Application of PVD TiN coating to Co-Cr-Mo based surgical implants

The requirements for successful joint arthroplasty are particularly exacting; a balanced combination of mechanical properties together with good biocompatibility are essential. Co-Cr based alloys have been used for many years on account of their relative inertness, good load bearing properties and excellent wear resistance. There is, however, concern that a slow accumulation of metal ions such as cobalt and chromium can lead to adverse clinical reactions; modern cementless fixation techniques may exacerbate this problem.

In an attempt to reduce the release of potentially harmful metal ions from Co-Cr-Mo based surgical implants, a thin coating of TiN has been applied via Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). In vitro corrosion performance has been investigated using electrochemical techniques, and also by atomic absorption analysis.

The release of cobalt and chromium ions is shown to be reduced by the presence of the TiN coating, and these results are discussed in terms of the electrochemistry and microstructure of the coating and substrate.     

进展期结直肠癌动脉灌注新辅助化疗临床疗效观察

目的 探讨术前动脉灌注化疗对进展期结直肠癌的远期临床疗效.方法 选择ⅡB、Ⅲ期的结直肠癌患者128例,随机分为2组:试验组68例行术前动脉灌注化疗,方案为:奥沙利铂(艾恒)130mg/m2、羟基喜树碱20 mg/m2、氟脲苷600 mg/m2,经股动脉插管灌注化疗1、2次,8～14 d后接受手术治疗;对照组60例直接手术治疗.观察动脉灌注化疗不良反应及组织学疗效,比较2组手术切除率、手术并发症、术后病理分期及远期生存率.结果 试验组动脉灌注化疗不良反应主要表现为胃肠道反应和骨髓抑制,均属Ⅰ、Ⅱ度.试验组手术切除率为97.1%(66/68)、根治性切除率为96.9%,分别高于对照组的73.3%(44/60)和79.5%(x2=14.848、8.906,P均＜0.05);试验组组织学有效率达72.7%,病理分期均较术前降低,其中Ⅱ期病例明显较对照组增多(P＜0.05);试验组中位生存期为53.0个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为95.3%、85.9%、44.6%;对照组的中位生存期为42.0个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为92.6%、75.9%、22.0%,试验组生存率高于对照组,但只有5年生存率差异具有统计学意义(x2=6.385,P＜0.05).术后并发症2组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 术前动脉灌注化疗对进展期结直肠癌降低临床分期、提高手术切除率尤其是根治性切除率作用和疗效确切,并能提高患者的远期生存率.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the curative effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy via arterial infusion on advanced colorectal carcinoma. Methods One hundred and twenty-eight advanced colorectal carcinoma patients in stage Ⅱ B or Ⅲ were randomly divided into 2 groups. Sixty-eight cases received preoperative arterial infusion chemotherapy( the treatment group),and chemotherapy regimen consist of Oxaliplatin(L-OHP) 130 mg/m2, Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) 20 mg/m2 and Dexifluridine (FUDR)600 mg/m2. Femoral arterial infusion chemotherapy administrated 8 ～ 14 days preoperative. Sixty cases received surgery directly(the control group). The adverse reaction and histology effect after arterial infusion chemotherapy were observed, and resection rate,complications,pathology stage,together with long term survival were compared. Results Adverse reaction were mostly grade Ⅰ -Ⅱ gastrointestinal discomfort and bone marrow depression with arterial infusion chemotherapy. Resection rate was 97. 1% (66/68) ,and 64 cases(96. 9%) underwent raclical (R0) resection in the treatment group, which were higher than those in the the control group(73. 3%(44/60) and 79. 5%,respectively) (x2 = 14. 848,8. 906, Ps ＜ 0. 05). Histology effect of the treatment group was 72. 7%, and the pathology stage downstaged compared to preopeartion. Percent of patients in stage Ⅱ in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group( P ＜ 0. 05). The median survival time of test group was 53. 0 months, 1- ,3-,and 5-year survival rates were 95.3%,85.9% and 44.6%, respectively. In the control group, the median survival time was 42.0 months, 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 92.6%, 75.9% and 22.0%,respectively. There was significant difference in 5-year survival rate(x2 = 6. 385, P ＜ 0. 05). No difference in postoperative complications between two groups(P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusion The neoadjuvant chemotherapy via arterial infusion is of great significance on downstnging the pathology of advanced colorectal carcinoma, raising the excision rate, especially radical resection, and long term survival rate.     

