Supernumerary limbs: a case report of a rare congenital anomaly.

We report a case of an 18-month-old female who presented with three supernumerary upper limbs of varying lengths on the right side. Each limb had a proximal, middle, and distal segment, and an intercalated elbow and wrist joint. A single digit was present in the superior limb, three digits in the middle limb, and two digits in the caudal-most limb. Right plagiocephaly, congenital torticollis, scoliosis involving the upper and mid thoracic region, and a hypoplastic right pectoralis major were the other abnormal features noted. Radiography showed two scapulae, humerus, a single forearm bone in each limb, and rudimentary metacarpals and phalanges. Limb duplication may rarely be encountered in parasitic conjoined twins. The role of mutagens, drugs, cellular contributions, and morphogens in the growth and differentiation of limbs has been studied in animals. It is rather difficult to deduce the time of action of the factors responsible for such a malformation.

Classification and comparison of five techniques of end-to-end microarterial anastomoses in rats: a new proposed technique.

We propose a new classification of five main techniques for microarterial anastomoses: Interrupted, autogenous cuff, continuous, sleeve and partial sleeve. The last method was developed by the authors. A study was performed on 48 albino rats and comprised 20 anastomoses of each type (for a total of 100), performed on femoral and carotid arteries of average size 0.83 mm. These were compared with respect to patency, anastomosis time, leak, bleeding time, number of sutures (bites), microangiography, histopathology and scanning electron microscopy. The overall patency was 88%, and that of the partial sleeve technique was 100%, associated with 30% incidence of aneurysms. Clinical, histopathological and scanning electron microscopy findings showed better results for techniques with predominantly extraluminal sutures (sleeve and partial sleeve), which was particularly relevant in our situation, in which a larger sized needle (150 microns) had to be used. An overall aneurysm incidence of 17% was noted.

Technique for experimental surgery: simple cautery for experimental microvascular surgery.

A simple and safe method of thermocoagulation of small vessels, particularly useful in an experimental microsurgical laboratory, is described. This thermocautery can be readily prepared, and the vessels can be cauterized as close as 0.5 mm from the origin.

An evaluation of serum and tissue bound immunoglobulins in prostatic diseases.

In forty-four patients with different prostatic lesions serum immunoglobulins and tissue deposited immunoglobulins were studied by single radial immunodiffusion technique, and direct immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase (PAP) methods respectively. Serum IgM levels were found reduced only in patients with prostatic carcinomas (80% of cases) as compared to controls. Serum IgA levels showed stage dependence in prostatic carcinoma being more raised in advanced malignancy (stage C and D) than in localized ones (stage B). Localization of immunoglobulins particularly IgM, was characteristically found in stroma and lumen along with intracellular localization in prostatic carcinoma; while normal and benign lesions of prostate only showed characteristic 'necklace' pattern. Also the intensity of deposits of immunoglobulins in poorly differentiated prostatic carcinomas was markedly low as compared to well differentiated carcinomas indicating lowered local immunological response in former. In prostatitis, IgA was also found localized in lumen indicating the immunological defence against infection by secretory antibody (IgA).