Spinal fluid dynamics during thoracic- and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery.

AIM: The intention was to investigate cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) and volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drained during and after thoracic- and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. The findings were related to the occurrence of postoperative neurologic deficits. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (12 with thoracic and 17 with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm) were operated without shunting or extracorporeal circulation. For monitoring of CSFP an intrathecal catheter was placed in all patients. The volume of CSF withdrawn intraoperatively, on the day of operation as well as on the 1st and 2nd postoperative day was recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients had no postoperative neurologic sequelae. One patient had postoperative paraplegia while 2 had paraparesis. The three patients with neurologic sequelae had higher CSFP intraoperatively than those without neurologic symptoms (P=0.04). Median CSFP during aortic cross-clamping was 19 mmHg and 10 mmHg and the median volumes of CSF drained on the day of operation 210 and 85 mL in the two groups, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between CSFP and central venous pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A higher intraoperative CSFP was observed in patients with neurologic sequelae following thoracic- and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. Further, there was a tendency of higher volumes of CSF drained in this group of patients. Although, the series is too small to allow firm conclusions, it supports the view that CSFP monitoring and drainage is beneficial during thoracic- and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.     

Strategies to enhance transductional efficiency of adenoviral-based gene transfer to primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes as a platform in dermal wounds

Genetically modified keratinocytes and fibroblasts are suitable for delivery of therapeutic genes capable of modifying the wound healing process. However, efficient gene delivery is a prerequisite for successful gene therapy of wounds. Whereas adenoviral vectors (Ads) exhibit superior levels of in vivo gene transfer, their transductional efficiency to cells resident within wounds may nonetheless be suboptimal, due to deficiency of the primary adenovirus receptor, coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR). We explored CAR-independent transduction to fibroblasts and keratinocytes using a panel of CAR-independent fiber-modified Ads to determine enhancement of infectivity. These fiber-modified adenoviral vectors included Ad 3 knob (Ad5/3), canine Ad serotype 2 knob (Ad5CAV-2), RGD (Ad5.RGD), polylysine (Ad5.pK7), or both RGD and polylysine (Ad5.RGD.pK7). To evaluate whether transduction efficiencies of the fiber-modified adenoviral vectors correlated with the expression of their putative receptors on keratinocytes and fibroblasts, we analyzed the mRNA levels of CAR, alpha upsilon integrin, syndecan-1, and glypican-1 using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Analysis of luciferase and green fluorescent protein transgene expression showed superior transduction efficiency of Ad5.pK7 in keratinocytes and Ad5.RGD.pK7 in fibroblasts. mRNA expression of alpha upsilon integrin, syndecan-1 and glypican-1 was significantly higher in primary fibroblasts than CAR. In keratinocytes, syndecan-1 expression was significantly higher than all the other receptors tested. Significant infectivity enhancement was achieved in keratinocytes and fibroblasts using fiber-modified adenoviral vectors. These strategies to enhance infectivity may help to achieve higher clinical efficacy of wound gene therapy.     

Avascular osteonecrosis after hyperthermia in children and adolescents with pelvic malignancies: a retrospective analysis of potential risk factors.

PURPOSE: In children with locally advanced or recurrent malignant tumours, prognosis can be improved by regional deep hyperthermia (RHT) in combination with platin-based chemotherapy. However, because of the increasing number of patients that achieve long-time remission with this therapy, it is necessary to evaluate long-term sequelae of thermochemotherapy. During the years 1993-2004 one has observed avascular osteonecrosis (AON) of the femoral head after RHT in seven children with pelvic germ cell tumours or rhabdomyosarcomas. METHODS: Although AON may develop in patients with malignancies treated with chemo- or radiotherapy alone, RHT might nevertheless contribute to the occurrence of AON. In order to determine potential risk factors for AON after RHT, this study analysed the relationship of AON to the patient's age, medical history and treatment parameters such as thermal dose equivalent and power output. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the present study AON was associated with young age as well as intensity of hyperthermia indicated by high power levels that exceed 20 W per kg body weight and/or application of eight or more heat sessions as well as additional radiotherapy. Based on this observation, it was assumed that an optimized three dimensional thermal field modelling may be helpful to avoid hazardous temperatures in the femoral heads during RHT treatment and to reduce AON of the femoral heads.     

Documenting asthma severity: do we get it right?

BACKGROUND: The 1997 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) recommends a severity classification scheme to optimize the use of anti-inflammatory therapy for persistent asthma. Physician documentation of asthma severity is often used as a quality assurance measure. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that physician documentation of asthma severity is associated with appropriate use of anti-inflammatory therapy. DESIGN/METHODS: Setting: inner-city academic health center. First, we reviewed a consecutive sample of charts of scheduled pediatric patients. Then, we administered a structured parent survey regarding the child's asthma symptoms and current asthma therapy. We used NAEPP guidelines to classify patients' severity of asthma. The main outcome measure was appropriate use of anti-inflammatory therapy. Appropriate therapy was defined as: (1) mild persistent asthmatics using anti-inflammatory therapy, and (2) moderate-severe persistent asthmatics using inhaled steroids. Chart classification of asthma severity was compared with the NAEPP-applied classification. RESULTS: Of 784 charts, 214 (27%) were asthmatic. Of these, 176 (82%) were surveyed. The mean age was 7.4 years; 61% were males. Severity classification was documented in 77% of charts. Chart documentation differed significantly from survey classification for the same patients: (mild intermittent 54% vs. 40%, mild persistent 21% vs. 14%, moderate persistent 24% vs. 36%, severe persistent 1% vs. 10%; all p < .001). Correctly classified patients were more likely to be on appropriate therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians underestimated the severity classification of asthmatic patients. Incorrect classification was associated with inappropriate asthma therapy. These findings have implications for the institution of asthma quality improvement programs.     

