Can we predict the outcome of a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament? A prospective study of 43 cases

The concept of partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has been confirmed by arthroscopic examination and palpation. We present a prospective study of 43 patients who were diagnosed arthroscopically as suffering from a partial rupture of the ACL by the same surgeon. The patients followed a rehabilitation protocol and were examined by an independant observer after 5 years. Twenty-five patients had a stable knee, whereas 18 eventually suffered a complete ACL rupture. ACL partial rupture is easily recognizable with arthroscopy, but the quantity and state of the still intact fibres is difficult to assess. Received: 20 April 1996 Accepted: 17 December 1996     

Gd-DTPA-cascade-polymer: Potential blood pool contrast agent for MR imaging

Gadolinium-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-cascade-polymer, a potential new blood pool contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, was compared with a known blood pool agent, Gd-DTPA-polylysine, in an animal model. The relative signal intensities of liver, renal cortex, pancreas, and trunk muscle were assessed in 12 pigs between 4 seconds and 120 minutes after injection of a 20 μmol/kg dose of each contrast agent, by using a FLASH (fast low-angle shot) sequence. Except for muscle, all tissues showed visible enhancement after injection of either contrast agent. After injection of Gd-DTPA-polymer, enhancement patterns in the liver, renal cortex, and pancreas were similar to those seen after injection of Gd-DTPA-polylysine. No statistically significant differences in enhancement between the two contrast agents were found at any time point. The authors conclude that the contrast kinetics of Gd-DTPA-cascade-polymer are similar to those of Gd-DTPA-polylysine and that this agent may also be used as a blood pool contrast agent for MR imaging.     

Initial experience with dynamic MR imaging in evaluation of normal bone marrow versus malignant bone marrow infiltrations in humans

The purpose of this study was (a) evaluation of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of normal bone marrow versus malignant bone marrow infiltrations in patients with proven B-cell-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and (b) correlation with the clinical stage according to Binet (stages A, B, C) and response to therapy. Bone marrow imaging of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and proximal femurs was performed at 1.5 T in 45 patients without known malignancy and in 30 patients with B-CLL. The differences between opposed-phase and in-phase dynamic gradient-echo sequences before and up to 10 minutes after intravenous application of .1 mmol/kg body weight of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) were evaluated in normal bone marrow. The contrast-enhancement patterns of normal and malignant bone marrow were compared using the opposed-phase dynamic gradient-echo sequence. Ten of the patients with bone marrow infiltrations (Binet stage C) additionally underwent MR imaging follow-up during therapy. Opposed-phase gradient echo sequences demonstrated a signal decrease of normal bone marrow, and in-phase gradient echo sequences demonstrated a signal increase of normal bone marrow after administration of Gd-DTPA. The dynamic signal intensity time courses differed significantly (P < .05) between Binet stages B and C and controls as well as among the three Binet stages of B-CLL. In the 10 patients followed during therapy, MR imaging sensitively demonstrated response (n = 6), nonresponse (n = 2), or relapse after initial response (n = 2). In out-of-phase imaging, both normal bone marrow and initial bone marrow infiltration in CLL stage Binet A show signal decrease after administration of contrast agent, whereas there is increase in signal intensity in higher-grade bone marrow infiltration in Binet stage B or C disease. The signal loss of normal bone marrow in out-of-phase imaging is a phase effect rather than a T2* effect. The differentiation of initial from higher-grade bone marrow infiltration on out-of-phase images relies solely on a shift in the fat/water ratio.     

Osteitis Unterschenkel

Osteomyelitis patients feel their social and professional existence is threatened. Health insurances are faced with total treatment costs for each patient with osteomyelitis, which can reach 500.000,00 EUR. We must therefore make every effort, from the first onset of infection, to prevent the condition from becoming chronic and thus keep the potential problems to patients and insurance companies to a minimum: once the condition has become chronic there is absolutely no guarantee that treatment will be successful. Treatment must start with the removal of absolutely all necrotic tissue – soft tissue and bone – and of all implants. As in tumor surgery, en bloc resection is best. Up to now there is still no means of determining the exact limits of the infection. The surgeons's personal experience with osteomyelitis is the most important factor both in the treatment of these cases and therefore in the containment of treatment costs. Bone reconstruction is attempted after the soft tissue defects have been treated, either by bone grafting (defect < 3 cm) or by segment transfer. Modern techniques of reconstruction surgery can yield quite good results even in chronic oxteomyelitis, providing management has been optimum throughout. Patients with osteomyelitis should therefore be treated in specialist hospitals.     

