Lateral actions at the inner plexiform layer of the carp retina: effects of turning windmill pattern stimulus

Lateral action from amacrine to ganglion cells was studied in the isolated carp retina by using a truncated windmill pattern (TWP). About 25% of ganglion cells of both "on" and "off" center types were suppressed or enhanced in firing activity in response to TWP turning. The suppressed cells were more sensitive to slow turning velocities of TWP than the enhanced cells. In the "on-off" type amacrine cells, a steady depolarizing or hyperpolarizing component (less than several mV) was maintained by stationary TWP, while the cells were exclusively depolarized by turning TWP at a wide range of velocities. These results suggest that individual responses of ganglion cells induced by both stationary and turning TWP are depending on a balance between two factors: the polarizing direction of steady components of the "on-off" amacrine cells and the polarizing direction of ganglion cells synaptically produced by the amacrine cells.     

Role of strengthening during nonoperative treatment of lateral epicondyle tendinopathy

IntroductionLateral epicondyle tendinopathy (LET) is the most common cause of lateral elbow pain. The literature on rehabilitation of the condition encompasses a plethora of interventions with most current evidence indicating that stretches and some form of strengthening are vital components. However, patient outcomes are infrequently reported further than 12 weeks from the start of therapy and it is unclear which components of a home exercise program are necessary to alleviate symptoms up to one year from the initiation of a therapy program.Purpose of the StudyThe purpose of the study is to determine if a therapy program with 4 to 6 visits spaced out over 12 weeks focusing on self-management and strengthening is more effective in reducing pain and improving function long term than the same program without strengthening, for individuals with LET.Study DesignThis is a randomized controlled trial.MethodsNinety-four patients were randomly allocated into two groups: both groups received the interventions of education in pertinent pathoanatomy, stretching, pain management through rest and icing, and activity modification. Group 1 (n = 38) was also provided with a strengthening component to the home exercise program, whereas group 2 did not (n = 21). Our primary outcome measure was pain at rest and pain with activity; our secondary measure was the level of functional impairment as measured by the quick disabilities of arm shoulder and hand. Outcome measurements were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks after initiation of therapy.ResultsBoth groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement with a moderate to large effect size in pain and function scores when compared with previous time point at 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Pain continued to decrease for both groups from 24 weeks to 52 weeks, but interestingly, there was a significant increase with moderate effect size in the quick disabilities of arm shoulder and hand score at 52 weeks when compared with week 24. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups at any time point up to 52 weeks from the start of therapy.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that a therapy program consisting of a low number of visits spaced out over 12 weeks based on education, stretches, activity modification, and pain management techniques is effective at reducing pain and increasing function in patients with LET. The addition of strengthening to this program did not improve outcomes. The therapy approach used in this study is consistent with the International Classification of Function guidelines and focuses on engaging patients in self-management of the condition through patient education and self-empowerment.     

The anatomy of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and its relationship with the Wagstaffe fracture

BackgroundOur aim in this study was to identify the fibular footprint of the Anterior Inferior Tibiofibular Ligament (AITFL) and its relation to Wagstaffe fracture fragment size.MethodsWe examined 25 cadaveric lower limbs which were carefully dissected to identify the lateral ankle ligaments. The AITFL anatomy was compared to 40 Wagstaffe fractures identified from our ankle fracture database.ResultsThe AITFL origin was from the anterior fibular tubercle with an average length of 21.61 mm (95% CI 20.22, 22.99). The average distance of the distal aspect of the AITFL footprint to the distal fibula margin was 11.60 mm (95% CI 10.49, 12.71). In the ankle fractures analyzed, the average length of the Wagstaffe fragment was 17.88 mm (95% CI 16.21, 19.54). The average distance from the distal tip of the fibula to the Wagstaffe fracture fragment was 21.40 mm (95% CI 19.78, 23.01).In total there were 22 syndesmosis injuries. There was no statistical difference in Wagstaffe fragment size between stable and unstable groups.ConclusionThe AITFL fibular origin was both larger and more distal than the Wagstaffe fracture fragments seen in our institution. Therefore, this suggests that a ligamentous failure will also have to occur to result in syndesmotic instability. The size of fracture fragment also did not confer to syndesmotic instability on testing.Level of Evidence - 3     

An external approach without tracheotomy for submucosal cordectomy with laterofixation for bilateral abductor paralysis of the vocal folds

There are numerous surgical procedures now available to manage bilateral abductor paralyses of the vocal folds. These procedures have various success rates but mostly do not offer reliable and predictable postoperative results, and usually require ,tracheotomy. The technique described in this report is based on a trial study to obtain a safe airway for an affected patient and avoid tracheotomy, if possible. Submucosal cordectomy was used with lateral fixation of one vocal fold and preservation of the arytenoid. The procedure was performed by using continuous intravenous anesthesia, which does not require intubation of the patient's airway. Seven patients were operated with this technique with excellent postoperative results. The glottal airway was largely improved in all patients, with only minor temporary complications.     

