Mortality in diabetic and nondiabetic patients after amputations performed from 1996 to 2005 in a tertiary hospital population: a 3-year follow-up study.

Aims: Diabetes is the leading cause of lower-extremity amputations worldwide. The objective of this study was to look at the survival after first amputation between subjects with and without diabetes in a sample of Greek population.

Method: We performed a retrospective study of all nontrauma, nonneoplasm-related amputations performed in a tertiary centre during the years 1996-2005 in diabetic (n=183) and nondiabetic patients (n=75).

Local treatment of experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis with a biodegradable dilactide polymer releasing ciprofloxacin.

A biodegradable system of poly-D,L-dilactide releasing ciprofloxacin was assessed in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis model after inoculation of the test pathogen into the left tibia of 76 New Zealand White rabbits; 31 were controls (group A), and 45 were implanted with the polymer at the infection site (group B). The rabbits were killed on a weekly basis, and cancellous bone was harvested for histopathology and for estimation of bacterial growth and the concentrations of ciprofloxacin. Tibial X ray was performed immediately before the animals were killed.

Simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fracture in an adolescent: a case report and review of the literature.

Avulsion fractures of the tibial tubercle are uncommon. Bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fractures are extremely rare. In this article, we describe Watson-Jones type III simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in a 17-year-old boy who fell on the ground while taking off in high jump in sport.

Does irradiation affect the protein composition of saliva?

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative amount of low molecular weight salivary proteins in patients with head and neck tumours treated with radiotherapy and healthy subjects. Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography was used for protein separation. Nine protein fractions (including acidic and basic proline-rich proteins (PRPs), cystatins, histatins and statherin) were identified in saliva from irradiated patients as well as healthy subjects.

Dissociation of bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip after dislocation. A report of five different cases and review of literature.

Little information is available about the rare but serious disadvantage of dissociation of modular components during dislocation or after close reduction in the bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip. In most cases, simple dislocation after primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty can safely be reduced by close methods. Dissociation leads almost always to reoperation and possible revision of the prosthesis.

Extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as a soft tissue mass in the proximal femur in a HIV(+) patient.

Primary soft tissue non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are very rare especially among HIV-1 infected patients. We describe a patient with HIV-1 infection who presented with acute pain of the right proximal femur. The clinical and laboratory investigation revealed a high grade centroblastic B-cell lymphoma of soft tissue.

Infecton: a 99mTc-ciprofloxacin radiopharmaceutical for the detection of bone infection.

Objective: To evaluate Infecton scintigraphy, with technetium-99m-radiolabeled ciprofloxacin, as a means to detect bone infection, in comparison with other conventional scintigraphic and radiologic methods.

Methods: Forty-five patients with known or suspected bone infection underwent 50 scans with Infecton. Almost all were also subjected to a three-phase 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate bone scan and most of them to a 99mTc-human polyclonal immunoglobulin scan as well as to a gallium-67-citrate scan, plus computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging or both.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the femur in an HIV-1-positive patient.

A case of eosinophilic granuloma in the right femur of an HIV-1-infected patient is described, and the possible pathogenetic role of HIV infection in eosinophilic granuloma formation is discussed.

Treatment of experimental osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a biodegradable system of lactic acid polymer releasing pefloxacin.

A novel biodegradable system of D-,L-dilactide delivering pefloxacin was implanted in 104 rabbits with experimental osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 26 serving as controls. Animals were killed on each third day and viable bacterial counts and levels of pefloxacin in bone tissue were determined. A 99.

Lactic acid polymers as biodegradable carriers of fluoroquinolones: an in vitro study.

A biodegradable polymer of DL-dilactide that facilitates release of ciprofloxacin or pefloxacin at levels exceeding MICs for the causative microorganisms of chronic osteomyelitis is described. Duration and peak of release were found to depend on the molecular weight of the polymer. Its characteristics make it promising for treating chronic bone infections.

Relative and population attributable risk of traffic injuries in relation to blood-alcohol levels in a Mediterranean country.

Blood samples were taken from, and interviews were conducted with, 76 persons injured in motor vehicle crashes, and from 126 controls with a home and leisure injury. The analysis was undertaken by modelling the data through conditional logistic regression, controlling for gender- and age-matched variables and other potentially confounding variables, including education and visual acuity. Detectable alcohol levels were associated with a 4.

Bone marrow infection caused by Actinobacillus ureae in a rheumatoid arthritis patient.

