Pull-out strength of a polished tapered stem is improved by placing bone cement over the shoulder of the implant

Displacement of a polished stem while attempting closed reduction of a dislocated total hip or during dislocation itself is a rare but significant complication. Our aim was to assess whether applying bone cement over the shoulder of the implant can help to prevent this. We conducted an in vitro mechanical study with tensile testing machine. We cemented 7 sawbones with a standard cementing technique and another 7 with additional cement over the shoulder of the implant. The mean pull-out force in the routine cementing technique was 2066 N (SD, 256.65), and it was 3220 N (SD, 312.22) for the group with the cement on the shoulder. There is a statistically significant difference of 1154 N. We recommend that when a polished stem is used, bone cement should be applied over the shoulder of the implant.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for left-sided gallbladder (sinistroposition).

Transposition of the gallbladder to the left side without situs inversus viscerum is rare. These gallbladders are situated under the left lobe of the liver between Segment III and IV or on Segment III to the left of the falciform ligament. Because routine preoperative studies may not detect the anomaly, it may provide the surgeons with an unusual surprise during laparoscopy. Awareness of the unpredictable confluence of the cystic duct into the common bile duct and selective use of intraoperative cholangiography aid in the safe laparoscopic management of this unusual problem.     

Influences of aspartate on circadian patterns of lipid peroxidation products and antioxidants in Wistar rats

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effects of aspartate on the circadian patterns of lipid peroxidation products and antioxidants in aspartate-treated rats, in order to investigate the influences of aspartate and whether it could modulate these rhythms differently, since aspartate is an important excitatory neurotransmitter (present in retinohypothalamic tract and suprachiasmatic nuclei [SCN]) involved in the generation and regulation of circadian rhythmicity. METHODS: Aspartate (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally for 60 days to Wistar rats, and 24-hour rhythms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were studied under semi-natural (light/dark 12:12 hr) conditions. RESULTS: Exogenous aspartate administration caused acrophase advances in TBARS rhythms, and delays in GSH, SOD and catalase rhythms; altered MESOR and decreased amplitude values were also seen in all of these rhythms. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the orally-treated aspartate could reach the hypothalamus, and various brain centres possibly including SCN, and could modulate the circadian patterns of lipid peroxidation products and antioxidants.     

Smoking reduction does work: resulting alterations in the incidence and histological subtypes of lung cancer in New South Wales in the last 20 years

BACKGROUND: There is irrefutable evidence of the association between lung cancer and smoking. The effects of public health campaigns to reduce population-smoking rates on the incidence and the histological distribution of lung cancer were examined. METHODS: The data held in the New South Wales Cancer Registry from 1972 to 2001 was accessed. RESULTS: The data revealed a decreasing incidence of lung cancer amongst males and a rate that continued to increase amongst females. Interestingly, there was also an effect on the histological distribution of lung cancers, with falling rates of small cell lung cancer and squamous cell cancer, both of which have a high association with smoking; and an increasing incidence of adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: These trends reveal patterns seen worldwide. The increasing proportion of adenocarcinomas in particular may be related to the changing composition of cigarettes and filters.     

De novo development of antibodies to kidney‐associated self‐antigens angiotensin II receptor type I,collagen IV,and fibronectin occurs at early time points after kidney transplantation in children

Chronic rejection is the leading cause of graft loss following pediatric kidney transplantation. Our group and others have demonstrated an association between the development of Abs to self‐antigens and chronic rejection following adult lung and heart transplantation. The goal of this study was to determine whether Abs to kidney‐associated self‐antigens develop following pediatric renal transplantation. We investigated post‐transplant development of Abs to kidney‐associated self‐antigens angiotensin II receptor type I, Fn, and collagen IV in a pediatric cohort. Using ELISA, we measured Abs to kidney‐associated self‐antigens in serum. Our cohort included 29 subjects with samples collected pretransplant and for 12 months post‐transplant. No samples had Abs to kidney‐associated self‐antigen pretransplant. In contrast, 50% (10/20) of subjects developed Abs to one or more kidney‐associated self‐antigen post‐transplantation. The median time to antibody appearance and duration of persistence were 103 and 61 days, respectively. Development of Abs did not correlate with graft function. Half of subjects developed Abs to kidney‐associated self‐antigens angiotensin II receptor type I, Fn, or collagen IV in the first year after kidney transplantation—a higher rate of early antibody development than expected. In this small study, Abs did not correlate with worse clinical outcomes.     

Screening of Nutritionally Important Gut Bacteria from the Lepidopteran Insects Through Qualitative Enzyme Assays

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Lepidopteran insects are the most dominant and diversified group among phytophagous pests and economically...