Femoral anteversion related to side differences in hip rotation: Passive rotation in 1, 140 children aged 8-9 years

We assessed whether the range of passive hip motion is reliable for predicting abnormal femoral ante-version. We measured the passive medial and lateral rotation in extension in both hips of 1, 140 children between 8 and 9 years of age. The children were divided into 3 groups: group 1: difference between lateral and medial rotation less than 10° group 2: medial rotation more than 10° greater than the lateral; group 3: lateral rotation more than 10° greater than the medial. Group 1 comprised 90% of the children, whereas 8% belonged to group 2 and 2% to group 3.

The angle of femoral neck anteversion was measured in 57 children from the first group, in 67 from the second and in 24 children from the third group, using biplane radiography. The mean anteversion angles in the 3 groups were 24°, 36° and 14°, respectively. To predict an abnormally high anteversion angle (above mean +2SD), the difference between medial and lateral rotation must be 45° or more, whereas an abnormally low anteversion angle (lower than mean -2SD) could be predicted when the lateral rotation was at least 50° higher than the medial rotation.     

Molecular Motion of Drugs in Hydrocolloids Measured by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

The effects of a polymer, the Li-salt copolymer of methyl-methacrylic acid, and its methyl ester on the motion of drug molecules in hydrocolloids were studied. The investigation was carried out by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) using the model nitroxide tempol, and the spin-labeled drugs lidocaine (si-lid) and dexamethasone (sl-dex). Synthesis of sl-dex was performed. Spin-labeled molecules dissolved in hydrocolloids undergo a fast reorientation motion. The decreasing order of rotational correlation times () —sl-dex > si-lid > tempol—suggests that the size and the shape of the molecules strongly affect their motion. The inhibition of motion of larger molecules depends also on their flexibility. The values indicate proportionality of the microviscosity of hydrocolloids to the polymer concentration. Rotational motion is dependent on the local environment conditioned by the free spaces between polymer molecules.     

Removal of immunoglobulins by a protein A versus an antihuman immunoglobulin G-based system: evaluation of 602 sessions of extracorporeal immunoadsorption

Elimination of IgG can be achieved by extracorporeal immunoadsorption (IA) based on specific binding to either staphylococcal protein A (Excorim) or sheep polyclonal antibodies directed against human IgG (Therasorb). In 602 analyzed sessions of IA, elimination of IgG was 60% through 80% depending on the treated plasma volume, with no significant difference between the mentioned systems. However, the decrease of IgM and IgA was approximately 50% in the anti-IgG compared to 20-40% in the protein A system. Plasma albumin concentration decreased by 20% in the anti-IgG system compared to 15% in the protein A system, and hemoglobin values increased by 2% in the anti-IgG system and decreased by 6% in the protein A system. In conclusion, a clinical relevance for these findings cannot be ruled out, and the individual choice might depend on the clinical situation and laboratory findings.     

Particle release in extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein lowering therapies

Release of microparticles into the blood during extracorporeal circulation must be kept low because of possibly serious acute and chronic adverse effects. Concentration and size distribution of microparticles were measured during simulated treatments (n = 7) on original equipment for 2 standard low-density lipoprotein (LDL) elimination procedures (DALI 750, Fresenius AG, St. Wendel, Germany and Liposorber, Kaneka Corporation, Osaka, Japan) and compared to hemofiltration solutions. For both systems as well as in hemofiltration solutions, the mean particle concentrations in 500 ml portions gathered from the efferent blood line stayed below 10% of pharmacopoeia standards for infusion solutions (United States Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia) in all measured size classes. Although particle concentrations were comparable in all systems, the mean total number of particles > or =2 microm released per session was lowest in the DALI (167,000) compared to the Liposorber (465,000) and hemofiltration solutions (2,240,000). This was mainly due to different total processed blood volumes necessary to achieve the required LDL reduction.     

Harmful at non-cytotoxic concentrations: SiO2-SPIONs affect surfactant metabolism and lamellar body biogenesis in A549 human alveolar epithelial cells

The pulmonary delivery of nanoparticles (NPs) is a promising approach in nanomedicine. For the efficient and safe use of inhalable NPs, understanding of NP interference with lung surfactant metabolism is needed. Lung surfactant is predominantly a phospholipid substance, synthesized in alveolar type II cells (ATII), where it is packed in special organelles, lamellar bodies (LBs). In vitro and in vivo studies have reported NPs impact on surfactant homeostasis, but this phenomenon has not yet been sufficiently examined. We showed that in ATII-like A549 human lung cancer cells, silica-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SiO₂-SPIONs), which have a high potential in medicine, caused an increased cellular amount of acid organelles and phospholipids. In SiO₂-SPION treated cells, we observed elevated cellular quantity of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), organelles involved in LB biogenesis. In spite of the results indicating increased surfactant production, the cellular quantity of LBs was surprisingly diminished and the majority of the remaining LBs were filled with SiO₂-SPIONs. Additionally, LBs were detected inside abundant autophagic vacuoles (AVs) and obviously destined for degradation. We also observed time- and dose-dependent changes in mRNA expression for proteins involved in lipid metabolism. Our results demonstrate that non-cytotoxic concentrations of SiO₂-SPIONs interfere with surfactant metabolism and LB biogenesis, leading to disturbed ability to reduce hypophase surface tension. To ensure the safe use of NPs for pulmonary delivery, we propose that potential NP interference with LB biogenesis is obligatorily taken into account.     

Cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure in a primary care unit: Yugoslav Study of the Precursors of Atherosclerosis in School Children (YUSAD)

OBJECTIVES: The presence of cardiovascular risk factors in children may be important in the development of atherosclerosis in adulthood. Adequate control of blood pressure is a cornerstone in atherosclerosis prevention. The aim of the Yugoslav Study of the Precursors of Atherosclerosis in School Children (YUSAD) was to identify risk factors for elevated blood pressure in school children. METHODS: The YUSAD study is a multicentre follow-up study comprised of two cross-sectional surveys conducted five years apart. At baseline, 10-year-old children (3226 boys and 3074 girls [n=6300]) were randomly selected during periodical visits to primary health care centres. The risk factors measured were heart rate, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, grade point average and current smoking status. RESULTS: Significant age and sex differences were identified in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and all investigated independent variables. In a multivariate analysis, diastolic blood pressure in 10-year-old boys was directly and significantly related to total cholesterol and height, whereas it was inversely related to weight. At follow-up, in the multivariate model, only BMI was a significant predictor of diastolic blood pressure in boys. In girls at baseline in the multivariate regression analysis, the only significant predictor of diastolic blood pressure was total cholesterol. In 15-year-old girls, diastolic blood pressure was significantly and directly related to BMI and heart rate, whereas it was inversely related to weight. For both 10- and 15-year-old male and female participants, none of the variables by multivariate analysis were a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Age, sex, heart rate, cholesterol and weight are the most important predictors of blood pressure in school children.