The Frictional Behavior of Coated Guiding Archwires

Background: The vast range of orthodontic wires made of different alloys makes it increasingly difficult for orthodontists to judge them. Coated orthodontic wires form a group of innovative guiding archwires. Material and Methods: In the present in vitro study the frictional behavior of eight coated wires of different dimensions was investigated in archwire-guided canine retraction in the upper jaw. For this purpose five superelastic nickel titanium alloy wires (Titanol^/reg; Low Force River Finish Gold and Gold 2: Forestadent^®, Pforzheim Germany; Titanol^® Superelastic tooth Sentalloy Ionguard™: GAC, Central Islip, NY, USA; NITI Imagination™: GAC, Central Islip, NY, USA), two #-titanium wires (TMA^® Low Friction Ionguard: Ormco, Glendora, CA, USA; TMA^® Low Friction Ionguard Purple: Ormco, Glendora, CA, USA) and one steel wire (Stainless steel Imagination™: GAC, Central Islip, NY, USA) were selected. The coatings were made of Teflon^® or polyethylene, and by ion implantation. Three uncoated archwires (Rematitan^® Lite Dimple; Dentaurum, Pforzheim, German; Titanol^® Low Force River Finish: Forestadent^®, Pforzheim, Germany; BioForce Sentalloy™: GAC, Central Islip, NY, USA) were used for comparison purposes. The force losses due to friction were measured using the Orthodontic Measurement and Simulation System (OMSS). Results: The results indicated that all coatings can reduce frictional losses compared with an uncoated reference wire by the same manufacturer. Measured frictional losses ranged from 48.3-6.1% with the Teflon^® coatings reducing the frictional losses to less than 10% in some cases. Conclusion: An unequivocal correlation between the surface roughness and frictional forces of the wires could not be verified by scanning electron microscopy. Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Die Vielzahl an orthodontischen Drähten aus diversen Legierungen macht es die Kieferorthopäden immer schwerer, sie zu beurteilen. Eine Gruppe von neu angebotenen Führungsbögen stellen die beschichteten orthodontischen Drähte dar. Material und Methode: In der vorliegenden In-vitro-Studie wurde das Reibungsverhalten von acht beschichteten Drähten unterschiedlicher Dimension bei den bogengeführten Eckzahnretraktion im Oberkiefer untersucht. Neben fünf Nickel-Titan-Drähten (Titanol^® Low Force River Finish Gold und Gold 2: Fa. Forestadent^®; Titanol^® Superelastic zahnfarben: Fa. Forestadent^®; BioForce Sentalloy Ionguard™: Fa. GAC; NiTi Imagination™: Fa. GAC) wurden zwei #-Titan- (TMA Low Friction Iongard: Fa. Ormco; TMA Low Friction Ionguard Purple: Fa. Ormco) und ein Stahldraht (Stainless Steel Imagination™: Fa. GAC) ausgewählt. Die Beschichtungen bestanden aus Teflon^®, Polyethylen oder Ionenimplantation. Als Referenz wurden drei unbeschichtete Drähte (Rematitan^® Lite Dimple: Fa. Dentaurum; Titanol^® Low Force River Finish: Fa. Forestadent^®; BioForce Sentalloy™: Fa. GAC) in die Untersuchung einbezogen. Die Reibungsverluste wurden mit dem Orthodontischen Mess- und Simulations-System (OMSS) bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass alle Beschichtungen, verglichen mit einem unbeschichteten Referenzdraht desselben Herstellers, eine Reduktion der Reibungsverluste bewirken. Die gemessenen Reibungsverluste lagen zwischen 48,3% und 6,1%, wobei bei Teflon^®-Beschichtungen der Reibungsverlust zum Teil auf unter 10% sank. Schlussfolgerung: Ein eindeutiger Zusammenhang zwischen der Oberflächenrauheit und den Friktionswerten der Drähte konnte anhand von rasterelektronenmikroskopischen Aufnahmen nicht bestätigt werden.     

Evidence for a human IgG1 class switch program

In activated murine B lymphocytes, immunoglobulin class switch recombination occurs as a highly regulated process which is targeted to distinct switch regions. Here we present first evidence that in human B lymphocytes, switch recombination is targeted to distinct switch regions as well. In a panel of clonally unrelated IgG1-expressing human B cells, immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation, seven out of nine cells show switch recombination between Sμ and Sγ1 on both alleles, the active and inactive one. The remaining cells show no switch recombination on the inactive IgH locus. The very strong correlation of switch recombination on both alleles of IgG1-expressing cells proves that class switch recombination to IgG1 is not random but directed in human B lymphocytes.     