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis is described who presented with low-grade fever for 3 months, in whom Actinobacillus ureae was cultured from bone marrow aspirate. Fever responded favourably to penicillin therapy. It is the first reported isolation of A.

Chronic osteomyelitis caused by multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: evaluation of treatment with newer quinolones after prolonged follow-up.

We evaluated ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin regimens for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis due to Gram-negative multiresistant organisms. The study was open, nonrandomized and included 28, 21 and 16 patients, respectively. The 4-fluoroquinolone regimens were 1000 mg, 400 mg and 400-800 mg bd, for a mean duration of 137, 163 and 134 days, respectively.

Risk factors for injuries among the elderly in Greece.

Extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors for injuries among the elderly in Greece were investigated in a hospital based case-control study. Cases were 200 elderly persons, residents of the Greater Athens area, who contacted the "Laiko" University Hospital for accident-related injuries, during a 10-month period, whereas the control series comprised 385 elderly who, during the same period, contacted the same hospital for non-injury related medical reasons. Data were analyzed by modeling through multiple logistic regression.

In vitro release of new quinolones from biodegradable systems: a comparative study.

A new biodegradable delivery system based on low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) has been formulated, with potential application in the sustained antibiotic release against bone infection. The in vitro release of two new quinolones (ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) from the biodegradable matrix showed that the delivery of ofloxacin from the matrix lasted fifty-six days, whereas that of ciprofloxacin lasted fifty-one days. In both cases, release is controlled by the drug diffusion and the matrix degradation, the latter being the most critical factor.

Sustained release of fleroxacin in vitro from lactic acid polymer.

The time-delayed release of fleroxacin, a newer fluoroquinolone, from a mixture of racemic D-L-Lactic acid is reviewed. Ten in vitro experiments for each fleroxacin concentration of 1% and 10%, were performed. Pre-formed D-L-Lactic acid, plus fleroxacin clots were preserved in sterile 1 cm diameter tubes with one ml of nutrient broth at 37 degrees C until they were fully disintegrated.

Effect of time interval on tissue concentrations of cephalosporins after tourniquet inflation. Highest levels achieved by administration 20 minutes before inflation.

We studied the effect of different time intervals between antibiotic administration and tourniquet inflation in 62 patients undergoing reconstructive surgery in the lower extremities. The in vivo concentrations in soft tissue and bone of 3 cephalosporins (ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and ceforanide) were determined. Our findings suggest that the highest tissue concentrations were achieved by administration 20 min before tourniquet inflation.

Pharmacokinetic study of fibrin clot-ciprofloxacin complex: an in vitro and in vivo experimental investigation.

We prepared a composite of fibrin clot and ciprofloxacin for use as a biodegradable antibiotic delivery system with sustained effect for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. In vitro, ten experiments were performed in which 10 mg of ciprofloxacin were incorporated into 4 ml of fibrin clot. The clots were preserved in nutrient broth and incubated at 37 degrees C for a total of 60 days.

Skull, patella and thigh cryptococcosis after a crashing injury of the temporal bone.

An unusual case of triple location (skull, patella and thigh) Cryptococcus neoformans is described. The peculiarity of the case is based on the probability of direct post-traumatic bone inoculation, subsequent seeding from skull to patella, thigh and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), patella involvement, lack of evidence of lung involvement and lack of predisposing underlying disease. The response to surgery and a combination of amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine administration was favorable without relapse at follow-up after 7-year discontinuation of therapy.

Bilateral, spontaneous and simultaneous rupture of the quadriceps tendon in chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Report of five cases.

Bilateral and simultaneous rupture of the quadriceps tendon of the knee without significant trauma in five patients, two males and three females, with chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism is reported. Ruptures of the extensor mechanism are relatively rare injuries. Unilateral rupture is more common.

A comparison of efficiency of three types of crutches using oxygen consumption.

Because the axillary crutch can cause axillary artery thrombosis and crutch palsy, the elbow crutch is more frequently used. Canadian crutches combine features of both the axilla and elbow crutches. A previous study examined any advantages in terms of energy cost using heart rate.

One leg swing through gait using two crutches. An analysis of the ground reaction forces and gait phases.

Using a Force Plate the gait cycle for one leg swing-through gait of ten normal subjects on Canadian crutches was monitored, and a composite diagram of forces on the lower limb and both crutches was produced. In addition the relationship of the stance and swing phase for both the lower limb and crutches was studied and the percentage of these phases and their overlap included on the composite diagram. The average maximum vertical ground reaction to the leg was 1.