Biomechanical testing of the spine. Load-controlled versus displacement-controlled analysis

Mechanical testing of the spine can be carried out in either a load-controlled or a displacement-controlled manner. Each method requires certain assumptions and offers different advantages. Dr. W. Thomas Edwards believes that displacement-controlled testing most accurately reflects the in vivo environment, while Drs. Vijay Goel, David Wilder, and Malcolm Pope support the use of the load-controlled method as most logical and easily standardized.     

Reconstructive and plastic microsurgery in the treatment of combat trauma to the extremities

In the department of microsurgery of A.A. Vishnevsky Central Hospital the transplantation and transposition of the at the gunshot injuries of the extremities have begun to execute since 1990. For this time 94 surgical interventions have been conducted at 88 wounded: 57 transplantations and 37 transpositions of the bloody tissues. The transplantation and transposition of the vascularized complexes of tissues with application of microsurgical technique is the effective method of the treatment of the wounded in the extremities. In the conditions of the local armed conflicts it is necessary to provide deployment of the department of microsurgery at stages of the specialized medical care.     

Local hyperthermia and SR 4233 enhance the antitumor effects of radioimmunotherapy in nude mice with human colonic adenocarcinoma xenografts

Local hyperthermia and the hypoxic cytotoxin SR 4233 were administered to nude mice with 693 +/- 47 mm3 (mean +/- SE) s.c. HCT-8 human colonic adenocarcinoma xenografts in an attempt to enhance the antitumor effects of radioimmunotherapy. Biodistribution studies revealed preferential binding of NR-Lu-10, a murine monoclonal antibody, to the tumors compared with an isotype-matched control antibody, CCOO16-3.A single injection of 25 microCi 90Y-NR-Lu-10 significantly inhibited tumor growth (control versus 90Y-NR-Lu-10: P = 0.048). The administration of hyperthermia at 41.5 degrees C for 1 h immediately following the injection of 111In-labeled NR-Lu-10 up-regulated tumor-associated antigen expression and increased antibody uptake in the tumors by 73% (P = 0.001) without significantly affecting antibody uptake in normal tissues. However, the heat treatment did not produce a more homogeneous distribution of the antibodies in the tumors and did not significantly enhance the tumor growth delay produced by 90Y-NR-Lu-10 (P = 0.07). The administration of local hyperthermia at 43.0 degrees C for 1 h, on the other hand, had direct cytotoxic effects (P = 0.03) and enhanced the tumor growth delay produced by 90Y-NR-Lu-10 (P = 0.01). SR 4233 also enhanced the tumor growth delay produced by 90Y-NR-Lu-10 (P = 0.03). The greatest antitumor effects were observed when both hyperthermia at 43.0 degrees C and SR 4233 were administered in combination with 90Y-NR-Lu-10 (P = 0.002). No toxicity was produced by the local hyperthermia, and the only toxicities produced by 90Y-NR-Lu-10 and SR 4233 were neutropenia and weight loss.     

Non-medical drug use amongst non-student youth in India

In a survey of non-medical drug use by 266 non-students in the age range 10-24 years, tobacco, alcohol and cannabis were found to be the drugs more commonly used. Use was greater in males, older age groups, those with lower educational levels and those from urban areas. In comparison to students, among non-students use was practically limited to tobacco, alcohol and cannabis, the use was more regular and the age at onset lower. In a pilot trial of two additional strategies to identify drug users among non-student youth, namely cross-validation by fellow employees and verbal group administration of the questionnaire, the number of current users identified was very similar to that found by individual verbal administration, suggesting that these cheaper methods may be useful in some circumstances.     

The use of trypsin and lysozyme immobilized on a cellulose carrier in treating otitis externa

In December 1991, an outbreak of Streptococcus bovis septicaemia occurred in a Belgian pigeon loft where 25 male and 25 female racing pigeons were housed. The main clinical signs included inability to fly and poor breeding results. None of the female pigeons and only one male pigeon was able to fly. Nine affected pigeons were necropsied. Histologically a tenosynovitis of the tendon of the deep pectoral muscle was observed in most of them and S bovis was isolated from the canalis triosseus or the shoulder joints of five of the nine pigeons. The pigeons were successfully treated with ampicillin administered in the drinking water for seven days.     

Optical amplification of ligand-receptor binding using liquid crystals

Liquid crystals (LCs) were used to amplify and transduce receptor-mediated binding of proteins at surfaces into optical outputs. Spontaneously organized surfaces were designed so that protein molecules, upon binding to ligands hosted on these surfaces, triggered changes in the orientations of 1- to 20-micrometer-thick films of supported LCs, thus corresponding to a reorientation of approximately 10(5) to 10(6) mesogens per protein. Binding-induced changes in the intensity of light transmitted through the LC were easily seen with the naked eye and could be further amplified by using surfaces designed so that protein-ligand recognition causes twisted nematic LCs to untwist. This approach to the detection of ligand-receptor binding does not require labeling of the analyte, does not require the use of electroanalytical apparatus, provides a spatial resolution of micrometers, and is sufficiently simple that it may find use in biochemical assays and imaging of spatially resolved chemical libraries.     

Surgical treatment of lymphadenopathy in children

Clinical observations of 1365 children with the lymph nodes affection were summarized. The diagnosis verification was conducted using the broad arsenal of general clinical and special methods of investigation. In complicated situations the histochemical and immunogenetic methods were applied for the diagnosis. The structure and dynamics of children's morbidity with lymphadenopathies (LAP) was studied up, the age, sexual and seasonal peculiarities were systematized, the analysis of primary localizations and clinico-morphological comparisons was conducted. The basic thesises of the standardized approach were elaborated on the ground of the diagnostical and tactical mistakes results analysis.     

Prevention of subclinical vitamin K deficiency based on PIVKA-II levels: oral versus intramuscular route

A 20-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of hemoptysis. A bruit was best heard at the lower portion of the left posterior chest. CT scan and MRI revealed clearly the existence of a large aberrant vessel from the descending thoracic aorta. Aorto- and pulmonary arteriography demonstrated that a large systemic artery from the descending thoracic aorta supplied the basilar segments of the left lower lobe, and to which there was no pulmonary artery supply. The pulmonary veins from these segments drained into the left atrium. The properative diagnosis was Pryce's type I pulmonary sequestration. A left lower lobectomy was performed. The aberrant vessel was 15 mm in diameter and was elastic walled. The systemic artery of the basilar segments revealed proliferation of media and obstructive changes. Some discussions were made about hemoptysis and bruit in 23 cases of Pryce's type I pulmonary sequestration in Japan.