Skin closure with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and polyester mesh after primary total knee arthroplasty offers superior cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to staples: a prospective trial

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - The goals of this study were to compare patient satisfaction and wound-related complications in patients receiving 2-octyl cyanoacrylate...     

Sympathetic reinnervation after heart transplantation, assessed by iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging, and heart rate variability.

OBJECTIVE: Complete allograft denervation occurs during heart transplantation. Partial ventricular sympathetic reinnervation may develop one year or later after transplantation and can be measured with iodine-123-meta-iodobenziylguanidine (MIBG) uptake. Aim of this study was to assess sinus node sympathetic reinnervation measured with heart rate variability and ventricular sympathetic reinnervation evaluated with MIBG. METHODS: Twelve patients and 14 healthy controls were included. In patients, MIBG scintigraphy with early and late imaging was performed. Heart to mediastinum ratio (HMR) was calculated and patients were divided in groups with (HMR>1.3) and without left ventricular reinnervation (HMR<1.3). Bipolar ECG with high sampling rate and resolution was recorded over 8.5 min in supine position and in upright position after 10 min interval. R-R intervals in time domain and heart rate variability in frequency domain through spectral power analysis of R-R intervals were analysed to evaluate sinus node reinnervation. Spectral power in low frequency range (0.04-0.15 Hz) above 4.5 ms(2) was considered as sinus node sympathetic reinnervation. RESULTS: Six (50%) patients had evidence of left ventricular sympathetic reinnervation on scintigraphy. Sinus node sympathetic reinnervation based on heart rate variability was detected in 6 (50%) patients in supine, and in 4 (33%) patients in upright body position. Four patients groups were discerned: (1) with ventricular and sinus node sympathetic reinnervation, (2) with sinus node sympathetic reinnervation, (3) with ventricular sympathetic reinnervation and (4) without atrial or ventricular sympathetic reinnervation. Ventricular reinnervation process was time dependent and sinus node reinnervation was not. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous ventricular sympathetic reinnervation assessed by MIBG and sinus node sympathetic reinnervation assessed by heart rate variability in supine as in upright position were detected only in two patients (17%). The results of our study show that eventual sinus node sympathetic reinnervation and left ventricular sympathetic reinnervation do not occur simultaneously.     

An HLA-DRB α-helix motif shared by DR11 and DR8 alleles is implicated in the pluriallelic restriction of peptide-specific T-cell lines

The T-cell recognition of HLA-DR-peptide complexes is generally restricted by the polymorphism of the DRB molecules but pluriallelic restriction has been described. The molecular basis of restriction and promiscuity of such peptide-specific responses is poorly understood. We isolated a panel of T-cell lines specific for the tetanus toxin peptide p2 (TT830-843) exhibiting pluriallelic restriction by DR11 and DR8 alleles. Fine restriction specificity of the T-cell lines was examined in functional assays against DR oligotyped APCs expressing different variants of DR11 and DR8 alleles. Our results show that (a) polymorphisms between serologically related alleles are relevant in terms of restriction of the peptide-specific T-cell response; in some instances, a single amino acid substitution can determine the restriction of a T-cell line; (b) different patterns of restriction are not the result of specific differences in DR-p2 binding as p2 peptide binds to all DR11 and DR8 alleles tested (DRB1^* 1101, -1102, -1103, -1104, 110X, -0801, -0802, -0803, and -0806); and (c) pluriallelic restriction of the peptide-specific T-cell responses correlates with the presence of a DRB1 α-helix motif (67-71-86) shared by some DR11 and DR8 alleles. Possible implications of pluriallelic restriction of peptide-specific T-cell response in autoimmune disorders associated with DR11 and DR8 are discussed.     

Computerized detection of morphological changes to glioma cells during estramustine and ion-channel blocker perifusion.

A perifusion technique for microscopy with computerized detection of early changes in cell morphology during continuous perifusion was used to show that the geometry of cultured glioma cells (MG-251) changes rapidly when they are exposed to estramustine phosphate (EMP). When the cells were exposed to 20 or 40 mg l(-1) EMP, cell volume projected cell area (PCA) rapidly increased. When the Na+,K+-ATPase blocker ouabain (100 micromol l(-1)) was added to the EMP (40 mg l(-1)) perifusion, the acute EMP response was eradicated. When the PCA curve for ouabain alone was subtracted from the curve of combined ouabain and EMP perifusion, the resulting curve showed that ouabain completely blocked the EMP-induced increase in PCA. When the Na+, K+, Cl- co-transport inhibitors bumetanide (10 micromol l(-1)), or furosemide (100 micromol l(-1)), were added to EMP (40 mg l(-1)), the acute increase in PCA seen for EMP alone was also completely blocked. This study shows that inhibitors of ion transmembrane transport can modify EMP-induced cell volume increases. This may be of particular importance since the blockers have been found to interfere also with the cytotoxic function of EMP during cell culture. Thus, it is possible that cell volume changes could serve as a rapid technique for predicting the cytotoxic activity of antineoplastic drugs.     

