Collection of Wound Exudate From Human Digit Tip Amputations Does Not Impair Regenerative Healing: A Randomized Trial

The regrowth of amputated digit tips represents a unique regenerative healing in mammals with subcutaneous volume regrowth, restoration of dactylogram, and suppression of scar formation. Although factor analysis in amphibians and even in mice is easy to obtain, safety of harvesting biomaterial from human digit tip amputations for analysis has not yet been described.The aim of this study was to evaluate if recovering wound exudate does hamper clinical outcome or influence microbiologic or inflammation status.A predefined cohort of 18 patients with fresh digit tip amputations was randomly assigned to receive standard therapy (debridement, occlusive dressing) with (n = 9) or without (n = 9) collection of the whole wound exudate in every dressing change. Primary endpoint (lengthening) and secondary endpoints (regeneration of dactylogram, nail bed and bone healing, time to complete wound closure, scar formation, 2-point discrimination, microbiologic analysis, inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1α, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-4, and IL-6) were determined by an independent, blinded observer.Patients’ characteristics showed no significant differences between the groups. All patients completed the study to the end of 3 months follow-up. Exudate collection did not influence primary and secondary endpoints. Furthermore, positive microbiologic findings as well as pus- and necrosis-like appearance neither impaired tissue restoration nor influenced inflammatory factor release.Here, the authors developed an easy and safe protocol for harvesting wound exudate from human digit tip amputations. For the first time, it was shown that harvesting does not impair regenerative healing. Using this method, further studies can be conducted to analyze regeneration associated factors in the human digit tip.DRKS.de Identifier: DRKS00006882 (UTN: U1111-1166-5723).     

Ernährung bei Diabetes

According to the current nutritional recommendations issued by professional diabetes and nutrition associations, diabetic patients should keep to a diet consisting of 45–60% carbohydrates, 10–20% protein, and not more than 35% fat. However, not all of these nutritional recommendations are evidence based. For example, current studies show that the intake of insoluble roughage may be underrepresented. It is also possible that diabetic patients could benefit from keeping to the lower end of the recommended range for carbohydrates (45%) and the upper end of the range advised for protein (20%).     

Prediction and Detection of Secondary Hemorrhages after Thrombolytic Therapy in Ischemic Stroke

Abstract It is well established that thrombolytic therapy increases the risk of secondary intracerebral hemorrhage in ischemic stroke patients. However, the term “intracerebral hemorrhage” (ICH) covers a wide spectrum from tiny spots of blood to massive space-occupying hematoma. We will review the etiology and clinical consequences of secondary hemorrhage after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients and discuss the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict this phenomenon. MRI is a highly sensitive tool for detection of hemorrhagic transformation after ischemic stroke. The definitions of a so-called symptomatic hemorrhage after ischemic infarction differ considerably and will also be described. Attributing a causal relationship of a clinical deterioration to a secondary hemorrhage is not easy and should be only addressed when it exceeds at least 30% of the infarct volume. In other patients, secondary hemorrhage might be regarded as side effect of reperfusion within the region with the most severe perfusion deficit. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a frequent finding in patients with leukoaraiosis and appear to be a general marker of various types of bleeding- prone small vessel disease and a predictor of recurrent vascular events. Current data do not support the hypothesis that the detection of CMBs is a useful diagnostic criterion for the exclusion of patients with CMBs from thrombolytic therapy. However, an increased risk for the rare patients with numerous CMBs can not be ruled out.      

Heart Rate Variability Predicts Severe Hypotension after Spinal Anesthesia

Background: Hypotension due to vasodilatation after spinal anesthesia (SA) may be harmful. Heart rate variability, an indirect measure of autonomic control, may predict hypotension.

Methods: One hundred patients were studied. Retrospectively, heart rate variability was analyzed in 30 patients, classified depending on the lowest systolic blood pressure (SBP) after SA. Seventy patients were studied prospectively, assigned to one of two groups by their low to high frequency ratio (LF/HF) before SA. Sensitivity and specificity of LF/HF for prediction of decrease of SBP greater 20% of baseline were tested.

Results: Retrospective analysis showed differences of LF/HF depending on the degree of hypotension after SA. Prospective analysis demonstrated significant differences of SBP after SA depending on baseline LF/HF (mean +/- SD): low LF/HF (1.3 +/- 0.7) = > SBP: 91 +/- 8% of baseline versus high LF/HF (5.5 +/- 2.4) = > SBP: 66 +/- 10% of baseline (P < 0.05). Baseline LF/HF as well as high frequency and proportional decrease of SBP after SA correlated significantly, in contrast to baseline hemodynamic parameters heart rate and SBP. A receiver operator curve characteristic analysis showed a sensitivity and specificity of LF/HF > 2.5 of 85% to predict SBP decrease of greater than 20% of baseline after SA.     

