Farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib (R115777) preferentially inhibits in vitro autonomous erythropoiesis of polycythemia vera patient cells.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is an acquired myeloproliferative disorder with primary expansion of the red cell mass leading to an increased risk of thrombosis and less frequently to myelofibrosis and secondary acute leukemia. Standard therapies include cytoreduction with either phlebotomy or chemotherapeutic agents and antithrombotic drugs. Because long-term exposure to cytotoxic chemotherapy may increase the risk of acute transformation, new therapeutic options are needed.

Functional performance following selective posterior rhizotomy: long-term results determined using a validated evaluative measure.

Object: Selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) may result in considerable benefit for children with spastic cerebral palsy. To date, however, there have been few studies in which validated functional outcome measures have been used to report surgical results beyond 3 years. The authors analyzed data obtained from the McGill Rhizotomy Database to determine long-term functional performance outcomes in patients who underwent lumbosacral dorsal rhizotomy performed using intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring.

Impact of selective posterior rhizotomy on fine motor skills. Long-term results using a validated evaluative measure.

Suprasegmental effects following selective posterior rhizotomy have been frequently reported. However, few studies have used validated functional outcome measures to report the surgical results beyond 3 years. The authors analyzed data obtained from the McGill Rhizotomy Database to determine the long-term impact of lumbosacral dorsal rhizotomy on fine motor skills.