The anterolateral funiculus in the spinal cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

We carried out a morphometric study on the myelinated fibers in the anterolateral funiculus (ALF) and lateral corticospinal tract (LCS) in the cervical segment of the spinal cord of 13 patients with classic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), 6 of whom had been on a respirator: 5 age-matched subjects were used as controls. The results obtained revealed that: (1) the fiber-size distributions of the myelinated fibers in the ALF and LCS of the control subjects had peaks at 2 m; (2) there were marked and significant losses of large myelinated fibers in the ALF and LCS of ALS patients; (3) the patients who required respirator support showed more severe degeneration in the ALF than those who required none; and (4) the degree of myelinated fiber loss in the LCS did not correlate with either the illness duration or the history of respirator use.     

侧脑室—腹腔分流治疗脑积水62例报告

目的　探讨脑积水的治疗方法和疗效。方法　62例均行侧脑室-腹腔分流术。脑室端从枕角穿入10cm接引流泵,再从皮下隧道引至上腹或左下腹放入腹腔。结果　1～4周后复查,症状完全消失56例,部分改善5例,无变化1例。57例复查CT示:52例脑室恢复正常,4例脑室较前缩小,1例无变化。堵管9例。低颅内压2例,硬膜下血肿2例,经保守治疗痊愈。49例随访1～8年,41例能正常工作学习,5例生活自理,1例植物生存,2例死亡。结论　明确诊断,掌握手术适应症及手术技巧是成功的关键。     

Impact of a preceding striatal excitotoxic lesion and treatment with ciliary neurotrophic factor on striatal graft survival

The survival of grafted embryonic striatal tissue, dissected from the lateral ganglionic eminence, depends on the status of the host striatum. We found significantly larger volumes of surviving graft tissue and of striatal-like tissue (P-zone) within the graft, when the host striatum had been subjected to an excitotoxic lesion prior to transplantation surgery. Concomitantly the numbers of surviving grafted cells, assessed in both cresyl violet-stained sections and in sections stained with an immunohistochemical marker for striatal neurons, increased as compared to when graft tissue was placed in an intact unlesioned striatum. Finally, we examined the impact of treatment of the donor tissue with ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on graft survival. CNTF has previously been shown to protect striatal neurons against excitotoxic insults both in vitro and in vivo, but it did not improve striatal graft survival when added to the cell suspension prior to implantation.     

骨科下肢侧卧位手术牵引架的研制及临床应用

目的研制并临床验证一种简便、实用、灵活、科学的骨科下肢侧卧位手术牵引架.方法1999年1月～2003年1月采用本手术设备共进行了51例均在侧卧位状态下进行的手术;其中股骨粗隆间骨折23例、股骨粗隆下骨折4例,行DHS22例、Gamma钉5例;股骨中下段骨折24例,行股骨交锁钉3例、梅花钉3例、LCDCP18例.结果采用本手术设备的手术情况是DHS、Gamma钉组的平均手术时间为51±19min、出血量为100士57ml,交锁钉组的手术时间为70±19min、出血量为312±94ml;与常规的仰卧位手术比较P＜0.01,同时方便C-臂X光机透视,尤其是侧位透视.此外,还可运用本手术设备进行股骨中下段骨折的其他各种内固定手术,牵引效能好,方便术区皮肤消毒及术中骨折复位.结论本骨科下肢侧卧位手术牵引架结构简单、零部件少、装卸容易、适应症广、操作方便、利于C-臂X光机透视,术中出血量少、损伤小、手术时间短,具有较好的实用型、先进性、科学性,值得临床推广应用.     

A di-synaptic projection from the lateral cerebellar nucleus to the laterodorsal part of the striatum via the central lateral nucleus of the thalamus in the rat

We have examined a cerebello–thalamo–striatal pathway from the lateral cerebellar nucleus (LCN) to the laterodorsal part of the striatum (LDS) through the central lateral nucleus (CL) using light and electron microscopy through the employment of a combination of anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques. Biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was injected into the unilateral LCN, and used as an anterograde tracer. Cholera toxin B subunit (CTb), used for light microscopy, and wheat germ agglutinin–horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP), used for electron microscopy, were injected into the contralateral LDS as retrograde tracers. Light microscopic analysis showed a good overlap of the distribution of BDA-labeled axon terminals and CTb-labeled neurons in the middle third of the CL in both dorsoventral and rostrocaudal axes on the LDS injection side. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of direct synaptic contacts between BDA-labeled terminals and WGA-HRP-labeled dendrites in the CL.