Serum bone-gla protein after fracture

Serum bone Gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (bone-gla) protein (BGP), a marker of bone formation, was measured in serial blood samples drawn from 14 patients who had fractured at least one of their tibial or femoral diaphyses and from two other patients who had sustained major trauma without fracture but who had been immobilized. A total of 85 samples were taken and analyzed during the first three months after the fractures occurred. Serum BGP significantly increased and positively correlated with the time that had elapsed after the fracture, with an average twofold increase after two months. The fracture site and the duration of immobilization had no influence on the serum BGP levels. Serum BGP levels from the two non-fractured cases increased in the first two weeks with no subsequent consistent trend. These data suggest that serum BGP increases one to two months after a major fracture, possibly as a manifestation of bone repair. Further studies are required to determine the potential clinical value of serum BGP in the management of such patients.     

Allografted keratinocytes used to accelerate the treatment of burn wounds are replaced by recipient cells

Cultured keratinocytes were used as allografts on burn wounds in two patients. In both patients successful covering of the wounds was obtained. DNA fingerprinting of the epidermis covering the wounds 21 days later showed that the cultured keratinocytes were replaced by the patients' cells.     

The experimental pharmacotherapy of the liver lesion induced by indomethacin

In experiments on albino rats it was established that three administrations of indomethacin in a dose of 0.01 g/kg body weight induced a severe damage of the liver characterized by disturbances of hepatocytic membranes, bile-producing and protein-producing functions of the liver, an enhancement of lipid peroxidation, a decrease of reduced glutathione pool. Antioxidants (tocopherol acetate, essentiale, legalon, flacumin) limit manifestations of indomethacin, hepatotoxicity, as a result of which tha functional-biochemical disorders in the liver show up to a lesser degree. During the combined use of antioxidants in indomethacin-induced lesions of the liver their hepatoprotective activity increases.     

Free-floating thrombus of the extracranial internal carotid artery

Free-floating clots of the extracranial internal carotid artery are generally considered as surgical emergencies. This retrospective study analyzes six free-floating clots diagnosed by arteriography. Three of these patients had a fixed stroke while the other three had an evolving stroke. Three patients had antecedent ocular or hemispheric transient ischemic attacks. The causes of free-floating clots in the internal carotid artery were atheromatous stenosis in two cases, ulcerated plaque in three cases, and carotid artery dissection in one. All six patients were seen late, approximately 15 hours after their neurologic accident. They were treated with intravenous heparin over a two to five week period. Repeat arteriograms demonstrated complete clot lysis in four instances, while partial lysis was seen in one case. Moderate extension of thrombus occurred in one case only. No further neurologic complications were noted during the treatment by heparin. As indicated by follow-up arteriographic findings, secondary surgery was performed for major carotid lesions and residual clots in five cases. The free-floating thrombus syndrome of the carotid artery should not be considered as a surgical emergency when discovered late in the wake of an acute neurologic accident.     

A modified algorithm for the management of ureteral calculi: 100 consecutive cases

We treated 100 consecutive ureteral calculi requiring intervention with a previously described algorithm. There were 16 ureteropelvic junction, and 18 upper, 22 mid and 44 lower ureteral calculi. Treatment was by a stent and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in 10 ureteropelvic junction, 10 upper ureteral and 3 mid ureteral calculi, ureteroscopy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in 6 upper and 6 mid ureteral calculi, and ureteroscopy alone in 5 ureteropelvic junction, 2 upper and 12 mid ureteral calculi. All 44 lower ureteral calculi were treated successfully by ureteroscopy. Of the 100 patients studied 98 were treated by endourological methods (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy), while 2 required an operation (1 with a ureteropelvic junction calculus and 1 with a mid ureteral calculus). Over-all, 100 patients required a total of 125 procedures to accomplish successful stone removal. An algorithm is developed in which lower ureteral calculi are treated by ureteroscopy, mid ureteral calculi (large and dense) by stent bypass and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or (lucent and fragile) by ureteroscopy, upper ureteral calculi by stent bypass and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy without manipulation, and impacted ureteral stones initially by ureteroscopy and, if necessary, then by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.     

Giant hydronephrosis presenting as unilateral iliofemoral vein thrombosis

We report a case of left iliofemoral vein thrombosis with extension to the inferior vena cava associated with giant right hydronephrosis secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Surgery revealed marked infrarenal vena caval compression and deviation to the left side caused by the dilated right renal pelvis, with resultant kinking of the origin of the left iliac vein. It is postulated that the reduction in blood flow caused by this compression and distortion predisposed this patient to venous thrombosis.     

Corneal endothelial cell loss following trephination

The amount of endothelial cell loss that occurs to the donor cornea during the trephination process was evaluated in 40 porcine eyes. A vital staining technique (alizarin red S and acid violet 19) was used to quantify the extent of endothelial damage and removal. Two types of corneal punches (Weck and H&I0 were used for trephination. The average amount of endothelial loss from the peripheral cornea was 7.9%, accounting for only a 3% loss of endothelial cells over the total surface area of the corneal button. a comparison of the Weck and H&I corneal punches showed no significant difference (P greater than 0.1) by Student's test for both endothelial cell damage and removal.     

Levodopa up-regulates platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors

Treatment of dogs for 21 days with oral levodopa (100 mg b.i.d.) plus benserazide (25 mg b.i.d.) induced a significant increase in the number of platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors labelled by [3H] yohimbine with no change in Kd. The rise was maximal at the end of the treatment and remained significant during the month following the cessation of treatment. Plasma catecholamine levels did not vary. Competition experiments showed a low affinity of both dopamine and levodopa for platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors. These results suggest that levodopa treatment regulates alpha 2-adrenoceptor number in dog platelets.