Percutaneous Endovascular Treatment for Stenoses and Occlusions of Infrarenal Aorta and Aortoiliac Bifurcation: Midterm Results

OBJECTIVE: evaluation and comparison of the endovascular treatment of isolated aortic and aortoiliac atherosclerotic lesions (stenoses and occlusions). METHODS: a percutaneous endovascular procedure was performed in 52 patients (38 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 25-85 years). The baseline angiogram showed 35 aortic lesions (31 stenoses, 4 occlusions) and 17 aortoiliac lesions (14 stenoses, 3 occlusions). Percutaneous techniques used in this series included variable combinations of transluminal angioplasty and stenting. All stents placements were performed over-the-wire using the transfemoral route (most often bilateral approach). Clinical examination and Duplex-scan were performed at discharge, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and then yearly. RESULTS: technical success was 100% for aortic and aortoiliac lesions. Angiographic success rates were comparable for aortic (91%) and aortoiliac (94%) lesions. No death occurred during or early after the endovascular intervention. Duplex-scan confirmed 100% patency rate at discharge. There was no significant difference between the aortic (94%) and aortoiliac (96%) groups regarding immediate clinical improvement. Mean follow-up was 34+/-31 months (range, 0-130 months). The cumulative primary patency rate at 36 months was 85% in the aortic group and 86% in the aortoiliac group. Clinical success, defined as a symptom-free status at the end of follow-up, was also similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: endovascular treatment of isolated aortic lesions of the infra-renal aorta has favorable outcomes comparable to those of aortoiliac lesions.     

Beeinflussung humaner Osteoblasten durch verschiedene Analgetika

In der Behandlung von Frakturen spielt die Analgesie eine wesentliche Rolle. Es stellt sich daher die Frage, ob in der Klinik h?ufig eingesetzte Analgetika wie Tramadol oder Diclofenac negative Wirkungen auf die Knochenbruchheilung haben.     

Laser-induced fluorescence studies of the biodistribution of carotenoporphyrins in mice.

The biodistribution of two recently developed tumour markers, trimethylated (CP(Me)3) and trimethoxylated (CP(OMe)3) carotenoporphyrin, was investigated by means of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) after i.v. injection into 38 tumour-bearing (MS-2 fibrosarcoma) female Balb/c mice. At 3, 24, 48 or 96 h after administration, the carotenoporphyrin fluorescence was measured in tumoral and peritumoral tissue, as well as in the abdominal, thoracic and cranial cavities. The fluorescence was induced by a nitrogen laser-pumped dye laser, emitting light at 425 nm, and analysed by a polychromator equipped with an image-intensified CCD camera. The fluorescence was evaluated at 490, 655 and 720 nm: the second and third wavelengths represent the carotenoporphyrin (CP)-related peaks, whereas the first one is close to the peak of the tissue autofluorescence. The tumour and the liver were the two tissue types showing the strongest carotenoporphyrin-related fluorescence, whereas the cerebral cortex and muscle consistently exhibited weak substance-related fluorescence. In most tissue types, the fluorescence intensities decreased over time. A few exceptions were observed, notably the liver, in which the intensity remained remarkably constant over the time period investigated.     

The in vitro pharmacological profile of KR31080, a nonpeptide AT1 receptor antagonist

Summary— KR31080 (2-butyl-5-methyl-6-(1-oxopyridin-2-yl)-3-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b] pyridine) is a potent inhibitor of angiotensin type 1 (AT₁) receptors in rabbit aorta and human recombinant AT₁ receptors. In the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta, KR31080 caused a nonparallel shift to the right of the concentration-response curves to angiotensin II (All) with decreased maximal response (pD'₂ = 10.1 ± 0.1), but had no effect on the contractile response induced by norepinephrine. KR31080 inhibited specific [¹²⁵I]AII binding to rabbit aortic membranes (AT, receptors) and [¹²⁵I][Sar¹, Ile⁸]AII binding to human recombinant AT₁ receptors in a concentration-dependent manner with IC₅₀ values of 0.84 ± 0.08 nM and 1.92 ± 0.15 nM, respectively, but did not inhibit specific [¹²⁵I)AII binding to bovine cerebellum membranes (ÀT₂ receptors). In the Scatchard analysis, KR31080 interacted with rabbit aortic AT₁ receptors in a competitive manner, similar to losartan. These results demonstrate that KR31080 is a potent and AT₁ selective angiotensin receptor antagonist which exerts a competitive antagonism in the [¹²⁵I]AII binding assay and insurmountable AT₁ receptor antagonism in the functional study.     

Hydroxylapatite-coated total prosthesis of the hip

Since 1987, 80 hydroxyapatite-coated (HA) cementless total hip prostheses have been implanted. Thirty patients were examined 21 months postoperatively and the results compared with data for uncoated prosthesis. Earlier mobilization and freedom from pain, together with evidence of bone ingrowth without connective tissue membrane formation, confirmed the benefits of HA-coated prostheses.