Calcaneal fractures

Fractures of the calcaneus generally occur in the event of high-energy trauma, resulting in complex, three-dimensionally oriented fracture patterns. Surgical management is generally indicated for displaced intra-articular fractures, which allows restoration of calcaneal height, width and overall morphology, in addition to the posterior facet articular surface where possible, and allows for a late in situ arthrodesis as a means of salvage in the event of posttraumatic arthritis. What follows is a brief discussion of our preferred methods in the diagnosis and management of calcaneal fractures.     

Wann wird zementiert?

The aims in implantation of an artificial replacement hip joint should be lasting fixation and pain-free functioning of the elements of the prosthesis in the bone and minimal friction between the articulating parts. Despite improvements in bone cement and in cementing techniques, the question of whether cemented or cement-free hip replacement systems give better results in the long term is still the subject of controversy. The basics of cemented and cement-free implantation of prostheses, of the surgical techniques and of the corresponding results and complications are presented. Despite all the advantages of cement-free implantation over cemented implantation of prostheses, while the former yield good results in the short term, long-term results with a follow-up period of over 10 years are available for only a limited number of cement-free implants. Therefore, until long-term (15-year) results for the cement-free prosthetic systems currently on the market are available, cemented anchorage as practised since the introduction and application of the second-generation cementing techniques with the reduction of the risk of revision surgery by approximately 20% at present should be regarded as standard despite the more demanding implantation process.     

Nontransplantation of Livers from Deceased Donors Who Are Able to Donate Another Solid Organ: How Often and Why It Happens

Deceased donor factors associated with poor graft outcome are well known, but how often these factors lead to livers left untransplanted is poorly defined. A nested, case-control study was conducted using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database from 1987 to 2005. Only those donating >/=1 solid organ were included. Primary outcome was livers not transplanted (LNT, cases) versus transplanted (LT, controls). Primary variables for multivariate analysis were donor age and obesity. Covariates included donation after cardiac death (DCD), cerebral vascular accident death, viral serologies, cancer, ALT and bilirubin. There were 23 373 (26%) LNT's from 91 362 donors who donated at least one organ. Percent LNT fell over time (1987-1990: 48%; 1991-1995: 29%; 1996-2000: 21%; 2000-2005: 16%; p < 0.01). Increased age (odds ratio: 4.2, 95% confidence interval 3.6-4.9, p < 0.01) and obesity (2.1, 1.9-2.3, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with LNT across all time periods. Other significant factors included DCD and elevated ALT. For 2001-2005, population attributable risk indicate that age >40, abnormal ALT and obesity account for 32.6%, 25.3% and 9.2% of untransplanted livers, respectively. Use of expanded criteria livers has pushed LNT lower in spite of an aging and heavier donor population. Nevertheless, age and obesity still account for a significant portion of untransplanted livers.     

Lack of effect of fluoride releasing resin modified glass ionomer restorations on the contacting surface of adjacent primary molars. a clinical prospective study.

AIM: This prospective, split mouth control study was planned to clinically evaluate shown short-term caries protection of glass ionomer cement on tooth enamel placed in contact to it, as a result of fluoride release. STUDY DESIGN: The sample consisted of 83 children, aged 4-7 years, visiting a private practice during the years 1999 and 2000. All subjects met the following criteria: a Class II restoration was needed to a maxillary or mandibular primary molar on both sides of the mouth, the adjacent molars being radiographically diagnosed as sound or with caries in the relative proximal enamel only. METHODS: A resin modified glass ionomer restoration (Vitremer, 3M) was placed at the test side chosen by chance, while an amalgam or composite restoration was placed at the control side. Lesion initiation or progression adjacent to each restoration was categorized in 5 stages radiographically. STATISTICS: The non-parametric Marginal Homogeneity test for paired observations was used. RESULTS: Differences between test and control were not statistically significant (p>0.1). Two years after restorations were placed bitewings were taken from 36 children (41 pairs of restorations). Uncontrolled brushing with fluoride dentifrice was reported. Mean fluoride treatments performed were 2.2, initial visit included. Lesion progression was: 14 pairs--no progression in either side; 9 pairs--equal progression by 1 stage in both sides; 9 pairs--progression by 1 stage at test side, no progression at control side; 6 pairs--progression by 1 stage at control side, no progression at test side; 3 pairs--various other combinations of scores. CONCLUSIONS: Under these clinical conditions, fluoride release from Class II Vitremer restorations did not affect the rate of caries progression at the adjacent enamel of proximal primary teeth.     

Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and medial temporal lobe atrophy: the LADIS study.

HYPOTHESIS: Based on recent findings on the association between vascular risk factors and hippocampal atrophy, we hypothesized that hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) in subjects without disability, independent of the severity of white matter hyperintensities. METHODS: In the Leukoaraiosis And DISability in the elderly (LADIS) study, we investigated the relationships between DM, hypertension, blood pressure and MTA in 582 subjects, stratified by white matter hyperintensity severity, using multinomial logistic regression. MTA was visually scored for the left and right medial temporal lobe (score 0-4), and meaned. RESULTS: Mean age was 73.5 years (sd 5.1), 54% was female. Of the subjects, 15% had DM, and 70% had a history of hypertension. The likelihood of having MTA score 3 was significantly higher in subjects with DM (OR 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1-7.8) compared with an MTA score of 0 (no atrophy). The odds ratio for MTA score 2 was not significantly increased (OR 1.8; CI: 0.9-4). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a history of hypertension were not associated with MTA. There was no interaction between DM and hypertension. Stratification on white matter hyperintensities (WMH) did not alter the associations. CONCLUSION: Our study strengthens the observation that MTA is associated with DM, independently of the amount of small vessel disease as reflected by WMH.     

Effect of anti-PcrV antibody in a murine chronic airway Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogens in patients with chronic airway conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Type III secretion system-mediated virulence factors contribute to the lung damage in chronic P. aeruginosa infection. The effects of the anti-PcrV immunoglobulin (Ig)G, which blocks the type III secretion system, were evaluated in a mouse model of chronic P. aeruginosa infection. On bacteriological examination, anti-PcrV IgG showed no bactericidal effects. On bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, total cell number and neutrophil ratios in the anti-PcrV IgG-treated groups were lower than those in the control group. In addition, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-beta concentrations in BALF were lower in the anti-PcrV IgG-treated groups when compared with controls. Plasma anti-PcrV IgG titre was elevated after administration of anti-PcrV IgG. Although plasma titre decreased gradually, a significant concentration was maintained during the experimental period. These data suggest that anti-PcrV immunoglobulin G reduces the inflammatory reaction caused by chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection and may be useful in treating respiratory diseases.     

Disturbance of systemic antioxidant profile in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

The present study aimed to determine the alterations of antioxidant activities in erythrocytes from patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). A comparative study of the systemic antioxidant activities in red blood cell lysate from subjects with NSCLC and healthy control subjects was conducted. The antioxidants catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured using chemical kinetic reactions under spectrophotometry. In total, 189 cases of mostly advanced-stage IIIB or stage IV NSCLC and 202 healthy controls were studied. In subjects with lung cancer, there was similar catalase activity, lower SOD activity (median (interquartile range) 13.4 (9.0-27.2) versus 48.7 (27.0-64.3) U x (ghaemoglobulin(Hb)(-1)), and higher GPx activity (175.2 (126.6-288.3) versus 49.2 (39.5-59.2) mU x (gHb)(-1)) compared with controls. The antioxidant activities in lung cancer subjects were not associated with age, sex, smoking status, or tumour cell types. However, more advanced disease (stage IV compared with stage IIIB) was associated with lower SOD activity. Using multivariable analysis, the presence of lung cancer independently predicted SOD and GPx activities. In conclusion, nonsmall cell lung carcinoma in Chinese subjects is associated with alterations in systemic antioxidant activities, which may play an important role in carcinogenesis.