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Summary A new experimental model was designed in which the regeneration of rat femoral nerve across a 8 mm excised gap was investigated after insertion of the distal and proximal stumps into the anatomically and functionally intact femoral artery (AIAB). This model was compared with groups of free artery and autologous nerve grafting. After a period of 12 weeks, a histological and electrophysiological analysis was carried out, which demonstrated that the AIAB and autologous nerve grafting group had a significantly higher percentage of regeneration compared with the free artery-graft group. The nerve regeneration and intraneural vascular reconstruction that occured within AIAB group were more successful than those that occured in the artery and nerve-grafting groups.

AimsTo assess ocular surface changes in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), to compare the results with the degree of corneo-conjunctival calcium deposits, and to determine whether precipitation of calcium salts predisposes ocular surface modifications.MethodsImpression cytology from 50 CRF patients on regular haemodialysis and 22 age and sex matched control subjects were studied. Specimens were obtained from the temporal bulbar conjunctiva using cellulose acetate filter paper. The samples were fixed in 95% ethanol, stained with the periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stain, and evaluated by light microscopy and were graded by a masked observer. Corneo-conjunctival calcification was graded by the Porter and Crombie classification.ResultsIn the study group, three patients (6%) disclosed grade 0, 14 patients (28%) grade 1, and 33 patients (66%) grade 2-3 cytological changes. There was a statistically significant difference between the patient and the control groups (p= 0.0007), but no correlation could be found between the impression cytology grades and the calcium deposit grades (p=0.62).ConclusionThe ocular surfaces of CRF patients differ significantly from those of normal individuals, and it can be detected using impression cytology. These data suggest that the severity of conjunctival changes are not related to the presence or extent of calcium deposition.

Abstract:  Calcific myonecrosis is a rare and late sequela of compartment syndrome, which becomes symptomatic years after the initial trauma. We diagnosed this condition in a 64-year old man, 42 years after he sustained a shot-gun wound to the right lower leg. Total excision of a peripherally calcified, cystic mass, continuous with the anterior tibial muscle belly resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. Consideration of the diagnosis is warranted in patients with a history of major injury who develop a soft tissue mass in the traumatized compartment. The treatment of choice is marginal excision.

Abstract: Verrucous carcinoma is a rare, well-differentiated and very low grade carcinoma of the skin with a low potential for metastasis. The ear is an unusual location for this tumor. On the other hand, although renal allograft recipients are at increased risk for the development of cancer, the incidence of verrucous carcinoma in these patients is extremely low. A patient who developed verrucous carcinoma on the concha of the auricle following renal transplantation is presented. The lesion was treated by limited surgical excision and without recurrence after 6 months. This clinicopathologic entity has not previously been reported to occur on the ear in this patient population.

Dermabacterspecies are commonly isolated from the skin and other body sites but rarely show pathogenicity in humans. A case ofDermabacter hominiscerebral abscess is reported which presented as a contrast-enhancing intracranial mass in a renal tranplant patient.