[Simultaneous radiochemotherapy with taxol/carboplatin in advanced operable head-neck tumors. Preliminary results].

Background: The purpose of simultaneous chemoradiotherapy is to increase local-regional control and to decrease the incidence of distant metastases. Regimens containing cisplatin/5-FU chemotherapy are widely accepted as standard treatment in advanced head and neck cancer. Most studies reported promising response and survival data, but also severe mucosal toxicity.

Design, synthesis, and biological characterization of a peptide-mimetic antagonist for a tethered-ligand receptor.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) represent a unique family of seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, which are enzymatically cleaved to expose a truncated extracellular N terminus that acts as a tethered activating ligand. PAR-1 is cleaved and activated by the serine protease alpha-thrombin, is expressed in various tissues (e.g.

Periprosthetic bone remodelling after total knee arthroplasty: early assessment by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The present investigation aims to evaluate periprosthetic bone remodelling after total knee arthroplasty by the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Twelve patients affected by osteoarthrosis of the knee joint underwent primary total knee arthroplasty at an average age of 70.5 years.

[Scoliosis in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta: a federal nation-wide cross-sectional study].

Objective: Quite different prevalence of scoliosis in patients with Osteogenesis imperfecta is reported, not at least owing to the difficult recruitment of patients. The present study aims to investigate Osteogenesis imperfecta-patients with scoliosis by means of a cross-section study.

Patients And Methods: A total of 102 patients (46 males, 56 females) with an average age of 24.

[Oral manifestations of Lpngerhans' cell histiocytosis. Therapeutic strategies involving oral and maxillofacial surgery].

The definition of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (formerly known as histiocytosis X) includes the clinical syndromes Hand-Schüller-Christian syndrome, Abt-Letterer-Siwe syndrome and eosinophilic granuloma, which in the past were considered separate entities. The prognosis of this disease varies between "favorable" and "infaust", depending on the age of the patient at first manifestation and the number of the organs involved. With the aid of various prospective clinical studies, suitable therapeutic schemes are currently being sought for.

Complications and adverse effects of colonoscopy with selective sedation.

Background: Cardiopulmonary adverse effects are commonly observed in patients undergoing colonoscopy with sedation. This study determines the incidence of such events when sedation is given only when required.

Methods: In 2500 consecutive patients, colonoscopies were started without premedication but sedation was offered if significant discomfort occurred.

[Experiences with different telescope nails in treatment of pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta].

Objective: The present study aims to examine and compare results after intramedullary rodding of long bones with the original Bailey/Dubow-nail and two modifications.

Patients And Methods: During the period 1985 to 1995 21 patients with an average age of 6.3 years (2-11 yrs) underwent intramedullary rodding of 83 long bones.

Long-term results after Mitchell osteotomy in children and adolescents with hallux valgus.

The current study elucidates the quality of long-term results after hallux valgus correction by Mitchell osteotomy in children and adolescents. Eight female and 1 male hallux valgus patient with a total of 16 bunion deformities underwent a Mitchell procedure in the period 1970 to 1985, and were reinvestigated in December 1994 (at an average of 16 years later). Their ages at operation ranged from 9 to 20 years (average 16 years).

[Follow-up of collagen and bone metabolism in patients with cement-free total hip endoprosthesis].

Introduction: This study investigated the influence of concentration and activity of several markers of the collagen and bone metabolism and their impact on ingrowth of non-cemented total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: 40 patients underwent an implantation of a ABG-prosthesis. Before surgery and 1, 2, 12 and 24 weeks after it serum concentrations of PICP, ICTP, IGF-1, ON, b-AP, Calcium, Phosphate, GPT and Creatinin were measured and a collagen ratio (CQ) was calculated.

[Measurement of migration of acetabular components in cementless hip replacement].

Purpose: Migration measurements of acetabular components using a special computer aided method (EBRA = abbreviation for the German term "Ein-Bild-Röntgenanalyse") were performed to evaluate early results of the implants and predict aseptic loosening.

Methods: Standard ap-radiographs of the pelvis were marked, specific points were digitised. Simulating the spatial situation the programme computes longitudinal and vertical migration of the cup.

Significance of radiographic angle measurements in evaluation of congenital clubfoot.

Numerous formal, positional and angular foot skeleton deviations have been described in radiographic evaluation of congenital clubfoot. To clear up the correlation between clinical and radiological findings, a retrospective study involving 62 cases of congenital clubfoot in 38 patients was carried out, including follow-up observation for 7 years after soft-tissue surgery. Only clubfeet with grade II Harrold and Walker classifications according to the initial findings were included.

[Oxaprozin versus diclofenac retard in treated of activated arthrosis].

Aim: The present study should elucidate the efficacy, patient acceptability, and side effect profiles of Oxaprozin and Diclofenac retard when given to patients with active primary osteoarthrosis.

Methods: 80 outpatients with active primary osteoarthrosis with a radiological grade of II or III in the hip or knee joint (mean duration 4 years) were distributed randomly and equally to each treatment group. Patients age ranged from 40-66 years (mean age 51 years).

