Short-term effects of partial meniscectomy on the clinical results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the short-term effects of partial meniscectomy on the clinical results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

Methods

Clinical outcomes of 19 patients who had partial medial meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction during the same surgery (Group 1) were compared with the outcomes of 25 patients who had also reconstruction but did not have any meniscal lesion (Group 2). Median follow-up time was 29 months (range 12–67 months) in Group 1 and 27 months (range 12–70 months) in Group 2. Feeling of apprehension in sports activities, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, KT-2000 Arthrometer^® measurements and post-operative time to return to sports activity were the criteria for data analysis.

Results

Eight patients (42 %) in Group 1 and 5 patients (20 %) in Group 2 stated feeling of apprehension in sports activities. IKDC score improved to A in 11 patients (58 %) from Group 1, and 18 patients (72 %) from Group 2. Mean anterior translation according to KT-2000 arthrometer measurements was 5.2 ± 1.3 mm in Group 1, and 4.6 ± 1.3 mm in Group 2. Post-operative time to return to sports activity was 8.5 ± 3.0 months in Group 1, and 6.5 ± 2.2 months in Group 2.

Conclusion

Partial meniscectomy for irreparable medial meniscal tears, applied during the same surgery with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, negatively affects the clinical outcomes in the short-term follow-up. This study may be a reference for long-term clinical trials and also future investigations of new methods in the treatment of similar cases.

Level of evidence

IV.

     

Cytokine responses following laparoscopic or open pyeloplasty in children

Background

The present study evaluated the cytokine response in children following laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) or open pyeloplasty (OP). A series of cytokines were measured postoperatively, including interkin1-β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods

A total of 31 patients, with an average age of 9.1 ± 3.0 years (range 2.5–14 years) were studied. Fourteen patients underwent LP and 17 underwent OP. Blood serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and CRP were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before surgery as well as 4, 24, and 48 h following the operation. In addition, the procedure duration, hospital stay, incidence of wound infection, and the recurrence rate of stenosis in both groups were compared.

Results

Serum IL-6 and CRP concentrations were significantly elevated in both groups at 4, 24, and 48 h relative to preoperative levels. However, the rise in IL-6 and CRP in OP group was significantly more robust than in LP group. No significant changes were observed in serum levels of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, or TNF-α in either group. The procedure duration was significantly longer for LP (193.6 ± 74.7 min, range 120–360 min) versus OP (120.1 ± 27.5 min, range 90–165 min, p < 0.05), but the hospital stay following LP was shorter (LP group: 5.3 ± 1.1 days versus OP group: 9.3 ± 2.1 days, p < 0.05). No severe complications were noted in either group, however, one child experienced wound infection following OP procedure. An incident of recurrent stenosis following the operation occurred in both groups. There was no postoperative morbidity or severe implications at 12 month follow-up in either group.

Conclusions

Both OP and LP are safe and effective procedures for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in the pediatric population. However, the shorter hospital stay and decreased cytokine response following LP indicates potential benefits over traditional invasive procedures.     

严重多发伤并发急性肾损伤患者的肾功能监测及血必净注射液的干预作用

目的：对加强医疗病房（Intensive care unit,ICU）内严重多发伤并发急性肾损伤患者的肾功能进行监测并观察血必净的干预作用。方法：采用随南对照研究,将严重多发伤并发急性肾损伤的45例患者分为血必净组和对照组,对照组给予常规综合治疗,血必净组在常规综合治疗基础上加用血必净注射液100ml静脉滴注。2次/d,连用10d。动态观察两组患者的肾功能、炎症反应以及预后等指标变化。结果：与对照组比较,血必净组治疗后第3d、尿量、Uβ2-MG、UNAG差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,尿-ALB、血Scr和BUN差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,治疗结束后,两组肾功能指标以及中性粒细胞（N）、C-反应蛋白CRP、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TN F-α）、生存率差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：血必净注射液具有遏制急性肾损伤患者肾功能的恶化及降低病死率的作用。     

