CD14+CD16+ monocytes in coronary artery disease and their relationship to serum TNF-alpha levels

Monocytes play a central role in the inflammatory disease atherosclerosis. CD14+CD16+ monocytes are considered proinflammatory monocytes, as they have an increased capacity to produce proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, and are elevated in various inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have increased levels of CD14+CD16+ monocytes, and that CD14+CD16+ monocytes are associated with inflammation markers. We investigated CD14+CD16+ monocytes in 247 patients with CAD and 61 control subjects using flow cytometry. In addition serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and Hs-CRP were assessed. Patients with CAD had higher levels of CD14+CD16+ monocytes than controls (13.6% versus 11.4%; p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis including quartiles of CD14+CD16+ monocytes showed that CD14+CD16+ monocytes were associated with prevalence of CAD (OR 4.9, 95% CI 2.5-19.1, for subjects in the fourth quartile in comparison to subjects in the first quartile). The association between CD14+CD16+ monocytes and CAD remained independently significant after adjustment for most potential confounders (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.2-20.0). Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha were elevated in subjects within the highest quartiles of CD14+CD16+ monocytes (p=0.018). Our study showed that increased numbers of CD14+CD16+ monocytes are associated with coronary atherosclerosis and TNF-alpha. In accordance, recent animal studies suggest a possibly important role of these monocytes in the development of atherosclerosis.     

Chromosomal translocation t(18;21)(q23;q22.1) indicates novel susceptibility loci for frontotemporal dementia with ALS

A chromosomal translocation t(18;21)(q23;q22) is reported in a patient with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We exclude the physical involvement and silencing of the ALS-linked gene for copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) on chromosome 21q22.1. The breakpoints are assigned to sequences flanked by the markers ATA1H06, D18S462, D21S1915, and D21S1898. These critical regions may contain susceptibility loci for FTD associated with ALS.     

Surgical versus endovascular treatment of acute thoracic aortic rupture: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of acute thoracic aortic ruptures is controversial, especially in patients with preexisting comorbidities; associated mortality and paraplegia rates remain high. It was our objective to evaluate whether treating these patients acutely with endovascular stent grafts would improve their outcome. METHODS: From November 1999 to February 2002 a total of 54 patients, age 28 to 83 years, were admitted to our institution with an acute rupture of the thoracic aorta (24 ruptured aneurysms, 14 perforated type B dissections, 16 traumatic ruptures). Twenty-eight patients were managed surgically using cardiopulmonary bypass (group 1), and 26 patients were treated acutely with an endovascular stent graft (group 2). The resuscitation protocol and interval from onset of symptoms to treatment was comparable in both groups. Medical records were reviewed for prehospitalization and emergency department data, operative findings, and outcomes. RESULTS: There were 5 of 28 deaths (17.8%) in the surgical group and 1 of 26 deaths (3.8%) in the endovascular group. In the surgical group 1 of 28 patients (3.6%) exhibited paraplegia; there were no cases of paraplegia in the endovascular group. There were 4 of 28 cases (14.3%) of renal failure in group 1 and 1 of 26 (3.8%) in group 2. In group 1, 8 patients (28.6%) required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours; there were 2 of 26 patients (7.7%) in group 2 with this ventilatory requirement. Three patients required a repeat thoracotomy for hemorrhage in the surgical group. There were two access failures in the endovascular group. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of acute ruptures of the thoracic aorta, the immediate outcome of patients treated with endovascular stent grafts appears to be better than with management by conventional surgical repair.     

Emergent endovascular stent grafting for perforated acute type B dissections and ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of endovascular stent grafts in the treatment of acutely ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms and type B dissections as an alternative to the conventional surgical approach in an emergency setting. METHODS: From January 2001 to October 2001, we deployed 11 emergent endovascular stent grafts into the thoracic aorta. We treated seven ruptured aortic aneurysms and four acutely perforated type B dissections. Aortic rupture was confirmed preoperatively by spiral computed tomography. In all cases, hemothorax was present. The average interval from onset of symptoms to treatment was 28.5 hours. We used nine Talent and two Excluder stent grafts. RESULTS: Deployment of the stent grafts was successful in nine cases. There were two cases of access failure due to small caliber of iliac arteries, and 1 of these patients died shortly after the procedure was abandoned, At 12 months of follow-up, there were no cases of paraplegia, stent migration, or endoleaks. There was, however, one temporary renal failure, and 2 patients required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiences with emergency endovascular stent grafting show that the procedure is technically feasible, with less morbidity and mortality than conventional open surgery, in high-risk patients.     

