Nerve ultrasound reference data in children from two to seven years

ObjectiveWe examined selected peripheral and spinal nerves of children aged between two and seven years.MethodHigh resolution ultrasound was performed in 116 children (2–7 years of age) at 19 predefined landmarks of median, ulnar, tibial, fibular, sural and radial nerves, the vagus as well as cervical spinal nerve 5 and 6. Further, side-to-side measuring and grey-scale analysis was done at selected nerve sites.ResultsNerves of children were on average smaller than those of adults. Nerve growth correlates significantly with age in all nerves, the mean values were similar in the age of two to four years and five to seven years. Body mass index (BMI) and gender showed moderate effect at some nerve sites, however not uniformly in all. A side-to-side difference of up to 30% in median, and up to 20% in tibial nerve can occur in healthy individuals. Grey-scale analysis for echointensity has been performed in median, ulnar and tibial nerves.ConclusionNerve size increases with age, BMI and gender have moderate effect. A side-to-side-difference of up to 30% can exist.SignificanceReference values of nerve cross-sectional area, side-to-side-difference and echo intensity are necessary to detect nerve pathology in children as well as in adults.     

眼眶动静脉畸形致眼上静脉扩张的影像学表现

目的探讨眼眶动静脉畸形(AVM)致眼上静脉(SOV)扩张的影像学及血管造影表现。设计回顾性病例系列。研究对象6例临床表现与硬脑膜海绵窦瘘(CCF)相似的眼眶AVM患者。方法总结分析所有患者的影像学检查结果,如CT、MRI和选择性脑血管造影。主要指标影像学征象及血流动力学。结果CT和MRI均可显示所有患者的SOV扩张。另外,尚存在眼球突出、AVM畸形血管团等征象。所有6例AVM均位于眼眶内,1例尚合并颅内AVM。所有患者的主要引流静脉均为SOV,动脉包括脑膜中动脉、上颌动脉和眼动脉。结论眼眶AVM可引起与CCF相似的临床和影像学征象,但AVM通常不引起海绵窦膨大,血管造影仍是确诊的必需手段,而无创技术是辅助血管造影进行明确诊断的重要手段。(眼科,2007,16:395-398)     

Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy in radiculopathy

The course of radiculopathy is sometimes associated with weakness and wasting of muscles. Very rarely in such cases, however, is hypertrophy of muscle fibres observed. Three cases are presented of sciatica with enlarged calves caused by hypertrophy of type 1 or types 1 and 2 muscle fibres. In light of the literature and the results obtained, an attempt is made to explain the cause of rare clinical symptoms and draw attention to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.     

The relationship between the lumbosacral enlargement and the conus medullaris during the period of fetal development and adulthood

The spinal cord is situated within the vertebral canal by the third month of intrauterine life. The spinal cord possesses two symmetrical enlargements, which constitute the segments of the plexuses the cervical enlargement for the brachial plexus and the lumbosacral enlargement for the lumbar and sacral plexus. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the termination level of the lumbosacral enlargement (TLLE) and that of the conus medullaris (TLCM) during the period of fetal development and adulthood. We used a total of 75 cases 25 fetuses (male 16, female 9) whose crown-rump length ranged between 90–190 mm, 25 premature and full-term neonates (male 17, female 8) whose post-menstrual ages ranged between 33–55 weeks, and 25 adults (male 12, female 13) aged between 22–72 years. The dissection technique for fetuses, ultrasonography for premature and full-term newborns, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for adults were used to determine lumbosacral enlargement and TLCM. The differences between the TLCM and the termination level of the largest part of the transverse diameter of the lumbosacral enlargement were investigated. The differences between the TLLE and TLCM were found in different ratios from the period of fetal development to adulthood. Therefore, during medical treatment and surgical procedures this should be taken into account to avoid complications.     

In vivo and in vitro effects of imidacloprid on sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus): a light and electron microscopic study

The effects of imidacloprid (Advantage) on sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus Linné 1758) were studied in vivo and in vitro by means of direct observation (monitored on video tape) and by light and electron microscopy. It was found that: 1. Imidacloprid acted rapidly on all motile stages of the sheep keds. Within 3–4 min after exposure they became immobile and their legs and the abdomen started tetanic trembling movements for 15–30 min, leading to death. 2. The compound is apparently taken up by the body, since it also acted on those sheep keds that had been exclusively exposed to imidacloprid-contaminated filter papers. 3. The compound is available and active for more than 1 month in the wool of sheep; even rainfall does not reduce its efficacy. Body contact between treated mother sheep and their lambs protects them from infestation with these ectoparasites. 4. The compound initiates an ultimately lethal destruction of the ganglia, nerve chords and related muscle fibers, as can be seen in electron micrographs. Received: 7 October 2000 / Accepted: 18 October 2000     