Revision resurfacing knee arthroplasty for aseptic loosening.

This re-investigation presents our experience with revision resurfacing knee arthroplasty caused by aseptic failure. The evaluation of the results should elucidate the benefit of revision, its complications as well as the impact of the implant type used. The study involved 36 patients whose primary resurfacing knee prostheses failed by aseptic loosening.

Hallux valgus in young patients: comparison of soft-tissue realignment and metatarsal osteotomy.

Two procedures of hallux valgus correction in young patients were compared by long-term results: soft-tissue realignment (McBride) and Mitchell osteotomy. From 1970 to 1990, 33 hallux valgus deformities of 17 patients were corrected with one of these procedures at the Orthopaedic Department of the University of Mainz. Patients' age at operation ranged from 9 to 20 years and average follow-up was 16 years later.

[Radiological changes after implantation of 2 different cementless hip prostheses].

Purpose: Of the study was to evaluate radiological alterations of the femoral bone after implantation of two different prostheses.

Methods: 81 patients with 87 hips underwent total hip arthroplasty by using the Zweymüller-stem fixating in the medullary canal, and 175 patients with 182 ABG-stems with a proximally fixating, anatomical design were followed up clinically and radiologically.

Results: Adaptive bone remodelling in Zweymüller-stems showed in some patients thickening of the cortex of the femur and proximal bone-stock loss; reactive lines were seen in the proximal areas surrounding the prosthesis.

Differential regulation of human keratinocyte growth and differentiation by a novel family of protease-activated receptors.

Thrombin receptor (ThrR) and protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) are members of a unique G protein-coupled receptor family, which are characterized by the unveiling of a tethered peptide ligand upon proteolysis of their NH2 terminus. We have previously shown that cultured human basal keratinocytes express both receptors (R.J.

[Comparison of radiological procedures in preoperative assessment of anchorage strength of spinal implants].

Purpose: To compare three techniques with regards to their ability to estimate pull out strength of spinal fusion hardware.

Material And Methods: VDS-screw fixation strength in 50 human cadaveric vertebral bodies was approximated by means of pull out force measurement. Bone quality was assessed by Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA).

Circulating ICAM-1 (sCD54) and LFA-3 (sCD58) in chronic hepatitis B--a longitudinal study in patients treated with interferon-alpha.

The intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, CD54) and the lymphocyte associated antigen 3 (LFA-3, CD58) have been found in soluble form (sCD54 and sCD58) in human sera. Data concerning their role in chronic liver disease and their usefulness in disease monitoring are contradictory. We addressed the question whether elevated sCD54/sCD58 correlated either with disease activity or with decreased elimination secondary to reduced liver function in chronic hepatitis B.

Thrombin receptor-dependent prostaglandin E2 synthesis in hamster fibroblasts: synergistic interactions with interleukin-1beta.

Cellular responses to alpha-thrombin are mediated through a G-protein-coupled receptor that undergoes proteolytic cleavage, unveiling a tethered peptide ligand with the amino-terminal sequence SFLLRN. The synthetic peptide SFLLRN can mimic many of thrombin's actions via directly stimulating the thrombin receptor. Thrombin has been implicated in several cellular events associated with tissue injury, including fibroblast growth, matrix deposition, and inflammatory responses.

[Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy. Experimental basis, clinical application].

The purpose of our studies was to investigate experimentally the dose-dependent effects of extracorporeal shock waves on tendon and bone and to unveil therapeutic possibilities in tendinopathies and pseudarthroses. In animal experiments, both positive and negative influences were exerted by shock waves, depending on the initial situation and on the power of the applied shock waves. In prospective clinical trials positive effects were found in the treatment of persistent tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, calcifying tendinitis, and pseudarthrosis.

Hallux valgus in young patients: long-term results after McBride operation.

The development of symptomatic hallux valgus deformities at an early age is rather uncommon and usually treated non-operatively. However, if surgical treatment is indicated, only so-called physiological procedures, especially e.g.

[Diagnosis and therapy of erosive intervertebral osteochondrosis].

Pathogenically the erosive intervertebral osteochondrosis is the destructive form of the intervertebral osteochondrosis. This paper aims to define this acute variant by means of diagnostic criteria. In differential diagnosis a spondylodiscitis, an ankylosing spondylitis, a destructive spondylo-arthropathy and a morbus Scheuermann must be considered.

NOE-derived conformation of GRGDSP cell adhesion recognition site in the presence of SDS micelles and integrin receptor GPIIB/IIIA.

The tripeptide RGD is well known for its role in integrin receptor-mediated cell-cell surface adhesion. Here, NMR and transferred NOE studies have been done with the fibrinogen/fibronectin-derived hexapeptide GRGDSP in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and purified platelet glycoprotein integrin receptor GPIIb/IIIa. In the presence of SDS and absence of receptor, GRGDSP gives NOE-based distance geometry-generated structures characteristic of two "nested' beta-turns centered at RG and GD.