We report a 70-year-old patient who presented with a 4-year history of weakness of paravertebral muscles. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed a mixed neurogenic-myopathic pattern. Light microscopic examination revealed atrophic fibers with rimmed vacuoles; electron microscopy demonstrated cytoplasmic and intranuclear filaments measuring about 16 nm in width, consistent with the diagnosis of inclusion body myositis. Therapy with corticosteroids provided only a mild and transient benefit. Ten months after the initial evaluation, clinical and electrodiagnostic examination demonstrated mild progression of the disease.

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Twelve commercially available sets for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid were tested for handling, design, features for fixation of the ventricular catheter, reliability of the anti-reflux valve, obstruction, efficiency of the air ventilation filter caps, accuracy of flow measurement and adjustment of flow, quality of material, adjustment, and cost. All systems showed considerable deficiencies in their reliability and handling. None of them can be recommended without certain restrictions and they should all be revised.

A new sensing device for the continuous intraoperative monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is presented. It is based on a double ballooned endotracheal tube including stimulating and tracing electrodes. The system is characterised by three advantages: 1) it is atraumatic, 2) it is operating completely outside the operating field (extraterritorially), 3) nerve function is being monitored continuously from the time of intubation to the time of extubation. The presented system has been evaluated in piglets. First results in humans will be available shortly.