International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 2005; Vol.14, No.3, 158–166

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 2005; Vol.14, No.3, 158–166. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Noncortical origins of the spinal motor evoked potential in rats

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the spinal cord, sciatic nerve, or both during transcortical electrical stimulation in the rat. Four peaks could be consistently identified in the spinal MEP. The latency and amplitude of the peaks varied differentially with intensity and polarity of stimulation. Conduction velocity for Peak 1 of the MEP was 43 m/sec. Bilateral sciatic nerve MEPs were present after unilateral cortical stimulation. The spinal MEP was elicited by stimulation of areas outside the motor cortex, and the response persisted during subcortical stimulation and after motor cortex ablation. We present evidence suggesting that components of the spinal MEP in rats arise from pathways outside the motor cortex.     

Screening for Meares–Irlen sensitivity in adults: can assessment methods predict changes in reading speed?

Two methods of assessing candidates for coloured overlays were compared with the aim of determining which method had the most practical utility. A total of 58 adults were assessed as potential candidates for coloured overlays, using two methods; a questionnaire, which identified self-reported previous symptoms, and a measure of perceptual distortions immediately prior to testing. Participants were classified as normal, Meares-Irlen sensitive, and borderline sensitive. Reading speed was measured with and without coloured overlays, using the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test and the change in speed was calculated. Participants classified as normal did not show any significant benefit from reading with an overlay. In contrast, a significant reading advantage was found for the borderline and Meares-Irlen participants. Current symptom rating was found to be a significant predictor of the change in reading speed, however the previous symptom rating was not found to be a reliable predictor. These data indicate that the assessment of perceptual distortions immediately prior to measuring colour preference and reading speed is the most meaningful method of assessing pattern glare and determining the utility of coloured overlays.     

Further study on the vascular basis for the reimplantation of the hand amputated through the palm

Summary Based on the anatomic data obtained from earlier studies on the vascular anatomy of the hand, the vascular architecture in the palm of the hand was studied on 60 sides of unembalmed adult upper extremities. Each palm was divided into 64 squares by 8 sagittal and 8 transverse sections. The vascular architecture in these squares and the arterial relations between them were observed and measured by angiography, operative microscopic dissection and computerised three-dimensional reconstruction. According to the pattern of the blood-vessels, the amputated palms can be classified into 4 types. The anatomic basis for the vascular anastomosis in each type is defined. There are three key-areas for the blood-supply of the palm and their significance is discussed. Apart from the 4 types of transversely amputated palms, the repair programe of the blood-vessles in 4 types of common obliquely amputated palms are also discussed.

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Etude complémentaire de l'anatomie vasculaire de la main pour la réimplantation des amputations transpalmaires

Résumé Sur la base de données anatomiques obtenues lors de précédents travaux sur l'anatomie vasculaire de la main, l'architecture vasculaire palmaire a été étudiée sur 60 extrémités supérieures de cadavres d'adultes, non embaumés. Chaque paume a été divisée en 64 carrés par 8 sections sagittales et 8 sections transversales. L'architecture vasculaire à l'intérieur des carrés et les relations artérielles entre eux ont été étudiées et mesurées par angiographie, dissection au microscope opérateur et reconstruction computérisée en 3D. Les paumes amputées ont été regroupées en 4 types d'après la distribution des vaisseaux sanguins. Les données anatomiques concernant les anastomoses vasculaires sont précisées. Il existe trois zones clés pour l'irrigation de la paume. Leur importance quant à l'irrigation de la main est exposée. Outre la division des paumes amputées transversalement en 4 types, le programme de réparation de vaisseaux dans les 4 types d'amputations obliques communes de la paume et aussi discuté.

     

Human infections caused by Brevibacterium casei, formerly CDC groups B-1 and B-3.

Forty-one clinical strains of CDC coryneform groups B-1 and B-3 were compared biochemically, by analysis of cell wall sugars, amino acids, and cellular fatty acids, and by DNA relatedness to the type strains of Brevibacterium casei, Brevibacterium epidermidis, and Brevibacterium linens. Twenty-two strains were shown to be B. casei, while five other strains formed a phenotypically inseparable genomospecies in the same genus. The remaining isolates were genetically heterogeneous, and most are probably members of the genus Brevibacterium. They were not further identified, but they were biochemically distinguishable from B. casei. Eleven of the clinical strains of B. casei were isolated from blood, and two each were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and from pleural fluid. At least five isolates were from multiple blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. To our knowledge, these strains are the first described clinical isolates identified as B. casei, which was previously considered to be a nonpathogenic species.     

Phenotypic characteristics, fatty acid composition, and isoprenoid quinone content of CDC group IIg bacteria.

