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.     

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)     

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.     

The role of duplication in the expression of a variable surface glycoprotein gene of Trypanosoma brucei

The variable surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes of Trypanosoma brucei have been classified into two groups depending upon whether or not duplication of the genes is observed when they are expressed. We report here the observation of duplication apparently linked to expression of the ILTaT 1.3 gene in the ETaR 1 trypanosome stock. In the ILTaR 1 stock, expression of the ILTaT 1.3 VSG did not involve a new duplication, but instead activation of a preexisting gene copy that had been apparently generated earlier by a duplication event analogous to that directly observed in the ETaR 1 trypanosomes. The results suggest that the well-characterised gene duplications found with other VSG genes are common to all VSG genes but are not directly responsible for controlling expression. All currently available data can be accommodated by a model that assumes that gene duplication and replacement occurs independently of antigenic switching.     

Concerning the intermediacy of organic radicals in vitamin B12-dependent enzymic reactions

The vitamin B12 coenzyme adenosylcobalamin assists the enzymic catalysis of molecular rearrangements of the type (formula; see text) in which the migrating group X can be OH, NH2 or a suitable substituted carbon atom such as C(=CH2)CO2H. This paper discusses evidence for the participation of organic radicals as intermediates in these reactions. Theoretical and model studies supporting the intermediacy of radicals in the reactions catalysed by the enzymes diol dehydratase and alpha-methyleneglutarate mutase are described. For the model studies, alkyl radicals, alkylcobaloximes (alkyl represents, for example, ethoxycarbonyl substituted, but-3-enyl and cyclopropylmethyl) and also dihydroxyalkylcobalamins have been investigated. The Co-C alpha-C beta angle of 125 degrees in adenosylcobalamin is shown to be an 'especial' angle by analysis of the crystal structures of R- and S-2,3-dihydroxypropylcobalamin.