MR imaging of spinal epidural sepsis.

Four patients with spinal epidural sepsis were evaluated with MR imaging. The lesions were best visualized with spin-echo techniques with long repetition (2000 msec) and long echo (80-100 msec) times. Sagittal and axial images were equally important in defining the extent of the lesions.

Effects of weaning weight, co-mingling, group size and room temperature on pig performance.

Four experiments involving 3- to 4-wk-old, ad libitum-fed weanling pigs (n = 809) were conducted to determine the effects of initial pig weight, co-mingling of litters, numbers of pigs/pen and room temperature on pig performance in a conventionally equipped nursery. Pigs that were largest at birth were largest (P less than .01) at weaning (r = .

Partial purification and characterization of dynein adenosine triphosphatase from bovine sperm.

Outer dynein arm polypeptides that possess Mg+2-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity have been extracted from the flagellar axonemes of demembranated bovine sperm. Electron microscopy of intact and salt-extracted sperm demonstrates a relatively selective removal of the outer dynein arms. The salt extract contains a specific ATPase activity of 55 nmoles inorganic phosphate (Pi)/min/mg protein.

CT findings in abdominal actinomycosis.

The diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis is difficult because of its relative infrequency and imitation of other diseases. We present four cases in which these difficulties in diagnosis were experienced and show the utility of CT in suggesting this disease. Aspiration, biopsy, and proper culture technique, in conjunction with typical CT findings of transfascial and multiple organ involvement, led to the proper diagnosis in all cases.

Synovial osteochondromatosis.

Synovial osteochondromatosis is a benign disorder in which cartilaginous loose bodies develop about the large joints, usually the knee. It is caused by synovial metaplasia of unknown etiology. Symptoms are due either to mechanical problems caused by the loose bodies or to the degenerative arthritis that usually follows in several years.

Unplugging of prolene IOL loops.

From end 1981 until early 1984, 415 Severin-type lenses were implanted in our two centres. In 10 instances i.e.

Genetic disorders and medical malpractice.

Physicians who encounter a patient with a genetic disorder are under the same legal obligation to that patient as they are to each patient whom they treat. They are required to possess sufficient knowledge, training, and skill with respect to the particular subject to provide proper medical services in a competent manner. Physicians are required to act reasonably in accordance with the information that they acquire.

Granulomatous cystitis in chronic granulomatous disease: ultrasound diagnosis.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a fatal hereditary disease of childhood characterized by chronic recurrent bacterial infections. Involvement of the genitourinary tract is uncommon. We report a child with CGD with granulomatous cystitis demonstrated by both ultrasound and computed tomography.

Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema with the Severin lens.

Clinically significant cystoid macular edema confirmed by fluorescein angiography has been studied in a consecutive series of 285 eyes having intracapsular cataract extraction and Severin intraocular lens implantation. The incidence and natural course of the condition is described and associated factors are discussed.

A randomized clinical trial of oral ursodeoxycholic acid in obstructive jaundice.

Forty patients with obstructive jaundice (bilirubin greater than 100 mumol/l) were entered into a randomized trial of oral ursodeoxycholic acid for 48 h before surgery versus no additional therapy. Pre-operative venous and operative portal total bile salt concentrations were higher in the bile salt treated patients (P less than 0.001).

Ultraviolet spectrometer observations of uranus.

Data from solar and stellar occultations of Uranus indicate a temperature of about 750 kelvins in the upper levels of the atmosphere (composed mostly of atomic and molecular hydrogen) and define the distributions of methane and acetylene in the lower levels. The ultraviolet spectrum of the sunlit hemisphere is dominated by emissions from atomic and molecular hydrogen, which are kmown as electroglow emissions. The energy source for these emissions is unknown, but the spectrum implies excitation by low-energy electrons (modeled with a 3-electron-volt Maxwellian energy distribution).

Uncommon sites of recurrent seminoma and implications for therapy.

Three patients with advanced seminoma that metastasized to the prostate, the kidney, and a lumbar vertebra are presented. The implications of such metastases regarding the management of residual lesions after chemotherapy are discussed.

Release of endotoxin from bacteria exposed to ciprofloxacin and its prevention with polymyxin B.

An in vitro system for studying the phenomenon of antibiotic-induced release of endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria is described. Endotoxin was measured by a quantitative limulus lysate microassay. Using a strain of Escherichia coli, ciprofloxacin was shown to cause an immediate and sustained increase in endotoxin release compared to control cultures whereas gentamicin did not, despite an equally rapid bactericidal effect.

Construction of a representative cDNA library from mRNA isolated from mouse oocytes.

A representative cDNA library has been constructed from the small quantities of poly(A)+ RNA present in unfertilised mouse oocytes. The construction of this library has been achieved by use of cow pea mosaic virus RNA as a carrier during isolation of polyadenylated message and during subsequent cloning procedures. This approach may be applicable to any system in which amounts of mRNA are limiting.

The management of chondromalacia patellae: a long term solution.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome can be a difficult condition to manage effectively. The success rate of most treatment regimes has been poor and in the long term the condition frequently recurs. The author has developed a treatment programme which has a ninety-six percent success rate.

Recurrent bacterial meningitis: coronal thin-section cranial computed tomography to delineate anatomic defects.

Three patients with histories of recurrent bacterial meningitis were previously examined with skull and sinus radiographs, routine cranial computed tomography, intrathecal radioisotope tracer studies, and immunologic evaluation. None of these studies were diagnostic. Pneumococcal vaccine and prophylactic penicillin therapy were ineffective in preventing recurrent episodes in two cases.