Avascular osteonecrosis after hyperthermia in children and adolescents with pelvic malignancies: a retrospective analysis of potential risk factors.

PURPOSE: In children with locally advanced or recurrent malignant tumours, prognosis can be improved by regional deep hyperthermia (RHT) in combination with platin-based chemotherapy. However, because of the increasing number of patients that achieve long-time remission with this therapy, it is necessary to evaluate long-term sequelae of thermochemotherapy. During the years 1993-2004 one has observed avascular osteonecrosis (AON) of the femoral head after RHT in seven children with pelvic germ cell tumours or rhabdomyosarcomas. METHODS: Although AON may develop in patients with malignancies treated with chemo- or radiotherapy alone, RHT might nevertheless contribute to the occurrence of AON. In order to determine potential risk factors for AON after RHT, this study analysed the relationship of AON to the patient's age, medical history and treatment parameters such as thermal dose equivalent and power output. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the present study AON was associated with young age as well as intensity of hyperthermia indicated by high power levels that exceed 20 W per kg body weight and/or application of eight or more heat sessions as well as additional radiotherapy. Based on this observation, it was assumed that an optimized three dimensional thermal field modelling may be helpful to avoid hazardous temperatures in the femoral heads during RHT treatment and to reduce AON of the femoral heads.     

Acute necrotizing gastritis.

A 17-year-old man presented with signs of peritonitis. Laparotomy revealed gangrene of the stomach without obvious cause. The patient underwent total gastrectomy with esophago-jejunal anastomosis with formation of jejunal pouch. Bacterial culture of the peritoneal fluid grew Strept. pyogenes and E. coli. The patient was discharged on day 21 after a stormy postoperative course.     

Ex Vivo Application of Carbon Monoxide in University of Wisconsin Solution to Prevent Intestinal Cold Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Carbon monoxide (CO), a byproduct of heme catalysis, was shown to have potent cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. In vivo recipient CO inhalation at low concentrations prevented ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury associated with small intestinal transplantation (SITx). This study examined whether ex vivo delivery of CO in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution could ameliorate intestinal I/R injury. Orthotopic syngenic SITx was performed in Lewis rats after 6 h cold preservation in control UW or UW that was bubbled with CO gas (0.1-5%) (CO-UW). Recipient survival with intestinal grafts preserved in 5%, but not 0.1%, CO-UW improved to 86.7% (13/15) from 53% (9/17) with control UW. At 3 h after SITx, grafts stored in 5% CO-UW showed improved intestinal barrier function, less mucosal denudation and reduced inflammatory mediator upregulation compared to those in control UW. Preservation in CO-UW associated with reduced vascular resistance (end preservation), increased graft cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels (1 h), and improved graft blood flow (1 h). Protective effects of CO-UW were reversed by ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase. In vitro culture experiment also showed better preservation of vascular endothelial cells with CO-UW. The study suggests that ex vivo CO delivery into UW solution would be a simple and innovative therapeutic strategy to prevent transplant-induced I/R injury.     

对芸香科芦荟不会发生接触性过敏

芦荟自古就被用作化妆品和药物添加剂，近来更受喜爱。虽应用广泛，但过敏反应罕有报道。作者用芦荟叶的油性提取物、来自整个植株的芦荟粉及浓缩的芦荟凝胶，对相继就诊的702例患者做斑贴试验。设计专门的问卷调查芦荟的使用、使用原因、使用部位、不良反应、患者职业、个人爱好及是否为遗传性过敏体质。患者均未对任一制剂发生任何反应。需对芦荟所含的两种成分加以鉴别：即芦荟叶皮含有的具有促进肠蠕动、潜在抗菌及抗癌特性的蒽醌类物质。     

The finding of the nematode Daniconema anguillae Moravec et Køie, 1987 (Spirurida, Dracunculoidea: Daniconematidae) in Lithuania

Summary The third-stage larvae of Daniconema anguillae Moravec et K?ie, 1987 are found in the eels fins caught from Dringis Lake (Lithuanian National park). The morphology of these larvae is briefly described.     

The value of a pantaloon cast test in surgical decision making for chronic low back pain patients: a systematic review of the literature supplemented with a prospective cohort study

The results of lumbar fusion in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients vary considerably, and there is a need for proper patient selection. Lumbosacral orthoses have been widely used to predict outcome, however, with little scientific support. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a pantaloon cast test in selecting chronic LBP patients for lumbar fusion or conservative management. First, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in which two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline, Cochrane and Current Contents databases. Three papers met the selection criteria. In the only study with a control group, a significantly better outcome after fusion compared to conservative treatment was found in patients who reported significant pain relief while in a cast (i.e. a positive cast test). The results of lumbar fusion, however, were not significantly different for patients with a positive and those with a negative cast test. In addition to the review, a clinical cohort study of 257 LBP patients, who had been allocated to either lumbar fusion or conservative management by a temporary external transpedicular fixation trial, was performed. Prior to allocation, all had undergone a pantaloon cast test. Patients with no history of prior spine surgery and with a positive pantaloon cast test had a better outcome after lumbar fusion than those treated conservatively (P = 0.002, χ ² test). In patients with previous spine operations the outcomes were poor and the test was of no value. From the literature and the present patient cohort, it was concluded that only in chronic LBP patients without prior spine surgery, a pantaloon cast test with substantial pain relief suggests a favorable outcome of lumbar fusion compared to conservative management. The test has no value in patients who have had previous spine surgery.     

Operationsrisiko nach neoadjuvanter Therapie gastrointestinaler Karzinome

Zusammenfassung Viele gastrointestinale Tumoren werden im Rahmen multimodaler Therapiekonzepte behandelt. Für den Chirurgen ist die neoadjuvante, präoperative Behandlung von besonderem Interesse, da sie durch therapiebedingte Nebenwirkungen und Komplikationen zu einer Beeinflussung des postoperativen Verlaufs führen kann. Die neoadjuvante Radiochemotherapie ist fester Bestandteil der Therapie beim primären T4-Rektumkarzinom, beim Rektumkarzinomrezidiv und bei tief sitzenden primären Rektumkarzinomen. Durch Erhöhung der R0-Resektionsrate können die lokale Tumorkontrolle verbessert und die Überlebenszeit verlängert werden. Die postoperative Komplikationsrate ist dabei nicht wesentlich erhöht. In der Behandlung des primär resektablen Ösophaguskarzinoms deutet sich ein Vorteil der neoadjuvanten Radiochemotherapie im Vergleich zur alleinigen Chirurgie an. Beim lokal fortgeschrittenen Ösophaguskarzinom bietet die präoperative Radiochemotherapie häufig die einzige Chance zur Resektion, jedoch mit einer deutlich erhöhten postoperativen Morbidität und Mortalität. Die Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit einer neoadjuvanten Chemo- oder kombinierten Radiochemotherapie beim fortgeschrittenen Magenkarzinom wird derzeit im Rahmen von Studienprotokollen untersucht.     

Modern wound dressings: Making and properties. II. Wound dressings containing immobilized proteolytic enzymes (a review)

Published data devoted to making and characterization of the properties of polymeric wound dressings with proteolytic action are reviewed. These data are indicative of individual dependence of the physicochemical properties, activity, and stability of each particular enzyme on the type of polymer matrix and the method of immobilization. In order to obtain wound dressings, which are active in physiological medium and retain their activity upon sterilization, it is necessary to optimize the composition and characteristics of a polymer matrix and the enzyme included into its structure. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 40, No. 8, pp. 24–28, August, 2006.