[The pedicled groin flap for defect closure of the hand].

Objective: Soft-tissue defect closure of the volar and dorsal aspect of the hand and lower arm with a maximum defect size of 10 × 25 cm.

Indications: Soft-tissue defects of the entire palm and dorsum of the hand and lower arm with a maximum defect size of 10 × 25 cm.

Contraindications: Polytraumatized patients presenting with concomitant life-threatening injuries.

Genetic variants of chemokine receptor CCR7 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome and systemic sclerosis.

Background: The chemokine receptor CCR7 is a key organizer of the immune system. Gene targeting in mice revealed that Ccr7-deficient animals are severely impaired in the induction of central and peripheral tolerance. Due to these defects, Ccr7-deficient mice spontaneously develop multi-organ autoimmunity showing symptoms similar to those observed in humans suffering from connective tissue autoimmune diseases.