Splinting or surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome? Design of a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN18853827]

Background  

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disorder, which can be treated with surgery or conservative options. However, there is insufficient evidence and no consensus among physicians with regard to the preferred treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial is conducted to compare the short- and long-term efficacy of surgery and splinting in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. An attempt is also made to avoid the (methodological) limitations encountered in earlier trials on the efficacy of various treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome.     

Effects of cryopreservation on head morphometry and its relation with chromatin status in brown bear (Ursus arctos) spermatozoa

The Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a highly endangered species in Spain and basic studies are necessary in order to bank its germplasm. Sperm heads are mainly made up of chromatin, thus their shape depends partly on chromatin structure. Thawed semen from 10 bears was used to analyze chromatin status by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and head morphometry by the computer-assisted sperm morphology assessment (CASMA) system. Morphometry was analyzed before and after freezing–thawing in order to evaluate the effects of cryopreservation on sperm heads. Each spermatozoon was measured for four primary parameters (length, L; width, W; area, A; perimeter, P) and derived parameters (ellipticity: L/W, circularity: 4πA/P², elongation: (L − W)/(L + W), regularity: πLW/4A). All the derived parameters significantly differed between bears. Likewise, cryopreservation affected head morphometry by reducing its size. Clustering based on morphometric parameters separated three subpopulations, one of them being significantly more influenced by the cryopreservation process. We obtained high correlations between head morphometry and SCSA parameters: standard deviation of DNA fragmentation index (SD-DFI) was correlated with perimeter and area (r = 0.75 and r = 0.62, respectively) and DFIm and DFIt (moderate and total DNA fragmentation index) were correlated with perimeter (r = 0.65 and r = 0.67, respectively). Nevertheless, classification of males according to SCSA or head morphometry did not completely agree so the two assays might explain male variability differently. We conclude that cryopreservation affected morphometry at least in a subset of spermatozoa. These results might improve future application of sperm banking techniques in this species.     

Incorporation rates and biomass content of C and P in phytoplankton and bacteria in the Bay of Aarhus (Denmark) June 1992

Biomass content and incorporation rates for carbon (C) and phosphorus(P) in microbial plankton in the Bay of Aarhus were investigatedduring a 1 week period. Samples taken daily at a fixed station,as well as during a diel cycle, allowed comparison of the watermasses above, in and below the pycnocline, and in influxes ofdifferent water masses. The coupling between the activity ofphytoplankton and bacteria was examined by the stoichiometriccomposition in pools and fluxes. From microscope-based estimatesof bacterial C and chemical determination of phosphate in thesize fraction 1-0.2 µm, the mean C:P ratio (molar) forbacterial biomass was 78, while the mean C:P ratio for incorporationwas 96 or 63 from thymidine- and leucine-based estimates ofbacterial C production. Thymidine-based estimates of mean bactenalgeneration time varied from 2.5 to 4.1 days with a minimum inthe interface between water of Baltic and Skagerrak origin.These values are in good agreement with P-based generation timeestimates. ¹⁴C measurements of primary production and orthophosphateincorporation into the size fraction >1 µm gave a meanC:P ratio of 118, similar to the Redfield ratio (106), but abouttwice the estimated mean C:P of 52 in protist biomass. The combinedmethodological concept can be used to examine the simultaneousrole of microorganisms in the C and P budgets.     

The genus Pyrus L. (Rosaceae) in south-west Europe and North Afkica

A multivariate morphometric study of the genus Pyrus in south-west Europe and North Africa shows that five species may be recognized in the area: P. bourgaeana Decne., P. communis L., P. cordata Dew., P. spinosa Forssk, and P. nivalis Jacq. Some valuable characters for identification of these species are proposed. In particular the width of fruit peduncle, petal size, leaf width and petiole length served to discriminate the taxa. Several names such as P. gharbiona Trab., P. cossonii Rehder (|M= P. longipes Balansa ex Coss. & Durieu) and P. boisseriana Buhse, are regarded as synonyms of P. cordata , while P. marnormis Trab. of P. bourgaeana. Consequently a check-list and a key to these species are provided.     

