The contribution of neurophysiology in the diagnosis and management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a review.

STUDY DESIGN: Topical review of the literature. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review article was to assess indications and usefulness of various neurophysiological techniques in diagnosis and management of cervical spondylogenic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: The MEDLINE, accessed by Pubmed and EMBASE electronic databases, was searched using the medical subject headings: 'compressive myelopathy', 'cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM)', 'cervical spondylogenic myelopathy', 'motor evoked potentials (MEPs)', 'transcranial magnetic stimulation', 'somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs)', 'electromyography (EMG)', 'nerve conduction studies (NCS)' and 'cutaneous silent period (CSP)'. RESULTS: SEPs and MEPs recording can usefully supplement clinical examination and neuroimaging findings in assessing the spinal cord injury level and severity. Segmental cervical cord dysfunction can be revealed by an abnormal spinal N13 response, whereas the P14 potential is a reliable marker of dorsal column impairment. MEPs may also help in the differential diagnosis between spinal cord compression and neurodegenerative disorders. SEPs and MEPs are also useful in follow-up evaluation of sensory and motor function during surgical treatment and rehabilitation. EMG and NCS improve the sensitivity of cervical radiculopathy detection and may help rule out peripheral nerve problems that can cause symptoms that are similar to those of CSM. CSP also shows a high sensitivity for detecting CSM. CONCLUSION: Neuroimaging, especially magnetic resonance imaging, represents the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of CSM, but a correct interpretation of morphological findings can be achieved only if they are correlated with functional data. The studies reported in this review highlight the crucial role of the electrophysiological studies in diagnosis and management of CSM.

Acute and chronic evolution of MRI findings in a case of posterior spinal cord ischemia.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: Reveal the evolution of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern in a patient with a posterior spinal artery infarction, which belongs to a subgroup of spinal cord ischemia syndromes and presents a rare cause of spinal cord injury. Our report underlines that diagnosis of spinal cord ischemia and thus clinical decision making remains challenging. SETTING: University Hospital of Innsbruck and University Hospital of Salzburg, Austria. METHODS: Here we present clinical, electrophysiological and imaging data in the acute, subacute and chronic phase of a woman who developed signs and symptoms related to a bilateral posterior spinal cord infarction. RESULTS: At the clinical nadir (24 h after symptom onset), MRI did not exhibit T2 hyperintensities. However, such MRI changes were detected 8 days after symptom onset and persisted until the latest follow-up at 5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated MRI constitutes an indispensable diagnostic and follow-up tool for spinal cord ischemia. The imaging data in accordance with the electrophysiological measurements correlated well with the clinical presentation in the subacute und chronic phase. Therefore, further studies might allow using MRI following spinal cord ischemia as a prognostic marker for an individual outcome.

Anti-mycobacterial therapy in Crohn's disease heals mucosa with longitudinal scars.

BACKGROUND: A possible causative link between Crohn's disease and Mycobacterium avium ss paratuberculosis has been suggested. AIM: To report unique scarring in Crohn's disease patients treated with anti-Mycobacterium avium ss paratuberculosis therapy. PATIENTS: A retrospective review of 52 patients with severe Crohn's disease was conducted. Thirty-nine patients who had at least one follow-up colonoscopy during treatment were included. METHODS: Patients received rifabutin (up to 600 mg/day), clofazimine (up to 100 mg/day) and clarithromycin (up to 1 g/day) - anti-Mycobacterium avium ss paratuberculosis therapy - for 6 months to 9 years. Ramp-up dosing was used. Colonoscopies and histological analyses monitored progress. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (56.4%, 22/39) healed with unusual scarring, which appeared as branched, ribbon-like, elevated lines. In 2/6 patients (33.3%) who had > 3 years of treatment after scarring occurred, scars receded, becoming imperceptible as full healing occurred. Histologically, a marked reduction in inflammation occurred in 15/39 patients (38.5%). Of these, 6/15 patients (40%) displayed restoration of normal mucosa. Longitudinal scarring occurred in 12/15 patients (80%) with improved histology. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of scarring fading to normal mucosa on anti-MAP therapy implies a more profound healing not seen with standard anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drugs. Longitudinal scarring and consequent healing with normal histology should become a standard treatment goal for Crohn's disease.

Tissue hypoxia in complex regional pain syndrome.

