The arthroscopic monopolar radiofrequency treatment of chronic anterior cruciate ligament instability

The Holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser is the arthroscopic laser of choice. The arthroscopic surgeon can ablate, coagulate, or shrink periarticular soft tissues by manipulating Ho:YAG laser power settings. The ability to ablate soft tissue in a hemostatic fashion greatly facilitates the treatment of labral tear, synovitis, subacromial arch decompression, and distal clavicle arthritis. The nonablative application of Ho:YAG laser energy has been used successfully to treat glenohumeral instability. The laser-assisted capsular shift (LACS) procedure, in conjunction with standard labral repair techniques, successfully treats unidirectional and multidirectional shoulder instability Neuromuscular rehabilitation is accelerated. Excellent clinical results may be achieved with appropriate surgical technique and postoperative rehabilitation.     

Effect of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Tiagabine

Summary: Purpose: We wished to determine the effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drug tiagabine (TGB).
Methods: We assessed TGB pharmacokinetics and tolerability in 25 subjects with various degrees of renal function (based on creatinine clearance, n = 4–6 per group) from healthy (group I) to requiring hemodialysis (group V) in a single and multiple dose (every 12h), one-period (groups I-IV) or a single dose, two-period (group V) study (4-mg oral doses of TGB · HCl). Blood samples were collected after the first dose (both periods for group V) and after the last dose on day 5 (groups I-IV). TGB plasma concentrations and plasma protein binding were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultrafiltration, respectively.
Results: TGB was well tolerated by all study subjects. The pharmacokinetics of TGB were similar in all subjects; no pharmacokinetic parameter (based on either total or unbound concentrations) was statistically correlated with creatinine clearance. For total TGB in plasma, single-dose mean values of the maximum plasma concentration, clearance, and half-life (t1/2) ranged from 52 to 108 ng/ml, from 7.14 to 11.02 I/h, and from 6.4 to 8.4 h, respectively.
Conclusions: TGB pharmacokinetics and tolerability were independent of renal function; therefore, dosage adjustment is unnecessary for epilepsy patients with renal impairment.     

Preparation of primary monolayer cultures of mouse pancreatic epithelial cells

Summary We describe a technique using normal and diabetic (dbdb) mice to establish primary pancreatic cultures that spread and assume a characteristic epithelial morphology. These cultures contain 4 to 7% beta cells, secrete insulin in response to stimuli for 10 to 14 d, contain few fibroblasts, and have a cell viability that is greater than 95%. The cells attach firmly to glass cover slips and are ideal for the study of insulin secretory granules or contractile proteins using indirect immunofluorescence.     

Improved In Vitro Excystation Procedure for Giardia lamblia Cysts

Giardia lamblia cysts obtained from human symptomatic and asymptomatic donors were excysted in vitro. Excystation averaged 87% for cysts from symptomatic donors and 70% for cysts from asymptomatic donors.     

Mechanical Characterization of an In Vitro Device Designed to Quantitatively Injure Living Brain Tissue

Due to the nonlinear, viscoelastic material properties of brain, its mechanical response is dependent upon its total strain history. Therefore, a low strain rate, large strain will likely produce a tissue injury unique from that due to a high strain rate, moderate strain. Due to a lack of current understanding of specific in vivo physiological injury mechanisms, a priori assumptions cannot be made that a low strain rate injury induced by currently employed in vitro injury devices is representative of clinical, nonimpact, inertial head injuries. In the present study, an in vitro system capable of mechanically injuring cultured tissue at high strain rates was designed and characterized. The design of the device was based upon existing systems in which a clamped membrane, on which cells have been cultured, is deformed. However, the present system incorporates three substantial improvements: (1) noncontact measurement of the membrane deflection during injury; (2) precise and independent control over several characteristics of the deflection; and (3) generation of mechanical insults over a wide range of strains (up to 0.65) and strain rates (up to 15s^–1). Such a system will be valuable in the elucidation of the mechanisms of mechanical trauma and determination of injury tolerance criteria on a cellular level utilizing appropriate mechanical injury parameters.     

The metastatic potential of prostate carcinomas composed entirely of single malignant glands

Summary Consecutive staging lymphadenectomies on 1046 patients with prostate carcinoma identified 275 patients with metastases in a total of 1115 regional lymph nodes. No prostate carcinomas composed entirely of single malignant glands metastasized and no patient had metastases composed entirely of single malignant glands. All prostate carcinomas that metastasized had cribriform and/or undifferentiated histological patterns in the prostate and in the metastases. These findings suggest that identification of cribriform and/or undifferentiated histological patterns, through rebiopsy or further examination of the surgical specimen, should be considered prior to subjecting patients with prostate carcinomas composed entirely of single malignant glands to therapy or procedures directed against the possibility of metastatic disease.