Diagnostic accuracy of the Retinal Thickness Analyser: differentiation between normal eyes and eyes with glaucoma or macular pathologies

Background The Retinal Thickness Analyser (RTA) is intended to detect glaucomatous changes as well as macular pathologies at the posterior pole. We determined the diagnostic accuracy for eyes with manifest glaucoma or macular diseases.Methods We examined 71 eyes with long-term, established eye conditions. Included were 28 eyes with glaucoma, 21 with different macular diseases and 22 normal eyes. All examinations were evaluated in a blind-test by RTA experts without any clinical information on the patients. After comparison of the RTA interpretation with the clinical diagnosis, we determined sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.Results Of 71 examinations, 15 (21%) were not interpretable. If these results are excluded, the following diagnostic accuracy values were calculated for glaucoma and macular disorders respectively: sensitivity 75 and 59%, specificity 55 and 97%, positive predictive value 48 and 90% and negative predictive value 80 and 84%. These values were not significantly different when both eyes of each patient were included in the final analysis (n=133).Conclusion The diagnostic values of the RTA determined in this case control study were not satisfactory. However, no clinical information was used in the assessment. The extent to which additional clinical information increases the diagnostic value remains to be determined.     

No impact of repeated endoscopic screens on gastric cancer mortality in a prospectively followed Chinese population at high risk.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in China. Our study prospectively evaluated the impact of repeated endoscopic screens on GC mortality in a high-risk population in China. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1999, a population-based gastroscopic screening was conducted in 4,394 residents of Linqu County, China, a region with the highest rates of GC worldwide. Residents ages 35 to 64 years received initial gastroscopies with biopsies in 1989. Repeated endoscopies were performed in 1994 and 1999. Cancer occurrences and deaths were actively monitored throughout the entire period until July 2000. Mortality from GC was compared with expected values based on mortality rates obtained for Linqu in the 1990-1992 Chinese Cancer Mortality Survey. RESULTS: Between March 1989 and July 2000, 39,303 person-years were accumulated; 85 new GCs occurred, 29 (34.5%) were in early stage. Fifty-eight cases (68%) were identified at one of the screens. The number of observed deaths from GC (37) was close to the expected (36.8). The standardized mortality ratio was 1.01 (95% CI 0.72-1.37) for the entire cohort, 1.13 (95% CI 0.77-1.57) for males, and 0.65 (95% CI 0.26-1.32) for females. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high population coverage with repeated screens, no reduction in GC mortality was observed in this high-risk population in China.     

On the way to the automated (blood) glucose regulation in diabetes: the dark past,the grey present and the rosy future

The development of the artificial pancreas represents an important step forward in modern diabetology. The practical and theoretical findings obtained by its application to Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients has given new insights into modes of insulin secretion, pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, and new forms of treatment, i.e. the development of portable insulin pumps and intensified conventional insulin therapy. All of these therapies provided better results than conventional insulin administration. However, there is no doubt that the restoration of normoglycaemia in a real sense is obtainable only by an implantable artificial pancreas or pancreas transplantation. The development of the implantable artificial pancreas, on the other hand, is dependent upon the development of a reliably working permanently implantable glucose sensor. The first attempts in that direction have opened new vistas as to the differences between blood and interstitial tissue glucose measurements, displaying different modes of regulation under normal and pathologic conditions. A number of barriers have to be overcome until the final goal has been attained: to obtain, by automated blood glucose control, narrow glycaemic fluctuations of the normal subject, and to prevent, hopefully, relentless diabetic complications.     

Effects of growth hormone on glucose and fat metabolism in human subjects.

This article focuses on in vivo data from tests performed in normal subjects and in patients who had abnormal growth hormone (GH) status. Experimental data in human subjects demonstrate that GH acutely inhibits glucose disposal in skeletal muscle. At the same time GH stimulates the turnover and oxidation of free fatty acid (FFA), and experimental evidence suggests a causal link between elevated FFA levels and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Observational data in GH-deficient adults do not indicate that GH replacement is associated with significant impairment of glucose tolerance, but it is recommended that overdosing be avoided and glycemic control be monitored.