Vertebral coccidioidomycosis: presentation and multidisciplinary management.

Background: Vertebral involvement is a severe complication of infection caused by Coccidioides species.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with vertebral coccidioidomycosis at an academic medical center between 1996 and 2009.

Results: We identified 39 cases of vertebral coccidioidomycosis.

Refractory disseminated coccidioidomycosis and mycobacteriosis in interferon-gamma receptor 1 deficiency.

Severe coccidioidomycosis is rare, and specific genetic susceptibility to the disease remains unidentified. We describe a patient with disseminated recalcitrant coccidioidomycosis with autosomal dominant interferon-gamma receptor 1 deficiency caused by a heterozygous IFNGR1 818del4 mutation. Therefore, the interleukin-12/interferon-gamma axis appears to be critical for control of coccidioidomycosis.

Medical devices of the head, neck, and spine.

There are many medical devices used for head, neck, and spinal diseases and injuries, and new devices are constantly being introduced. Many of the newest devices are variations on a previous theme. Knowing the specific name of a device is not important.

Traumatic thoracolumbar facet instability: characteristic imaging findings.

Objective: To review imaging patterns and injury mechanisms in patients with thoracolumbar facet instability (TFI).

Design: Imaging studies for thoracolumbar osseous injuries over a 2-year period were reviewed. Imaging findings, injury pattern and reported mechanism of injury were established for patients with TFI.

Posterior tibial somatosensory evoked potentials a comparative study of responses elicited by transcutaneous and percutaneous stimulation at the popliteal fossa.

Nine healthy volunteers underwent posterior tibial nerve stimulation at the popliteal fossa with recordings of averaged potentials being taken from the lumbar spine and cortex. Stimulation was attempted in all subjects both transcutaneously and percutaneously. A comparison of the responses to the two stimulating methods was made.