mPed: a computer program for converting pedigree data to a format used by the PMx-software for conservation genetic analysis

There is a growing need for conservation genetic management of animal populations when individual relatedness data (pedigrees) are available. Such data can be used to monitor rates of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity. Traditionally, pedigree analysis for conservation management has focused on zoo populations of threatened wild animals; available software has been developed in that context. Population Management x (PMx) is a free software for estimating genetic parameters including inbreeding, kinship, founder allele contribution and survival. PMx is an accessory program to the zoo studbook platform Single Population Analysis and Records Keeping System (SPARKS) and is not easily applied outside this platform, but such use is of interest for various domestic breeds or wild populations. We developed a converter program (mPed) for making pedigrees of any studbook format fitting the input requirements of PMx. mPed can be downloaded free at www.popgen.su.se/mped.php.     

Malignant Transformation of a Benign Enchondroma of the Hand to Secondary Chondrosarcoma with Isolated Pulmonary Metastasis

Malignant transformation of solitary enchondromas of the hand to secondary chondrosarcomas is extremely rare. We report a case of a recurrent chondromatous tumor of the hand that initially presented with the typical histology of a cellular enchondroma of the small tubular bones but with clinical and radiological signs of malignancy. After development of a single pulmonary metastasis of a chondromyxoid tumor a malignant transformation of the primary enchondroma of the hand must be assumed.     

Sports activities after medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty Oxford III—What can we expect?

Purpose

Excellent long-term results have been reported for implantation of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). In many patients the desire for improvement in function often includes an aspiration to return to sports. The purpose of our study was to evaluate physical activities after medial Oxford-III (Biomet) UKA surgery.

Methods

Patients’ physical activity before and after the surgery was assessed using a self reporting questionnaire. We used the Oxford knee scoring system (OKS), the WOMAC-, the Knee society- (KSS) and the UCLA-score to assess postoperative knee function. The mean follow-up was 4.2 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.3:1. The mean age at surgery was 65.3 years.

Results

Of the 131 patients studied 78 participated in some kind of sports before surgery (mean age 64.4 years), while 53 patients did not perform any sports (mean age 66.5 years) (p > 0.05). At follow-up the patients in the active group were significantly younger than the patients in the inactive group (p < 0.05). The majority of patients (80.1 %) returned to their level of sports activity after UKA surgery. Six patients took up sports after surgery while 15 patients stopped their sports. Among the active patients we found a shift from high- towards low-impact sports. The active patients had significantly higher scores for the OKS, KSS, WOMAC and UCLA score. The complication rate was comparable in both groups.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that a high degree of patient satisfaction in terms of sports activity can be achieved using the Oxford-III UKA for medial osteoarthritis.     

Polypropylene meshes coated with a polysaccharide based bioadhesive for intra-abdominal mesh fixation in a rabbit model

Background

In this study, we evaluate a new bioadhesive for intra-abdominal onlay mesh fixation of a polypropylene–polyvinylchloride graft.

Methods

Three pieces of a commercially available polypropylene/polyvinylfluoride mesh, each 3 × 3 cm in size, and three pieces of the same mesh coated with a polysaccharide bioadhesive were fixated to the surface of the anterior abdominal wall of 30 New Zealand white rabbits. The fixation was performed either by using four transabdominal Prolene^® 4/0 sutures, four spiral tacks (Protack 5 mm Tyco), or cyanoacrylate glue (Glubran^® GEM, Viareggio, Italy). Each mesh position and the according kind of fixation were randomized before implantation. The animals were sacrificed 12 weeks postoperatively. After determining the extent of intra-abdominal adhesions, the meshes were excised en bloc with the anterior abdominal wall for tensile strength measurements and histological analysis.

Results

All meshes coated with the bioadhesive adhered to the intact peritoneum without extra fixation. Irrespective of the fixation technique coated meshes led to more and stronger adhesions. Mesh shrinkage by scarring was increased in coated meshes fixed with glue and low in uncoated meshes fixed with tacks. Testing the tensile strength, coated meshes fixed with transfascial sutures achieved the best results (16.14 ± 6.1 N), whereas coated meshes fixed with glue showed the lowest strength (10.39 ± 4.81 N). The foreign body reaction was considerably more distinctive using coated mesh. The mesh ingrowth was not influenced by this reaction.

Conclusions

All meshes coated with the new bioadhesive were self-adhesive in that way; they stayed in position when attached to the peritoneum. Although this may facilitate intra-operative mesh fixation, the bioadhesive displayed several disadvantages, such as stronger adhesions and an increased shrinkage of the implant. The tensile strength was not influenced by the use of the bioadhesive. At present, we see no major advantage for polysaccharide bioadhesive applied in this study.     

Use of Heparin-bonded Circuits in Cardiopulmonary Bypass Improves Clinical Outcome

Objective : The use of heparin-coated surfaces in cardiopulmonary bypass has been shown to decrease the inflammatory response imposed by the contact between blood and artificial surfaces. One would expect this reaction to improve clinical outcome. However, this has been difficult to verify. This investigation is based on an aggregation of two randomized studies from our institution and highlights possible effects of heparin coating on a number of clinically oriented parameters. Design : Departmental analysis of patients subjected to coronary artery bypass surgery using heparin-coated circuits. Cardiopulmonary bypass was employed using either the Carmeda or Duraflo heparin coatings compared with a control. The systemic heparin dose was reduced in the heparin-coated groups (ACT > 250 s) vs control group patients (ACT > 480 s). The effects of heparin coating related to clinical outcome were studied. Results : The use of heparin-coated circuits reduced the mean length of stay in hospital from 7.8 &#45 2.5 to 7.3 &#45 1.8 days ( p = 0.040) and postoperative ventilation time from 9.7 &#45 9.2 to 8.2 &#45 8.5 h ( p = 0.018), blood loss 8 h post surgery from 676 &#45 385 to 540 &#45 245 ml ( p = 0.001), individual perioperative change of haemoglobin loss ( p = 0.001), leukocyte count ( p = 0.000) and creatinine elevation ( p = 0.000), proportion of patients exposed to allogenous blood transfusions 39.2 vs 23.9% ( p = 0.001), postoperative coagulation disturbances 4.4 vs 0.4% ( p = 0.006), postoperative deviations from the normal postoperative course 47.2 vs 36.7% ( p = 0.035), neurological deviations 9.4 vs 3.9% ( p = 0.021) and atrial fibrillation 26.4 vs 18.0% ( p = 0.041). No effects were found with respect to perioperative platelet count, postoperative fever reaction and 5-year survival. Conclusion : Based on several indicators, the use of heparin coating in cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with improved clinical results.