Surgical management of the rheumatoid hand and wrist

Management of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis of the hand and wrist demands a methodical approach. Multidisciplinary assessment and treatment in conjunction with a rheumatologist and dedicated hand therapist are essential. Initial treatment should be conservative. However, when patients develop severe deformities refractory to medical treatment, or there is impending tendon rupture or nerve compression, surgical intervention is required. This article aims to provide a current review of the principles and common conditions in surgery for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand and wrist.     

Novel Reassortant Influenza A(H5N8) Viruses among Inoculated Domestic and Wild Ducks,South Korea, 2014

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, caused by a novel reassortant influenza A (H5N8) virus, occurred among poultry and wild birds in South Korea in 2014. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenesis in and mode of transmission of this virus among domestic and wild ducks. Three of the viruses had similar pathogenicity among infected domestic ducks: the H5N8 viruses were moderately pathogenic (0%–20% mortality rate); in wild mallard ducks, the H5N8 and H5N1 viruses did not cause severe illness or death; viral replication and shedding were greater in H5N8-infected mallards than in H5N1-infected mallards. Identification of H5N8 viruses in birds exposed to infected domestic ducks and mallards indicated that the viruses could spread by contact. We propose active surveillance to support prevention of the spread of this virus among wild birds and poultry, especially domestic ducks.     

Respiratory tract infection caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a black swan (Cygnus atratus)

A 3-year-old male black swan (Cygnus atratus), belonging to a private collection, died suddenly and was subjected to post mortem examination. At necropsy, caseous exudate was observed in the lungs and air sacs; granulomatous lesions characterized by epithelioid macrophages and abundant mycobacteria were observed microscopically. Avian tuberculosis associated with Mycobacterium bovis was confirmed by bacteriologic isolation, biochemical tests and molecular methods. The organism was identified as spoligotype SB0140, which is frequently found in cattle and people in North America. In this case, interspecies transmission could have been the source of infection because the swan cohabited with cattle.     

Swan-neck deformity and paresthesia following giant orf

Orf is a zoonotic infection caused by a parapoxvirus that primarily infects sheep and goats. Human orf infection can take place when abraded skin comes into contact with infected animals. It occurs most commonly on the index finger. The characteristic lesion resembles a tumor and resolves spontaneously, usually without any complications. However, rare complications such as lymphangitis, adenitis, erythema multiforme, erysipelas, papulovesicular eruption, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, and bullous pemphigoid have been reported. Herein, we report a case of giant orf causing swan-neck deformity and paresthesia. These complications have not been previously reported in the literature.     

天鹅型记忆接骨器对大白兔骨折愈合骨矿含量及力学性能的影响

目的　探讨天鹅记忆接骨器 (SMC)对实验性骨折愈合的骨矿含量和力学性能的影响 ,揭示其促进骨折愈合的机制。方法　 40只新西兰大白兔双侧肱骨干截骨后 ,随机选取一侧用天鹅型形状记忆接骨器固定 (SMC组 ) ,对侧用 4孔加压接骨板 (DCP)固定 (DCP组 ) ,分别在术后 2、4、8、12、16周时杀死取材 ,行骨折部骨矿密度测量和抗拉伸力学性能测试 ,观察固定段骨矿含量和力学性能变化。结果　术后 4周开始 ,SMC组骨矿含量开始高于DCP组 (P <0 0 1) ,至术后 16周时 ,两组含量接近。在同一时间段内 ,SMC组的抗拉伸刚度明显优于DCP组 (P <0 0 5或P <0 0 1)。DCP组术后 12周以后 ,其力学性能即不再增加。结论　SMC与DCP相比 ,具有材料特性和几何构型上的优势 ,有助于骨折愈合过程中骨矿物质的沉积 ,防止固定段骨骨质疏松发生 ,使骨的力学性能尽早恢复     

Xenon alters right ventricular function

Background: In contrast to other volatile anesthetics, xenon produces less cardiovascular depression with fewer fluctuations of various hemodynamic parameters, but reduces cardiac output (CO) in vivo . Besides an increase in left ventricular afterload and reduction of heart rate, an impairment of the right ventricular function might be an additional pathophysiological mechanism for the reduction of CO. Therefore, we used an animal model to study the effects of xenon as a supplemental anesthetic on right ventricular function, especially right ventricular afterload.
Methods: Right ventricular function was monitored with a volumetric pulmonary artery catheter in 11 pigs during general anesthesia with thiopental. Six animals received additional 70% (volume) xenon (equivalent to 0.55 MAC minimum alveolar concentration). Parameters for systolic function, afterload, and preload were calculated at baseline and during 50 min of xenon application, and in a corresponding control group. Significant differences were detected by multivariate analyses of variance for repeated measures.
Results: Xenon reduced CO on average by 30% and increased pulmonary arterial elastance by 60%, which led to a reduction of the right ventricular ejection fraction by 25%. Whereas right ventricular preload remained stable, maximal slope of pulmonary artery pressure and the right ventricular elastance increased. No effect on the ratio of stroke work and end-diastolic volume was found.
Conclusion: The reduction in CO during xenon anesthesia was partly due to an impairment of the right ventricular function, mainly caused by an increased afterload, without an impairment of systolic ventricular function.     

上肢骨干天鹅型记忆接骨器的设计与临床应用

目的：研究应用于上肢骨干骨折与骨不连内固定的新型记忆合金接骨器。方法：利用镍钛合金与上肢骨干解剖生理的特性和特征,采用光弹,电测及三维有限元法研制天鹅型记忆接骨器（SMC）,临床应用于锁骨、肱骨、尺桡骨干骨折与骨不连188例243根,平均随访2．25年。结果：SMC在轴向多点位抗剪、折、旋、持骨力98．40－125．05N;在纵向,将152－196N的记忆应力作用于骨断端。骨不连92例106例,平均术后3．8个月,不连处为类骨板样骨替代,骨折93例134根,平均术后2．6个月骨折处为骨板样愈合,全部病例无感染,无取出本器后再骨折和因本器所致的关节功能障碍,优良率98．76％,结论：SMC多点位轴向持骨,纵向加压、是治疗上肢骨干骨折与骨不连新而有效的技术与方法。     

天鹅型记忆接骨器治疗肱骨骨折和骨不连的三维有限元分析

目的：研究天鹅型记忆接骨器（SMC）治疗骨折和骨不连及其产生的动态记忆应力促进骨愈合的生物学基础。方法：利用计算机仿真三维有限元技术,对SMC固定肱骨的生物力学行为进行模拟,接骨器有限元模型共划分了3487个单元,节点数为5397,单元采用20节点四面体三维砖块单元;肱骨有限元模型共划分5783个单元,节点数9863,单元采用10节点四面体三维单元,结果：接骨器固定肱骨后其内表面受拉力,外表面受压力,变形最大的加压部第一结构主应力最大值分别为224．5MPa和－34MPa,远小于其极限应力与疲劳极;其维持轴向的动态记忆持骨力为125．05N,纵向动态记忆加压力196N,被固定肱骨应力分布均匀,各节点所受应力主要为正应力。结论：SMC有良好的耐疲劳与重复使用性,其固定后产的动态记忆加压应力场,有利于固定肱骨的稳定并促进骨愈合。