Contribution of femoral and proximal sciatic nerve branches to the sensory innervation of hindlimb digits in the rat

The present study was performed to investigate the possibility of 'aberrant' innervation of the tips of the hindlimb digits in the rat, i.e., from other sources than the femoral and the main sciatic branches (tibial, peroneal, sural). Cutaneous injections of fluorescent tracers in the digits were combined with either selective nerve transections to restrict afferent routes followed by detection of labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), or by a delayed application of a second tracer to afferent nerves under study to detect double labeled neurons in DRGs. The results show that the tips of the digits were represented in DRGs L3-6. The femoral nerve afferents from digits 1 and 2 projected primarily to DRG L3 and to a smaller extent to DRG L4. A small number of neurons from primarily medial digits 1 and 2, but also from lateral digits 3-5, were found to project to DRGs L4 and L5 via a proximal branch that leaves the sciatic nerve near the sciatic notch and runs distally in the posterior part of the thigh, here called the musculocutaneous nerve of the hindlimb. We also have some evidence indicating innervation of the tips of the digits from the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh. Aberrant innervation such as that described here might contribute to remaining and perhaps abnormal sensibility after nerve injury and is of interest for the interpretation of results in experimental studies of collateral and regenerative sprouting after such injur

Anatomía aplicada a la cirugía de los tendones flexores

ResumenEl conocimiento de la anatomía de los tendones flexores es importante para el tratamiento de las lesiones de estas estructuras y su pronóstico. Es imprescindible tener un buen fundamento de las estructuras de los tendones y su relación con la patogénesis de las lesiones y su reparación. El aporte vascular es un punto crítico en la reparación de los tendones flexores. Los tendones flexores extrínsecos se mantienen aplicados sobre el esqueleto de los dedos por un sistema de poleas osteofibrosas que dirigen los tendones en el sistema poliarticular sobre el que actúan. Además, están rodeados de unas vainas sinoviales que permiten su deslizamiento y los nutren, junto con los mesotendones y vínculas.AbstractAnatomy of the flexor tendons is important for the treatment and prognosis of flexor tendon injuries. It is imperative to have a good knowledge of the structure of the tendons in relation to the pathogenesis of injuries and repair, and in particular their blood supply. The extrinsic flexor tendons of the fingers and the thumb have fibrous sheaths and a system of pulleys to apply and conduct the tendons to the polyarticular chain on which they work. Slipping of the tendons and their vascularisation is facilitated by the synovial sheaths, mesotendons and vincula tendinums

Valoración de los beneficios de la movilización continua pasiva tras artroplastia total de rodilla

Se realiza un estudio restrospetivo y randomizado en 43 pacientes (43 rodillas), afectados de gonartrosis grado III de Ahlbäck intervenidos mediante artroplastia total de rodilla (ATR) tipo Press-fit Condylar (PFC) para la valoración de los posibles beneficios de la Movilización Continua Pasiva (MPC) en el proceso de rehabilitación tras la ATR. Se crearon aleatoriamente tres grupos de pacientes: Grupo I (no MPC), Grupo II (MPC 0º- 40º) y Grupo III (MPC 0º-70º). Se cuantificaron las siguientes variables: días de hospitalización, rango de movimiento (ROM) a los 7 días y a los 6 meses postoperatorios, sangrado a través del drenaje tipo redón y requerimientos analgésicos. Únicamente hallamos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el sangrado a través del drenaje, siendo este mayor en los pacientes sometidos a MPC. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto al ROM en ninguno de los momentos estudiados, entre los tres grupos..A prospective and randomize study was performed in 43 patients (43 knee joints) with gonarthrosis grade III of Ahlbäck who underwent a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) type Press-fit Condylar (PFC), in order to evaluate the possible advantages of the continuous passive motion (CPM) in the process of rehabilitation after TKA. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Group I (no CPM), group II (CPM 0-40º) and group III (CPM 0-70º). The following variable parameters were quantified: hospitalisation days, range of motion (ROM) after 7 days and 6 months postoperation, bleeding through the aspirative significant differences in the bleeding through the drainage, being larger in patients who received CPM. There were statistically differences in the ROM in any of the studied moments and in neither of the groups