The principle of regulation in biology--from bone to eating behavior.

Cell physiology and molecular biology typically follow a reductionistic approach in science. In the last decade, molecular principles and pathogenetic factors involved in the development of many diseases have been successfully discovered. Therefore, early biological concepts based on systemic and cybernetic thoughts have been largely overshadowed by these more recent molecular and pathogenetic factors. This review highlights discoveries on bone development and hypothalamic controlled feeding and eating behavior with a cybernetic and systemic perspective. Interestingly, ancient ideas on bone development and hypothalamic function are still reasonable considerations to embed new molecular discoveries into a systemic concept of principles organizing nature.     

Insurance-mandated preoperative dietary counseling does not improve outcome and increases dropout rates in patients considering gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity

BACKGROUND: Preoperative dietary counseling (PDC) before bariatric surgery is mandated by a growing number of insurance payers. Their claim is that PDC improves outcomes and postoperative compliance. We compared outcomes of GBP patients undergoing a mandatory 13 weeks of PDC (n = 72) to a contemporaneous group of patients with no such requirement (no-PDC; n = 252) who underwent operation between January 2000 and December 2002. METHODS: The PDC and no-PDC groups were characterized by similar male:female ratios (1:4 vs 1:4.6), mean age (42 years), mean body weight (324 lb vs 309 lb), and mean body mass index (BMI) (52 kg/m2 vs 50 kg/m2). The PDC group had a higher incidence of obstructive sleep apnea compared with the no-PDC group (41% vs 28%; P < .04) but otherwise the two groups had similar incidences of obesity-related comorbidities. The presurgery dropout rate was 50% higher in the PDC group than in the no-PDC group (28% vs 19%; P < .05). RESULTS: At 1 year follow-up, the no-PDC patients had a statistically greater percentage excess weight loss (67% vs 60%; P < .0001), lower BMI (32 vs 35; P < .015), and lower body weight (197 vs 218; P < .01). Resolution of major comorbidities, complication rates, 30-day postoperative mortality, and postoperative compliance with follow-up were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate that insurance-mandated PDC is an obstacle to patient access for surgical treatment of severe obesity and has no impact on weight loss outcome or postsurgical compliance. PDC should be abandoned by the insurance industry.     

髓内钉在矫治儿童成骨不全严重肢体畸形中的应用

[目的]探讨用髓内钉治疗儿童成骨不全严重肢体畸形中的矫形和防止再骨折的作用。[方法]2000年1月-2004年8月期间，共治疗8例，男3例，女5例。术中均将弯曲股骨或胫骨行多段截骨后髓内钉固定。其中2．0mm克氏针置入2例，Ender钉3例，Nancy弹性髓内钉3例。[结果]术后8例畸形改善明显，随访9个月．5a，平均2．4a，随访中肢体未再发骨折，未见髓内针合并感染、骨不连等并发症。1例术前轮椅患儿术后可扶拐行走；1例发生克氏针骨外部分断裂。[结论]多段截骨矫形后内置髓内钉治疗儿童成骨不全，对矫正肢体畸形、减少再次骨折机会，效果确实可靠。     

CD10表达在甲状腺滤泡性癌和滤泡型乳头状癌诊断中的作用

目的研究CD10表达在甲状腺滤泡性癌和滤泡型乳头状癌诊断中的作用。方法收集70例甲状腺良、恶性病变组织，其中包括15例滤泡性腺瘤、15例腺瘤性甲状腺肿、30例乳头状癌（包括9例滤泡型乳头状癌）和10例滤泡性癌，采用免疫组织化学方法检测CD10在上述组织中的表达。结果9例滤泡型乳头状癌中，7例表达CD10（77．8％），10例滤泡性癌中8例表达CD10（80．0％）；CD10在非滤泡型乳头状癌、滤泡性腺瘤、腺瘤性甲状腺肿和正常甲状腺组织中均不表达。结论对CD10表达的检测有助于对甲状腺滤泡性癌和滤泡型乳头状癌的诊断。     

Statins are associated with a reduced infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm growth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of statins on aneurysm growth in a group of consecutive patients under surveillance for infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients (59 statin users, 91 non-users) under surveillance between January 2002 and August 2005 with a follow-up for aneurysm growth of at least 12 months and a minimum of three diameter evaluations were retrospectively included in the analysis. Multiple regression analysis, weighted with the number of observations, was performed to test the influence of statins on AAA growth rate. RESULTS: During a median period of 3.1 (1.1-13.1) years the overall mean aneurysm growth rate was 2.95+/-2.8 mm/year. Statin users had a 1.16 mm/year lower AAA growth rate compared to non-users (95% CI 0.33-1.99 mm/year). Increased age was associated with a slower growth (-0.09 mm/year per year, p = 0.003). Female gender (+1.82 mm/year, p = 0.008) and aneurysm diameter (+0.06 mm/year per mm, p = 0.049) were associated with increased AAA growth. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chronic lung disease, or other cardiovascular risk factors were not independently associated with AAA growth. CONCLUSIONS: Statins appear to be associated with attenuation of AAA growth, irrespective of other known factors influencing aneurysm growth.