Acute peripheral arterial ischemia: A prospective evaluation of differential management with surgery or thrombolysis

In this three year prospective study of 177 patients with acute peripheral arterial ischemia those subjects with acute iliofemoral emboli or ischemia with a neurosensory deficit had urgent operations. The remainder included patients less likely to have limb salvage after surgery and who therefore were treated with thrombolytic therapy. This was done in three open studies of intravenous, acylated, plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex, low dose intraarterial streptokinase and intraarterial tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA). The overall outcome after 30 days of thrombolytic therapy was limb salvage (55%), amputation (15%), and death (30%). The severity of the presenting ischemia was the most important prognostic indicator. In patients with a neurosensory deficit, limb salvage after either embolectomy or surgical reconstruction (59%) was more likely than after thrombolysis (31%). In patients without a neurosensory deficit, limb salvage after thrombolysis (68%) was better, though not significantly, than after surgery (53%). Local intraarterial thrombolysis with either streptokinase or t-PA produced an encouraging 66% limb salvage in 59 cases. In management of acute peripheral arterial occlusions an approach based on the severity of ischemia is optimal, with urgent surgery for patients with a neurosensory deficit and intraarterial thrombolytic therapy reserved as an alternative in selected cases with stable ischemia.     

Imaging features of central nervous system haemangiopericytomas

Intracranial and spinal haemangiopericytomas are uncommon, durally based tumours. They macroscopically resemble meningiomas but are distinct histologically, have a more aggressive natural history and require different management. We present a pictorial review illustrating the radiological manifestations of these tumours that will aid in their preoperative identification.     

心电图对急性心肌梗死相关血管的预计价值

对385例急性心肌梗死患者作选择性冠状动脉造影。心电图定位为前壁心梗的相关血管89%是左前降支动脉(LAD),下壁心梗的相关血管76.4%是右冠状动脉(RCA)。阻塞发生于 LAD、RCA及左迥旋支动脉(LCX)近端的分别占67%、58%与78%。近端病变90%以上为重度或完全阻塞。在下壁心梗早期心电图出现心前导联 ST 段下移,是病变广泛的一项指标。     

Purification of hemopoietic progenitor cells from human marrow using a fucose-binding lectin and cell sorting

Human peripheral blood granulocytes, but not lymphocytes, erythrocytes, or monocytes, bound the fucose-binding lectin from Lotus tetragonolobus (FBP), and this binding was competitively inhibited by the sugar alpha- L-fucose. The fluorescence-activated cell sorter was used to study the appearance of this receptor on human marrow cells during granulocyte differentiation and to prepare fractions enriched for granulocyte- macrophage progenitor cells (granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells--GM-CFC). Cell binding of fluoresceinated FBP increased for bone marrow cells in the sequence--lymphocytes, blast cells, promyelocytes and myelocytes, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells. Selection of cells with appropriate low-angle or high-angle light scatter characteristics achieved a 10-fold or 2-3-fold enrichment of progenitor cells, respectively. By selecting cells with intermediate fluorescence intensity, a further 2-3-fold enrichment for GM-CFC was obtained. Cell sorting using the optimal selection of these three parameters produced up to 36-fold enrichment of the progenitor cells from human bone marrow. The most enriched fraction was composed of 23% progenitor cells (colony- and cluster-forming cells) with a yield of 36%. In populations most highly enriched by GM-CFC, immature cells (blast cells, promyelocytes, and myelocytes) made up 95% of the cells present.     

Selective testing of women based on age for genital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in a centralized regional microbiology laboratory

Calgary Laboratory Services, Alberta, Canada, provides microbiology services via a centralized laboratory to the Calgary Health Region. A selective genital Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)/Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) testing policy for women >35 years was implemented. The changes in physician ordering practice, the rate of detection of infections, and the test turnaround times were monitored. The volume of tests, the cost/test, and the total service costs accrued in the year before and after this policy change were compared. An immediate impact was a 30% decrease in tests performed due to the laboratory rejecting samples from older women. Subsequently, physicians' practice changed so that tests were ordered when test criteria were met. Detection rates did not change in any age group. A 27.9% decrease in the total service costs resulted in a labor reduction of 0.2 FTE. Selective testing of women >35 years with a low prevalence of CT/GC infection is clinically relevant and cost-effective.     

