Fibrinkleber und Serombildung nach Abdominoplastik

BACKGROUND: Seroma formation is one of the most frequent complications following abdominoplasty. The effect of intraoperative fibrin sealant on the formation of seroma was investigated in patients who had an abdominoplasty. The relevance of slow vs accelerated fibrin polymerization was determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two different thrombin concentrations (4 IE vs 500 IE thrombin/ml) of fibrin sealant were used in two groups of 20 patients each. The control group consisted of 20 patients with abdominoplasties without fibrin glue adhesion. RESULTS: The group with slow-reacting fibrin sealant (4 IE) had a significantly lower rate of seroma formation than both the high concentration fibrin group and controls (P<0.032 and P<0.018, respectively). In addition, the amount of postoperative drainage was significantly lower in the low-dose group (P<0.000). Patients with seroma had a significantly higher weight of resected tissue (P<0.04). The amount of postoperative drainage, age, and body/mass index had no significant effect on the prevalence of complications. CONCLUSION: The use of slow reacting, low-dose fibrin glue demonstrated a protective effect against the formation of seroma following abdominoplasty. The amount of postoperative drainage was significantly lower.     

Monoclonal antibodies to Coxiella burnetii that cross-react with strain Nine Mile.

Results are presented to show the binding properties of five monoclonal antibodies directed to Coxiella burnetii Priscilla with cross-reactions to the Nine Mile strain. The monoclonal antibodies preferentially recognize phase I epitopes by ELISA and recognize phase II epitopes by immunoblotting but do not allow differentiation between so-called chronic and acute strains of C. burnetii. The only difference in reactivity was in the staining pattern revealed after reactions with lipopolysaccharide I antigens.     

Urinary adrenomedullin levels are increased and correlated with plasma concentrations in patients with Behçet''s syndrome

Background: The objective was to measure urinary adrenomedullin (AM) levels in patients with active or inactive Behçet's syndrome and compare them to levels in healthy control subjects. Methods: Forty‐five consecutive patients with Behçet's syndrome (20 men and 25 women with a mean age of 37.7 ± 10.8 years) and 20 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy hospital staff volunteers as control subjects (nine men and 11 women with a mean age of 36.2 ± 10.4 years) were studied. Urinary and plasma AM concentrations were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. We also investigated whether disease activity correlates with urinary and plasma AM levels. The Mann–Whitney U‐test was used in statistical analysis and the values were expressed as mean ± SD. Results: Urinary excretion of AM (pmol per mg urinary creatinine) in patients with Behçet's syndrome (81.3 ± 35.1) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in control subjects (31.2 ± 16.1). Plasma AM levels (pmol/L) in patients with Behçet's syndrome and controls were 69.1 ± 19.2 and 20.7 ± 11.8, respectively; the difference was significant (P < 0.001). Although active Behçet's syndrome patients (n = 22) had higher urinary AM levels (92.1 ± 41.1) compared to inactive (n = 23; 70.8 ± 32.2), the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Plasma AM levels in active Behçet's syndrome patients (77.5 ± 21.2) were also higher than in inactive (61.6 ± 17.3), but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Urinary AM levels were higher in Behçet's patients than in control subjects. Urinary AM levels were correlated with plasma AM levels. The results suggest that the higher AM levels found in the urine may be produced by the kidney as a result of the stimulation of inflammation during the course of Behçet's syndrome, or may come from plasma, as plasma AM levels were increased. However, the exact sites of AM synthesis by the kidney (e.g. glomeruli, blood vessels and/or tubular cells) could not be determined in this study. Further studies in this respect are necessary.     

Role of spiramycin in prevention of fetal toxoplasmosis

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of spiramycin in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Methods: Patients within first trimester of their pregnancy with Toxoplasma IgM positivity (>0.65 index, ELISA, VIDAS) and IgG positivity (>8 IU/ml), who had low IgG avidity (<0.50 index, ELISA, Architet) were considered as having acute toxoplasmosis. These patients who had amniocentesis at the 19th–21st week of pregnancy were examined for the detection of Toxoplasma DNA. Detailed ultrasonographic examinations performed between the 20th and 24th gestational weeks and the mothers and babies were followed for at least one year.

Results: Out of 61 patients, 55 (90.2%) had received Spy prophylaxis while 6 (9.8%) cases refused Spy prophylaxis. Toxoplasma PCR test was found to be positive in amniotic fluid of 4 (6.6%) patients obtained by amniocentesis at the 19th–21st week of pregnancy. All four of these patients had refused Spy prophylaxis had positive Toxoplasma PCR in amniotic fluid (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Our results seem to encourage the use of spiramycin in women with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.     

