Morphometry of the cervical spine of emu using the hydrostatic method / Morfometría de la columna cervical de emu usando el método hidrostático

The study aimed at estimating the values of basic metric traits of emu cervical vertebrae. The study was conducted on the vertebrae of 6 male and 10 female emus being fourteen years old. Osteometric measurements were performed with electronic callipers, while the hydrostatic method was used to assess the density and volume of each vertebra. The sex of birds was considered a source of variation. The cervical spine had 17 vertebrae. Dimorphism was found in basic metric traits between analogous emu vertebrae of both sexes. The female vertebrae were characterised by significantly (P≤0.05 and P≤0.01) greater length, breadth and height than the male ones. No dimorphic differences were found in the volume of bone mass for vertebrae 1 to 8, whereas female vertebrae 9 to 17 had greater (P≤0.05) volume compared to the male ones. Correlation coefficients for body weight, vertebra volume and spinal canal capacity were weak. The sum of the length of vertebral bodies determining the length of neck showed significantly (P≤0.01) longer necks in female emus. No narrowing and extensions of the vertebral canal for the spinal cord running in it was found throughout the whole cervical spine.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo la estimación de los valores de los rasgos métricos básicos de las vértebras cervicales del Emu. El estudio se realizó en vértebras de 6 machos y 10 hembras Emu de catorce años. Las mediciones osteométricas se realizaron con pinzas electrónicas, mientras que el método hidrostático se usó para evaluar la densidad y el volumen de cada vértebra. El sexo de las aves se consideró como una variación. La columna cervical contaba con 17 vértebras. Se encontró dismorfismo en rasgos métricos básicos entre vértebras análogas de ambos sexos. Las vértebras de las hembras se caracterizaron por una longitud, ancho y altura significativamente mayor (P≤0,05 y P≤0,01) a las de los machos. No se encontraron diferencias dismórficas en el volumen de masa ósea para las vértebras 1 a 8, mientras que las vértebras de las hembras 9 a 17 tuvieron un volumen mayor (P≤0,05) en comparación con los machos. Los coeficientes de correlación para el peso corporal, el volumen de la vértebra y la capacidad del canal espinal fueron débiles. La suma de la longitud de los cuerpos vertebrales que determina la longitud del cuello mostró significativamente (P≤0.01) cuellos más largos en las hembras. No se observaron estrechamientos y extensiones del canal vertebral para la médula espinal que se encuentra en toda la columna cervical.

An ode to Cimino.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to ascertain whether a Cimino First policy can be implemented successfully in tertiary practice using a standardized technique. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. All first radial-cephalic (Cimino) fistulas placed by a single surgeon in incident patients were studied. A standardized surgical technique was used paying attention to the dorsal cephalic branch. No balloon maturation or early surveillance was performed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using survfit function in R (Vienna) was applied. RESULTS: Fifty-seven (69%) of 83 new accesses were radial cephalic fistulas. Of these, 44 (77.2%) were men. The patients were aged 17 to 83 (mean 54.1; SD 14.6) years. Whites comprised of 21 (36.8%), maori 18 (31.6%), and pacific islanders 16 (28.1%). Comorbidities included diabetes in 32 (56.1%), hypertension in 47 (82.5%), and hyperlipidemia in 25 (46.3%; n=54). Twenty-six (45.6%) were pre-dialysis. Mean body mass index was 30.74 (SD 6.9) Kg/m² (n=56). Mean vein diameter was 3.3 mm (range 2.1-6.2 mm; n=36). Twenty-six (45.6%) had had previous central lines. Forty-four (77.2%) fistulas matured. Mean maturation time was 14.0 weeks. Thirty-six (63.2%) were used for dialysis while eight patients remained pre-dialysis with patent fistulas. Primary patency at one year and 18 months was 69.2% and 57.4% respectively. The figures for assisted primary patency were 85.6% and 72.3% respectively. Secondary patency was 87.6% and 83.9% at one and two years. CONCLUSIONS: Cimino fistulas can be performed in a majority of patients with good results using a standardized surgical technique. The importance of the dorsal cephalic branch needs to be studied.

[Scintigraphic assessment of abnormal lymphatic function in edema of the lower limbs in patients with venous leg ulcers]. / Scyntygraficzna ocena zaburzen krazenia chlonki w obrzeku konczyn dolnych u chorych z owrzodzeniem zylnym goleni.

UNLABELLED: Venous ulceration of the legs is a complication of chronic venous insufficiency. Its pathogenesis together with the coexisting participation of insufficiency of the lymphatic system has not been fully explained. Clinical observations have shown that some of afflicted patients develop marked edema of the ulcerated extremity. The purpose of the studies performed with the use of lymphoscintigraphic radioisotopic method was the evaluation of the role of abnormal lymphatic function in the development of edema of the extremity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The scintigraphic investigation with the use of human albumin labeled with 99mTc (Nanocoll) was performed in 43 patients with venous ulceration of one lower limb. A passage time of the colloid from the foot to the inguinal lymph nodes and its accumulation in the lymphatic system were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean passage time of the radiopharmaceutic from the foot to the groin of the ulcerated extremities was statistically significantly longer than that on the opposite side (20 min, SD 15 min 30 s vs. 12 min 30 s, SD 12 min 30 s; p < 0.001). The signs of obstruction of the lymphatic vessels were revealed in 16 out of 43 ulcerated extremities (37%) and in 4 out of 43 extremities without ulceration (9%; p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Lymphoscintigraphy has shown abnormal lymphatic function in patients with ulceration and edema of lower limb. 2. In the group of patient with venous lower leg ulcers a longer passage time of the lymph in the afflicted extremity was revealed. 3. In over 1/3 of the examined lower extremities with venous ulceration the signs of obstruction of the lymphatic vessels were found.