Spiral Cord Research Articles

The “Bothropoma” species in the Red Sea

The use of the genus Bothropoma for Red Sea colloniid species is incorrect. Of the four presumptive Red Sea species one of them usually indicated as Bothropoma bellula (H. Adams, 1873) is not a Colloniinae but probably belongs to the subfamily Liotopomatinae and is here considered a junior synonym of Depressipoma (?) pentegoniostoma (Carpenter, 1856). The shells of the other species are to be attributed to the genus Neocollonia and are very variable, but in general they can be distinguished on the basis of the development of three major spiral cords of the body whorl: Neocollonia pilula (Dunker, 1860) has a rounded profile without any protruding spiral cord and Neocollonia isseli (Thiele, 1924) has a rounded/angulated shell mainly with first spiral cord here termed number 1 protruding. These two Neocollonia may even be extreme morphs of the same species, but only molecular investigation will allow testing this hypothesis. Neocollonia munda (H. Adams, 1873) has a slightly flattened body whorl with similarly prominent spiral cords here named number 2 and 3. I consider the recently described species Neocollonia diversicolor, N. splendida and N. kantori (all Poppe Tagaro & Huang, 2023) within the intraspecific variation of N. pilula and thus junior synonyms.

Microbiomic and transcriptomic insight into the pathogenesis of meningitis-like disease in cultured Pelophylax nigromaculatus

In recent years, a deadly infectious disease named frog meningitis (or cataract and torticollis) raged the frog farms in China. Diseased frogs manifested torticollis, cataract, edema, and finally died. Yet, the molecular pathogenesis of this disease has not been studied. In this study, the etiologic factor of frog meningitis broken in a black-spotted frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) farm was investigated by comparative microbiomics (brain, eyeball, and intestine). And the pathogenesis of two major types of symptomatic frogs (individuals with both torticollis and cataract and individuals with only torticollis) were investigated by histopathological section and comparative transcriptomics of brain, liver, and muscle. Our results indicated that Elizabethkingia bacteria had increased proportions in the brain and eyeball microbiomes (but not intestine microbiomes) of both types of symptomatic frogs, and E. miricola was dominant in the eyeball and brain microbiomes of most torticollis-cataract frogs. In the torticollis-only individuals, vascular congestion and reduced hepatic fat can be detected in their leptomeninges vessels and liver, respectively. While in the torticollis-cataract ones, we observed additional leukocyte extravasation in their leptomeninges vessel, and neurologic damage in their brain and spiral cord. Transcriptional analyses suggested that frogs could be well divided into asymptomatic, torticollis-only, and torticollis-cataract groups by the variation of their brain transcriptomes. The upregulated brain genes in symptomatic frogs were mainly enriched in immune-related pathways. And the Toll-like receptor and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, inflammation, and adaptive humoral immunity were activated in response to E. miricola infection. Torticollis-only and torticollis-cataract individuals differed in the level of immune gene expression remarkably, and the emerge of cataract symptom indicated the onset of strong innate immune and inflammatory responses. Overall, our results suggested that E. miricola was likely the etiologic factor of meningitis emerged in this farm. In regards to pathological stages, the infection progressed to leptomeninges invasion in torticollis-only individuals, while it had caused meningitis in torticollis-cataract ones. Correspondingly, the torticollis symptom was likely due to leptomeninges infection, and the cataract was likely a concomitant symptom of meningitis due to disruption of vascular permeability during excessive inflammation. Our results provided a first molecular insight into the pathogenesis of frog meningitis.

