Development and Application of a Brush-Spray Derived from a Calligraphy-Brush-Style Synthetic Hair Pen for Use in ESI/MS.

The development of a novel type of a sampling/ionization kit for use in electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry is reported. Using a small calligraphy-brush-style synthetic hair pen (nylon-brush), and analogous to paper-spray mass spectrometry, the analytes can be collected, elution/desorption and then ionized from the surface of the nylon-brush. The body of the kit was produced by means of a commercial 3D-printer, in which ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) was used as the starting material.

Electrophysiologic evidence of spinal accessory neuropathy in patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate whether or not spinal accessory neuropathy exists in patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome (MFPS).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: A neurophysiologic laboratory in a university hospital.

Quantification of the Trömner signs: a sensitive marker for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

The Trömner sign is commonly used as a clinical neurological examination for upper motor neuron lesions above the fifth or sixth cervical segments of the spinal cord. This study aims to assess and quantify the Trömner signs utilizing electrophysiological test, and correlate to the severity of cord compression in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). We enlisted 46 CSM patients, and 30 healthy persons as controls.