Accuracy of dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry of the lumbar spine: cadaver study

Dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry (DRA) was used to measure the bone mineral content and area density of lumbar vertebrae (L2-L3) in 11 cadavers. These data were subsequently compared with measured ash content and density. Excellent correlation was obtained between bone mineral content measured with DRA and ash weight (r = .963, P less than .0001). The accuracy error in determining mineral content in lumbar vertebrae with DRA was about 9%. In addition, strong correlation was observed between bone mineral density measured with DRA and ash density (r = .881, P less than .0001).     

Thirty-day mortality following total knee arthroplasty over 7 years at a tertiary referral centre of orthopaedic excellence

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures. Around 100,000 TKAs are performed yearly in the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to report the mortality rate within 30 days after a TKA in an Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence. We reviewed prospectively collected data of 7067 TKAs performed between April 2009–November 2016. All mortalities within 30 days of a TKA were recorded. Data such as age, sex, ASA, comorbidities and cause of death was recorded. There were 14 (0.198%) deaths within 30 days of TKA. There were eight male patients and six female patients who died. No statistical difference was demonstrated between gender. (p = 0.37). The mean age was 77.9 years (66–94 years). Means days to death from post-op were 9.6 days (2–30 days). One patient was ASA 1, six patients were ASA 2, six patients were ASA 3 and one patient did not have an ASA recorded. There was no statistical difference between the difference ASA groups. (p = 0.27). Cause of death documented was as follow: acute left ventricular failure-3; myocardial infarction-2; pneumonia-2; pulmonary oedema-1; gastrointestinal bleed-1 and multiorgan failure-1. Four patients did not have their cause of death recorded. The 30-day mortality rate after TKA in our institute is low and is comparable to other institutes. This emphasizes that primary TKA is a safe procedure. The predominant cause of perioperative mortality is cardiopulmonary disease.     

骨髓基质干细胞移植对正常和心肌梗死大鼠心电图及心功能的影响

目的:骨髓基质干细胞移植到心肌梗死的瘢痕心肌组织中可以改善心功能,但以心电图为观察指标的研究不多。实验观察骨髓基质干细胞移植对正常和心肌梗死大鼠心电图及心功能的影响。方法:实验于2004-01/2005-03在哈尔滨医科大学完成。①实验动物:选取4周龄雄性Wistar大鼠80只,随机数字表法分为梗死移植组、正常移植组、梗死非移植组、正常非移植组,20只/组。另选取7d龄Wistar雄鼠30只作为骨髓基质干细胞的来源。②实验方法:采用密度梯度离心法获取鼠骨髓基质干细胞,配成1×109L-1的细胞悬液,使用5-氮胞苷体外诱导培养3～4周,移植前24～48h行Brdu标记。取载有细胞的盖玻片,测定钙释放时将20mmol/L的caffeine快速加在细胞表面。梗死移植组、梗死非移植组大鼠建立心肌梗死模型。造模4周后,梗死移植组将0.25mL诱导的骨髓基质干细胞悬液注射至大鼠心肌梗死后的瘢痕组织,正常移植组同法将骨髓基质干细胞悬液注射至正常心肌组织,梗死非移植组、正常非移植组注射等量不含骨髓基质干细胞的培养液基质。③实验评估:观察骨髓基质干细胞的诱导分化情况及其植入后在瘢痕心肌组织中的生存状态。测定细胞内钙离子浓度。记录术前、冠脉结扎后即刻/细胞移植即刻、术后4周的心电图变化。检测术后4周的超声和血流动力学指标变化。结果:80只大鼠均进入结果分析。①骨髓基质干细胞的诱导分化及其植入后的生存状态:5-氮胞苷诱导3周后,骨髓基质干细胞表达肌钙蛋白Ⅰ和肌凝蛋白重链,细胞内有丰富的肌丝和Z线,细胞器较多。植入4周后在心肌瘢痕组织中分化为心肌细胞。②细胞内钙离子浓度:两组细胞在caffeine刺激下钙离子的释放均呈波峰状,但诱导组应用caffeine后钙离子浓度降低且低于基础状态,钙释放受到抑制,未诱导组不受影响。③心电图观察:与术前比较,梗死移植组QRS波变窄,R波降支出现正常顿挫波,未见显著心律失常。④超声检测及血流动力学分析:术后4周,与梗死非移植组比较,梗死移植组左室收缩末压、左室射血分数和压力变化速率最大值均显著升高(P<0.05或0.01)。结论:骨髓基质干细胞体外诱导后能分化为心肌样细胞,植入到瘢痕心肌组织中生存、增殖良好,可改善心电图及心肌弹性,从而改善心肌梗死大鼠的心功能。     

Annexin V for flow cytometric detection of phosphatidylserine expression on B cells undergoing apoptosis