Valoración de los niveles de PCR tras artroplastia total de cadera

Objetivo: Determinación de la respuesta fisiológica de la Proteína C Reactiva (PCR) y la velocidad de sedimentación glomerular (VSG) tras la artroplastia total de cadera (ATC) no infectada. Material y Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo sobre 20 pacientes afectos de coxartrosis primaria e intervenidos mediante ATC (18 pacientes tipo Auto-fit cementada y 2 pacientes tipo Prophor no cementada). Se determinaron los valores de VSG, PCR, fibrinógeno, hematocrito, hematíes y temperatura corporal matinal preoperatoriamente y en los días 1º, 2º, 3º, 7º, decimocuarto y a los 3 meses tras la intervención. Resultados: Se realizó el test de ANOVA para medidas repetidas con los valores obtenidos. Existieron diferencias significativas entre los niveles de PCR medidos en los diferentes momentos del estudio (p<0,001), alcanzando los niveles máximos dicho parámetro el 2º día postoperatorio y descendiendo sensiblemente a partir del 7º día postintervención. Conclusiones: La permanencia de valores altos de PCR o la aparición de nuevos picos tras el 2º -3er día postoperatorio puede ser un indicador de complicaciones graves en la ATC.Objectives: To determine the physiological answer of the reactive protein C (RPC) and the speed of globular sedimentation (SGS) after non infected total hip arthroplasty (THA). Material and methods: a descriptive study on a total sample of 20 patients suffering primary coxarthrosis and operated with THA was performed (18 patients with cemented Auto-Fit Prosthesis and 2 patients with cementless Prophor Prosthesis). The values of SGS, RPC, fibrinogen and morning body temperature were determined before the surgical proce- dure and on day 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 90 after it. Results: an ANOVA test was used for repeated measurements of the obtained results. There were statistically significant differences in the levels of RPC obtained in the different days of the study (p<0.001), obtaining the highest levels of it on day 2 after surgery and highly decreasing from day 7 after surgery onwards. Conclusions: the maintenance of increased levels of RPC or the appearance of new peaks after the day 2 or 3 after surgery may be an indicator of severe complications in THA

X-Ray Spectroscopy of Stars

(abridged) Non-degenerate stars of essentially all spectral classes are soft X-ray sources. Low-mass stars on the cooler part of the main sequence and their pre-main sequence predecessors define the dominant stellar population in the galaxy by number. Their X-ray spectra are reminiscent, in the broadest sense, of X-ray spectra from the solar corona. X-ray emission from cool stars is indeed ascribed to magnetically trapped hot gas analogous to the solar coronal plasma. Coronal structure, its thermal stratification and geometric extent can be interpreted based on various spectral diagnostics. New features have been identified in pre-main sequence stars; some of these may be related to accretion shocks on the stellar surface, fluorescence on circumstellar disks due to X-ray irradiation, or shock heating in stellar outflows. Massive, hot stars clearly dominate the interaction with the galactic interstellar medium: they are the main sources of ionizing radiation, mechanical energy and chemical enrichment in galaxies. High-energy emission permits to probe some of the most important processes at work in these stars, and put constraints on their most peculiar feature: the stellar wind. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of cool and hot stars through the study of X-ray spectra, in particular high-resolution spectra now available from XMM-Newton and Chandra. We address issues related to coronal structure, flares, the composition of coronal plasma, X-ray production in accretion streams and outflows, X-rays from single OB-type stars, massive binaries, magnetic hot objects and evolved WR stars.Comment: accepted for Astron. Astrophys. Rev., 98 journal pages, 30 figures (partly multiple); some corrections made after proof stag

Contribution of femoral and proximal sciatic nerve branches to the sensory innervation of hindlimb digits in the rat

The present study was performed to investigate the possibility of 'aberrant' innervation of the tips of the hindlimb digits in the rat, i.e., from other sources than the femoral and the main sciatic branches (tibial, peroneal, sural). Cutaneous injections of fluorescent tracers in the digits were combined with either selective nerve transections to restrict afferent routes followed by detection of labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), or by a delayed application of a second tracer to afferent nerves under study to detect double labeled neurons in DRGs. The results show that the tips of the digits were represented in DRGs L3-6. The femoral nerve afferents from digits 1 and 2 projected primarily to DRG L3 and to a smaller extent to DRG L4. A small number of neurons from primarily medial digits 1 and 2, but also from lateral digits 3-5, were found to project to DRGs L4 and L5 via a proximal branch that leaves the sciatic nerve near the sciatic notch and runs distally in the posterior part of the thigh, here called the musculocutaneous nerve of the hindlimb. We also have some evidence indicating innervation of the tips of the digits from the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh. Aberrant innervation such as that described here might contribute to remaining and perhaps abnormal sensibility after nerve injury and is of interest for the interpretation of results in experimental studies of collateral and regenerative sprouting after such injur