Acquired factor V and factor X Deficiency coexisting with acquired dysfibrinogenaemia in a patient with light chain myeloma.

An elderly woman with light chain myeloma presented with prolonged epistaxis and extensive cutaneous haematomas: her kappa/lambda ratio was high at 395, her coagulation screen, thrombin and reptilase times were abnormal, her FV and FX were in the low range in the absence of specific inhibitors, her Clauss fibrinogen was low at 0.95 g/l but antigenic FNG was 1.58 g/l. The patient denied treatment and died of progressive renal failure. We wish to describe the unusual association of FX and FV deficiency co-existing with an acquired dysfibrinogenaemia.

Instrumented measurement of in vivo anterior-posterior translation in the canine knee to assess anterior cruciate integrity.

This study was designed to objectively quantify in vivo anterior-posterior canine knee translation relative to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) integrity. Tibial translation was determined in one knee of 43 crossbreed hounds from radiographs performed while a set anterior and then posterior force was applied to the tibia using a custom designed device. The total (TTT), anterior (ATT), and posterior (PTT) tibial translation were measured (absolute) and normalized to the width of the tibia (normalized). Absolute and normalized TTT was significantly greater in ruptured ACL knees than in partially disrupted (PD) ACL knees, which were significantly greater than in intact ACL knees. ATT and PTT was significantly greater in ruptured ACL knees than in PD or intact ACL knees, which were not significantly different. The sensitivity and specificity of normalized TTT to distinguish knees with intact from PD ACLs were both 100%. Normalized TTT to distinguish knees with PD from ruptured ACLs had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 92%, respectively. Intra- and inter-observer intra-class correlation coefficients were 0.84 or higher for all translations. This precise non-invasive technique to assess canine knee translational stability and ACL integrity permits repetitive, objective measurements for diagnostic use and to assess therapeutic intervention efficacy.

Exercise increases hippocampal neurogenesis to high levels but does not improve spatial learning in mice bred for increased voluntary wheel running.

The hippocampus is important for the acquisition of new memories. It is also one of the few regions in the adult mammalian brain that can generate new nerve cells. The authors tested the hypothesis that voluntary exercise increases neurogenesis and enhances spatial learning in mice selectively bred for high levels of wheel running (S mice). Female S mice and outbred control (C) mice were housed with and without running wheels for 40 days. 5-Bromodeoxyuridine was used to label dividing cells. The Morris water maze was used to measure spatial learning. C runners showed a strong positive correlation between running distance and new cell number, as well as improved learning. In S runners, neurogenesis increased to high levels that reached a plateau, but no improvement in learning occurred. This is the first evidence that neurogenesis can occur without learning enhancement. The authors propose an alternative function of neurogenesis in the control of motor behavior.