[Lumbar spondylolysis treated with cerclage using the method of the 80's]

Between 1986 and 1990 direct repair of the defect in lumbar spondylolysis was performed in 11 patients. The mean age was 20 (14-36). Conservative treatment for at least six months was first tried in all patients. Criteria for operation were absence of degenerative disc lesions on X-rays, maximum spondylolisthesis of 15%, no neurological signs and effect of brace treatment. The Edinburgh technique of tension wiring was used in 11 patients. Mean observation time was three years (one to six). The pain decreased considerably or vanished in nine patients. One improved a little and one was unchanged. None were reoperated. At follow up all 11 patients were working. It is concluded that direct repair of lumbar spondylolysis is a good alternative to intersegmental fusion, when the criteria are kept in mind.

A quantitative analysis of subtraction images based on bite-wing radiographs for simulated victim identification in forensic dentistry

The comparison between ante- and post-mortem radiographs constitutes an important basis for victim identification in forensic dentistry. Due to the decline in dental caries among children that has occurred in Western countries over the last 20 years, the number of restorations in future populations will be limited. It is likely that this will impede successful victim identification in the future. It was the aim of this study to evaluate a new radiographic technique, subtraction radiography based on bitewing radiographs and determine whether it could provide an objective quantitative measure for victim identification. Bite-wings randomly sampled from a large population of adolescents (13-19 yrs) were video-camera-recorded and digitized. Subtraction images were performed of pairs of bite-wings originating from the same individual (identical images) and from different individuals (non-identical images). The images were separated into two groups, one without fillings (12 identical and 48 non-identical) and one with simple amalgam fillings (15 identical and 60 non-identical). The distribution of grey shades in the subtraction image was used as the parameter for evaluation of homogeneity in the images. Subtraction images derived from identical radiographs were significantly more homogeneous than those derived from non-identical radiographs (p < 0.001) in both group with and without fillings. Although the difference was statistically highly significant, the distribution of grey shades in the two groups overlapped. Thus, the grey shades in the subtraction image cannot per se unequivocally establish the identity of a victim, but may add to the subjective comparison of two radiographs in victim identification.

An antileishmanial chalcone from Chinese licorice roots

A bioassay guided fractionation of an extract of Chinese licorice roots led to the isolation of (E)-1-[2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)phenyl]-3-[4- hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl]phenyl-2-propen-1-one, which in vitro showed potent antileishmanial activity. In addition, the novel chalcone (E)-1-[2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2- butenyl)phenyl]-3-(2,2-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-2H-benzopyran-6-yl)-2-prope n-1-one was isolated from the roots. The latter compound only showed antileishmanial activity at high concentrations.

[Hip luxation caused by fibrous dysplasia of the acetabulum]

A case of monostotic acetabular fibrous dysplasia in 12 month old twin-girl is described. The location of the disease caused dislocation of the left hip. Open reduction, synovectomy and curettage of the tumor was performed. A stable reduction and no sign of recurrence was found at follow-up.

Enzyme immunoassay for intact human insulin in serum or plasma

We describe an enzyme-linked two-site immunoassay for quantitation of intact insulin in human serum and plasma. The method uses two murine monoclonal antibodies that bind to two different epitopes on the insulin molecule. The immunoassay is specific. Human proinsulin is not bound by the antibodies, and the binding of partially processed proinsulin intermediates is believed to be of minor clinical importance. The relative response of human, bovine, and porcine insulin is 1, 1, and 3, respectively. The assay is sensitive (detection limit 5 pmol/L), accurate (101% recovery with 50 pmol/L insulin added to samples, 95% with 100 pmol/L, and 89% with 300 pmol/L), and fast (results within 3 h), and has a high analytical capacity (done in microtiter plates). The working assay range selected is 5-600 pmol/L, corresponding to a clinically useful range. Because of its specificity, this two-site immunoassay gives results that are lower than those obtained by using a competitive radioimmunoassay, both in normal individuals and in non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