Effects of phase I periodontal treatment on gingival crevicular fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is a member of a family of enzymes which are capable of degrading most extracellular matrix macromolecules. Extracellular control of MMPs is exerted by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) and by mechanisms of pro-MMP activation. Levels of MMPs and TIMPs change during healing, inflammation, and normal tissue turnover. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phase I periodontal treatment on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of MMP-1 and TIMP-1. METHODS: Ten patients with chronic periodontitis who had sites with probing depths > or = 4 mm and 10 periodontally healthy persons (controls) were included in this study. Clinical measurements including plaque (PI) and gingival (GI) indexes, probing depths (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded both at baseline (before treatment, BT) and after phase I periodontal treatment (AT). Assays for MMP-1 and TIMP-1 were performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: All of the clinical conditions significantly improved and GCF volume decreased AT (P<0.05). Levels of MMP-1 were higher in patients BT than in controls (C) (P<0.05). Levels of MMP-1 were reduced AT compared to BT (P<0.05). In addition, TIMP-1 levels were lower at BT than AT and in C (P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between levels of TIMP-1 at BT and AT (P<0.05). The ratio of MMP-1 to TIMP-1 was significantly lower in C than patients at BT; this ratio was also significantly lower at AT than BT (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that levels of MMP-1 in GCF decreased and total levels of TIMP-1 in GCF increased after phase I periodontal therapy. The ratio of MMP-1 to TIMP-1 changed after phase I periodontal therapy, becoming close to that of the controls.     

Selected markers of cardiovascular disease in a population exposed to arsenic from drinking water

This study examined prevalence and serum levels of selected markers of cardiovascular disease in 34 subjects from a Croatian rural population exposed to high levels of arsenic (As) from drinking water (611.89±10.06μg/l). The prevalences of overweight and obese subjects in the population were 32% and 35%. Half the subjects had hypertension, 29% had increased fasting serum glucose level and two were diabetic. Median total cholesterol (5.82mmol/l) and triglycerides (2.15mmol/l) were above the desirable margins. The median C-reactive protein level (1.20mg/l) was slightly higher than previously reported for healthy subjects. Serum Hsp70 level was significantly higher in nonsmokers. Total urinary As levels were positively correlated with age-adjusted serum levels of cobalamin. Near significance were also serum total bilirubin, antibodies to Hsp60 and folate. Tentative investigation of risk factors among subjects classified by tumor necrosis factor-α -308G/A and interleukin-6-174G/C gene polymorphisms was also performed. Collectively, the results are in agreement with the hypothesis of As-induced and/or compounded cardiovascular disease.     

Protective Effects of Diets Supplemented with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Calcium Against Colorectal Tumor Formation

This study is to evaluate the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFA) and/or calcium supplementation on colon tissue of the carcinogenic N-methyl-N-nitrosurea (NMU)-injected rats and to investigate this effect by the assessment of the oxidative stress. The rats were divided into four groups: those fed with a standard diet, with a diet supplemented by omega-3 PUFA, those fed with a diet with calcium, and those fed with a standard diet with the combination of omega-3 PUFA and calcium. Rats were injected with an intrarectal NMU. After 32 weeks, colon tissue specimens and plasma were taken to histopathologically investigate and analyze tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities and erythrocyte MDA levels. The tumor incidences in supplemented-diet groups II and IV were found to be significantly lower when compared with those of the controls (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidative enzyme activities in colorectal tissue were increased in the study groups when compared with control rats (P < 0.001) and MDA levels were significantly lower than in the controls (P < 0.001) while the levels in group IV were rather decreased than those in group III (P = 0.011). These results suggest that the dietary supplementation of PUFA and/or calcium may be useful in the prevention of colorectal tumor formation.     

Effects of phase I periodontal treatment on gingival crevicular fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phase I periodontal treatment on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1. METHODS: Plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth and clinical attachment loss were recorded and GCF samples were collected from 20 chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and 20 periodontally healthy controls (C) before treatment. CP patients received phase I periodontal treatment and all clinical parameters were recorded and GCF samples were collected once more after treatment. Assays were performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: All of the clinical parameters improved significantly after the therapy (p<0.05). Baseline GCF levels of MMP-3 were significantly higher than C and that level was reduced significantly by treatment compared with baseline levels (p<0.05). Baseline GCF levels of TIMP-1 were lower than post-treatment levels and C (p<0.05). GCF levels of TIMP-1 increased significantly by treatment compared with baseline levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the clinical improvements after phase I periodontal therapy are accompanied by reduction in MMP-3 and increasing in TIMP-1 GCF levels.     

Lunate excision with capitohamate fusion in the treatment of stage IIIB and IIIC Kienböck's disease

Objective

The aim of this study was to report our results of lunate excision combined with capitohamate fusion in the treatment of Kienböck's stage IIIB/IIIC disease.