Arterial Calcification on Wrist Radiographs May Suggest Need for Evaluation of Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Individuals.

Asymptomatic individuals with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) are at risk for unanticipated cardiac events including myocardial infarction (MI). Laboratory studies, stress tests, and coronary artery imaging including coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring evaluate at-risk individuals. Hand and wrist x-rays demonstrating significant arterial wall calcification may provide an additional means to identify asymptomatic individuals at risk for cardiac events.

Independent Variables Affecting Outcome of Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery.

Background: In making the decision to undergo carpal tunnel release (CTR), patients may consider probability of symptom resolution. Prior studies have examined potential preoperative variables that might influence the postoperative outcome. Few studies, however, contain the sample size, prospective design, and high participant completion rate to provide solid data from which to counsel patients.

Ultrasound Imaging Improves Identification of Prominent Hardware in the Surgical Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures: A Cadaveric and Prospective Clinical Study.

Background Volarly applied locking plates are one of several current treatment options for displaced fractures of the distal radius. Presently, surgeons use intraoperative depth gauges and fluoroscopy to select and confirm proper screw length. The contour of the dorsal cortex beneath the extensor compartments along with fracture comminution may limit the accuracy of screw length selection.

Acute vascular injury associated with fracture of the distal radius: a report of 6 cases.

Objectives: To highlight the potential for vascular injury with fracture of the distal radius.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: The practices of several orthopaedic hand surgeons.

Advances in peripheral nerve repair.

The basic tenets of peripheral nerve repair as outlined in the introduction remain valid. Advances in the field of peripheral nerve repair have become focused on enhancement of the rate, completeness, and accuracy of neural regeneration on a cellular and molecular level. It is hoped that, within the next decade, techniques that have shown promise experimentally will become mainstays of treatment.

Avoidance of transection of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve in carpal tunnel release.

The course of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve (PCBMN) was studied in 25 fresh cadaveric upper extremities in order to identify its relation to local structures and commonly used incisions for carpal tunnel release. The PCBMN was found to closely underlie the thenar crease (average, 0-2 mm radial to crease; range, 6 mm ulnar to 6 mm radial to thenar crease), suggesting that an incision fashioned in the thenar crease would lead to frequent PCBMN injury. The PCBMN was also found to cross the axis of the ring finger when the axis was determined with the finger flexed into the palm.

Acute obstructive sleep apnea as a complication of sphincter pharyngoplasty.

This report describes postoperative airway compromise following sphincter pharyngoplasty (SP) for treatment of post-palatoplasty velopharyngeal dysfunction. A retrospective review of 58 SPs performed for post-palatoplasty velopharyngeal dysfunction, on 30 male, and 28 female patients, over a 5-year study period was undertaken at a tertiary referral academic institution (Washington University School of Medicine), at the St. Louis Children's Hospital, Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Deformities Institute.

Intraneural topography of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel facilitates anterior transposition.

The surgical management of cubital tunnel syndrome includes anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. The success of all transposition procedures is dependent on placement of the nerve anterior to the medial epicondyle without tension. Fifteen cadaveric upper extremities underwent anterior transposition followed by anterior transposition with separation of the most proximal motor branches from the main ulnar nerve for a distance of 1, 2, and 3 cm.

Fascicular topography of the median nerve: a computer based study to identify branching patterns.

This study was undertaken to definitively describe the internal anatomy of the median nerve. Thirty median nerves were dissected in the distal forearm and hand. Sixteen nerves were sectioned every 250 to 1000 microns along their length.

Cytogenetics of human sperm: meiotic segregation in two translocation carriers.

Meiotic segregation products were studied in sperm from two men heterozygous for the reciprocal translocations t(8;15)(p22;q21) and t(3;16)(p23;q24). A total of 226 and 201 sperm complements, respectively, were analyzed. In each translocation, 63% of complements were unbalanced, and alternate and adjacent 1 percentages were similar.

Sperm as an indicator of reproductive risk among petroleum refinery workers.

A questionnaire study of men in a wastewater treatment plant of a petroleum refinery showed twice the rate of fetal loss in the period during employment in the plant compared with the periods before and after. Questions regarding the interpretation of that study and continuing concern about reproductive risk prompted us to perform a cross sectional evaluation of sperm concentration and morphology. After adjustment for an abstinence period, the mean sperm concentration of the 74 unexposed men did not differ significantly from that of the 34 exposed men (79.

Chromosomes of human sperm: variability among normal individuals.

The chromosomal constitution of 2468 human sperm cells has been investigated by fusion of human sperm with hamster eggs. The overall frequency of cells with structural aberrations was 7.7%, ranging from 1.

Chromosomal abnormalities in human sperm: comparisons among four healthy men.

We have used the human-sperm/hamster-egg system to compare the frequencies of structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in 909 sperm karyotypes from four normal healthy men. The frequency of structural aberrations was 1.3, 4.

Active sperm production after cancer chemotherapy with doxorubicin.

The sperm production of 14 cancer patients who received doxorubicin was examined after cessation of therapy. Doxorubicin was used in several multiple-drug protocols for the treatment of various malignancies. Seven patients also received radiotherapy to different sites.

High resolution DNA content measurements of mammalian sperm.

The high condensation and flat shape of the mammalian sperm nucleus present unique difficulties to flow cytometric measurement of DNA content. Chromatin compactness makes quantitative fluorescent staining for DNA difficult and causes a high index of refraction. The refractive index makes optical measurements sensitive to sperm head orientation.

Sperm studies in anesthesiologists.

Semen samples were collected from 46 anesthesiologists each of whom had worked a minimum of one year in hospital operating rooms ventilated with modern gas-scavenging devices. Samples collected from 26 beginning residents in anesthesiology served as controls. Concentrations of sperm and percentages of sperm having abnormal head shapes were determined for each sample.

Sperm shape abnormalities in carbaryl-exposed employees.

Semen was collected from 50 men occupationally exposed to carbaryl (1-naphthyl methyl carbamate) in a produciton plant for durations of 1 to 18 years and compared to semen from a control group of 34 unexposed, newly-hired workers. Employment, fertility, health, personal data, and blood samples were collected for each individual. Semen samples were analyzed for changes in sperm count, morphology, and frequency of sperm carrying double flourescent bodies (YFF).