The Colt – A New Simplified Branched Stent-Graft for Treatment of Taaas

Introduction - The mortality rate is 25% when thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is excluded with the open surgical technique. Treatment with the use of branched and fenestrated stent-grafts is still developing. At the moment there is no existing off-the-shelf device accommodating the majority of TAAA anatomical variations. The author and co-inventor in one person presents the development process of the new device dedicated to repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Methods - The initial project concentrated on creating a “docking station,” which could be the main module of the entire prosthesis, therefore allowing its safe implantation with possible proximal or distal extension. By design it allows one to catheterize all side branches downward. The Colt stent-graft is a custom-made self-expanding device composed of nitinol metal stents of different shapes, creating a unique exoskeleton covered with polyester material. The stent-graft consists of a tapered tube with a diameter of 33 mm or 36 mm in the proximal part and 18 mm in the distal part. The length of the covered part is 175 mm. The tapered tube reduces diameter twice in mid-portion and is surrounded with four caudally directed small side branches - two shorter and two longer (19 and 22 mm in length), with diameters of 8mm and 6mm respectively, which are located in the 2, 4, 8 and 10 o’clock positions. For better fixation, a free-flow bare spring was added in the proximal end. The device is delivered through a 24-F system. Since August 2015 ten Colt stentgrafts were implanted in nine males and one female, aged 56 to 75 with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (six Type II, three Type III, one Type IV). Two patients underwent open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm with implantation of tube prosthesis in the past. The balloon expandable and self-expandable stent-grafts were used for creating the branches in all cases. Results - All procedures were performed under general anesthesia from open axillary and femoral access. In extended aneurysm the procedure was divided into two or three steps to avoid spiral cord ischaemia. In six cases thoracic stent-graft was implanted as a first step. In two cases there was a need to modify the initial procedure plan due to problems with the cannulation of the left renal artery. In both cases a custom made stent-graft with upward branch was implanted. There were no intraoperative deaths. One patient died on the 7th postoperative day due to multiorgan failure after myocardial infarction. All prostheses remain patent, which has been confirmed in angioCT. No complications were noted during follow-up, except two Type II endoleaks detected, which were left for further observation. Conclusion - This branched stent-graft designed for the treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms allows for the procedure to be staged at any time and lets the operator work selectively on each branch vessel. The initial clinical results are very promising. The future plans include customisation of the device. Wider application of this prosthesis may have a significant impact on simplifying the treatment of aneurysms with very complex anatomy.

Taxonomic review of Inella and Strobiligera (Gastropoda: Triphoridae) from Brazil.

Taxonomic review of Inella and Strobiligera (Gastropoda: Triphoridae) from Brazil.

Comparative Morphometry of the Genus Thais from Nembe, Bakana and Calabar

Aim: Morphometry of Thais spp found in the Niger Delta Mangrove vegetation of Bakana, Calabar and Nembe were examined and compared.
 Study Design: The study is a cross-sectional observational study
 Place and Duration of Study: The study ws carried out in Bakana, Calabar and Nembe during a period of six months(January to June, 2018).
 Methodology: A total of 600 specimens (100 specimens per month) were collected during a period of six months (January to June 2018) from the three sampling communities. Three different species were identified namely: Thais coronata, Thais haemastoma and Thais lacera. Shell dimensions were measured to the nearest millimeter using Vernier calipers and weighed, to get the morphometric Characteristics: Whorl Diameter (WD), Shell length (SL), Shell width (SW), Body whorl length (BWL), Aperture length (AL), Aperture Width (AW) Shell Breadth (SB), and Animal Weight (AW). Number of whorls, number of primary spiral cord on the body and number of ridges or teeth inside of outer tip of the aperture were counted.
 Results: The disparity between the morphometric traits across the different species identified were minimal as most of the species had similar values of morphometric traits. However, differences can be identified using their colour; thais coronata (dirty light grey), T haemastoma (light grey), and T lacera (plane grey). The Three (3) species had a modal length class of 3.5cm to 4.5cm. Thais coronata and Thais lacera had a modal weight class of 9-11grams while Thais haemastoma had a modal weight class of 6-7grams. It was observed with the aid of length/weight relationship that the found in all study.
 Conclusion: It was observed with the aid of length/weight relationship that the Thais specimen found in all study locations exhibited a very weak linear relationship with very low R2 values across locations. The exponent b of Thais coronata and Thais haemastoma and T. lacera across the three study locations indicate a negative allometric growth pattern. The Month of April for samples collected from Nembe had the highest condition factor for the three (3) species. T. coronata (4.4), T. lacera (6.38) and T haemastoma (5.5).

"The Serpentine Zone": A Surgeon's Guide to the Surface Anatomy of the Digital Neurovascular Spiral in Dupuytren's Contracture.

The anatomy of the cords that form in Dupuytren's disease is complicated and a spiral cord is the most challenging variant to address. It displaces the neurovascular bundle toward or beyond the midline and closer to the skin. This article illustrates the surface anatomy of the neurovascular spiral to help surgeons identify this zone of danger that the authors term "the serpentine zone." Careful dissection in this zone will help avoid iatrogenic digital neurovascular injury.

A new species of the genus Ammonicera (Prosobranchia, Omalogyridae) in a coralline algae community from Jeju Island, off the south coast of Korea

A species of the genus Ammonicera Vayssiere, 1893 collected from coralline algae communities in Jeju Island, South Korea, is described as a new species, A. aurea, for science. Its morphological characters are described and illustrated by SEM micrographs. This new species can be clearly distinguished from other Ammonicera species from the Pacific Ocean by the presence of a spiral cord and about 25 slightly-elevated axial ribs, resulting in about 25 nodules at intersecting points of the cord and ribs on the last whorl of the teleoconch.

