Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Scarpa's Fascia And Clinical Signs: The Role Of The Membranous Superficial Fascia In The Eponymous Clinical Signs Of Retroperitoneal Catastrophe., Shanoor Ullah, Robert Grant, Marjorie Johnson, Vivian C. Mcalister

Vivian C. McAlister

This article deals with the history of membranous superficial fascia (Antonio Scarpa, Abraham Colles), the history of clinical signs that use discoloration of the torso (Cullen's sign, Grey Turner's sign, Fox's sign, Bryant's sign) and then describes anatomical dissection studies to link the two.

INTRODUCTION: The membranous superficial fascia (MSF) was described early in the 19th century, as was its role in the clinical sign of urethral disruption. Clinical signs of haemorrhage or leakage of pancreatic and biliary fluid into the retroperitoneum, which were described throughout the 20th century, all relied on circumscribed discolouration of the skin of the torso. …

Sacred Disease Of Our Times: Failure Of The Infectious Disease Model Of Spongiform Encephalopathy, Vivian Mcalister

Vivian C. McAlister

BACKGROUND: Public health and agricultural policy attempts to keep bovine spongiform encephalopathy out of North America using infectious disease containment policies. Inconsistencies of the infectious disease model as it applies to the spongiform encephalopathies may result in failure of these policies.

METHODS: Review of historical, political and scientific literature to determine the appropriate disease model of spongiform encephalopathy.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Spongiform encephalopathy has always occurred sporadically in man and other animals. Hippocrates may have described it in goats and cattle. Transmission of spongiform encephalopathy between individuals is too uncommon for it to be usefully considered an infection. Spongiform encephalopathy is …

Demarcated Truncal Jaundice: A Sign Of Retroperitoneal Bile Leakage, Vivian C. Mcalister, Alp Sener

Vivian C. McAlister

The characteristic feature of the clinical sign described here is the demarcation between jaundiced and unaffected areas of the body. The flanks and the genitalia are stained more than would be expected by examination of the sclera or estimation of bilirubin level. Superiorly, a horizontal line about 3 cm below the clavicles, corresponding to the insertion of the fascia of Scarpa into the clavipectoral fascia, allows an easy comparison between the jaundiced trunk and unaffected adjacent areas, such as the neck, shoulder, and arm. Similarly, a line 3 cm below the groin skin crease corresponds to the insertion of the …

Hereditary Angioneurotic Oedema--The Management Of The Problem In A Family, Vivian C. Mcalister, N Boland, I H. Al-Abdullah, J Greally

Vivian C. McAlister

Diagnosis and treatment of hereditary angioneurotic oedema (HAO) is described in a family. C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH) deficiency was confirmed with radial immunodiffusion and functional assays. The effect of treament with combinations of tranexamic acid, danazol and stanozolol on C1 INH levels are reported.