Malignant schwannoma in the posterior tibial nerve

Our group have studied a patient affected by a malignant schwannoma in the posterior tibial nerve. Schwannomas are uncommon neoplasms that originate from the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves: the most common forms are benign. Malignant transformation is rarer. The therapy is surgical and the operation undertaken, if possible, should be the amputation. Alternatively, where amputation is not possible due to the specific localisation or due to patient refusal, the alternative must be the largest and most radical excision possible.     

后十字韧带重建后移植物组织学与胶原表型的变化

目的探讨采用半腱肌腱重建后十字韧带（posterior cruciate ligament,PCL）后移植物的组织学与胶原表型的变化.方法取20只成年新西兰大白兔,实验组18只切除右膝PCL后即刻用双股自体半腱肌腱重建,实验组于术后3、6、52周各处死动物2只,12、26周各处死动物6只,切取半腱肌腱移植物;对照组2只直接切取半腱肌腱和PCL.标本采用HE、甲苯胺蓝以及Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原免疫组化染色观察移植物的组织学与胶原表型变化,并与正常半腱肌腱和PCL进行比较.结果常规组织化学染色显示正常半腱肌腱和PCL在细胞构成上有明显的差别,PCL内可见软骨样细胞;重建后的移植物经过坏死、细胞重新长入、胶原形成和重塑阶段,52周时形成的结构类似于正常PCL,但在纤维排列上与正常PCL仍有差异.免疫组织化学染色结果显示正常PCL纤维内部仅有Ⅰ型胶原表达,重建韧带Ⅰ型胶原染色随时间延长从少到多,Ⅲ型胶原染色从多到少,52周时移植物内局部仍有表达.结论采用半腱肌腱重建PCL 52周时移植物和正常PCL结构相似,但仍有差异.     

Periodontal mechano-sensory responses following trauma to permanent incisor teeth in children

Abstract –  The aim of this study was to investigate mechano-sensory responses of injured and uninjured incisor teeth. Twenty-five children who had experienced dental trauma, together with age- and gender-matched controls, were studied prospectively. Touch thresholds of incisor teeth from both groups were determined using calibrated sets of von Frey hairs (force range 0.5–10.0 g in 0.5 g increments) using a forced choice staircase method. Forces were applied perpendicular to the buccal enamel surfaces along the midline, 2 mm from the incisal edge. Touch threshold was defined as the lowest force detected in three out of the five occasions. Following statistical analysis, P  < 0.05 was considered significant. At initial examination, the touch threshold values of 25 traumatised teeth were significantly greater than the untraumatised controls ( P  < 0.001), and these values approached those of the control teeth over 3–12 months ( P  > 0.05). Dental trauma was associated with increased touch thresholds in permanent incisor teeth, with recovery toward healthy control values usually occurring between 3–12 months.     

后路治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折

目的：探讨后路环椎管减压，椎弓根钉系统复位固定并植骨治疗胸腰椎爆裂骨折的疗效。方法：1996－2001年，环椎环椎管减压，结合具有钉杆角的椎弓根钉系统复位固定，并横突及小关节突间植骨或椎间植骨治疗128例病人，从伤椎椎体前后缘高度恢复，Cobb角矫正度及神经功能恢复情况评价疗效。结果：128例病人脊髓神经损害无加重，神经功能有不同程度恢复；伤椎高度恢复理想，Cobb角明显减少，植骨融合成功108例（占84．4％），术后部分病例出现伤椎复位度丢失现象。结论：后路环椎管减压内固定治疗胸腰椎骨折效果好，应重视植骨融合以获得良好稳定性。     

Dopaminergic transmission in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to produce acupuncture analgesia in correlation with the pituitary gland

Acupuncture analgesia (AA) caused by low frequency stimulation of the acupuncture point (AP) was abolished by hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy. Termination of the AA producing pathway from the AP to the pituitary gland was in the medial hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (M-HARN). The origin of the descending pain inhibitory system associated with AA was in the posterior HARN (P-HARN). AA in the hypophysectomized rats, and enhanced neuronal activity in the P-HARN that were abolished during acupuncture stimulation, were both restored by intraperitoneal microinjection of 0.5 mg/kg morphine or 0.1 micrograms beta-endorphin into the P-HARN during acupuncture stimulation. Of the analgesia produced by dopamine or beta-endorphin injected into the P-HARN, that caused by beta-endorphin disappeared after denervation of the M-HARN. The P-HARN neurons that responded to acupuncture stimulation also responded to iontophoretic dopamine, but not to iontophoretic morphine nor ultramicroinjected beta-endorphin. The transmission between the M-HARN and P-HARN may be dopaminergic, and beta-endorphin might presynaptically modulate this transmission. Reduction of sodium ions may have been the reason for abolition of AA after adrenalectomy.     

Primary papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of broad ligament

A rare case of an advanced primary broad ligament carcinoma is discussed, with a review of the literature regarding its incidence, presentation and management. This patient showed a complete response to adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy following panhysterectomy and is presently without any evidence of disease, 15 months after completion of her treatment.     

Augmentation technique with semitendinosus and gracilis tendons in chronic partial lesions of the ACL: clinical and arthrometric analysis

Most of the techniques described in the literature for the repair of chronic partial ACL tears, don’t spare the intact portion of the ligament. The aim of this study was to perform a prospective analysis of the results of augmentation surgery using gracilis and semitendinosus tendons to treat partial sub-acute lesions of the ACL. This technique involves an “over the top” femoral passage, which enables salvage and strengthening of the intact portion of the ACL. The study included 47 patients treated consecutively at our institute from 1993 to 1998, with a mean injury-surgery interval of 18 weeks (range 12–36). The patients were followed up by clinical and instrumental assessment criteria at 3 months, 1 and 5 years after surgery. Clinical assessment was performed using the IKDC form. Subjective and functional parameters were assessed by the Tegner activity scale. Instrumental evaluation was done using the KT-2000 instrument: the 30-pound passive test and the manual maximum displacement test were performed. We obtained good or excellent results in 95.7% of cases. No recurrences in ligamentous laxity were observed. We believe that the described technique has the advantage of being compatible with ACL anatomy, and enables very rapid functional recovery.     

后纵隔巨大甲状腺乳头状癌一例

患者女,48岁。两年前无明显诱因出现轻微进食梗噎感,抬头时加重,未予治疗。近半年,梗噎感加重,并出现胸闷、咳嗽,痰中带血,遂来我院就诊。胸部CT显示:左后纵隔食管后方见一长条形低密度影,密度不均,其上方见环形斑