Neoplasms of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) although rare are a potential source of anterior knee pain and swelling. Masses comprised of cartilage and/or osseous tissues within the IFP have been reported with marked inconsistency. Diagnosis is based upon radiographic, surgical, and histologic characteristics. As a result, multiple terms and variable nomenclature have been used to describe these masses. We present a case of a benign cartilage neoplasm of the IFP that was successfully treated with surgical excision and a review of case reports and series of similar masses to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of intrinsic osseous and chondral neoplasms of the IFP.
There are two subfamilies of murid rodents whose members possess spacious internal cheek pouches with retractor muscles: Cricetinae and Cricetomyinae. In cricetine hamsters, the pouch is retracted by a muscle derived from the trapezius muscle group and innervated by cranial nerve XI. In contrast, two of the three genera of African cricetomyines have a pouch retractor derived from facial muscles and innervated by cranial nerve VII. The third cricetomyine, Cricetomys gambianus , was described as having a pouch-retractor muscle (Vorontsov, 1979), but in the three specimens that I dissected no retractor was found. Based on cheek-pouch morphology, I hypothesize that cricetomyines and cricetines each form monophyletic groups derived from a common ancestor and that cheek pouches and retractor muscles evolved independently in these two subfamilies of murid rodents.
Purpose: To examine the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) after flexible cystoscopy (FC) and determine whether prophylactic norfloxacin reduces this incidence compared with placebo. Patients and Methods: A double-blind trial was performed, randomizing 234 patients to either 400 mg of norfloxacin or placebo prior to FC. All patients provided a midstream urine specimen (MSU) before the procedure, as well as at day 3 and day 7 after FC. In addition, a telephone questionnaire was performed to correlate the nature and severity of any symptoms associated with UTI. Results: Interim analysis was performed because of the low recruitment rate, and a significantly lower infection rate than expected meant that the trial was discontinued. There was one symptomatic UTI in the placebo group (0.82%) and one in the norfloxacin group (0.89%). The UTI in the placebo group was de novo, while the infection in the norfloxacin group was secondary to pre-FC bacteriuria. There was no difference in the infection rates in the two groups. The overall infection rate (de novo and secondary to existing bacteruria) after FC was 0.85%. Conclusion: Infection after flexible cystoscopy is rare and not associated with significant morbidity. A much larger study would be required to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduces the rate of postprocedure UTI.
Distal radius fractures are one of the most common fractures seen in orthopaedics. These fractures may be treated surgically or conservatively depending on patient-related and radiographic factors. Displaced fractures should be reduced in the acute setting to better align the fracture fragments and a splint applied to hold the fracture in this position. Fractures that are acceptably reduced may be treated conservatively with casting and close radiographic follow-up to ensure maintained alignment. In this video, we describe our technique for closed reduction of distal radius fractures and review important factors that guide treatment.
Students often treat laboratory equipment as a black box with little knowledge of how scientific instrumentation works to gather data. We are creating interdisciplinary classrooms where students gain confidence to build and understand tools to solve biological questions as future scientists. We describe student construction, use and assessment of our Do-It-Yourself (DIY) fluorescence imaging microscope. Students were first introduced to principles of fluorescence microscopy and Drosophila neurogenetics through lecture material, readings and online resources. Mixed teams of 2-3 Biology and Engineering students assembled their own imaging microscopes with the following parts: 20X objective lens, excitation and emission filters and dichroic mirror, CMOS camera, 3-D printed holders and housings for these parts, and a student-built LED light source (total parts/microscope cost ~$1000). Construction was guided by pre-recorded build videos and assistance from course instructors and teaching assistants. Student teams tested their microscope by collecting images from prepared slides with GFP fluorescence in fly synaptic boutons. Teams also acquired images from living fly larval preparations in two simple experiments. These compared fluorescence intensity before and during application of a high potassium saline that: 1) released GFP-labelled neuropeptide from fly synaptic boutons, and 2) activated glutamate neurons expressing GCaMP. They analyzed images for fluorescence intensity and adjusted and colorized images with ImageJ. Assessment of the student learning experience was conducted for two Spring 2021 undergraduate laboratory courses at Cornell University (BioNB/BME/ECE 4910, Principles of Neurophysiology and BioNB 4300, Experimental Molecular Biology) and a Fall 2021 undergraduate Neurobiology laboratory course (Neurobiology 340) at Hobart and William Smith colleges. Students rated statements on all the following topics highly positive: knowledge of fluorescence imaging principles, affective experience of building and understanding the instrumentation, working in teams and clarity of guidance during the microscope build and use sessions. We continue our DIY efforts to expand the teaching, learning and research toolbox for physiology students and faculty.
Rationale: Experimental studies suggest that pretreatment with β-agonists might prevent acute lung injury (ALI).Objectives: To determine if in adult patients undergoing elective esophagectomy, perioperative treatment with inhaled β-agonists effects the development of early ALI.Methods: We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial in 12 UK centers (2008–2011). Adult patients undergoing elective esophagectomy were allocated to prerandomized, sequentially numbered treatment packs containing inhaled salmeterol (100 μg twice daily) or a matching placebo. Patients, clinicians, and researchers were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was development of ALI within 72 hours of surgery. Secondary outcomes were ALI within 28 days, organ failure, adverse events, survival, and health-related quality of life. An exploratory substudy measured biomarkers of alveolar-capillary inflammation and injury.Measurements and Main Results: A total of 179 patients were randomized to salmeterol and 183 to placebo. Baseline characteristics were similar. Treatment with salmeterol did not prevent early lung injury (32 [19.2%] of 168 vs. 27 [16.0%] of 170; odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71–2.22). There was no difference in organ failure, survival, or health-related quality of life. Adverse events were less frequent in the salmeterol group (55 vs. 70; OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.39–0.99), predominantly because of a lower number of pneumonia (7 vs. 17; OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16–0.96). Salmeterol reduced some biomarkers of alveolar inflammation and epithelial injury.Conclusion: Perioperative treatment with inhaled salmeterol was well tolerated but did not prevent ALI.Clinical trial registered with International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Register (ISRCTN47481946) and European Union database of randomized Controlled Trials (EudraCT 2007-004096-19).
