Brachial Neuralgia and the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The carpal tunnel syndrome can cause severe pain and disability, both of which are avoidable if the condition is diagnosed and treated early in its course. Two sets of circumstances—delay in the correct diagnosis and recurrence of symptoms after an apparently successful operation—may give rise to problems in these aspects of management and delay recovery.     

Reproductive ecology and growth of a population of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in an aquifer-fed stream of Old Castile (Spain)

In the River Lobos-Ucero and its tributary the River Avión-Milanos (Duero basin, Old Castile, Central Spain), two limestone streams fed by aquifers, the population of brown trout, as compared with the populations of other European streams, shows a high growth rate, high condition coefficients, short life-span and early age at first maturity. Gonad cycle was also studied. Size distributions of unshed eggs exhibit a dynamic activity with a bi-modal distribution from June onwards, spawning occurred in the last days of November. Fecundity (F) can be predicted from trout length (L, mm) according to the equation: F= –646.47+5.6167 · L. Numbers and standing crop of trout range from 18 to 3903 ind. ha^–1 and 3.6 to 452.9 Kg ha^–1, reaching higher values in the sites close to the aquifers. Egg production had values of 22.4 and 18.0 eggs m^–2 in the Rivers Ucero and Avión-Milanos respectively. Some factors suggested as regulators of these demographical characteristics are discussed in the light of recent literature.     

Demographic genetic approach in anthropologic research. II. A method for calculating the coefficient of consanguinity in a complex nongraphic pedigree

A simplified method of manual calculation for inbreeding coefficient (and/or relationship) from complicated pedigree tables presented in a nongraphic mode is offered. The method is based on the use of positional dual codes of ancestors in which all genealogical links of the proband are reflected.     

Effect of estradiol-filled polydimethylsiloxane subdermal implants in adult male rats on the reproductive system, fertility, and progeny outcome

Combinations of testosterone and estradiol have been proposed as potential male contraceptives. For any compound to be an acceptable male contraceptive, it must be demonstrated either to prevent pregnancy completely or, if contraceptive failure occurs, to not have any adverse effect on pregnancy outcome. We have previously established that increasing doses of testosterone given via subdermal implants to adult male rats will decrease spermatogenesis and fertility but will not result in an increased incidence of pre- or postimplantation loss or in abnormal progeny. In the present study, we have monitored the effects of a dose of estradiol that has been proposed for the contraceptive regimen, as well as doses three and seven times as large, on progeny outcome. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received s.c. implants of estradiol-filled polydimethylsiloxane capsules of varying lengths and, after three months, were each mated twice to two females in proestrus. The smallest dose of estradiol (the dose used in the contraceptive formulation) did not have any significant effects on any of the measured parameters of the male reproductive system, or on the incidence of pre- or postimplantation loss or on progeny outcome. With increasing doses of estradiol, there was a marked reduction in fertility. This reduction in fertility was not associated with a sufficient decrease in epididymal sperm reserves to account for the decrease in number of females impregnated, but was associated with a major reduction in seminal plugs; this would suggest that the large doses of estradiol were decreasing male sexual behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Peculiarities of formation and development of initial stages of an impulse breakdown in argon

The experimental results on the formation and development of initial stages of an impulse breakdown in atmospheric-pressure argon at townsend and streamer breakdown mechanisms for different initial conditions are presented. A streamer channel is shown to be initiated by bright luminescence formed at the point of critical avalanche amplification at different distances from the cathode depending on overvoltage. Prebreakdown currents are experimentally measured for the townsend and streamer breakdown mechanisms and peculiarities of spark channel formation for these mechanisms are studied.     

Merkel cell tumor: diagnosis, prognosis, and management

The histologic features of the Merkel cell and the pathologic characteristics of the Merkel cell tumor are described. From a literature review, 68 cases are examined; 23 cases that have been followed up accurately are presented from the Mayo Clinic. A representative case is used to demonstrate the problems of diagnosis and suggested treatment. The latter should be wide local resection with removal of nodal metastases if present. When indicated, this should be followed up with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is of little or no value. Survival rates are presented.