Teaching transurethral prostatic resection using cadaver bladder.

STUDY DESIGN: This study used geometric measurement criteria to assess the incidence of a trefoil spinal canal configuration in neonates. OBJECTIVES: To examine the shape of the neonatal lumbar vertebral canal with regard to its shape and the incidence of trefoilness. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Many studies consider the trefoil canal to be a developmental feature. Because of a lack of neonatal samples it is still unknown whether some individuals are prone to develop a trefoil spinal canal because of genetically determined factors. METHODS: The last two lumbar vertebrae of 31 term neonatal cadavers from the collection of the Anatomy Department of Ondokuz Mayis University were examined. After removal, the vertebrae were processed and embedded in paraffin blocks to enable accurate sectioning at the pedicle level. Subsequently, unmagnified images were obtained through a color photocopy machine. These two-dimensional images were digitalized, and accurate measurements were made to determine the circularity and the trefoilness. RESULTS: Trefoilness assessment indicated that the trefoil-shaped spinal canal does not exist in newborns. The spinal canal at this age is mostly dome-shaped. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with the previous hypotheses made by other authors, the authors of this study found that the trefoil shape of the lumbar vertebra does not occur at the end of the intrauterine period.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1997

Elevated soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels found among kidney transplant recipients.

Although previous studies have not demonstrated a clear correlation between interleukin (IL) 2 receptor levels and immunological events after transplantation, many still suggest that these levels have clinical utility. A total of 759 serial measurements of both IL-2R and creatinine were compared over time and correlated with rejection episodes, clinical course, and immunosuppression. The profiles for the 40 patients showed several patterns, including correlation with changes in creatinine levels or with renal dysfunction, peaks in the absence of clinical findings, and discordant IL-2R and creatinine levels. Wide baseline variations in IL-2R levels confounded comparison of mean values and definition of a statistically significant rise. While tending to correlate with immunological events, elevations in IL-2R also occurred in clinically normal patients. IL-2R appears to lack specificity for immunological events. Thus, we conclude that IL-2R measurement does not have clinical diagnostic utility for monitoring renal transplant recipients.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1997

A noninvasive, three-dimensional spinal motion analysis method.

STUDY DESIGN: A three-dimensional, noninvasive motion analysis method was developed by monitoring the orientation of the principal axes of each vertebra. OBJECTIVES: To develop a method of performing three-dimensional, noninvasive motion analysis of the spine using computed tomography data. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The concept of using principal axes of the moment of inertia tensor to measure the orientation and position of a rigid body has been applied to the wrist and subtalar joints, but has not yet been applied to the spine. METHODS: Scans were taken of two isolated vertebrae in various known positions. Centroids, area, moments, and product of inertia of each scan were determined using a commercial program. Custom software combined data using the parallel axis theorem to give three-dimensional data for each vertebra. Changes in the centroid and principal axes were used to calculate translation and rotation, respectively. RESULTS: The system accuracy was within 1.0 degree in rotation and 1.0 mm in translation. Some errors occurred in minor motions when a smaller number of scans were used. System resolution was 0.43 mm. CONCLUSIONS: A system has been developed capable of calculating three-dimensional spinal motion based on measurements of a series of computed tomography images. The system has an accuracy similar to that of current motion analysis methods, but future studies will be necessary to apply this system in vivo.

Cadaver↗