Spinal cord development

Outbreaks of disease have been caused by those with artificial fingernails. In 2004 there was an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae among premature babies in a US intensive care unit, caused by bacteria from a nurse s artificial nails. A few years previously it was Pseudomonas aeruginosa that threatened several newborn babies in a New York hospital and this was traced to the same cause. In Canada three patients who had had surgery on their spinal cord developed Candida infections of the spinal disks and this was traced to an operating theatre technician who had artificial nails. An intensive care unit in Oklahoma City saw 16 patients die as a result of contracting Pseudomonas aeruginosa from two nurses who had artificial nails. Thankfully such outbreaks are now extremely rare. 

Matise MP, Lance-Jones C (1996) A critical period for the specification of motor pools in the lumbosacral spinal cord. Development 122 659-669. 

Gionti, M., Ristoratore, E, Di Gregorio, A., Aniello, R, Branno, M. and Di Lauro, R. (1998) CihoxS, a new Ciona intestinalis Hox-related gene, is involved in regionalization of the spinal cord . Development Genes and Evolution, 207, 515-23. 

Neurological symptoms result from demyelination of the spinal cord and are potentially irreversible. The symptoms and signs characteristic of a vitamin B 2 deficiency include paresthesis of the hands and feet, decreased deep-tendon reflexes, unsteadiness, and potential psychiatric problems such as moodiness, hallucinations, delusions, and psychosis. Neuropsychiatric disorders sometimes develop independently of the anemia, particularly in elderly patients. Visual loss may develop as a result of optic atrophy. 

Pressures sores, also known as decubitous ulcers or bedsores, affect 1.5 to 3 million Americans annually.35 The cost of healing pressure sores can be substantial, with current estimates ranging from 2000 to 70,000 per wound.35 Although the prevalence of pressure sores is highest in long-term care facilities, 57% to 60% of new pressure sores actually develop in the hospital, most commonly in intensive-care and orthopedic patients. Elderly patients and those with spinal cord injuries are most at risk36... 

Tsai HH, Frost E, To V, et al. The chemokine receptor CXCR2 controls positioning of oligodendrocyte precursors in developing spinal cord by arresting their migration. Cell 2002 110 373-383. 

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