Untreated complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) may progress from acute stages with increased hair and nail growth in the affected limb to chronic stages with atrophy of the skin, muscles and bones. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tissue hypoxia could be one mechanism responsible for this late CRPS symptoms. Nineteen patients with CRPS and two control groups (healthy control subjects, surgery patients with edema) participated in this study. Skin capillary hemoglobin oxygenation (HbO(2)) was measured non-invasively employing micro-lightguide spectrophotometry (EMPHO). The EMPHO probe was mounted force-controlled onto the skin of the affected and unaffected hand. HbO(2) was measured at rest and during postischemic reactive hyperemia. HbO(2) did not differ between the right (58.20%+/-1.12) and left (57.79%+/-1.31, ns) hand in control subjects. However, in patients, HbO(2) of the affected side (36.63%+/-2.16) was significantly decreased as compared to the clinically unaffected side (46.35%+/-2.97, P<0.01). As compared to controls, HbO(2) in CRPS was reduced on both sides (P<0.001). Postischemic hyperoxygenation was impaired on the affected side in CRPS (60.81%+/-2.90)--as compared to the unaffected side (67.73%+/-1.50, P<0.04) and to controls (68.63%+/-0.87, P<0.005). The unaffected limb in CRPS did not differ from controls. Despite skin edema, pre- (49.06%+/-2.02) and postsurgery HbO(2) (53.15%+/-4.44, ns) were not different in the second control group. Our results indicate skin hypoxia in CRPS. Impairment of nutritive blood flow in the affected limb may be one factor contributing to atrophy and ulceration in chronic CRPS. The investigation of patients after surgery revealed that edema could not be the only reason for hypoxia.

A polymorphic locus in the intron 16 of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is not correlated with complex regional pain syndrome I (CRPS I).

Exaggerated neurogenic inflammation has been recognized to be one reason for many CRPS symptoms. Since angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a key enzyme for the termination of neurogenic inflammation, it has been selected as a candidate gene for CRPS predisposition. A previous report of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in intron 16 within the ACE gene implicated an increased risk to develop CRPS I associated with the D allele. However, in the present study the D allele frequency was not increased in CRPS I cases (0.51 for D allele, 0.49 for I allele). Furthermore, there was no co-segregation of any genotype (DD, ID, II) with the CRPS phenotype in 12 selected familial CRPS I cases from six CRPS I families. In conclusion, the results presented herein render this particular ACE gene polymorphism unlikely to be a predisposing factor for CRPS I.

Description of a new monoclonal antibody, FC-2.15, reactive with human breast cancer and other human neoplasias.

FC-2.15 is an IgM monoclonal antibody (MAb) obtained by immunizing Balb/c mice with tumor epithelial cells from a human undifferentiated primary breast carcinoma. FC-2.15 reacts with 93.9% (31/33) of human breast primary tumors, independently of their histology and hormone receptor content. Moreover, FC-2.15 reacts with 79.6 +/- 13.8% (mean +/- SD) of total breast malignant tumor cells and with 88.7 +/- 9.9% of proliferating tumor cells. It recognizes other neoplasia such as colon cancer, squamous carcinoma and melanoma. Among the normal tissues examined, strong cross-reactivity was found with kidney proximal convolute tubules, bone marrow myeloid progeny, peripheral granulocytes and large bowel epithelium. Through Western blots, FC-2.15 recognizes three major bands of Mr 160 kDa, 130 kDa and 115 kDa in membrane extracts of MCF-7 cells grown in nude mice and of human breast carcinoma and three major bands of 250 kDa, 185 kDa and 105 kDa in membrane extracts of peripheral granulocytes. This MAb mediates complement- cytotoxicity against malignant cells, reducing the clonogenic capacity of breast primary tumor cells and MCF-7 cells to 35.6 +/- 41.2% and 11.7 +/- 4.8% of control values respectively, whereas that of normal bone marrow cells is not affected (104.7 +/- 17.4%).

Treatment of severe Crohn's disease using antimycobacterial triple therapy--approaching a cure?

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is probably the best candidate for a microbial cause of Crohn's disease although arguments to the contrary can be equally convincing. Growing evidence suggests that prolonged antimycobacterial combination therapy can improve Crohn's disease in some patients. AIM: To report long-term observations in patients with severe Crohn's disease treated with triple macrolide-based antimycobacterial therapy. PATIENTS: A series of 12 patients (7 male, 5 female; aged 15-42 years) with severe, obstructive or penetrating Crohn's disease were recruited. METHODS: Patients failing maximal therapy were commenced prospectively on a combination of rifabutin (450 mg/d), clarithromycin (750 mg/d) and clofazimine (2 mg/kg/d). Progress was monitored through colonoscopy, histology, clinical response and Harvey-Bradshaw activity index. RESULTS: Follow-up data were available for up to 54 months of therapy Six out of 12 patients experienced a full response to the antiMycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis combination achieving complete clinical, colonoscopic and histologic remission of Crohn's disease. Four of these patients were able to cease treatment after 24-46 months, 3 of whom remained in total remission without treatment for up to 26 months and one patient relapsed after six months off treatment. A partial response to the anti-Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis combination was seen in 2 patients showing complete clinical remission with mild histologic inflammation. Return to normal of terminal ileal strictures occurred in 5 patients. Harvey-Bradshaw activity index in patients showing a full or partial response to therapy fell from an initial 13.4 +/- 1. 91 to 0. 5 +/- 0. 47 [n = 8, p < 0. 001) after 52-54 months. CONCLUSIONS: Reversal of severe Crohn's disease has been achieved in 6/12 patients using prolonged combination anti-Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis therapy alone. Three patients remain in long-term remission with no detectable Crohn's disease off all therapy These results support a causal role for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease while also suggesting that a cure may become possible.

