Infections in primary total ankle replacement: Anterior approach versus lateral transfibular approach

Background

Total ankle replacement (TAR) represents an alternative to fusion for the treatment of end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively assess the frequency of infections between TARs with anterior and lateral transfibular approach at 12-months follow-up.

Nutritional-inflammation status and resistance to erythropoietin therapy in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease patients who are resistant to erythropoietin (EPO) treatment may suffer from malnutrition and/or inflammation. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of haemodialysis patients, we investigated the relationship between the natural logarithm of the weekly EPO dose normalized for post-dialysis body weight and outcome measures of nutrition and/or inflammation [BMI, albumin and C reactive protein (CRP)] by means of multiple linear regression analysis. On the basis of the decile distribution of weekly EPO doses, we also evaluated four groups of patients: untreated, hyper-responders, normo-responders and hypo-responders. RESULTS: Six hundred and seventy-seven adult haemodialysis patients were recruited from five Italian centres. BMI and albumin were lower in the hypo-responders than in the other groups (21.3+/-3.8 vs 24.4+/-4.7 kg/m(2), P<0.001; and 3.8+/-0.6 vs 4.1+/-0.4 g/dl, P<0.001), whereas the median CRP level was higher (1.9 vs 0.8 mg/dl, P = 0.004). The median weekly EPO dose ranged from 30 IU/kg/week in the hyper-responsive group to 263 IU/kg/week in the hypo-responsive group. Transferrin saturation linearly decreased from the hyper- to hypo-responsive group (37+/-15 to 25+/-10%, P = 0.003), without any differences in transferrin levels. Ferritin levels were lower in the hypo-responsive than in the other patients (median 318 vs 445 ng/ml, P = 0.01). At multiple linear regression analysis, haemoglobin, BMI, albumin, CRP and serum iron levels were independently associated with the natural logarithm of the weekly EPO dose (R(2) = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support a clear association between EPO responsiveness and nutritional and inflammation variables in haemodialysis patients; iron deficiency is still a major cause of hypo-responsiveness.     

移动式数字X线机应用前景展望

移动式X线机实现了影像信息的数字化采集、存储、调阅、检查报告的生成、审核、查询和输出等功能,从满足突发公共卫生事件的应急需要和卫生防疫的需要来展望,其市场应用前景看好.     

Turbulent stress measurements downstream of three bileaflet heart valve designs in pigs

Objective: Mechanical heart valves can cause thromboembolic complications, possibly due to abnormal flow patterns that produce turbulence downstream of the valve. The objective of this study was to investigate whether three different bileaflet valve designs would exhibit clinically relevant differences in downstream turbulent stresses. Methods: Three bileaflet mechanical heart valves (Medtronic Advantage^®, CarboMedics© Orbis™ Universal and St. Jude Medical^® Standard) were implanted into 19 female 90 kg pigs. Blood velocity was measured during open chest conditions in the cross sectional area downstream of the valves with 10 MHz ultrasonic probes connected to a modified Alfred^® Pulsed Doppler equipment. As a measure of turbulence, Reynolds normal stress (RNS) was calculated at three different cardiac output ranges (3–4, 4.5–5.5, 6–7 L/min). Results: Data from 12 animals were obtained. RNS correlated with increasing cardiac outputs. The highest instantaneous RNS observed in these experiments was 47 N/m², and the mean RNS taken spatially over the cross sectional area of the aorta during systole was between 3 N/m² and 15 N/m². In none of the cardiac output ranges RNS values exceeded the lower critical limit for erythrocyte or thrombocyte damage for any of the valve designs. Conclusions: Reynolds normal stress values were below 100 N/m² for all three valve designs and the difference in design was not reflected in generation of turbulence. Hence, it is unlikely that any of the valve designs causes flow induced damage to platelets or erythrocytes.     

Pemberton手术为主多种辅助手段治疗大龄儿童先天性髋脱位

目的　应用Pemberton手术为主多种辅助手段治疗大龄儿童先天性髋脱位 ,从而降低术后髋关节脱位、僵硬和股骨头坏死发生率。方法　自 1989年 8月 - 1999年 8月 ,用Pemberton手术为主多种辅助手段治疗大龄儿童 (7～ 14岁 )先天性髋脱位 4 6例 (5 8髋 ) ,随访 2～ 9年 ,平均 5年 3个月。辅助手段包括 :①髂腰肌及内收肌切断 ,股骨髁上骨牵引 ;②股骨粗隆下旋转加短缩截骨 ;③单髋人字石膏制动 ;④髋关节早活动 ,晚负重 ;⑤术后被动活动髋关节加主动功能锻炼。结果　髋关节完全复位率10 0 % ,髋关节屈曲小于 90°者 4髋 ,占 6 9% ,按Salter提出的股骨头坏死诊断标准 4 6例 (5 8髋 )中 ,股骨头坏死 6髋 ,占 10 3% ,明显降低了大龄儿童先天性髋脱位术后髋关节僵硬、股骨头坏死率。结论　Pemberton手术为主多种辅助手段治疗大龄儿童先天性髋脱位疗效确切 ,优良率高。     

Blue Hue in the Dermoscopy Setting: Homogeneous Blue Pigmentation, Gray-Blue Area, and/or Whitish Blue Veil?

In dermoscopy, the correct recognition of the single parameters is fundamental to achieve great diagnostic accuracy, but the scarce morphologic expression of a parameter may lead to diagnostic errors. We report the case of a 27-year-old white man presenting a pigmented lesion of the back, which was present since puberty. Clinical examination revealed on the back the presence of a flat, gray-blue lesion and at the periphery a small dark-brown papule. An assessment of the lesion by means of dermoscopy was performed. The purpose of this report was to analyze the Blue Hue in dermoscopy with its histopathologic correlates, starting with the discussion of a clinical case.