Complications of surgery for discogenic disease of the spine

Disc disease is benign and not life threatening. Its long-term prognosis is uncertain, and spontaneous recoveries are common. The decision to perform surgery thus carries with it a heavy responsibility to provide safe treatment. "Good safe surgical technique" is essential, but it is much more than a well-rehearsed routine procedure. From preoperative evaluation to surgery to postoperative care, the surgeon must look ahead to problems that might arise. Where anticipated risks cannot be avoided, they should be minimized, and when adverse events occur, active recognition will lead to early and accurate management.     

Relationship of senescence of corn (Zea mays L.) stalk pith, cob parenchyma and first developed leaf tissues to RNA content and synthesis

In stalk parenchyma tissue of WF9 X 38-11 single corn (Zea mays L.), there was a per cell increase in RNA synthesis and a slight increase in total RNA as cells became older. In cob parenchyma tissue of WF9 X 38-11 single cross corn, both total RNA content and RNA synthesis per cell decreased with the age of cells. In first developed leaf tissue of FR43 X FR14A single cross corn, RNA synthesis increased steadily but only slightly over its life span. The pattern of RNA synthesis and destruction in senescing leaf tissue of seedlings and two sources of parenchyma tissue of maturing plants appeared to differ.     

Chronic hypersensitivity lung disease with recurrent episodes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to a contaminated central humidifer

A child with a 4-year history of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms of unknown aetiology was investigated for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Lung disease due to inhalation of material from a contaminated central humidifier was suggested by the clinical history, the presence of precipitating antibodies in the serum against the humidifier water, a pulmonary response to challenge with the humidifier water, and marked improvement after removal of the humidifier. No fungi were cultured from the humidifier nor were antibodies against a number of fungal antigens identified by radioimmunoassay inhibition techniques. Antigenic material was found in the humidifier water and the household water prior to its reaching the humidifier. This antigenic material was not found in laboratory tap water supplied from the same general source (Lake Michigan) but from a different pumping station. Three of the child's siblings gave histories suggestive of a single concurrent episode of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis and one sibling had a history suggestive of chronic hypersensitivity lung disease. No association could be found between HLA-haplotypy and disease in the patient and the siblings.     

Isolation, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data of aspartate aminotransferase from chicken heart mitochondria

A series of 238 hydronephrotic kidneys in 219 children is reported. The condition was more common in the male than in the female subject and occurred more frequently on the left side. It was often bilateral, especially in infants, with an abdominal mass as the common presenting feature. Loin or abdominal pain was the most frequent complaint in older children. In some cases hydronephrosis presented as a ruptured kidney following trauma. Only 1 patient was hypertensive. The lesion was asymptomatic in 18 cases and the incidence of urinary infection was low. Dismembered pyeloureteroplasty was the procedure of choice for reconstruction. Preliminary nephrostomy was used rarely and nephrectomy was done in 10 per cent of the kidneys. Of the 7 reoperations 4 were for persistent obstruction and 3 were because stones had formed after the pyeloplasty. The late results, assessed clinically and radiologically, have been entirely satisfactory. Many kidneys of initially doubtful value showed useful improvement after reconstructive operation and no secondary nephrectomies were performed. The only death in the series occurred 2 1/2 years postoperatively and was unrelated to the urinary tract.