生长抑素对大肠癌细胞凋亡的影响

目的 探讨生长抑素对大肠癌细胞凋亡的影响.方法 采用巢式RT-PCR方法检测2004年1月至2006年10月皖南医学院附属弋矶山医院收治的79例大肠癌患者癌组织中生长抑素mRNA的表达情况,采用免疫组织化学法检测大肠癌组织中生长抑素、Fas、FasL、半胱天冬蛋白酶(caspase)3和8蛋白的表达情况,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡指数(AI).采用χ~2检验、q检验、Spearman等级相关检验对结果进行分析.结果 大肠癌组织中生长抑素mRNA与其蛋白表达呈正相关(r=0.98,P<0.05).低分化和中分化大肠癌组织中生长抑素mRNA及其蛋白的表达明显低于高分化组织(χ~2=10.78,11.24,5.27,5.24,P<0.05);生长抑素mRNA及其蛋白在乳头状腺癌的阳性表达率明显高于黏液腺癌+印戒细胞癌及未分化癌(χ~2=6.56,6.99,5.44,7.39,P<0.05);Dukes A、B期的生长抑素mRNA及其蛋白阳性表达率明显高于C、D期(χ~2=5.17,4.06,P<0.05).生长抑素高表达组、中表达组的AI明显高于低表达组(q=5.66,4.21,P<0.05);Fas、caspase-8、caspase-3在生长抑素高表达组、中表达组的阳性表达率明显高于低表达组(χ~2=5.48,5.62,6.89,4.32,4.19,3.91,P<0.05).结论 生长抑素对大肠癌细胞凋亡的调控可能与Fas/FasL基因的表达失衡、功能和信号系统的紊乱有关.     

RNA interference for noggin enhances the biological activity of bone morphogenetic proteins in vivo and in vitro

Noggin is a major extracellular antagonist to bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) which binds to BMPs and blocks binding of them to BMP-specific receptors and negatively regulates BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effect of noggin silencing by transfection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) on BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation in vitro and ectopic bone formation in vivo induced by recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2). Noggin mRNA expression was up-regulated in response to rhBMP-2 in C2C12 cells, a myoblastic cell line, in dose- and time-dependent fashion as determined by real-time RT-PCR assay. Silencing of noggin expression by transfection of noggin siRNA suppressed BMP-stimulated noggin expression, resulting in acceleration of BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation. For in vivo noggin silencing, siRNA was injected locally into back muscles and transfected into local cells by electroporation, where rhBMP-2-retaining (5 μg) collagen disks had been surgically placed. The implants were harvested at 2 weeks after surgery from experimental and control group mice and analyzed by radiological and histological methods. As a result, bone mineral content of ossicles ectopically induced by rhBMP-2 was significantly increased by silencing of noggin. Our findings suggest that silencing of noggin enhances the osteoblastic differentiation of BMP-responding cells in vitro and new bone formation induced by rhBMP-2 in vivo by eliminating negative regulation of the effects of BMP. RNA interference might be useful for intensifying the effects of BMP in promoting new bone (callus) formation in repair of damaged bone.     

How valid is the arthroscopic diagnosis of cartilage lesions? Results of an opinion survey among highly experienced arthroscopic surgeons

Aim  In general, arthroscopy is considered the “gold standard” for the evaluation of cartilage lesions. In this multicenter survey, we ascertained the general opinion of surgeons regarding arthroscopic cartilage diagnoses. Method  A total of 301 highly experienced arthroscopists (instructors of the AGA, the German-speaking society of arthroscopy) were contacted in writing with a request to complete the survey. Results  The data from 105 respondents (34.8% of those contacted) were used for the investigation. In the grading of the cartilage lesions, the Outerbridge classification was most frequently used (n = 87), followed by the ICRS protocol (n = 8) and the Insall score (n = 3). The majority (61%) of the arthroscopic surgeons felt that differentiation between healthy cartilage and low-grade cartilage lesions was simple. For differentiation between grade I and grade II lesions, and for differentiation between grade II and grade III lesions, 41.9 and 51.4%, respectively, thought that there was a “need for improvement”. In the case of grade IV lesions, 70.5% of the surgeons thought that the diagnosis was valid. The respondents also judged the utility of incorporating objective measurements (e.g., intraoperative biomechanical tests): 13.3% (n = 14) responded that such measurements would be “very useful” and 61.9% (n = 65) responded that they would be “somewhat useful”. Conclusions  Among surgeons, arthroscopy was not perceived to be as reliable as a “gold standard” for the diagnosis of cartilage lesions. The majority of experienced arthroscopists felt unsure of the results in general, or at least in some cases. A universal and definitive grading system for lesions appears to be needed. For questionable cases, measurement devices are needed for objective cartilage grading.     

