Differential changes in platelet reactivity induced by acute physical compared to persistent mental stress.

Platelets are important in hemostasis, but also contain adhesion molecules, pro-inflammatory and immune-modulatory compounds, as well as most of the serotonin outside the central nervous system. Dysbalance in the serotonin pathways is involved in the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms. Thus, changes in platelet aggregation and content of bioactive compounds are of interest when investigating physiological stress-related mental processes as well as stress-related psychiatric diseases such as depression.

Does minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty improve isokinetic torque?

Background: Less invasive dissection of the extensor apparatus, one of the aspects of minimally invasive surgical (MIS) TKA, might result in less reduction of postoperative quadriceps strength. However, it is unclear whether MIS is associated with less strength reduction.

Questions/purposes: We asked whether knee strength (extensor or flexor torque) would be greater in patients having a MIS TKA compared with patients having a standard TKA and whether knee scores, alignment, ROM, tourniquet and operating times, and hospital length of stay were improved.

Lemierre's syndrome following infectious mononucleosis.

We report the case of an 18-year-old woman who was admitted to the medical intensive care unit in Innsbruck with severe septic shock and respiratory insufficiency following a prolonged infection of the upper airways (pharyngitis, sinusitis). Abscessing pneumonia and bilateral pleural empyema were diagnosed as focus. Cultures of pleural fluids were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum.