Effect of indomethacin on regulation of juxta-articular bone blood-flow during joint tamponade. An experimental study in puppies

Prostaglandins are vasoactive substances which are assumed to play a major role in bone metabolism and bone repair. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of indomethacin on the control of epiphyseal bone blood-flow. By means of simultaneous intra-osseous pressure (IOP) and regional blood flow (RBF) measurements in the distal femoral epiphysis (DFE), aspects of vascular control mechanisms in the distal femoral epiphysis were investigated during knee joint tamponade (50% of mean arterial pressure) before and after administration of indomethacin 7.5 mg/kg. Six dogs aged 3-4 months were investigated in fentanyl anaesthesia. Knee joint tamponade resulted in a significant increase in IOP and calculated venous resistance in the DFE, while no significant changes in regional blood-flow or arterial resistance were encountered. Administration of indomethacin did not affect this reaction. The results suggests that indomethacin 7.5 mg/kg does not influence the regulation of epiphyseal blood-flow during elevation of joint pressure indicating that prostaglandins play only a minor or no role in this regulation.     

Coronary vasoactivity of acetate in dog and guinea-pig

Summary This study compares the coronary vasoactivity of acetate in the blood-perfused heart of the open-chest dog and in the buffer-perfused guinea-pig heart. In the dog acetate is a weak but probably fully efficacious coronary agonist. Direct intracoronary infusions of isosmolar Na acetate caused dose-dependent coronary vasodilation and decreased transcoronary O₂ extraction, resulting in an increase in cardiac O₂ usage of up to 40%. Acetate raised coronary flow to at least 50% above control in 63 of 67 dogs but caused maximum coronary vasodilation (400% of control) in only 39 of the 67. The frequency distribution of the acetate EC-20 decreased monotonically from a mode at <1 mM over a range extending to >6 mM, suggesting a single population of animals characterized by a rather wide range of sensitivity to acetate. Theophylline antagonized acetate vasodilation, in support of the idea that adenosine mediates the coronary effects of acetate. In the guinea-pig heart, acetate in concentrations up to 10 mM caused minimal increases in coronary flow that were completely accounted for by the small change in O₂ usage that resulted from switching from glucose to acetate the main energy source. Acetate (10 mM) elicited a small release of adenosine and its degradation products.     

A method for bone-cement interface thermometry. An in vitro comparison between low temperature curing cement Palavit, and Surgical Simplex P.

Previous temperature measurements at the bone-cement intreface have all shown large variations. To evaluate more precisely the temperature profiles during cement curing, a new experimental model was developed. Eight thermocouple electrodes at the bone-cement interface for each test specimen were used for continuous temperature recordings. Temperature profiles of Palavit was compared with those of Surgical Simplex P in an in vitro model using isolated pig femurs. Defects of 12 x 17 mm in the femoral metaphysis were filled with cement. In six tests with each type of cement, Palavit peaked at a temperature of 50 +/- 0.5 degrees C, whereas Surgical Simplex P peaked at 60 +/- 0.7 degrees C. Core temperatures reached peak values of 70 +/- 0.8 degrees C and 95 +/- 2.2 degrees C for Palavit and Surgical Simplex P, respectively.     

Fibrin sealant in bone transplantation. No effects on blood flow and bone formation in dogs

To study bone formation and regional blood flow following the use of fibrin sealant in autologous cancellous bone transplantation, a dog model was developed. In 18 dogs, a standardized defect in both tibiae was filled with an autologous iliac crest graft. On one side, the bone chips were mixed with fibrin sealant while the other side served as control. After 1, 2 and 3 weeks the blood flow of the transplant was calculated and the new bone formed evaluated histomorphometrically. Generally, the highest blood flow rates and most intensive new bone formation were observed at 2 weeks postoperatively. Fibrin sealant did not alter blood flow or new bone formation, but a tendency to diminished new bone formation was found in some grafts. Our study does not support the application of fibrin sealant in ordinary cancellous bone grafting.     

Orthopantomography and its significance for the otorhinolaryngologist

Orthopantomography, i.e. a single radiograph producing a panorama-like view of the entire jaw, was originally developed for the diagnosis of dental diseases. Further developments have made this technique useful for routine ENT examination also. The main indications for orthopantomography in otorhinolaryngology are: diseases of the maxillary sinus (especially of the basal parts), fractures of the jaws, sialolithiasis, tumours of the oral cavity invading the jaw, osseous tumours and facial anomalies.     

Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates: results of a prospective multicenter study comparing pooled whole blood-derived platelets and apheresis platelets

BACKGROUND: The GERMS Group initiated a prospective multicenter study to assess prevalence and nature of bacterial contamination of pooled buffy-coat platelet concentrates (PPCs) and apheresis platelet concentrates (APCs) by routine screening with a bacterial culture system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In nine centers overall, 52,243 platelet (PLT) concentrates (15,198 APCs, 37,045 PPCs) were analyzed by aerobic and anaerobic cultures (BacT/ALERT, bioMérieux). RESULTS: In 135 PLT concentrates (PCs; 0.26%), bacteria could be identified in the first culture (0.4% for APCs vs. 0.2% for PPCs; p < 0.001). In 37 (0.07%) of these PC units, the same bacteria strain could be identified in a second culture from the sample bag and/or the PC unit. The rate of confirmed-positive units did not differ significantly between APC (0.09%; 1/1169) and PPC units (0.06%; 1/1544). Bacteria from skin flora (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis) were the most prevalent contaminants. Median times to first positive culture from start of incubation were 0.7 and 3.7 days in aerobic and anaerobic cultures for confirmed-positive units. With a "negative-to-date" issue strategy, most PC units (55%) had already been issued by time of the first positive culture. CONCLUSION: The rate of confirmed bacterial contamination of PC units was low. Nevertheless, clinicians must be aware of this risk. The risk of bacterial contamination does not warrant universal preference of APCs. It must be questioned whether routine bacterial screening by a culture method can sufficiently prevent contaminated products from being transfused due to the delay until a positive signal in the culture system and due to false-negative results.     

7.0T磁共振关节软骨T2弛豫时间图与量化分析的实验研究

目的建立超高场强磁共振关节软骨T2弛豫时间图成像技术和量化分析方法。方法用7.0T微磁共振机,采用多回波SE序列对琼脂糖凝胶体模和家猪髌骨扫描,获得T2加权图像,测定体模与髌骨软骨的信噪比。重构T2弛豫时间图,人工画感兴趣区测量T2值。结果琼脂糖凝胶体模和家猪髌骨T2加权图像清晰,对比度好,无异常伪影,信噪比高,重复性好。琼脂糖凝胶体模的T2值随浓度降低而增加。髌骨软骨呈分层状表现,软骨表层T2值高于中间层、深层、钙化层和软骨全层,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论T2弛豫时间图可量化测定关节软骨,是可行的、敏感的、特异的软骨分子成像技术。     

Detection of HLA-antibodies prior to renal transplantation: prospects and limitations of new assays

Donor-specific HLA antibodies are responsible for most early renal allograft rejections and allograft losses. Therefore, detection of HLA antibodies prior to transplantation is an important step in the evaluation of renal allograft recipients. In this mini-review we will describe recent advances in the techniques used to detect donor-specific HLA antibodies with emphasis on their potential application for patient management and their current limitations.     

Myocardial oxygen consumption modulates adenosine formation by canine right ventricle in absence of hypoxia

Myocardial adenosine formation varies with myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO(2)), but whether concurrent hypoxia is required for adenosine formation is uncertain. Changes in right coronary (RC) perfusion pressure (RCP) produce directionally similar alterations in right ventricular (RV) MVO(2)and in RC venous P O(2)(P(v)O(2)), an index of myocardial P O(2). RCP was varied in 10 anesthetized, open chest dogs to determine if, under these conditions, RV formation of adenosine would increase with MVO(2)in absence of myocardial hypoxia. Dialysis probes were implanted in the mid myocardium of RV free wall for collecting dialysate samples for HPLC analyses to estimate interstitial adenosine and other purines. Coronary venous blood was sampled from a superficial vein draining the RC artery (RCA) perfusion territory. At 115+/-3 mmHg baseline RCP, RC blood flow (RCBF)=0.51+/-0.04 ml/min/g, MVO(2)=4.6+/-0.5 ml/min/100 g, P(v)O(2)=34+/-1.5 mmHg, and dialysate adenosine=0. 27+/-0.03microM. When RCP was lowered to 61+/-1 mmHg by adjusting an occluder on the proximal RCA, RCBF decreased to 0.36+/-0.03 ml/min/g, MVO(2)fell to 3.7+/-0.4 ml/min/100 g, lactate uptake remained positive, P(v)O(2)fell to 30+/-1.7 mmHg, and dialysate adenosine decreased to 0.20+/-0.03microM. Reactive hyperemia of 1.25+/-0.13 ml/min/g was observed when the RCA constriction was released, although dialysate adenosine had fallen. When RCP was elevated to 164+/-2 mmHg by inflating a balloon catheter in the descending aorta, RCBF increased to 0.70+/-0.06 ml/min/g, MVO(2)increased to 5.8+/-1. 0 ml/min/100 g, P(v)O(2)rose to 39+/-2.3 mmHg, and dialysate adenosine increased to 0.33+/-0.04microM. These data indicate that (1) RV oxygen demand varies with RCP; (2) if RV ischemia is absent, myocardial adenosine formation is modulated by MVO(2), with no requirement for hypoxia; (3) pressure-flow autoregulation is relatively ineffective in the RC circulation, where adenosine does not mediate and may even blunt autoregulation.