Surgical management of isolated greater tuberosity fractures of the proximal humerus.

Because the greater tuberosity is the insertion site of the posterior superior rotator cuff, fractures can have a substantial impact on functional outcome. Isolated fractures should not inadvertently be trivialized. Thorough patient evaluation is required to make an appropriate treatment decision.

4-corner arthrodesis and proximal row carpectomy: a biomechanical comparison of wrist motion and tendon forces.

Purpose: Controversy exists as to whether a proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is a better procedure than scaphoid excision with 4-corner arthrodesis for preserving motion in the painful posttraumatic arthritic wrist. The purpose of this study was to determine how the kinematics and tendon forces of the wrist are altered after PRC and 4-corner arthrodesis.

Methods: We tested 6 fresh cadaver forearms for the extremes of wrist motion and then used a wrist simulator to move them through 4 cyclic dynamic wrist motions, during which time we continuously recorded the tendon forces.

The role of the specificity-determining loop of the integrin beta subunit I-like domain in autonomous expression, association with the alpha subunit, and ligand binding.

Integrin beta subunits contain a highly conserved I-like domain that is known to be important for ligand binding. Unlike integrin I domains, the I-like domain requires integrin alpha and beta subunit association for optimal folding. Pactolus is a novel gene product that is highly homologous to integrin beta subunits but lacks associating alpha subunits [Chen, Y.

Immediate results of interventional devices for coronary ostial narrowing with angina pectoris.

Angioplasty of aorto-ostial lesions has had suboptimal results. This study reports on the immediate results of new debulking devices (atherectomy, excimer laser) in the treatment of aorto-ostial disease. Thirty-one vessels (29 patients) with an ostial lesion treated with a new device (group I) were compared with 15 vessels (13 patients) with an ostial lesion treated with angioplasty alone during the preceding 24 months (group II).