Protein synthesis dependence of growth cone collapse induced by different Nogo-A-domains.

Background: The protein Nogo-A regulates axon growth in the developing and mature nervous system, and this is carried out by two distinct domains in the protein, Nogo-A-Δ20 and Nogo-66. The differences in the signalling pathways engaged in axon growth cones by these domains are not well characterized, and have been investigated in this study.

Methodology/principal Findings: We analyzed growth cone collapse induced by the Nogo-A domains Nogo-A-Δ20 and Nogo-66 using explanted chick dorsal root ganglion neurons growing on laminin/poly-lysine substratum.

Differing semaphorin 3A concentrations trigger distinct signaling mechanisms in growth cone collapse.

Semaphorin-3A (Sema3A) is a major guidance cue in the developing nervous system. Previous studies have revealed a dependence of responses to Sema3A on local protein synthesis (PS) in axonal growth cones, but a recent study has called this dependence into question. To understand the basis of this discrepancy we used the growth cone collapse assay on chick dorsal root ganglion neurons.

The radiological reporting of lumbar Scheuermann's disease: an unnecessary source of confusion amongst clinicians and patients.

Patients with mechanical lower back pain not uncommonly present to clinicians with anxiety following a diagnosis of "Scheuermann's disease" based on a report of a plain radiograph of the lumbar spine. In most instances, the radiographs show features of lumbar Scheuermann's, rather than the classical adolescent thoracic kyphosis described by Scheuermann in 1920. The purpose of this study was (i) to investigate how often the diagnosis of Scheuermann's disease was made at a District General Hospital in radiological reports sent to local general practitioners (GPs); (ii) to determine the type of "Scheuermann's disease" being described; and (iii) to assess what GPs understood by the term "Scheuermann's disease" in the context of a specific clinical presentation.

Case report: intravascular stenting across a false aneurysm of the popliteal artery.

We present the case of a false aneurysm of the left popliteal artery in which the use of an uncovered metallic intravascular stent produced local aneurysmal thrombosis and maintained arterial blood flow to the distal lower limb. False aneurysms of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries are uncommon but tend to occur at the adductor canal. We describe such a case and percutaneous management with a metallic stent (Strecker, Meditech, Boston Scientific).

The relative contribution of disc and vertebral morphometry to the angle of kyphosis in asymptomatic subjects.

In order to investigate the relative contributions of vertebra and inter-vertebral disk to kyphosis, a series of 100 asymptomatic healthy women (age range 39-91 years) were studied to evaluate lateral dorsal appearances and possible related parameters of bone loss. Subjects underwent lateral dorsal spine radiography and single photon absorptiometry of the radius. There was a significant decrease in physical height in relation to age (P < 0.

Case report: hepatic ultrasound findings in a case of toxocariasis.

Multiple hypoechoic areas within the liver may be caused by a large variety of disorders. We report a case of Toxocara infestation which produced such an appearance within the liver of an 18-month-old child. We believe that this is the first report of Toxocara granulomata detected by ultrasound, and suggest that ultrasound examination may provide a useful diagnostic clue to this disease.

Glenoid hypoplasia: assessment by computed tomographic arthrography.

Four cases of an uncommon congenital skeletal anomaly, isolated bilateral glenoid hypoplasia, are presented with discussion of the possible pathogenesis and clinical significance. Bilateral computed tomographic arthrography of the shoulder demonstrated thickening of the inferior glenoid cartilage in two cases. The technique was of value in the symptomatic shoulder revealing the location of a contrast medium filled cleft within the posterior cartilage in one case and the true configuration of the glenohumeral joint in the second case, when the degree of deformity had rendered plain radiographs and conventional arthrography uninterpretable.

Real-time digital contrast enhancement and magnification in the assessment of scaphoid and other wrist injuries.

A study on the value of a commercially available desk-top digital magnifier-contrast enhancer (DETECT System) was made in a series of 550 patients presenting with an acute wrist injury. Four radiologists, of varying experience, independently reviewed the radiographs on a conventional lightbox and later with the digitizer. In the scaphoid series (350 cases), the performance of the two more experienced radiologists was marginally better with the digitizer, whereas the less experienced radiologists performed slightly worse.

Critical evaluation of the radial head-capitellum view in acute elbow with an effusion.

The radial head-capitellum (RHC) view was performed in 125 patients following acute elbow trauma in which an elbow fat-pad effusion was visible on the standard antero-posterior and lateral projections. Seventy-four fractures were identified of which 63 (85%) involved the radial head. In only one case (1%) did the RHC view reveal a radial head fracture not seen on the standard two views.

Portal hypertension secondary to sigmoid colon arteriovenous malformation.

A case of portal hypertension secondary to an arteriovenous malformation of the sigmoid colon is presented. The importance of mesenteric angiography in the diagnosis of this condition is discussed. The dramatic clinical improvement in this case following surgery emphasizes that arteriovenous malformations of the gastrointestinal tract represent a potentially curable cause of portal hypertension.

Acquired cystic disease of the kidney: ultrasound as the primary screening procedure.

Patients with end-stage renal disease on long term dialysis may develop de novo renal cystic disease. We used ultrasound as a primary screening procedure for renal cysts in 71 patients. In seven patients (10%) the native kidneys could not be identified.

Injection rate: a factor in contrast reactions?

A prospective study comparing the frequency of contrast reactions by the rate of contrast injection is presented. One hundred patients undergoing excretion urography with meglumine diatriazoate (18%) and sodium diatriazoate (40%) mixture (Urografin 325) were randomised into slow (mean 0.975 ml/s) and rapid (mean 2.

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the cephalic and renal arteries.

A case of fibromuscular dysplasia involving both carotid, one vertebral and both renal arteries is described. The important and frequent association between fibromuscular dysplasia involving both cephalic and renal arteries is emphasised. The clinical presentation of cephalic fibromuscular dysplasia is discussed.