Evaluation of sodium T1 relaxation times in human heart

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sodium longitudinal relaxation (T(1)) characteristics for myocardium and blood in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers were examined by using a (23)Na heart surface coil at a 1.5 T clinical scanner equipped with a broadband spectroscopy option. (23)Na MR measurements were performed by using a three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo sequence (in-plane resolution, 3.5 mm x 7 mm; slice thickness, 24 mm; TE, 3.1 msec; bandwidth, 65 Hz/pixel; TR, 21 to 150 msec). RESULTS: Longitudinal T(1) relaxation time components were 31.6+/-7.0 msec and 31.1+/-7.5 msec for myocardium and blood, respectively. CONCLUSION: (23)Na T(1) relaxation times of myocardium and blood can be determined in humans. The results are in agreement with values obtained from animal studies.     

Pathophysiological Measurement and Results After Laparoscopic Fundoplication for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Purpose: Both surgical and conservative treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are controversial. The aim of this prosepective study was to examine outcomes after laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Methods: The subjects were 143 patients who underwent laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Following diagnostic procedures 126 patients were allocated to a total fundoplication group (360°C, Nissen-DeMeester) and 17, to a posterior semifundoplication group (250–270°, Toupet). All complications were registered, and pathophysiological and outcome data were examined 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery. Results: By 6 months after surgery the mean lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure had improved significantly, to 14.8 mmHg in the Nissen-DeMeester group, and to 12.1 mmHg in the Toupet group, corresponding to successful prevention of esophageal reflux in both groups. Dysphagia was more common in the early postoperative period after total fundic wrap (17% vs 12%), but this difference disappeared in time. All patients reported complete relief of reflux symptoms, although two of those who underwent the Nissen-DeMeester fundoplication experienced relapse of GERD and required open reconstruction (1.4%). The laparoscopic procedure was converted to open surgery in three patients (2%). There were no associated deaths and the perioperative complication rate was 4.2%. Conclusion: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is an effective treatment for GERD. More than 93% of the patients in this series rated their outcome as good to excellent following the operation. Received: December 10, 2001 / Accepted: May 7, 2002 Reprint requests to: K. Ludwig     

Routine detection of benzoylecgonine in urine at a sensitivity of 35 ng/mL by a combination of EMIT and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The limit of detection of a published gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) procedure for the detection of benzoylecgonine in urine was extended to 35 ng/mL. The GC/MS procedure then was used not only to confirm EMIT positives, but also to detect the presence of benzoylecgonine in urines that gave EMIT readouts below the low calibrator value, but higher than halfway between the negative and low calibrator values. Of 16 such patient urines, 12 were positive by the GC/MS procedure.     

Longitudinal long-term results of surgical treatment in patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyles

In a longitudinal study, we performed a second follow-up examination on patients suffering from osteochondritis dissecans at the femoral condyles 10 years after a first follow-up, which had been performed 10 years after surgical treatment. Results (clinical score; radiological signs of OA) were analysed depending on the stage of the epiphyseal plate at the time of surgery, the used surgical procedure was divided into retrograde and anterograde procedures, and removal of loose bodies depending on the stage of the lesion. The analysis clearly exhibited that JOCD patients demonstrated better results than AOCD patients. The clinical score obtained after 10 years improved significantly with time, particularly for JOCD patients. Overall, when a retrograde procedure had been used in cases with an intact cartilage layer clinical results were better than those obtained in patients in whom an anterograde procedure with restoration of the joint surface or simple removal of the loose fragments had been performed. After a mean follow-up of 20 years the mean OA-stage was 0.27 in JOCD patients, whereas in AOCD patients a mean OA-stage of 1.55 was detected. Worst OA-changes were detected in patients in whom acrylic glue had been used for refixation of the loose bodies. Mark Rayf and Joern Steinhagen are Doctoral students.