Excellent results of a femoral press-fit stem cemented with a thin mantle: 116 hips followed for 11–18 years

We report the outcome of a femoral stem designed for press-fit insertion and cemented with a thin mantle. During the years 1986–1992 we performed 346 primary total hip replacements in 305 patients. Their mean age at the time of the surgery was 75 (range, 52–91 years). During the follow-up, 206 patients had died (227 hips) and 3 were lost. This left us with 96 patients (116 hips), who were followed for a mean of 13 years (range, 11–18 years). Stem survivorship according to Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a total survival of 0.982 (confidence intervals, 0.952–1). The mechanical survival rate was 0.985 (confidence intervals, 0.955–1) at 17 years with one patient at risk. Fifty-nine (70%) of the surviving patients were very satisfied with the operated hip, 22 (26%) were satisfied, 2 (2.5%) were content, and 1 (1.5%) was dissatisfied. Then, the press-fit stem allowing minimal cement has a 17-year survival rate of 0.98.     

Attempts to isolate virus from human trigeminal and facial ganglions

Herpes virus hominis type 1 was isolated from the trigeminal ganglion (ganglion semilunare, gasservian) in three out of 20 randomly selected autopsies. Two of the three patients had been treated with immunosuppressive or cytostatic agents. Clinical signs of herpes infection were not observed during the previous 6 months. No virus was isolated from the facial ganglion (geniculate ganglion) in the same 20 cases. The findings are discussed in relation to the viral etiology of acute peripheral facial palsy.     

The “Scandinavian Star” ferry disaster 1990 -a challenge to forensic odontology

Summary With 158 victims, the fire on board the Scandinavian Star was one of the world's worst ferry disasters. A team of identification experts, including dentists, were employed to secure evidence for identification and to remove the victims from the ferry. Four parallel teams, each with 2 dentists, examined and autopsied the victims at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo. Using the INTERPOL Disaster Victim Identification forms and aided by computers, all victims were identified within 17 days. Dental identity could be established in 107 cases (68%).     

Fibrosarcoma in Children: A Rare Tumour with Long-Term Survival even with Advanced Disease A Report of 3 Cases

Fibrosarcoma is a rare tumour in children. The potential of malignancy has been questioned. We present three cases of fibrosarcoma in children. The follow-up periods range from 10 to 37 years. The first patient had pulmonary metastases at the time of diagnosis in 1958. The primary tumour in fossa ischio-rectalis was resected in 1960. Lung metastases were resected in 1960 and 1989. Radiotherapy was given in 1992. He is still alive with metastases 37 years after the first manifestation of disease. The second patient had a primary tumour and several local recurrences in the mandible. He is alive without evidence of disease 4 years after resection of pulmonary metastases and 21 years after resection of the primary tumour. The third patient has no signs of recurrence or metastasic spread 10 years after a wide excision of subcutanous tumours of the left upper arm. The cases demonstrate a special tumour-entity of low-grade malignancy, which show a good prognosis and a wide spectrum of biological behaviour.     

Household composition and suicidal behaviour in the adult population of Belgium

Purpose

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of suicidal behaviours, i.e. ideation and attempt, in the adult population of Belgium, and to explore their association with household composition.

Methods

Data of 4,459 adults (25–64 years) from the 2004 Belgian Health Interview Survey were used for analyses. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds of engaging in suicidal behaviours according to household type, further controlling for age, sex, income, employment status and social support.

Results

Lifetime prevalence of ideation and attempts was 14 and 4.7 %, respectively. Current prevalence of ideation was 4.0 % and past year prevalence of attempts was 0.5 %. Compared to other household compositions, living alone (A) and as lone parent (P) increased the odds of lifetime and current suicidal thoughts (OR_A 2.3, 95 % CI 1.7–2.9 and OR_P 3.8, 95 % CI 1.9–7.7) and lifetime attempts (OR_A 2.3, 95 % CI 1.4–3.6 and OR_P 4.5, 95 % CI 2.4–8.5). When controlling for confounders, single person and single parent households still presented increased adjusted-odds of lifetime and current suicidal thoughts (a-OR_A 1.8, 95 % CI 1.1–2.9 and a-OR_P 2.3, 95 % CI 1.0–5.5). The likelihood of ever attempted suicide was also higher among single parent households (a-OR_P 4.5, 95 % CI 2.4–8.5) after adjustment, but not among those living alone (a-OR_A 1.4, 95 % CI 0.8–2.8).

Conclusion

Living alone or as lone parent place adults at higher risk for suicide behaviour, and this is only partly explained by lower socio-economic status or poor perceived support.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis of Non-Silica Monolithic Materials

Monolithic materials have become very popular because of various applications, especially within chromatography and catalysis. Large surface areas and multimodal porosities are great advantages for these applications. New sol-gel preparation methods utilizing phase separation or nanocasting have opened the possibility for preparing materials of other oxides than silica. In this review, we present different synthesis methods for inorganic, non-silica monolithic materials. Some examples of application of the materials are also included.     

Bone induction by composites of bioresorbable carriers and demineralized bone in rats: A comparative study of fibrin-collagen paste, fibrin sealant, and polyorthoester with gentamicin

Host tissue response and heterotopic osteoinduction by composites of demineralized bone matrix and three different substances used as bioresorbable carriers implanted in the abdominal muscles were evaluated by strontium 85 uptake and histology 4 weeks postoperatively in 60 male Wistar rats. Both fibrin-collagen paste and fibrin sealant inhibited bone induction and produced a chronic inflammation; part of the fibrin-collagen paste was still present at 4 weeks. Polyorthoester with gentamicin was almost completely absorbed, induced minimal tissue reaction, and did not inhibit osteoinduction.     

Synovial Sarcoma: A Case Report

The case described, of a 40-year-old woman with a 26-year history of a chronic, non-specific knee disorder, is a rather typical example of synovial sarcoma, according to the information given by other authors over the past three to four decades. The diagnostic difficulties and failures are clearly illustrated. It must be emphasized that severe, obscure joint symptoms such as our patient presented over the many years before death should have led to a proper surgical exploration of the knee. Furthermore, it should be unnecessary to stress the importance of performing a histological examination whenever excising abnormal tissue.     

Inhibition of Partial Closure of Epiphyseal Plate in Rabbits by Indomethacin

The efficiency of indomethacin (10 mg/kg/day) in inhibiting recurrent partial closure of the epiphyseal plate was tested in rabbits. An epiphysiodesis was done laterally in the distal left femoral epiphyseal plate in 19 adolescent rabbits. This produced a valgus deformity in 14 of them. The bone bridge was then removed operatively and the rabbits were treated with either indomethacin or vehicle for 21 days postoperatively. Indomethacin plasma levels were about 180 ng/ml. The valgus deformity improved in indomethacin-treated rabbits, whereas it became worse in the controls (P = 0.004).