Accuracy assessment protocols for electromagnetic tracking systems.

Electromagnetic tracking systems have found increasing use in medical applications during the last few years. As with most non-trivial spatial measurement systems, the complex determination of positions and orientations from their underlying raw sensor measurements results in complicated, non-uniform error distributions over the specified measurement volume. This makes it difficult to unambiguously determine accuracy and performance assessments that allow users to judge the suitability of these systems for their particular needs. Various assessment protocols generally emphasize different measurement aspects that typically arise in clinical use. This can easily lead to inconclusive or even contradictory conclusions. We examine some of the major issues involved and discuss three useful calibration protocols. The measurement accuracy of a system can be described in terms of its 'trueness' and its 'precision'. Often, the two are strongly coupled and cannot be easily determined independently. We present a method that allows the two to be disentangled, so that the resultant trueness properly represents the systematic, non-reducible part of the measurement error, and the resultant precision (or repeatability) represents only the statistical, reducible part. Although the discussion is given largely within the context of electromagnetic tracking systems, many of the results are applicable to measurement systems in general.

The papilla rotation flap.

A new technique is described for correction of specific mucogingival defects which is designed to encourage rapid healing of the defect and donor areas. Further, this approach often yields a greater width of attached gingiva than other techniques, and is well tolerated by the patient.

Time course of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in CSF in patients with basal ganglia haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: In a pilot study we found a correlation of the clinical outcome with adhesion molecule (AM) concentrations in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but not in serum in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. We now determined the time course of AM concentration in CSF and serum after basal ganglia haemorrhage (BGH) in order to further uncover pathogenetic mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 11 patients with acute BGH and ventricular tamponade in which an extraventricular drainage had been applied to treat ventricular ballonade. Paired CSF and serum samples were obtained within 8 h after onset of BGH, as well as on the consecutive days 2, 4, 6, and 8, respectively. The concentrations of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) and VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) in CSF and serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, we determined blood volume and perifocal oedema by a semi-automated planimetry technique from initial cranial computed tomography scans. RESULTS: sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels in CSF were highest within the first hours after onset of BGH, then decreased significantly (P < 0.005 and <0.05, respectively) on day 2 and slightly increased thereafter. Furthermore, BGH volume was significantly correlated with the concentrations of sICAM-1 (r = 0.63, P < 0.05) and sVCAM-1 (r = 0.66, P < 0.05) in ventricular CSF but not in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Our results might indicate that the local inflammatory reaction is pronounced early after onset of BGH and appears to be restricted to the central nervous system. Moreover, AM concentrations measured early after BGH onset correlated stronger with radiological and clinical data than follow-up measurements.

Inhibition of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) facilitates neurogenic inflammation.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) are involved in neuropeptide degradation and may modulate neurogenic inflammation. We therefore explored the effect of specific blockers of NEP and ACE on the intensity of neurogenic inflammation. We investigated eight subjects on three occasions. Two pairs of microdialysis fibers equipped with intraluminal wires were inserted intracutaneously into the volar forearms and electrical stimuli were delivered via the intraluminal electrodes. The microdialysis fibers were perfused either with normal saline, phosphoramidon (NEP inhibitor), or captopril (ACE inhibitor). CGRP release was assessed in the microdialysis eluate via a specific EIA and by evaluating the extent and intensity of the neurogenic flare via a laser Doppler imager. The area of hyperalgesia and allodynia was assessed during electrical stimulation. Inhibition of NEP with phosphoramidon increased flare intensity (P < 0.002) and size (P < 0.01), while blocking ACE had no effect on neurogenic vasodilation. CGRP release could be measured in microdialysis samples after phosphoramidon perfusion only (P < 0.03), not in samples with captopril or saline perfusion. No effect on the areas of hyperalgesia and allodynia could be detected. Our findings suggest that NEP but not ACE is most important for CGRP degradation in human skin. This may be of particular importance for the understanding of pain disorders like migraine or complex regional pain syndrome.

Dipyridamole inhibits reversion by thymidine of methotrexate effect and increases drug uptake in Sarcoma 180 cells.

