An evaluation of myelography with non-ionic water soluble contrast medium-iohexol.

Iohexol myelography was performed in 25 cases of suspected spinal cord compression. Out of these, 24 cases gave optimally informative myelogram, while one case showed quasi-informative myelogram. Myelographic efficacy regarding the level of lesion was correct in all cases. On final evaluation 15 cases were diagnosed as extradural lesions, 9 cases as intradural extramedullary type and one case as diastematomyelia. Only single case which was diagnosed as intramedullary lesion on myelography was, in fact, an extradural lesion. There were only minor side-effects in the form of headache and paraesthesia in the lower limb. It was concluded that iohexol is a safe contrast medium with high efficacy and minimal side-effects for the total examination of spinal canal.

Virulence & pathogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica under different test systems.

Eight clinical isolates of Y. enterocolitica were tested for various pathogenicity and virulence markers. Seven of the eight strains gave positive results for Congo red magnesium oxalate (CRMOX) agar test and autoagglutination test at 37 degrees C. Seven strains bound crystal violet (CV) completely at 37 degrees C but not at 25 degrees C. One strain (Y1) bound CV partially. None of the strains showed pyrazinamidase activity indicating these strains to be virulent. Cells of all but one strains were aggregated by 1.8 M and 3.2M concentration of ammonium sulphate. A good correlation between these tests and virulence was observed.

Bladder rehabilitation in spinal cord injury patients.

The relative efficacy of intermittent catheterisation, self or assisted, over indwelling catheterisation was studied on 44 patients of different extent of spinal cord lesions. All the surviving cases (9) of incomplete cord lesion became catheter free irrespective of the method of catheterisation. In these patients urine was also found to be infection free by the 5th week of admission. Twenty-seven cases of complete cord lesion (out of a total of 35) became catheter free, of whom 18 patients were on intermittent catheterisation (out of a total of 20) and 9 patients were on indwelling catheter (out of a total of 15 cases). In the later group incidence of urine infection was higher. Other complications like urethral trauma were comparable between patients with indwelling catheter and patients with intermittent, self or assisted, catheterisation.