Oncogenic osteomalacia: two case reports with surprisingly different outcomes

Oncogenic osteomalacia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome of acquired hypophosphatemic osteomalacia, resulting from a deficit in renal tubular phosphate reabsorption, in which fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) seems to be implicated. This condition is usually associated with a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of mixed connective tissue located in the bone or soft tissue. The clinical and the radiologic findings are the same as those seen in osteomalacia, and the biochemical features include renal phosphate loss, low serum phosphate and 1,25-(OH)₂ vitD₃ levels, increased alkaline phosphatase, and normal calcium, PTH, calcitonin, 25-OH-vitD₃ and 25,25-(OH)₂ vitD₃. We present two cases of oncogenic osteomalacia associated with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors, which were histologically similar, but presented a completely different evolution. In the first patient, the tumor developed on the sole of the foot. Following removal of the mass, the symptoms resolved and biochemical and radiological parameters returned to normal. However, in the second patient, a liver tumor developed and resection did not resolve the disease. Multiple lesions appeared in several locations during follow-up. This disease usually remits with complete tumor resection. Nevertheless, if this is not possible, oral treatment with phosphate, calcium and calcitriol can improve the symptoms. If scintigraphy of the tumor shows octreotide receptors, patients may respond partially to therapy with somatostatin analogs, with stabilization of the lesion.     

The use of the Ki-67 marker in the pathological diagnosis of the epithelioid variant of renal angiomyolipoma

Objective:  Epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) is a rare malignant variant of renal angiomyolipoma (AML). There were 34 cases of EAML reported in 25 studies (including this present study) over the past decade. About 68% were females and 32% males. The mean age was 40.1 years, 53% developed metastatic disease after nephrectomy, and eight patients had TSC. All cases are reported positive when stained with HMB-45 which also labels all classical AML. This study evaluates the use of Ki-67 (proliferation marker) in the pathological diagnosis of EAML and distinction from classical AML. Method:  Immunohistochemical reactions for Ki-67 were generated on multiple representative blocks of tissue obtained from two cases of HMB-45 positive EAML and four cases of classic AML and the percentage of positively staining cells estimated. Results:  Both cases of EAML were strongly positive for Ki-67 while all four classic AML were completely negative. Conclusion:  The Ki67 is a useful marker in which distinguishes the malignant epithelioid variant of AML from classic AML.     

A distinctive translocation carcinoma of the kidney [“rosette-like forming,” t(6;11), HMB45-positive renal tumor]

Objective  Recently, a novel renal carcinoma with specific clinical and histological characteristics and translocation t(6;11)(p21.1;q12 or q13) has been identified. We have found 11 cases in the literature, and we are adding another 3 cases. Materials and methods  Three cases were found in the Plzeň pathological register with approximately 15,000 cases of kidney tumors. There were two females and 1 male, aged 22, 24, and 39 years. Results  The sizes of the tumors were 40, 136, and 10 mm. Two tumors were found incidentally; the biggest one was self-palpated by a 24-year-old pregnant patient. Patients are without any signs of disease 42, 20, and 17 months after surgery. Conclusion  This tumor is a distinctive and rare translocation carcinoma of the kidney [t(6;11), HMB45 positive]. All cases with known clinical data arose in younger people. The malignant potential is probably low. The work was supported by Czech government research project MSM 0021620819.