The Poggendorff illusion: effect of distance between the parallel lines.

43 subjects observed Poggendorff figures with transverse line segments at a constant distance while the parallels were positioned closer or farther apart. At closer distances, no illusion occurred; at farther distances, the illusion diminished. The illusion no longer occurred when the parallels were located beyond the outside end of the transverse lines. Since illusions occurred only when the parallels physically touched the transverse line, this research emphasizes the importance of the intersection of figural elements in the production of the Poggendorff illusion.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer: upsetting the normalcy of the late-night talk show.

For the most part, the late-night talk/variety television genre has been analyzed as little more than a promotional device for producers of popular culture products. Using concepts of dialogic discourse borrowed from M.M. Bakhtin and of star discourse theorized by Jimmie Reeves, this paper explores the ideological complexity available in the content of late-night programming. The various inflections of Dr. Ruth Westheimer within the broadcast context of the late-night talk/variety genre provide the focus of this analysis.

The prediction of recurrence in meningiomas. A flow cytometric study of paraffin-embedded archival material.

Despite the complete macroscopic excision of meningiomas, there is a significant rate of recurrence approaching 20% at 20 years. The prediction of recurrence by clinical and histopathological means is inadequate. Flow cytometric analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in meningiomas has shown a correlation between a high proliferative index based on tumor cell-cycle stage (%S + %G2/M) and clinically aggressive behavior. Accordingly, the DNA analysis of meningioma tissue may be of value in predicting recurrence of these tumors. To test this hypothesis, the DNA of paraffin-embedded archival tissue from known recurrent meningiomas was compared with an age- and sex-matched nonrecurrent group. Both groups had comparable follow-up periods. Forty patients with total macroscopic removal at the time of surgery were analyzed. The paraffin blocks of these tumors were retrieved and reclassified histologically according to the World Health Organization system. Sections were then taken for flow cytometric study. The DNA analysis showed that the proliferative index of the recurrent group was significantly higher than that of the nonrecurrent group (p less than 0.002), although the histological subtyping of the two groups was similar. These results support the suggestion that flow cytometry may be of value in the prediction of recurrence of histologically benign, macroscopically removed meningiomas.

The course of the superior gluteal nerve in the lateral approach to the hip.

The superior gluteal nerve and its branches were dissected bilaterally in ten cadavera. The patterns of branching and the distribution of the branches were identified. The reference point for measurements was the mid-point of the superior border of the greater trochanter. Two patterns of neural branching were thus established. The points of termination of all branches formed an arcuate pattern along the middle one-third of the deep surface of the gluteus medius muscle. The so-called safe area of the gluteus medius muscle was found to be as much as five centimeters adjacent to the greater trochanter. If this distance is not exceeded by the intramuscular incision, the risk to the superior gluteal nerve and its branches will be minimum.

Second femur fracture after hemiarthroplasty of the hip: salvage procedure by Partridge bands and long-stemmed prosthesis.

We report on a technique for stabilising a femoral shaft fracture occurring between a cementless hip prosthesis and a distal plate in an elderly patient. We used a long-stemmed Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty and removed all but the most distal screws, encircling the whole femur with Partridge nylon bands.

Symptomatic calcaneonavicular bars. The results 20 years after surgical excision.

Eleven patients were reviewed an average of 23 years after they had been treated by excision of a symptomatic calcaneonavicular bar in 16 of their feet. Of these feet 69% (11 feet) had a good or excellent result. Of the five failures, three feet had good results after subsequent triple arthrodesis, but two treated by repeated excision of the bar were still unsatisfactory. Beaking of the talus seen before operation correlated with poor results.

Isolated fractures of the shaft of the tibia.

We have reviewed 106 fractures of the tibia with an intact fibula. Most patients were treated in above-knee plaster casts and allowed to walk. Only 2 fractures failed to unite and there were 4 refractures. In 27 patients (25 per cent) the fracture healed with more than 5 degrees of varus angulation. The cause of this deformity and its prevention are discussed.

The use of Perkins' traction in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures.

The treatment of fractures of the femoral shaft by traction may delay union and produce stiffness of the knee. The technique of Perkins' method is described and the results reported in 50 cases. All patients had at least 120 degrees of flexion of the knee when traction was discontinued, and 47 patients were considered to have clinical and radiological union of the fracture by 12 weeks. The main complications of the method was loosening of the Denham pin or infection of the pin-track in the proximal tibia. It is suggested that Perkins' traction is an excellent form of treatment for fractures of the femoral shaft, and has several advantages over other forms of traction.

An unusual fibrous band in the thigh of an adolescent.

A fibrous band associated with the rectus femoris and presenting for the first time in an 18-year-old boy is described. There were no congenital anomalies and no history of intramuscular injections, and this is believed to be the first report of its kind in the orthopaedic literature. Knee flexion was greatly improved by excising the band.

Healing of osteochondritis dissecans following congenital dislocation of the hip: report of a case.

An 18-month-old boy treated for congenital dislocation of the hip, developed osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral head. Serial roentgenograms demonstrated that the lesion had healed by the time he was 15 years of age. There have been no previous reports of healing of osteochondritis dissecans complicating congenital dislocation of the hip, or Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, although healing in idiopathic cases has been described.

Rupture of the urethra in a female child with a fractured pelvis: a case report.

A case of complete rupture of the urethra in a female child is reported. The condition is very uncommon and some possible explanations are given to account for its rarity.

Some Limitations on the Interpretation of Specular Reflection Spectra with an Application to Solid CO.

A simple theoretical framework is used to calculate specular reflection spectra in the vicinity of an absorption band in a solid. The energy of the reflectivity peak is shown to differ from the energy of the absorption band even at normal incidence with thick samples and with thin film samples supported on a substrate. By considering the absorption band system of solid CO, synthetic reflection spectra of the Fourth Positive System of solid CO at 45 degrees incidence are obtained that successfully match the experimental results, including striking time-dependent changes.