Cultured endothelial cells produce heparinlike inhibitor of smooth muscle cell growth

Using cultured cells from bovine and rat aortas, we have examined the possibility that endothelial cells might regulate the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells. Conditioned medium from confluent bovine aortic endothelial cells inhibited the proliferation of growth-arrested smooth muscle cells. Conditioned medium from exponential endothelial cells, and from exponential or confluent smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, did not inhibit smooth muscle cell growth. Conditioned medium from confluent endothelial cells did not inhibit the growth of endothelial cells or fibroblasts. In addition to the apparent specificity of both the producer and target cell, the inhibitory activity was heat stable and not affected by proteases. It was sensitive flavobacterium heparinase but not to hyaluronidase or chondroitin sulfate ABC lyase. It thus appears to be a heparinlike substance. Two other lines of evidence support this conclusion. First, a crude isolate of glycosaminoglycans (TCA-soluble, ethanol-precipitable material) from endothelial cell-conditioned medium reconstituted in 20 percent serum inhibited smooth muscle cell growth; glycosaminoglycans isolated from unconditioned medium (i.e., 0.4 percent serum) had no effect on smooth muscle cell growth. No inhibition was seen if the glycosaminoglycan preparation was treated with heparinase. Second, exogenous heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate B (dermatan sulfate), chondroitin sulfate ABC, and hyaluronic acid were added to 20 percent serum and tested for their ability to inhibit smooth muscle cell growth. Heparin inhibited growth at concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml. Other glycosaminoglycans had no effect at doses up to 10 μg/ml. Anticoagulant and non- anticoagulant heparin were equally effective at inhibiting smooth muscle cell growth, as they were in vivo following endothelial injury (Clowes and Karnovsk. Nature (Lond.). 265:625-626, 1977; Guyton et al. Circ. Res. 46:625-634, 1980), and in vitro following exposure of smooth muscle cells to platelet extract (Hoover et al. Circ. Res. 47:578-583, 1980). We suggest that vascular endothelial cells may secrete a heparinlike substance in vivo which may regulate the growth of underlying smooth muscle cells.     

Prostatic inhibin peptide: Occurrence,localization and its hormonal modulation in prostates of primates and rodents

Immunocytochemical localization studies revealed the presence of 10·5 kDa inhibin in the prostatic epithelial cells of the human, non-human primates (Macaca radiata,Presbytis entellus, Callithrix jacchus), dog and laboratory rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice). The capability of the prostate gland to synthesize inhibinin vitro was shown by the incorporation of radiolabeled leucine into inhibin which was immuno-precipitated. Unlike most prostatic proteins, inhibin was found to be androgen-independent since no significant alteration in inhibin concentration in prostate occurred pre/post castration. Physicochemical and immunological characteristics of inhibin as revealed by high performance liquid chromatography and parallel dilution curve in a radioimmunoassay revealed similarities of inhibin in prostates of various species.     

Patterns of inhibin and FSH localization in endometrium of baboon (Papio anubis) during menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.

Immunoreactive 10.5 KDa moiety of inhibin and hFSH was present in the baboon endometrium during menstrual cycle, early pregnancy and in castrated animals treated with steroid hormones, estrogen and/or progesterone. Endometrial differences during the menstrual cycle altered the intensity of immunostaining of inhibin and FSH. Maximum staining was observed in late luteal phase for both the hormones. In early pregnancy (35th day), the conceptus increased the staining for inhibin in the adjoining endometrial glands. Treatment of castrated animals with steroids for 14 days caused increased staining for inhibin. Maximum staining was observed when treated with estradiol or progesterone, whereas combination of estrogen and progesterone treatment decreased the staining reaction. In conclusion, both inhibin and FSH were localized in baboon endometrium and were under the influence of estrogen and progesterone.