An attempt to demonstrate contralateral masking in pressure adaptation

Adaptation to punctate pressure Stimulation of the ring finget (test stimulus) was studied under conditions of more intense contralateral stimulation of homologous or non-homologous loci (masking stimuli). Contrary to expectation, the temporally contiguous masking stimulus did not affect adaptation time to the test stimulus. This finding was discussed in terms of other tactile masking studies and electrophysiological investigations of the somatosensory system.

Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. A common trunk empting into the left atrium and inferior vena cava

An anomaly of pulmonary venous drainage in an 8-year-old child is described whereby all four pulmonary veins emptied into a common chamber which in turn communicated with both the left atrium and the inferior vena cava. The venous anomaly and an accompanying atrial septal defect were demonstrated by selective cineangiocardiography. Ligation of the vein at the level of the right diaphragm, thus rerouting the entire pulmonary venous return through the alternate pathway to the left atrium, was tolerated without difficulty. The embryology, diagnosis, and surgical management of the anomaly are discussed.