Involvement of the Interosseous and Lumbrical Muscle-Tendon Units in the Lateral and Spiral Cords in Dupuytren's Disease of the Middle Fingers.

The nature of intrinsic muscle involvement in Dupuytren's disease of the middle fingers (long and ring) remains poorly characterized. Over the years, the authors have observed that both the spiral and lateral digital cords in the middle fingers receive contribution from intrinsic muscle-tendon units. This report describes the anatomical characteristics and frequency of intrinsic muscle-tendon unit involvement in Dupuytren's disease of the middle fingers. Intrinsic muscle involvement in the middle digits was recorded in the operative reports of patients undergoing Dupuytren's surgery between October of 2013 and February of 2016. The anatomical variations of diseased fascia were delineated and classified. Of the 113 digits with Dupuytren's contracture operated on during this period, 52 involved the middle fingers (12 long and 40 ring fingers). Intrinsic muscles were found to be involved in the contracture of 14 of these digits. Two unique contracture patterns were identified: type I contracture, which involves a lateral digital cord originating from intrinsic muscle-tendon units and contracting only the proximal interphalangeal joint; and type II contracture, which involves a spiral cord receiving contribution from intrinsic muscle-tendon units and contracting both the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. The frequency of type I and type II contractures was 6 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Intrinsic hand muscles may contribute to Dupuytren's disease in the middle digits, and the authors suggest resecting cords as close as possible to their musculotendinous origin to improve postoperative outcomes.

Two Species of the GenusStrobiligera(Caenogastropoda: Triphoridae) with a Multispiral Protoconch in Southeastern Brazil

The genus Strobiligera Dall, 1924, sometimes treated as a synonym of Inella Bayle, 1879, included up to now species geographically restricted to the North Atlantic Ocean, usually occurring at great depths. The present study records the genus Strobiligera in the South Atlantic Ocean, with the recognition of two species in Southeastern Brazil. The shell of Strobiligera delicata sp. nov., which has a white teleoconch and a light brown protoconch, is very similar in general coloration to the shells of Strobiligera georgiana (Dall, 1927) comb. nov. and Strobiligera indigena (Dall, 1927) comb, nov., both from the southeastern coast of the United States. However, S. delicata differs from those species in shell shape, number of axial cords on the teleoconch and earlier development of the adapical spiral cord of the teleoconch. Strobiligera inaudita (Rolán and Lee, 2008) comb, nov., previously known from the southern coast of the United States, is diagnosed by a teleoconch with adapical and abapical spiral cords tinted with brown and white nodules, and by a completely white median spiral cord. Strobiligera delicata, S. inaudita, S. georgiana and S. indigena have multispiral protoconchs, similar to those of their congeneric species from the East Atlantic (Europe and North Africa) and Mediterranean. Other species of Strobiligera from the Caribbean and neighboring areas, including the type species Triforis ibex Dall, 1881, have a paucispiral protoconch. Hence, the generic allocation of species with a multispiral protoconch to Strobiligera cannot be considered definitive, and should be confirmed by subsequent anatomical studies of species with different modes of development.

Fully integrated circuit chip of microelectronic neural bridge

Nerve tracts interruption is one of the major reasons for dysfunction after spiral cord injury. The microelectronic neural bridge is a method to restore function of interrupted neural pathways, by making use of microelectronic chips to bypass the injured nerve tracts. A low-power fully integrated microelectronic neural bridge chip is designed, using CSMC 0.5-μm CMOS technology. The structure and the key points in the circuit design will be introduced in detail. In order to meet the requirement for implantation, the circuit was modified to avoid the use of off-chip components, and fully monolithic integration is achieved. The operating voltage of the circuit is ±2.5 V, and the chip area is 1.21 × 1.18 mm2. According to the characteristic of neural signal, the time-domain method is used in testing. The pass bandwidth of the microelectronic neural bridge system covers the whole frequency range of the neural signal, power consumption is 4.33 mW, and the gain is adjustable. The design goals are achieved.

The "whirlpool sign", a US finding in partial torsion of the spermatic cord: 4 cases.

