A quantitative study of humeral cartilage in individuals with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional design. OBJECTIVES: In this in vivo study, we investigated the influence of different load situations on humeral cartilage thickness in individuals with paraplegia and quadriplegia. SETTING: ETH Zurich and Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil, Switzerland. METHODS: A previously validated three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo MRI-sequence with selective water excitation was used. Three groups were compared: individuals with paraplegia with high shoulder demand (n=11), individuals with quadriplegia with reduced load on the shoulder joint (n=8) and a control group (n=9). After 3D reconstruction, the mean cartilage thickness, local thicknesses (superior, medial, inferior) and the minimum joint space were calculated. RESULTS: The mean humeral cartilage thickness (1.40+/-0.14 mm) as well as the minimum joint space (2.57+/-0.50 mm) did not differ between groups. In individuals with paraplegia, the superior cartilage thickness was significantly greater than in individuals with quadriplegia (1.47 mm compared to 1.28 mm, P<0.05). In the control group, there was a significant negative correlation between mean cartilage thickness and age (r=-0.81). CONCLUSION: Neither higher shoulder demand nor reduced shoulder loading leads to thinning of humeral cartilage. It is hypothesized that higher local stresses prevent local cartilage degeneration, as in normal load situations humeral cartilage thinning is occurring with age. Furthermore, joint space narrowing was only associated with inferior cartilage thickness and cartilage thickness is not related to shoulder pain.

[Determination of the potential doubling time of tumors using bromodeoxyuridine and flow cytometry]. / Bestimmung der potentiellen Verdopplungszeit von Tumoren mittels Bromodeoxyuridin und Durchflusszytometrie.

Tumor growth-rate affects prognosis and treatment planning. The injection of bromodeoxyuridine in dogs and cats permits determination of the potential doubling time following a biopsy of neoplastic tissue and flow cytometric analysis. The essentially non-invasive method gives exact results within 24 hours. This report describes a method to measure potential tumor doubling time of different tumors, and presents results of canine and feline tumors.

[Case report: dirofilariasis in a dog]. / Fallbericht: Dirofilariose beim Hund.

A Siberian Husky from the Milan region was referred to the Clinic for clarification of a history of weight loss and rapid fatigue. On clinical examination increased vesicular sounds and dyspnea after physical excitement and effort were the only abnormal findings demonstrable. Radiologically demonstrated changes of the pulmonary arteries led to a tentative diagnosis of Dirofilariosis. The parasitological diagnosis based on serology and the morphology of microfilariae isolated from the blood indicated an infection by microfilariae and adult stages of Dirofilaria immitis. After premedication with Aspirin, the patient was treated against adult filariae with Caparsolate, and a month later with Ivermectin against the microfilariae. At the time of reexamination, 5 months after initiation of therapy, the dog was clinically healthy and free of any demonstrable infection with Dirofilaria. In a second, clinically normal Husky from the same kennel, isolated Dirofilaria repens microfilariae were demonstrated. This dog was not treated.

Giant cell tumors in combination with other primary bone tumors.

Three cases featuring the coincidence of 2 different primary bone tumors at the same site are presented. In 2 cases, the combination was not one of giant cell tumor and enchondroma, in the 3rd one, of giant cell tumor and non-ossifying fibroma. The patho-genetical and prognostical problems of these cases are discussed.