Biocompatibility pattern of a bicarbonate/lactate-buffered peritoneal dialysis fluid in APD: a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: In chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, bicarbonate-buffered fluids, with their neutral pH and less advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) and glucose degradation products (GDP), have better biocompatibility than conventional peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. That difference may be more beneficial in automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), due to its more frequent exchanges and longer contact times with fresh dialysate. We performed a prospective, randomized study in APD patients to compare the biocompatibility of conventional and bicarbonate/lactate-buffered PD fluids. METHODS: We randomized 14 APD patients to have APD with either conventional or bicarbonate/lactate-based fluids. After 6 months, both groups changed to the other solution. The overall observation period was 12 months. After 1 and 5 months and again after 7 and 11 months, phagocytotic and respiratory burst capacities of effluent peritoneal macrophages were determined. Plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as effluent IL-6, CRP, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, AGE and CA125 concentrations were measured. Inflow pain was quantified using a patient questionnaire. RESULTS: Respiratory burst capacity remained unchanged and phagocytotic activity increased significantly during APD (P<0.001) with the bicarbonate/lactate fluid. Effluent IL-6 release was significantly lower than with the lactate fluid (P<0.05). While in the effluent TGF-beta 1 was unaffected, AGE concentration was lower after bicarbonate/lactate treatment (P<0.05). Effluent CA125 concentration, an indicator of mesothelial cell integrity, was higher (P<0.05) in neutral effluents. Finally, patients' inflow pain diminished (P = 0.05) when using the neutral fluid. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a neutral PD fluid in APD improved patients' inflow pain as well as biocompatibility parameters reflecting enhanced phagocytotic activity of peritoneal macrophages, reduced constitutive inflammatory stimulation (IL-6), reduced AGE accumulation in the peritoneal cavity and better preservation of the mesothelial cell integrity. From the biocompatibility point of view, a neutral fluid with low GDP content can be recommended as the primary choice for APD.     

Different proliferative activity of the glandular and myoepithelial lineages in benign proliferative and early malignant breast diseases.

The aim of the present study was to explore cell biological characteristics of normal breast, benign proliferative breast diseases and noninvasive breast malignancies based on the recently published adult progenitor cell concept from our group. Here, we investigated the proliferative activity of CK5/14(+), CK8/18/19(+) and alpha-smooth muscle actin(+) cellular phenotypes encountered in normal mammary gland, in a series of usual ductal hyperplasias and early malignant breast diseases, such as atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasias, as well as ductal and lobular in situ carcinomas. Immunohistochemical double labeling was performed on frozen sections from diagnostic breast biopsies by using antibodies to basal cytokeratins (CK5/14), glandular cytokeratins (CK8/18/19), smooth muscle actin and the Ki-67 antigen (MIB1). Normal breast tissues and usual ductal hyperplasias were characterized by a heterogeneous cellular composition of the growth fraction. The proliferative cell compartment consisted of CK8/18/19(+) glandular and, in a variable proportion, CK5/14(+) progenitor phenotypes. In contrast, noninvasive breast malignancies were composed of a monotonous proliferation of CK 8/18/19(+) neoplastic glandular cells. These findings indicate a significant role of progenitor cells in the development of benign proliferative breast diseases and lend support to the view that malignant transformation in the human breast usually occurs in a cell committed to the glandular lineage. Our results provide cell kinetic support to the functional progenitor cell hypothesis, and we propose this concept as an operative model for understanding benign proliferative and malignant breast diseases.     

A flow visualization study of an anatomic coronary artery anastomosis model with an implant.

Flow Streamlining Devices is a new tool in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). They aim in: a) Performing a sutureless anastomosis to reduce thrombosis at the veno-arterial junction, and b) Providing a hemodynamically efficient scaffolding to reduce secondary flow disturbances. Thrombosis and flow disturbances are factors that have been reported as contributing factors to the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) and failure of the graft. By reducing thrombosis and flow disturbances, it is expected that IH will be inhibited and the lifetime of the graft extended. To evaluate the hemodynamic benefits of such an implant, two models were designed and fabricated. One simulated the geometry of the conventional anastomosis without an implant, and the other simulated an anastomosis with a flow streamlining implant. Identical flow conditions relevant to a coronary anastomosis were imposed on both models and flow visualization was performed with dye injection and a digital camera. Results showed reduction of disturbances in the presence of the implant. This reduction seems to be favorable to hemodynamic streamlining which may create conditions that may inhibit the initialization of IH. However, the compliance and geometric mismatch between the anastomosis and the implant created a disturbance at the rigid compliant wall interface, which should be eliminated prior to clinical applications.