The "whirlpool sign", a US finding in partial torsion of the spermatic cord: 4 cases.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Displaced Neurovascular Bundle in Dupuytren Disease

Neurovascular injury is a serious complication after surgery for Dupuytren disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the cord and the neurovascular bundle ultrasonographically. We included 22 healthy volunteers and 14 Dupuytren disease patients (25 fingers) in this study. We evaluated the cord and the digital artery with high-resolution ultrasound. We first investigated the effect of the angle of metacarpophalangeal joint on the position of the radial and ulnar digital arteries in volunteers without evidence of Dupuytren disease. We compared 3 parameters of the radial and ulnar digital arteries, including differences in depth, differences in lateral shift, and the shape of the cross-section of the artery, between volunteers and patients with Dupuytren disease. None of these parameters changed with flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of 0°, 30°, and 60°. Digital arteries and cords could be identified ultrasonographically in all patients, and we confirmed ultrasonographic findings by operative findings in 13 fingers. We classified the fingers into 3 subgroups based on the ultrasonographic findings: type A (n = 13), in which the cord was above the artery; type B (n = 5), in which the cord was below the artery; and type C (n = 7), in which the cord was located between the radial and ulnar digital arteries. Types A, B, and C corresponded to natatory cord/abductor digiti minimi cord, spiral cord, and central cord, respectively. Comparisons among volunteers and patient subgroups showed that the difference in depth in type B patients was significantly larger than that of the other groups. When we set the cutoff point of the difference in depth to 3 mm, sensitivity and specificity to detect the spiral cord were 80% and 76%, respectively. The relationship between the neurovascular bundle and the type of Dupuytren disease cord can be evaluated by high-resolution ultrasound. Diagnostic III.

Description of a new species of Calliostoma (Gastropoda, Calliostomatidae) from Southeastern Brazil

Calliostoma tupinamba isa new species from Southeastern Brazil, ranging from southern Rio de Janeiro to northern São Paulo, and found only on coastal islands, on rocks and sessile invertebrates at 3 to 5 meters of depth. Shell and soft part morphology is described here in detail. Calliostoma tupinamba is mainly characterized by a depressed trochoid shell; eight slightly convex whorls; a sharply suprasutural carina starting on the third whorl and forming a peripheral rounded keel; and a whitish, funnel-shaped and deep umbilicus, measuring about 5%–10% of maximum shell width. Calliostoma tupinamba resembles Calliostoma bullisi Clench & Turner, 1960 in shape, but differs from it in being taller and wider, having a smaller umbilicus and lacking a strong and large innermost spiral cord at its base. Finally, an identification key of Brazilian Calliostoma species is presented.

New species and records of Scissurellidae and Anatomidae from the Americas (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda)

New Scissurellidae and Anatomidae from the geographic and political Americas are described, with many long-standing misidentifications being corrected, and some comparisons to described species complementing the contribution. Sinezona kayae n. sp., previously mis-identified as the South African Sin. insignis, and Sin. hawaiiensis n. sp. without a selenizone, are described from Hawaii. Sinezona carolarum n. sp. is added to the Panamic province with a more depressed shell than the more common Sin. rimuloides (Carpenter, 1865), and a proportionally shorter selenizone. Coronadoa demisispira n. sp. from the Panamic and northeastern Pacific provinces is the third species in the genus, living sympatrically in the southern range of C. simonsae Bartsch, 1946. The new species is characterized by a shell with lower profile and a wider umbilicus. Anatoma alternatisculpta n. sp. from the Caribbean is most similar to A. proxima (Dall, 1927), but has conspicuously different sculpture on shoulder and base. Anatoma plicatazona n. sp. from the Caribbean has markedly upturned keels of the selenizone. Anatoma disciformis (Golikov & Sirenko, 1980) is reported from Alaska and illustrated for the first time by SEM. Thieleella kelseyi (Dall, 1905) is resurrected for what has previously been misidentified as the European Anatoma crispata (Fleming, 1828) in the northeastern Pacific, with a neotype designated, as the holotype is missing. Thieleella peruviana n. sp. from Peru is similar to T. kelseyi but has a taller shell and differs in the morphology of lateral tooth 5 of the radula. Thieleella bathypacifica n. sp. from the Panamic province is a deep-water species (2500 m), and known from a single specimen only. The species shows a marked angulation on teleoconch I at the spiral cord in the position of the selenizone; additionally it has a radula with marginal teeth showing a distinct posterior food groove. The bodies of two species (T. kelseyi, T. peruviana) were examined by SEM. An accessory cephalic tentacle between the anterior most epipodial tentacle and the eye stalk was encountered. The epipodial sense organ is recognized for the first time in Anatomidae, and the presence of bursicles on the gill is confirmed.