Eleven strains of eugonic, nonoxidative, gram-negative rods isolated from clinical specimens formed a distinct group that was designated CDC group IIg. Five of the 11 isolates were from wounds. The phenotypic characteristics of CDC group IIg were most similar to those of Weeksella species, with the major difference being that CDC group IIg strains grew on MacConkey agar in 1 to 2 days, did not hydrolyze gelatin, and did not produce urease. All 11 strains of CDC group IIg possessed a distinct fatty acid profile that was characterized by large amounts (19 to 29%) of 18:1 omega 7c, 16:0, and 16:1 omega 7c, moderate amounts (6 to 10%) of 3-OH-14:0 and 14:0, and smaller amounts (1 to 2%) of 18:2, 18:0, and 3-OH-16:0. This fatty acid profile differs from those of Weeksella species by the absence of branched-chain fatty acids. CDC group IIg contains ubiquinone-8, as opposed to menaquinone-6 in Weeksella species. The isolates were susceptible to a variety of antimicrobial agents, including the aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, quinolones, sulfonamides, and polymyxin B.     

Food-initiated outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus analyzed by pheno- and genotyping.

An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) involving 27 patients and 14 health-care workers (HCW) was studied. The outbreak started in the hematology unit of the University Hospital Rotterdam, Dijkzigt, The Netherlands, and spread to the surgical unit. Twenty-one patients (77.8%) developed clinical disease, and five died. Subsequently, MRSA was detected in food and in the throat of one of the HCW who prepared food for hematology patients. Food contaminated by an HCW most likely caused the first case of MRSA septicemia. This route of transmission has not been described before. The outbreak strain was probably transmitted to the surgical unit by a colonized nurse, where it caused an explosive outbreak. Airborne probably transmitted to the surgical unit by a colonized nurse, where it caused an explosive outbreak. Airborne MRSA transmission played an important role in disseminating the organism. The outbreak was controlled within 6 months by intensifying surveillance, temporarily closing the affected wards, treating carriers, and instituting an MRSA ward outside the hospital. Phage typing, insertion sequence probing, protein A gene typing, and DNA fingerprinting by PCR revealed that all outbreak-related isolates were identical. By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, all but one of the outbreak-related isolates were determined to be identical. Protein A gene typing identified numerous (11) repeat units in all outbreak-related isolates, which supports the suggestion that the outbreak strain may have been more virulent and more transmissible than other MRSA strains. Pheno- and genotyping studies underlined the value of DNA fingerprinting methods for investigation of MRSA epidemiology. Optimal discriminatory power was achieved by combining the results of four genotyping methods.     

In vitro activities of voriconazole,posaconazole, and four licensed systemic antifungal agents against Candida species infrequently isolated from blood

We determined the in vitro susceptibilities of 314 strains of Candida spp., representing 13 species rarely isolated from blood, to posaconazole and voriconazole as well as four licensed systemic antifungal agents (amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, and itraconazole). The organisms included 153 isolates of C. krusei, 67 isolates of C. lusitaniae, 48 isolates of C. guilliermondii, 10 isolates of C. famata, 10 isolates of C. kefyr, 6 isolates of C. pelliculosa, 5 isolates of C. rugosa, 4 isolates of C. lipolytica, 3 isolates of C. dubliniensis, 3 isolates of C. inconspicua, 2 isolates of C. sake, and 1 isolate each of C. lambica, C. norvegensis, and C. zeylanoides. MIC determinations were made by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards reference broth microdilution method and Etest (amphotericin B). Resistance to both amphotericin B and fluconazole was observed in strains of C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii, C. inconspicua, and C. sake. Resistance to amphotericin B, but not to fluconazole, was also observed among isolates of C. kefyr and C. rugosa. Posaconazole and voriconazole were active (MIC, < or = 1 micro g/ml) against 94 to 100% of these isolates. In contrast to the more common species of Candida causing bloodstream infection, these rare species appear to be less susceptible to the currently licensed systemic antifungal agents, with the exception of voriconazole. Continued surveillance will be necessary to detect the emergence of these species as more prevalent, resistant pathogens. The new triazoles appear to offer acceptable coverage of uncommon Candida sp. bloodstream infections.     

Caspofungin activity against clinical isolates of fluconazole-resistant Candida

A total of 7,837 clinical isolates of Candida were tested against fluconazole, and 351 resistant (fluconazole MIC >/=64 micro g/ml) isolates were identified (4% of the total tested). All fluconazole-resistant isolates were inhibited by caspofungin at concentrations that can be exceeded by standard doses (MIC at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited, 1 micro g/ml; 99% of the MICs were 相似文献