Idiopathic scoliosis and pineal lesions in Australian children

PURPOSE: To determine whether treatment of pineal lesions in children is associated with development of idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: 38 boys and 10 girls with pineal lesions were identified. Their mean age at presentation was 10 years. The pineal pathology varied from cysts and epidermoid to teratoma, germinoma, pineocytoma, and glioblastoma. Treatment ranged from biopsy/extirpation to radiotherapy. RESULTS: 12 patients died. No scoliosis was found in any females or any of the deceased. Two boys had scoliosis: one had a 12-degree right upper thoracic curve with 32-degree kyphosis and the other had a 60-degree right thoracolumbar idiopathic curve, requiring a 2-stage arthrodesis. CONCLUSION: Pineal ablation is not related to the development of idiopathic scoliosis in humans

Differential DARC/ACKR1 expression distinguishes venular from non-venular endothelial cells in murine tissues

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant AI112521 and the John and Virginia Kaneb Fellowship

Regulation of Motor Function and Behavior by Atypical Chemokine Receptor 1

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-014-9665-7Atypical Chemokine Receptor 1 (ACKR1), previously known as the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines, stands out among chemokine receptors for its high selective expression on Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, consistent with the ability of ACKR1 ligands to activate Purkinje cells in vitro. Nevertheless, evidence for ACKR1 regulation of brain function in vivo has been lacking. Here we demonstrate that Ackr1−/− mice have markedly impaired balance and ataxia when placed on a rotating rod and increased tremor when injected with harmaline, a drug that induces whole-body tremor by activating Purkinje cells. Ackr1−/− mice also exhibited impaired exploratory behavior, increased anxiety-like behavior and frequent episodes of marked hypoactivity under low-stress conditions. The behavioral phenotype of Ackr1−/− mice was the opposite of the phenotype occurring in mice with cerebellar degeneration and the defects persisted when Ackr1 was deficient only on non-hematopoietic cells. We conclude that normal motor function and behavior depend in part on negative regulation of Purkinje cell activity by Ackr1

The global distribution of the Duffy blood group

Blood group variants are characteristic of population groups, and can show conspicuous geographic patterns. Interest in the global prevalence of the Duffy blood group variants is multidisciplinary, but of particular importance to malariologists due to the resistance generally conferred by the Duffy-negative phenotype against Plasmodium vivax infection. Here we collate an extensive geo-database of surveys, forming the evidence-base for a multi-locus Bayesian geostatistical model to generate global frequency maps of the common Duffy alleles to refine the global cartography of the common Duffy variants. We show that the most prevalent allele globally was FY*A, while across sub-Saharan Africa the predominant allele was the silent FY*BES variant, commonly reaching fixation across stretches of the continent. The maps presented not only represent the first spatially and genetically comprehensive description of variation at this locus, but also constitute an advance towards understanding the transmission patterns of the neglected P. vivax malaria parasite

The International Limits and Population at Risk of Plasmodium vivax Transmission in 2009

Growing evidence shows that Plasmodium vivax malaria is clinically less benign than has been commonly believed. In addition, it is the most widely distributed species of human malaria and is likely to cause more illness in certain regions than the more extensively studied P. falciparum malaria. Understanding where P. vivax transmission exists and measuring the number of people who live at risk of infection is a fundamental first step to estimating the global disease toll. The aim of this paper is to generate a reliable map of the worldwide distribution of this parasite and to provide an estimate of how many people are exposed to probable infection. A geographical information system was used to map data on the presence of P. vivax infection and spatial information on climatic conditions that impede transmission (low ambient temperature and extremely arid environments) in order to delineate areas where transmission was unlikely to take place. This map was combined with population distribution data to estimate how many people live in these areas and are, therefore, exposed to risk of infection by P. vivax malaria. The results show that 2.85 billion people were exposed to some level of risk of transmission in 2009

Capitellar fractures - Is orif necessary?

This paper looks at the results of three consecutive patients with type 1 capitellar fractures treated with closed reduction. The purpose of this paper was to review the long term results of these three cases and compare these results to those published. All three patients were immobilised in a plaster at 90 degrees for 4 to 6 weeks post reduction. Average follow up was 34 months (range 28 - 38 months). All three fractures united. Two patients obtained a full return of range of motion when compared to the uninjured contralateral side. One patient, ease 3, had a residual 15 degree fixed flexion deformity but had otherwise obtained a full return of range of motion

Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia by Posterior-Fossa Microvascular Decompression

A series of 109 cases of microvascular decompression for intractable trigeminal neuralgia was reviewed. Operations were performed by a single surgeon and cases were reviewed independently by the one author. The failure rate in this study was 17.6%. A further 6.5% of cases endured brief recurrences not requiring treatment. Two-thirds of significant recurrences occurred within the initial 12 months. Long-term complications were experienced in 7.4% of cases. There was one postoperative mortality occurring in a patient with a large fibroblastic meningioma invading the brain stem. The classic Jannetta approach was modified following the first 32 cases allowing the cerebellum to be depressed inferiorly with a subsequent decline in the rate of loss of hearing from 12.5 to 3.7%. In over 70% of cases an aberrant superior cerebellar artery was found compressing the fifth cranial nerve. Patients had dental work performed in an attempt to control the pain prior to operation in 44% of cases

Fragment specific fixation of distal radius fractures using the trimed fixation system - How steep is the learning curve?

This study reports the results of patients with distal radius fractures treated using the TriMed system by surgeons early in their experience with use of the system. This is consecutive series of 30 fractures in 27 patients with an average follow-up of 10.7 months. The series included 22 AO type C2 or C3 fractures. Average range was as follows: 63degrees extension, 50degrees flexion, 76degrees supination and 77degrees pronation. As a percentage of the uninjured extremity; active range of motion arc was 76% and grip strength 83%. The mean Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score was 20. Radiographic evaluation revealed restoration of radial articular volar tilt to 8 (range -2 to 18) degrees and radial inclination to 25 (range 12-36) degrees. The study suggests that satisfactory results can be achieved with the Trimed system early in their experience with the system, given adequate training

Fixation of distal biceps ruptures using the endobutton: A modified technique

This paper reviews thirty-two patients who underwent operative fixation of distal biceps ruptures. All patients were clinically reviewed at a minimum of 6 months (average 29 months) from surgery. The operative technique utilised the Endobutton (Smith and Nephew) and is a substantial modification of that published by Bain, G et al(1). Thirty of the thirty-two patients have returned Patient Rated Elbow Evaluation (PREE) forms with an average score of 8. Cybex testing demonstrates good return of strength when compared to the uninjured side. We believe that these modifications to Dr Bain's technique offer a viable alternative technique which has some benefits