Castleman病临床及病理类型与合并症关系分析:单中心大宗病例观察

目的 研究Cagtleman病(CD)的临床及病理类型与各种合并症的关系,推测各种合并症的发病机制,以提高对本病的认识.方法 回顾性分析北京大学第一医院自1977年以来共53例CD患者的临床特点,同时分析临床合并症与临床类型和病理类犁的关系.结果 53例CD患者中单中心型32例(60.4%),多中心型21例(39.6%);病理分型示透明血管型(HV)37例(69.8%),浆细胞型(PC)9例(17.0%),混合型(MIX)7例(13.2%).患者中32例有合并症,占60.4%.根据受累器官不同分为累及皮肤、内脏和血液系统.临床类型与某些合并症的发生密切相关,32例单中心型的主要合并症为副肿瘤性天疱疮(PNP)和闭塞性细支气管炎(BO),21例多中心型的主要合并症为肾脏、血液改变.病理类型与合并症的发生密切相关:透明血管型主要合并症为PNP和BO,浆细胞型和混合细胞型主要合并症为内脏和血液受累.合并PNP的CD患者的临床和病理分型均不同于其他CD.Kaplan-Meier分析显示:伴有合并症的患者生存率明显低于无合并症的患者(P=0.028).结论 CD患者的合并症与其临床、病理分型有关,合并PNP的CD患者应单独分型,有无合并症是影响CD患者预后的关键因素.     

Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing metallo-beta-lactamases in a large centralized laboratory

Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) have been increasingly recognized from clinical isolates worldwide, but the laboratory detection of these strains is not well defined. We report a study that developed an EDTA disk screen test and a molecular diagnostic assay for the detection of MBL-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using NCCLS disk methodology, inhibition zone diameters were determined in tests with imipenem (IPM) and meropenem (MEM) disks alone and in combination with 930 microg of EDTA. This test was compared with the MBL Etest. The duplex PCR assay showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for detecting MBL-producing control strains. Of the 241 clinical strains of IPM-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa from the Calgary Health Region isolated from 2002 to 2004, 110/241 (46%) were MBL positive using phenotypic methods while 107/241 (45%) were PCR positive for MBL genes: 103/241 (43%) for bla(VIM) and 4/241 (2%) for bla(IMP). The EDTA disk screen test using MEM showed 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity for detecting MBLs in control and clinical strains. The EDTA disk screen test is simple to perform and to interpret and can easily be introduced into the workflow of a clinical laboratory. We recommend that all IPM-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa isolates be routinely screened for MBL production using the EDTA disk screen test and that PCR confirmation be performed at a regional laboratory.     

Elevation of plasma thioredoxin levels in HIV-infected individuals

Thioredoxin (Trx), a ubiquitous protein intimately involvedin redox and protein disulfide reductions, has been shown tobe released from cells and to have cytokine-like activities.In addition, Trx has been implicated in the redox regulationof immunological responses and shown to be deficient in tissuesfrom AIDS patients. In studies presented here, plasma Trx levelswere measured by ELISA in plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals(n = 136) and HIV-negative controls (n = 47). To account forthe release of Trx into plasma due to hemolysis, the Trx measurementswere corrected according to the level of hemoglobin in the plasmasample. Data presented show that, in contrast to tissue Trxlevels, corrected plasma Trx levels are significantly higherin HIV-infected individuals than in controls (P < 0.0001).Furthermore, {small tilde}25% of the HIV-infected individualsstudied have plasma Trx levels greater than the highest levelfound in controls (37 ng/ml). Detailed multiparameter FACS analysisof peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the infectedindividuals demonstrates that those with higher plasma Trx levels(37 ng/ml or greater) tend to have lower overall CD4 counts.In addition, increases in plasma Trx levels correlate with decreasesin monochlorobimane staining (indicative of lower intracellularglutathione levels in PBMC) and with changes in surface antigenexpression (CD62L, CD38 and CD20) that occur in the later stagesof HIV infection. These correlations suggest that elevationof plasma Trx levels may be an important component of advancedHIV disease, perhaps related to the oxidative stress that oftenoccurs at this stage.