Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for urinary tract stones using Dornier MFL 5000, performed by the technician

As the only lithotripsy centre at a University Hospital in the most crowded city of Turkey, we have a big number of patients with urinary stones. Between April 1990 and August 1993, 2680 sessions of treatment were done to 1257 renal units. Our study reveals that the results obtained by the performance of an experienced technician are just as reliable as those obtained by an experienced urologist.     

Effect of hypothermia on lactate acidosis in experimental ischemia of rat brain]

The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of hypothermia on lactate level in the rat cerebral ischaemia. Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to injection of 0.05 ml of air into the ligation of left common carotid artery. Lactate level increased in cerebral hemispheres after 4 hours following air emboli. Mild hypothermia (28 degrees-31 degrees C) continued for 4 hours of cerebral ischaemia, and its beneficial effect was observed. A statistically significant decrease of lactate concentration was noted. The above phenomenon was confirmed by the increase of cerebral acidosis after 24 hours when mild hypothermia was interrupted from the 4th hour of the experiment on. It seems to be of a great importance to adjust proper time of initiation and a duration of hypothermia in cerebral ischaemia treatment.     

Changing aspects of psychiatric inpatient treatment

This paper presents data obtained in a one-day census investigation in five European countries (Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia). The census forms were filled in for 4191 psychiatric inpatients. Concerning legal status, 11.2% were hospitalised against their will (committed) and 21.4% were treated in a ward with locked doors. There was only a small correlation between commitment and treatment in a locked ward. More frequent than treatment of committed patients in locked wards was treatment of committed patients in open wards (Austria, Hungary) and treatment of voluntary patients in closed wards (Slovakia, Slovenia). Concerning employment, 27.7% of patients aged 18-60 held a job before admission. The vast majority of patients (84.8%) had a length of stay of less than 3 months. A comparison of these data with the results of a study performed in 1996 and using the same method shows a decrease of rates of long-stay patients. In 1996 the rates of employment were significantly higher in Romania (39.3%) and Slovakia (42.5%) compared to Austria (30.7%). These differences disappeared in 1999 due to decreasing rates of employment in Romania and Slovakia. The numbers of mental health personnel varies between types of institution (university or non-university) and countries, being highest in Austria and lowest in Romania. A considerable increase in the numbers of staff was found in Slovakia.     

Influence of diabetes on critical flaps based on the vascular axis of a sensory nerve.

Delayed sural flap based on the vascular axis of the sural nerve has been advocated for coverage of diabetic foot ulcers. In this study we compared the survival of neurovenous and standard inferior epigastric island flaps in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. VEGF concentrations and electrolyte balance of the flaps were also investigated during elevation and on the fifth day to explore the possible mechanisms that influence ischaemia of the flap during the hyperglycaemic state. There were no statistical differences in area surviving between diabetic and control rats for either flap. The VEGF concentrations were also similar in the two flaps in the two groups during elevation. On the fifth day, VEGF concentrations had decreased significantly in all of the flaps. Electrolyte balance paralleled VEGF concentrations. We conclude that flaps based on the vascular axis of a superficial nerve deserve further experimental and clinical attention as potential options for reconstruction of ulcers on diabetic feet.     

Quantitative analysis of gene expression in human articular chondrocytes assigned for autologous implantation

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) relies on the implantation of in vitro expanded cells. The aim was to study the dedifferentiation of human articular chondrocytes under different cultivating conditions [days 0–10 in the primary culture (P0); passages in a monolayer from P0 to P3; monolayer vs. alginate and monolayer vs. alginate/agarose hydrogels] using real‐time PCR analysis. The relative gene expressions for collagen type I and II, aggrecan and versican were quantified and the corresponding differentiation indexes (Col2/Col1, Agr/Ver) were calculated. The values of both differentiation indexes decreased exponentially with time in the P0 monolayer culture, and continued with a significant decrease over the subsequent monolayer passages. On the contrary, the chondrocytes seeded in either of the hydrogels significantly increased the indexes compared to their parallel monolayer cultures. These results indicate that alginate and alginate/agarose hydrogels offer an appropriate environment for human articular chondrocytes to redifferentiate after being expanded in vitro. Therefore the three‐dimensional (3D) hydrogel chondrocyte cultures present not only surgical, but also biological advantage over the classic suspension–periosteum chondrocyte implantation. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:847–853, 2008     

M Antigens of Group A Streptococci Isolated by Means of Immunochromatography. Biochemical and Serological Properties

M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes types 1 and 12 were purified by immunochromatography on immobilized type-specific opsonizing antibodies. The M proteins were characterized serologically and biochemically. They absorb after immobilization opsonizing antibodies and only precipitate with homologous antisera in immunodiffusion. In SDS PAGE they show one main band, corresponding to mol. weights of 5 × 10⁴ (type 1) and 5.4 × 10⁴ (type 12), accompanied by faint lines, which form with the main band a precipitation line of identity in SDS-crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Both M proteins aggregate blood platelets and clot fibrinogen.