The combined effect of methotrexate (MTX) with dipyridamole, an inhibitor of nucleoside transport, was studied in ascitic Sarcoma 180 cells. It was determined that 10 microM MTX inhibits by greater than 90% deoxy[3H]uridine incorporation into DNA and that this MTX concentration inhibits DNA synthesis as revealed by deoxy[3H]cytidine but not [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Exogenous thymidine (greater than or equal to 1 microM) in the cell culture medium enhances DNA synthesis in nontreated cells and fully restores it in MTX-treated cells, whereas hypoxanthine has no appreciable effect on DNA synthesis. Dipyridamole inhibits deoxy[3H]cytidine and [3H]thymidine uptake by these cells (IC50 = 0.2 and 3 microM, respectively) and blocks the increase in TTP pool produced by 1 microM thymidine in MTX-treated cells (23.1 +/- 4.7 pmol per 1 X 10(6) cells vs. 80.4 +/- 18.9 pmol per 1 X 10(6) cells). Dipyridamole at 10 microM enhances [3H]MTX accumulation by Sarcoma 180 cells and diminishes the efflux of the drug in previously loaded cells. It is suggested that the combination of inhibitors of the de novo pathway for pyrimidine biosynthesis, such as MTX, with inhibitors of the salvage pathway, such as dipyridamole, may increase the cytotoxic activity of MTX alone.

Squamous cell carcinoma: an unusual early complication of postoperative osteomyelitis.

Review of the world biomedical literature noted only scant attention to the rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma which can develop in traumatic lesions. Squamous cell carcinoma developed 10 months after a patient was treated for multiple injuries including bilateral ankle and foot trauma. After surgery, attention to the clinical signs of neoplastic transformation is important, even when treating lesions of less than 1 year's duration. When clinical signs and symptoms indicate possible squamous cell carcinoma, a biopsy must be done. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, definitive surgery is mandatory because recurrence and metastatic disease have a low 5-year survival rate.

Vestibular evoked blood flow response in the basilar artery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Monitoring of the basilar artery (BA) is difficult and has been sparsely performed. The aim of this study was to present physiological data of functional transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) of the BA during caloric vestibular stimulation in healthy volunteers. METHODS: TCD of the BA was performed in 26 healthy volunteers (14 women, 12 men, age 25.1+/-3 years) during caloric vestibular stimulation. Vertigo was documented using electronystagmography (ENG) and a subjective vertigo scale ranging from 0 to 10 points. Simultaneously, capnogpraphy was performed. RESULTS: All subjects experienced vertigo, nausea and oszillopsia during vestibular irrigation. The average subjective vertigo was for a period of 106 s (+/-65.4); the average subjective estimated degree of vertigo was 6.7 points (+/-1.5). In all subjects, ENG demonstrated horizontal nystagm to the left non-irrigated side. In 14 subjects the subjective vertigo was rated by the individuals as extreme (point score > or =7) and in 12 subjects as low (point score <7). Mean flow velocity (MFV) in the BA increased significantly during vestibular irrigation, being more prominent in the initial irrigation and vertigo phase (5.8+/-5.9%, P<0.05) than in the second vertigo phase (2.2+/-8.8%, P<0.05). The calculated pulsatility index (PI), which indicates the condition of the small resistance vessels, decreased significantly (-4.9+/-8.1%; 4.3+/-8.9%, P<0.05) during both phases of vestibular activation. End tidal pCO2 did not change significantly (constant 5.4+/-0.4 Vol%), but respiration frequency was significantly increased during vestibular stimulation (12.3+/-3.8 min(-1) to 16.4+/-5.3 min(-1) and 16.3+/-4.8 min(-1), P<0.05) probably as a vegetative sign of vertigo. The observed MFV- and PI-changes were more prominent, although not quite significant, in the subgroup of subjects who experienced extreme subjective vertigo than in the subgroup who experienced low subjective vertigo. CONCLUSION: These observations indicate that MFV increase in the posterior circulation is due to activation of the vestibulocerebellum. In addition, it is possible that the previously elaborated MFV increase in the MCA might contribute to MFV increase in the BA via the posterior communicating artery. The difference in the 2 subgroups (extreme vertigo vs. low vertigo) may reflect the great variety of anatomical and physiological conditions of the peripheral vestibular organ, the brainstem anatomy and the corresponding blood supply. For clinical purposes this TCD-test may contribute to the investigation of the vasomotor reserve of the posterior circulation, e.g. in patients with vertebrobasilar ischemia, bilateral vestibular loss or local neurodegenerative disease.

A developmental evaluation process for nurses: enhancing professional excellence.

Healthcare organizations are challenged to provide an environment that enhances professional growth. Miami Valley Hospital responded by examining its evaluation system for clinical nurses and designing a developmental evaluation process. The result is an objective position description outlining global responsibilities of a nurse and a comprehensive, unit-specific assessment of performance. As nurses are guided and nurtured in their development, the opportunities for them to excel are unlimited.