Fusion and Matrix Protein Gene Sequence Analysis of Paramyxoviruses of Type 1(PMV-1) Isolated from Pigeons in Slovenia

Paramyxoviruses of type 1 (PMV-l) isolated from pigeons were genetically analyzed. A part of the fusion and the matrix protein genes were amplified and sequenced, Typical amino acid sequences associated with virulence were determined at the fusion protein cleavage site in all PMV-1 isolates. All Slovene pigeon PMV-1 strains share high amino acid sequence similarity with other pigeon strains. In the phylogenetic tree, they are clustered together with pigeon PMV-1 isolates with moderate pathogenicity. Phylogenetic analysis obtained from the fusion and the matrix protein gene alignments showed the same branching order. Viruses circulating among pigeons were found to form quite unique lineage of virulent NDV strains.     

GABAergic control of the ascending input from the median raphe nucleus to the limbic system

The median raphe nucleus (MRN) is the primary source of serotonergic afferents to the limbic system that are generally considered to suppress hippocampal theta oscillations. GABA receptors are expressed in the MRN by serotonergic and nonserotonergic cells, including GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. This study investigated the mechanisms by which the fluctuating GABA tone in the MRN leads to induction or suppression of hippocampal theta rhythm. We found that MRN application of the GABA(A) agonist muscimol (0.05-1.0 mM) or GABA(B) agonist baclofen (0.2 mM) by reverse microdialysis had strong theta promoting effects. The GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline infused in low concentrations (0.1, 0.2 mM) eliminated theta rhythm. A short period of theta activity of higher than normal frequency preceded hippocampal desynchronization in 46% of rats. Bicuculline in larger concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mM) resulted in a biphasic response of an initial short (<10 min) hippocampal desynchronization followed by stable theta rhythm that lasted as long as the infusion continued. The frequency and amplitude of theta waves were higher than in control recordings and the oscillations showed a conspicuous intermittent character. Hippocampal theta rhythm elicited by MRN administration of bicuculline could be completely (0.5 mM bicuculline) or partially (1.0 mM bicuculline) blocked by simultaneous infusion of the GABA(B) antagonist CGP35348. Our findings suggest that the GABAergic network may have two opposing functions in the MRN: relieving the theta-generators from serotonergic inhibition and regulating the activity of a theta-promoting circuitry by the fluctuating GABA tone. The two mechanisms may be involved in different functions.     

Genetic variants of homocysteine metabolizing enzymes and the risk of coronary artery disease

It is unresolved whether elevated homocysteine in coronary artery disease (CAD) is the cause of arteriosclerosis or its consequence. In contrast, genetic variants of enzymes that metabolize homocysteine cannot be altered by arteriosclerosis. Consequently, their association with CAD would permit to imply causality. We modeled by regression analysis the effect of 11 variants in the methionine cycle upon CAD manifestation in 591 controls and 278 CAD patients. Among the examined variants only the carriership for the c.844ins68 in the cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene was associated with a significantly lowered risk of CAD (OR=0.56; 95% CI=0.35-0.90 in the univariable, and OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.19-0.89 for obese people in the multivariable analysis, respectively). Healthy carriers of the c.844ins68 variant exhibited, compared to the wild type controls, significantly higher postload ratios of blood S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocysteine (61.4 vs. 54.9, p=0.001) and of plasma total cysteine to homocysteine (8.6 vs. 7.3, p=0.004). The changes in these metabolites are compatible with an improved methylation status and with enhanced activity of homocysteine transsulfuration. In conclusion, the coincidence of clinical and biochemical effects of a common c.844ins68 CBS variant supports the hypothesis that compounds relating to homocysteine metabolism may play role in the development and/or progression of CAD.     

Unterschiede in der Widerstandskraft der weiblichen und männlichen Keimdrüse

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 15 Textabbildungen.Das Bedürfnis nach Stützung schwächerer Gedanken durch stärkere wird auchKausalitäts bedürfnis genannt und ist die Haupttriebfeder aller naturwissenschaftlichenErklärungen. Ernst Mach.Nach einem auf der 89. Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte in Düsseldorf im September 1926 gehaltenen Vortrage. Vgl. auch Fortschritte d. naturwissenschaftl. Forschung, herausgeg. vonE. Abderhalden, Bd. XII, H. 4.