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a general mechanism for removal of unwanted cells from the immune system. It is characterized by chromatin condensation, a reduction in cell volume, and endonuclease cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosomal length fragments. Apoptosis is also accompanied by a loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry, resulting in the exposure of phosphatidylserine at the surface of the cell. Expression of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface plays an important role in the recognition and removal of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Here we describe a new method for the detection of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry, using the binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled annexin V to phosphatidylserine. When Burkitt lymphoma cell lines and freshly isolated germinal center B cells are cultured under apoptosis inducing conditions, all cells showing chromatin condensation strongly stain with annexin V, whereas normal cells are annexin V negative. Moreover, DNA fragmentation is only found in the annexin V-positive cells. The nonvital dye ethidium bromide was found to stain a subpopulation of the annexin V-positive apoptotic cells, increasing with time. Our results indicate that the phase in apoptosis that is characterized by chromatin condensation coincides with phosphatidylserine exposure. Importantly, it precedes membrane damage that might lead to release from the cells of enzymes that are harmful to the surrounding tissues. Annexin V may prove important in further unravelling the regulation of apoptosis.     

骨髓干细胞移植对心肌梗死大鼠血流动力学指标和心脏功能的影响

目的:心肌梗死所致的细胞缺失和瘢痕形成是心力衰竭乃至死亡的病理基础,目前药物治疗、介入治疗和外科手术均不能替代坏死心肌和彻底改善心脏功能。观察骨髓干细胞移植对心肌梗死大鼠血流动力学指标和心功能的影响。方法:实验于2005-03/2006-10在哈尔滨医科大学附属第一医院细胞移植中心完成。①实验动物:SD雄性大鼠60只作为细胞移植的受体,随机数字表法分成假手术组、心肌梗死组、细胞移植组,20只/组。另取SD雄性幼鼠10只作为骨髓干细胞的供体。实验过程中对动物的处置符合动物伦理学标准。②实验方法:取幼鼠股骨骨髓,Percoll分离后收取细胞层,加入含体积分数为0.1的胎牛血清、100IU/mL青霉素、100g/mL链霉素的DMEM营养液,差速贴壁法分离骨髓干细胞,达80%～90%融合时采用胰酶 乙二胺四乙酸消化传代。向含有第3代骨髓干细胞的培养液中加入5-氮杂胞嘧啶核苷进行诱导,3周后行BrdU标记,离心后配制成1×1012L-1的细胞悬液用于移植。心肌梗死组、细胞移植组大鼠建立心肌梗死模型,假手术组未结扎冠状动脉。细胞移植组吸取0.2mL骨髓干细胞悬液注射到瘢痕组织中,心肌梗死组注入等量干细胞培养液基质,假手术组不予任何移植处理。③实验评估:术后4周,利用导管和心动超声技术检测各组大鼠左室舒张末期内压、左室收缩末期内压、左室压力最大变化值、左室压力最小变化值、等容时间常数和心率。结果:术后4周,与假手术组比较,心肌梗死组左室收缩末期内压、左室压力最大变化值、左室压力最小变化值均明显降低(P<0.01),左室舒张末期内压、等容时间常数均明显增高(P<0.01);与心肌梗死组比较,细胞移植组以上各项指标均明显好转(P<0.01)。结论:骨髓干细胞移植到瘢痕心肌组织中,能改善心肌梗死后大鼠的血流动力学参数和心脏功能。     

Spectrum and outcome of pancreatic trauma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often difficult and surgery poses a formidable challenge. METHOD: Data from 17 patients of pancreatic trauma gathered from a prospectively maintained database were analysed and the following parameters were considered: mode of injury, diagnostic modalities, associated injury, grade of pancreatic trauma and management. Pancreatic trauma was graded from I through IV, as per Modified Lucas Classification. RESULTS: The median age was 39 years (range 19-61). The aetiology of pancreatic trauma was blunt abdominal trauma in 14 patients and penetrating injury in 3. Associated bowel injury was present in 4 cases (3 penetrating injury and 1 blunt trauma) and 1 case had associated vascular injury. 5 patients had grade I, 3 had grade II, 7 had grade III and 2 had grade IV pancreatic trauma. Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan was used to diagnose pancreatic trauma in all patients with blunt abdominal injury. Immediate diagnosis could be reached in only 4 (28.5%) patients. 7 patients responded to conservative treatment. Of the 10 patients who underwent surgery, 6 required it for the pancreas and the duodenum. (distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy-3, pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy-1, debridement with external drainage-1, associated injuries-duodenum-1). Pancreatic fistula, recurrent pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation were seen in 3 (17.05%), 2 (11.7%) and 1 (5.4%) patient respectively. Death occurred in 4 cases (23.5%), 2 each in grades III and IV pancreatic trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan is a useful modality for diagnosing, grading and following up patients with pancreatic trauma. Although a majority of cases with pancreatic trauma respond to conservative treatment, patients with penetrating trauma, and associated bowel injury and higher grade pancreatic trauma require surgical intervention and are also associated with higher morbidity and mortality.