Enzyme immunoassay for intact human insulin in serum or plasma

We describe an enzyme-linked two-site immunoassay for quantitation of intact insulin in human serum and plasma. The method uses two murine monoclonal antibodies that bind to two different epitopes on the insulin molecule. The immunoassay is specific. Human proinsulin is not bound by the antibodies, and the binding of partially processed proinsulin intermediates is believed to be of minor clinical importance. The relative response of human, bovine, and porcine insulin is 1, 1, and 3, respectively. The assay is sensitive (detection limit 5 pmol/L), accurate (101% recovery with 50 pmol/L insulin added to samples, 95% with 100 pmol/L, and 89% with 300 pmol/L), and fast (results within 3 h), and has a high analytical capacity (done in microtiter plates). The working assay range selected is 5-600 pmol/L, corresponding to a clinically useful range. Because of its specificity, this two-site immunoassay gives results that are lower than those obtained by using a competitive radioimmunoassay, both in normal individuals and in non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

Testicular torsion: a follow-up study

Thirty-five patients were examined 6-11 years after operation for torsion of the testis. Loss of testicular tissue was significantly associated with long preoperative duration of symptoms and with low postoperative sperm counts. The sex hormones were normal in the majority of patients but there were significantly higher levels of both FSH and LH in the group of patients with symptoms exceeding 8 hours. There was also a higher prevalence of abnormal semen quality in the same group. Furthermore, FSH and LH levels correlated significantly to the duration of symptoms and correlated inversely to the sperm count and concentration. Measurement of carnitine levels in seminal plasma, as a sign of vas deferens obstruction or dysfunction of epididymis, and of autoantibodies against spermatozoa revealed no significant findings.

Gastrointestinal accumulation of indium-111 labelled granulocytes in reactive arthritis

Six patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) were examined for gastrointestinal accumulation of Indium-111 labelled granulocytes. Abnormal scintigrams were found in three of six patients all of which showed early (less than 4 h) accumulation of indium-111 labelled granulocytes which may represent small intestinal inflammation. Our findings may indicate that the small intestine is involved in ReA, and that indium-111 granulocyte scintigraphy is a useful method for demonstrating inflammatory changes in the small intestine in reactive arthritis (ReA).

Estimation of the size distribution of fibrillar centres in nucleoli--an example of the "Swiss cheese" problem in stereology

The "Swiss cheese" problem in stereology is that variant of the classical corpuscle problem where the size distribution of randomly distributed spherical "holes" in an opaque medium is to be inferred from the size distribution of the circular holes observed in sections. In our electron microscopical studies of the neurons of the rat supraoptic nucleus, we encountered a Swiss cheese problem in connection with the size distribution of the fibrillar centres of the nucleoli. We found no practical examples in the literature, and attempts to obtain a Wicksell-type algorithm met with severe numerical instability problems. The present paper shows that the chi-distributions of Keiding, Jensen, and Ranek (1972, Biometrics 28, 813-829) may be used as the basis for a parametric maximum likelihood solution for the Swiss cheese problem. The concept of a capping angle (nonobservability of spheres cut at too acute an angle), also introduced by Keiding et al., carries over as well. The methods are illustrated on data from the mentioned experiment.

Macro- and microanatomy of the lateral border of the tongue with special reference to oral hairy leukoplakia

The macro- and microanatomy of the marginal tongue mucosa were studied. Tissues were harvested from 12 individuals at autopsy. Random sections from six different locations along the margin and serial sections representing three defined section planes to the margin of the tongue were evaluated. Vertical, parallel mucosal folds alternating with shallow grooves were a characteristic macroscopical findings on the lateral border of the tongue. The mucosa presented a non-keratinized epithelium with PAS-positive, lightly stained spinous cells and no or slight inflammatory reaction in the connective tissue. Changes in the epithelium mimicking hyperplasia, acanthosis, keratin projections, and focal parakeratosis could be produced by changing the direction of tissue sectioning. The macro- and microscopical parameters recorded in normal marginal tongue mucosa are among other included in criteria for diagnosing oral hairy leukoplakia. The results emphasize the importance of a thorough knowledge of the normal anatomy of a mucosal site to arrive at reliable diagnostic criteria.

Electron microscopy and morphometry of nucleoli in rat neurosecretory cells with stimulated and suppressed secretion

The nucleoli in the neurons of the supraoptic nucleus in the rat were analyzed by electron microscopy and morphometry after the secretion of vasopressin had been fully suppressed by water load, after the secretion had been stimulated by water deprivation and in normal rats which had water ad libitum. Suppression of the secretion increased the proportion of fibrillar centres in the nucleoli 2-fold. Stimulation of the secretion increased the proportion of the granular component by 22%. The overall nucleolar organization did not change very much with the secretory activity. The results show that an increased proportion of fibrillar centres in nucleoli is an indicator of decreased secretory activity and, moreover, that an increased volume of the nucleolar fibrillar and granular components per cell indicates an increased secretory activity.

Torsion of the testis. A 5-year material

During a 5-year period 111 patients were operated for suspected torsion of the testis. In 64 patients with an age range from 2 months to 46 years acute torsion was found. Eleven testes were gangrenous. In four patients contralateral testis was undescended. Indications for explorative surgery on the acute scrotum should be wide even if operation has been previously performed.

Number, volume and size distribution of nucleoli in rat neurosecretory cells with suppressed and stimulated secretion

The nucleoli in the neurons of the supraoptic nucleus were investigated in the rat. This was performed after the secretion of vasopressin had been suppressed by water load, after the secretion had been stimulated by water deprival and in normal rats which had water ad libitum. The cells with high secretory activity had large single nucleoli. The cells with low secretory activity had less nucleolar volume, and a substantial part of the cells contained two nucleoli.

Size of the fibrillar centres of the nucleoli in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat taking the Swiss cheese effect into account

The size of the fibrillar centres (FC) in nucleoli was investigated taking the Swiss cheese effect into account. Electron microscopy was performed on the neurons of the rat supraoptic nucleus after the secretion of vasopressin had been fully suppressed by water load, after the secretion had been stimulated by water deprival and in normal rats with water ad libitum. When the secretory activity was suppressed from a normal level to approximately no activity, the size of the individual FC was doubled. Moreover, with increasing secretory activity the number of FC per cell increased.

Pyrimidine, purine and nitrogen control of cytosine deaminase synthesis in Escherichia coli K 12. Involvement of the glnLG and purR genes in the regulation of codA expression

Cytosine deaminase, encoded by the codA gene in Escherichia coli catalyzes the deamination of cytosine to uracil and ammonia. Regulation of codA expression was studied by determining the level of cytosine deaminase in E. coli K12 grown in various defined media. Addition of either pyrimidine or purine nucleobases to the growth medium caused repressed enzyme levels, whereas growth on a poor nitrogen source such as proline resulted in derepression of cytosine deaminase synthesis. Derepression of codA expression was induced by starvation for either uracil or cytosine nucleotides. Nitrogen control was found to be mediated by the glnLG gene products, and purine repression required a functional purR gene product. Studies with strains harbouring multiple mutations affecting both pyrimidine, purine and nitrogen control revealed that the overall regulation of cytosine deaminase synthesis by the different metabolites is cumulative.

[Knee replacement with a St. Georg prosthesis]

Fifty-six St. Georg prostheses (23 unicompartmental and 33 bicompartmental) were introduced and 34 of these patients were followed-up with a mean period of observation of 4.6 years (2.1-8.9). The results were assessed according to the New York Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Rating Scale. Out of the unicompartmental replacements, 15 out of 19 obtained excellent or good results in contrast to 14 out of the 28 bicompartmental replacements. The St. Georg prostheses may be recommended for treatment of unicompartmental arthrosis. This review suggest that bicompartmental St. Georg prostheses provide unsatisfactory results compared with the results obtained with total condyle prostheses.

Size distribution of neurosecretory granules in the supraoptic nucleus and the neurohypophysis of water-loaded, normal and water-deprived rats

The profiles of the neurosecretory granules were measured in the supraoptic nucleus and in axons, swellings and endings in the neurohypophysis. This was performed after the secretion of vasopressin had been fully suppressed by water load for 1.5, 2.5 and 24 h, after the secretion had been stimulated by water deprival for 72 h and in normal rats with water ad libitum. A finite-difference algorithm was used for unfolding the size distribution of neurosecretory granules from the observed profiles, and showed a clear grouping of the neurosecretory granules into 3 size groups: small, medium-sized and large granules. Estimates of the relative volumes of the granules from these 3 groups were combined with previous results. In the supraoptic nucleus, water deprival increased the total volumes of the small and medium-sized granules, and water load decreased the volumes of the medium-sized and especially the large granules. However, in the neurohypophysis, water deprival decreased and water load increased the volume densities of the small and medium-sized, but did not influence that of the large granules. The results indicate that the medium-sized granules are vasopressinergic and the large oxytocinergic. Moreover, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that the small contain another peptide.