Correlation between bone age and Risser's sign in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Skeletal maturity in 86 girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was determined by assessing their bone age at the hand and wrist and by the development of their iliac (Risser's sign) and ischial apophyses. The two methods were compared and a statistically significant correlation was noted, signifying that the development of the iliac and ischial apophyses is a sensitive parameter for assessing skeletal maturity in these patients. The iliac apophysis is visible on routine follow-up radiographs of these patients, so using this criterion results in a reduction of roentgen ray exposure to the patient and significant financial savings. A more sensitive method of assessing the development of the iliac and ischial apophyses is suggested.

Rupture of the symphysis pubis during labor

Two cases of spontaneous rupture of the symphysis pubis (SP) during delivery are reported. The separations were associated with considerable pain, swelling, and tenderness over the symphysis pubis and were confirmed roentgenographically. Both patients were treated conservatively with bed rest, mostly in the lateral decubitus position, within pelvic binders. Immobilization was discontinued when they were pain free. The SP separations remained in reduced positions. The patients were essentially asymptomatic and walked normally. Conservative treatment followed by early mobilization is adequate treatment for SP separations.

Role of tear secretory IgA in hard contact lens-related changes in the tarsal conjunctiva

The role of tear secretory IgA in contact lens-related conjunctival changes was investigated in 40 subjects (80 eyes) who wore polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) contact lenses and 10 subjects (20 eyes) who did not wear contact lenses. The eyes in the contact lens group had significantly higher tear IgA levels than the control eyes (p < 0.05). We were not able to demonstrate a relation between increased IgA levels and the presence of symptoms or duration of contact lens wear. Increased IgA levels were correlated to papilla formation in the contact lens group. A rise in tear IgA levels seems to be the first abnormal change related to papilla formation in patients who wear PMMA contact lenses.

Role of bacterial flora in the pathogenesis & management of atopic dermatitis

The carriage state of Staphylococcus aureus and its role in the pathogenesis and management of atopic dermatitis were evaluated in 50 patients, aged 3 months to 12 yr. An equal number of age and sex matched controls were also studied. The positivity of Staph.aureus in patients with atopic dermatitis was 50 per cent from eczematous skin, 34 per cent from anterior nares and 26 per cent from normal skin. In controls, the comparative figures were 14 per cent from anterior nares and 10 per cent from normal skin. After institution of oral erythromycin or cloxacillin therapy (according to sensitivity), the colony counts dropped to 18 per cent from eczematous skin, 14 per cent from anterior nares and 8 per cent from normal skin after one week and to zero after 3 wk. This was associated with significant clinical improvement. The results of this study suggest that Staph. aureus aggravates the eczematous process in patients with atopic dermatitis and antibiotics decrease the severity and are useful in long term prognosis of the disease.

Posterior mediastinal teratoma

A patient with benign posterior mediastinal teratoma which is a rare site for teratomas is reported. Chest skiagram and CT of the thorax established the diagnosis. Complete removal of the mass was not possible on surgery as it was adherent to the pericardium and the esophagus. The patient remained asymptomatic one year after the surgery. There was no evidence of recurrence of the tumor.

Failed lumbar spinal surgery

Failures and poor results of 160 patients after lumbar spinal surgery between 1980 and 1984 were analysed retrospectively. A self-rated questionnaire carried out 12 months after operation revealed 20 poor results; these occurred most commonly after multiple operations, decompression and fusion as compared to disc excision. The commonest cause was failure to recognise abnormal pain behaviour before operation. A more careful preoperative assessment should reduce the incidence of failure.

Cytodiagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma presenting as superior vena cava syndrome in acute myeloblastic leukemia. A case report

We describe a rare case of acute myeloblastic leukemia presenting with superior vena cava syndrome due to a mediastinal granulocytic sarcoma. The morphologic diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma was obtained from computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration cytology. This is the second such case described in the world literature.

Evaluation of minor clinical features of atopic dermatitis

The diagnostic significance of 19 previously proposed minor features of atopic dermatitis was evaluated. The frequency of these features was studied in 50 patients with typical atopic dermatitis compared to that in 50 control subjects. The ages of all individuals ranged from 3 months to 12 years. Six of the minor features, chelitis, nipple eczema, perifollicular accentuation, white dermographism, recurrent conjunctivitis, and anterior neck folds, were encountered as often in patients as in controls. Two additional features that were of diagnostic significance were diffuse scaling of the scalp and infraauricular fissuring.

Chemoimmunoprophylaxis against bovine tropical theileriosis in young calves: a comparison between buparvaquone and long-acting oxytetracycline

Eighteen seven to 21-day-old crossbred (Bos taurus cross Bos indicus) calves were allocated to four groups (A to D). Groups A and B each consisted of six calves and groups C and D three calves each. Each calf in groups A, B and C was inoculated with ground-up tick supernate (GUTS) equivalent to two infected acini prepared from Theileria annulata-infected Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. Each calf in group A was also given a single intramuscular injection of buparvaquone, 2.5 mg kg-1 bodyweight simultaneously with GUTS, whereas each calf in group B was given a single intramuscular injection of long-acting oxytetracycline, 20 mg kg-1 bodyweight following inoculation of GUTS. In calves of group A clinicopathological reactions were negligible, whereas in calves of group B mild to severe reactions were observed resulting in the death of three of the six calves. All the calves of group C (infected, untreated controls) died of acute theileriosis. All the surviving calves of groups A and B withstood a lethal homologous challenge given on day 30 after immunisation, indicating no difference in the immune status of the surviving calves of the two groups. Group D, challenge control, all calves died of theileriosis within 18 days of challenge.