, according the initial sequence of 34 subsegments of the face, which was based on the operative experience of one of the authors. After using a filter for the consistency of responses, and a maximum threshold below 0.5 V, 967 responses from 99 patients were selected for analysis. The frequencies obtained from each subsegment were compared, using all the possible pairwise combinations of the subsegments of the face, and the sequences were ordered using the least contradictory criterion. RESULTS: The incidence of each verbal response within each trigeminal division was analysed, resulting in a proposal of a sequence of 20 subsegments of the gasserian ganglion, listed from the depth to the surface. DISCUSSION: From the strict clinical point of view, the somatotopic map of each individual is invariant and easily analysed over long time periods. Its precise knowledge is critical for inducing smaller, properly placed lesions, in order to avoid unnecessary morbidity from percutaneous thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The proposed sequence of the gasserian somatotopic organization will be hopefully a useful guide for those interested in trigeminal physiological organization as well as for the therapeutic exploration of gasserian trigeminal fibers.     

A numerical model for risk of ball-impact injury to baseball pitchers

INTRODUCTION: Metal baseball bats produce higher ball exit velocity (BEV) than wood bats, increasing the risk of impact injuries to infield players. In this paper, maximum BEV from a wood and a metal bat were determined using the finite element method. METHODS: Three-dimensional (3-D) bat kinematics at the instant of impact were determined from high-speed videography (N = 17 high-performance batters). A linear viscoelastic constitutive model was developed for stiffer and softer types of baseballs. The risk of impact injury was determined using available movement time data for adult pitchers; the data indicate that 0.400 s is required to evade a batted ball. RESULTS: The highest BEV (61.5 m.s(-1)) was obtained from the metal bat and the stiffer ball model, equating to 0.282 s of available movement time. For five impacts along the long axis of each bat, the "best case scenario" resulted from the wood bat and the softer ball (46.0 m.s(-1), 0.377 s). CONCLUSIONS: The performance difference between the bats was attributed to the preimpact linear velocity of the bat impact point and to differences in orientation on the horizontal plane. Reducing the swing moment of the baseball bat, and the shear and relaxation modulii of the baseball, increased the available movement time.     

Prevention of intraventricular hemorrhage by indomethacin in male preterm infants

Our multicenter Indomethacin Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) Prevention Trial demonstrated a reduction of IVH in preterm infants. Analysis of our cohort by sex showed indomethacin halved the incidence of IVH, eliminated parenchymal hemorrhage, and was associated with higher verbal scores at 3 to 8 years in boys.     

Impact injuries in baseball : prevalence, aetiology and the role of equipment performance

Baseball has one of the highest impact injury rates of all sports. These injuries are primarily attributed to impact by a ball after it has been hit, pitched or thrown. This paper will review the incidence and causal factors for impact injuries in baseball. Attention is given to the design and material properties of bats, in light of evidence suggesting balls hit into the infield from metal bats can reach velocities potentially lethal to defensive players. The distribution of bat mass along the long axis of the implement appears a major factor in the greater performance potential of metal bats over wooden bats of equal length and mass. The dynamic behaviour of baseballs has also been implicated in the severity of head and chest injuries experienced by players. Balls of greatly reduced stiffness have been introduced for junior play, but debate still remains over their performance and impact characteristics. The behaviour of the ball during high-speed impact with the bat has been the subject of relatively limited research, and the effect of manipulating baseball material properties to decrease batted-ball velocity is unclear. The value of batting helmets is evident in the observed reduction of head injuries in baseball, but the use of protective vests to decrease the incidence and severity of cardio-thoracic trauma appears to be contraindicated.