Genetic mapping of genes regulating the thymus size in back-cross rats between the laboratory BUF/Mna strain and the MITE strain derived from the wild rat, Rattus norvegicus

The thymoma prone BUF/Mna (B) rat is a useful model for Studying the genes responsible for thymus enlargement during the stage of young growth. Among the strains of rats, B rats have the largest thymuses at al stages of life. A locus, Ten-1 , which contributes to thymus enlargement in back-cross (BC) rats between the B and WKY/NCrj (W) strains, was mapped on chromosome 1. To determine the precise location of the bus, (B×(B×MITE)F1) BC rats were generated by crossing the B strain with the Inbred MITE (M) strain, which was established from captured, Japanese wild rats, and were examined by linkage study using polymerase chain reaction with 67 microsatellite markers. Linkages with thymus enlargements were found In genotypes of seven markers, BSIS, LSN, MYL2, IGF2, PBPC2, D1Mgh11 , and D1Mit6 , by X^2-test and Student's t -test, which confirmed the presence of the genetic locus associated with thymus enlargement, Ten-1 , in this region. Paradoxically, a suppressive locus, Tsu-1 , to thymus enlargement was also found on chromosome 3, showing linkages of phenotype of the small thymus with genotypes of SCN2A, CAT D3Mit16 , and D3Mit13 . By analyses of mapmaker/exp and mapmaker/qtl, Ten-1 was mapped at 4.6 cM proximal from IGF2 locus on chromosome 1 and Tsu-1 at 4.0 cM proximal from CAT locus on chromosome 3, respectively.     

Pulmonary and mediastinal "sarcoidosis" following surgical resection of cancer

Previous reports indicate that enlarged hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes caused by sarcoid-like reactions may develop after curative resection of cancer, and their presence does not necessarily denote neoplastic recurrence. Reports further suggest that coexisting pulmonary infiltrates in this setting may be related to sarcoidosis. In this study, we describe two patients who had resected lung and gastric cancer and who later developed pulmonary interstitial infiltrate, concurrent with progressive mediastinal lymphadenopathy initially thought to be caused by intrathoracic dissemination of their cancer. These changes were shown by open lung biopsy to be a benign, granulomatous reaction interpreted as sarcoidosis. Thus, it is important to recognize this clinical pattern when pulmonary infiltrates develop after complete treatment of cancer in an otherwise relapse-free patient and to encourage lung or lymph node biopsy in these particular settings in order to confirm a sarcoid-like reaction, thereby avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy for presumed tumor recurrence.     

Fine mapping of thymus enlargement gene 1 (Ten1) in BUF/Mna rats

Two polymeric autosomal loci, Ten1 and Ten2, regulate thymus enlargement in BUF/Mna (B) rats. Previously, we mapped Ten1 on chromosome (Chr) 1 to a 20 cM region between Myl2 and D1Mgh11, and Ten2 on Chr 13. To further characterize the precise position of Ten1, 34 and 37 microsatellite markers, that have a polymorphism between the B and WYK (W) and between the B and MITE (M) strains, were used for linkage analysis of thymus enlargement in 105 (WBF1 x B) blackcross (BC) and 78 (B x BMF1) BC rats, respectively. Our data showed that the D1Rat168, D1Rat112, D1Rat323, D1Got186, D1Got187 and D1Got188 markers each gave a peak logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 10.68 for linkage to the thymus ratio in (WBF1 x B) BC rats, and that the D1Rat168, D1Rat197, D1Got184, D1Got186 and D1Got188 markers each gave a peak LOD score of 7.82 in (B x BMF1) BC rats. The two LOD score peaks are coincident in the position of the rat genetic map. All of the markers mentioned above are located in the region between Igf2 and D1Mgh11, in which synteny is conserved with human 11q15.5 and the distal end of mouse Chr 7 or with human 11q13 and the proximal end of mouse Chr 19. Genes existing in these regions are discussed as candidate genes for Ten1.     

原发性高血压性脑出血早期血肿扩大的相关因素分析

目的评价原发性高血压性脑出血早期血肿扩大的相关因素。方法对８４例高血压性脑出血早期血肿扩大患者 与同期住院脑出血患者进行回顾性相关因素分析。结果早期血肿扩大与入院时血压升高、出血部位、肝功能异常有 关。结论高血压性脑出血患者应及早控制血压;烦躁者要查明原因,对症处理;肝功能异常者积极给予止血剂。