A new deep-sea species of Mitromorpha (Gastropoda: Conoidea: Conidae) off Brazil

A new species of Conidae is described from Brazilian waters. Mitromorpha santosi sp. nov. from the Continental Slope off the state of Rio Grande do Norte (north-east Brazil: 04°50′60″–04°51′40″s, 35°06′01″–35°06′46″W) is compared with M. biplicata (western Atlantic), M. usta (eastern Atlantic), M. dalli (north-eastern Atlantic), M. popeae (West Indies), M. undulate (West Indies) and two unnamed Brazilian species being diagnosed as possessing strong axial ribs, second spiral cord on the body whorl more pronounced and yellowish-brown spiral bands. In addition, a lectotype for Mitromorpha undulata, is designated herein.

Digital Neuropathy of the Median and Ulnar Nerves Caused by Dupuytren's Contracture

Digital neuropathy is a pure sensory neuropathy of a digital nerve. It may be caused by acute or chronic local trauma or pressure, or accompany systemic illnesses such as rheumatoid disease, leprosy, Raynaud disease, dysproteinemia, or diabetes mellitus. We describe an extraordinary case of digital neuropathy of the median and ulnar nerves caused by Dupuytren contracture. A 56-year-old right-handed man was presented with numbness and tingling of the little finger of the right and ring finger of the left hand. The clinical and EMG findings in this patient were consistent with a lesion of the median and ulnar palmar digital nerves of the right and left ring and little fingers. Dupuytren tissue usually affects the palmar fascia, superficial to the digital nerves, and it may rarely affect the spiral cord in the digits. A spiral cord may cause sensory loss due to impingement of digital nerves or Dupuytren tissue may have been compressing the palmar digital nerves against the relatively inelastic deep transverse metacarpal ligament. As a result, digital neuropathy can develop in those with Dupuytren's contracture, and nerve conduction studies should also be performed to determine the condition. New studies are needed to provide better diagnostic criteria for the condition.

Treatment of Dupuytren's contracture at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the little finger

Objective To explore the treatment options for Dupuytren's contracture at the proximal interphalangeal(PIP)joint of the little finger.Methods Since 2000,15 fingers in 9 such cases have been treated.The surgery included Z-plasty of the skin on the volar side of the little finger,extended excision of palmar aponeurosis,excision of the central cord,spiral cord,lateral digital sheet,aponeurosis that extends from hypothenar muscle towards PIP joint of the little finger and ossified aponeurosis at the little finger PIP joint. Results The aponeurosis that extends from hypothenar muscle towards PIP joint of the little finger was found intraoperatively to be the major factor that caused flexion contracture of the little finger PIP joint.Wound healing was uneventful in 14 fingers.In 1 finger there was partial skin necrosis which healed after debridement and dressing change.Follow-up ranged from 8 months to 2 years with an average of 1.6 years.The little fingers were fully extended.There was no skin contracture.Flexion and extension of the fingers was near normal.No complications and recurrence were noted.Conclusion Surgical treatment of Dupuytren' s contracture involving PIP joint of the little finger should include excision of the central cord,spiral cord,lateral digital sheet, aponeurosis that extends from hypothenar muscle towards PIP joint of the little finger and ossified aponeurosis at the little finger PIP joint in addition to the superficial volar fascia and palmar aponeurosis to ensure complete release.

Numerical Studies of Wave Generation Using Spiral Detonating Cord

The control of underwater explosions is an industrial concern. In this paper, a comparison of experimental and numerical results of high-pressure generation using underwater explosion of spiral detonating cord is presented. To demonstrate that the converging process of underwater shock wave yields high pressure near the spiral center, the experimental investigation aims to compare underwater shock wave pressures obtained with several detonating cord geometrical configurations and study the wave converging process for a spiral cord. Because the experimental approach of these fast transient events is expensive and time-consuming, numerical simulations of experimental cases by using multi-material Eulerian formulation are carried out. The multi-material Eulerian, which is a particular multi-material ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian) formulation was successfully used in many industrial applications involving computational fluid dynamic problems. By using an explicit finite element method, a good agreement between numerical and experimental results will valid multi-material Eulerian formulation abilities to solve accurately underwater shock wave problems for spiral detonating cord in various shapes.

Gait orthosis/aid for spiral cord injury

Gait orthosis/aid for spiral cord injury

151 脊髄損傷MR検査における至適コイルの検討

151 脊髄損傷MR検査における至適コイルの検討