Clinical and Radiologic Outcome of First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis Using a Human Allogeneic Cortical Bone Screw.

Background: Different fixation techniques are established for first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthrodesis, including compression screws, plates, Kirschner wires, metal- and bioabsorbable screws as well as staples. The purpose of this study was to investigate and present first clinical and radiologic results using a novel human, allogeneic cortical bone screw for arthrodesis of the first MTPJ.

Methods: Arthrodesis of the first MTPJ was performed in 31 patients with hallux rigidus.

Arthrodesis and Defect Bridging of the Upper Ankle Joint with Allograft Bone Chips and Allograft Cortical Bone Screws (Shark Screw) after Removal of the Salto-Prosthesis in a Multimorbidity Patient: A Case Report.

The case describes the revision of an upper ankle prosthesis because of loosening. When ankle replacement is the first choice and actual bone quality does not allow a replacement of the prosthesis, arthrodesis is the only way of reducing pain and gaining stability. The amount of missing bone due to the removed prosthesis was severe.

[Computed tomography in multiple trauma patients: technical aspects, work flow, and dose reduction].

Clinical/methodical Issue: Patients with severe, life-threatening trauma require a fast and accurate clinical and imaging diagnostic workup during the first phase of trauma management.

Standard Radiological Methods: Early whole-body computed tomography has clearly been proven to be the current standard of care of these patients.

Methodical Innovations: A similar imaging quality can be achieved in the multiple trauma setting compared with routine imaging especially using rapid, latest generation computed tomography (CT) scanners.

Histologic work-up of non-palpable breast lesions classified as probably benign at initial mammography and/or ultrasound (BI-RADS category 3).

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of a probably benign assessment of non-palpable breast lesions (BI-RADS category 3) at mammography and/or ultrasound with immediate histological work-up.

Materials And Methods: Stereotactic or ultrasound guided core needle breast biopsy (NBB) was performed to evaluate 288 lesions, which were prospectively assessed as BI-RADS category 3. Imaging findings included 195 masses, 73 calcification cases, 16 focal asymmetries, and four architectural distortion cases.

Assessment and characterisation of common renal masses with CT and MRI.

OBJECTIVE: Owing to the widespread use of abdominal imaging studies the detection rate of solid renal masses has increased, and an accurate characterisation of imaging features of renal masses has become more essential for case management. METHOD AND RESULTS: MR imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are frequently used modalities for detection and differentiation of renal masses. This article gives a review of imaging characteristics of benign and malignant renal masses, discussing their appearance in CT and MR imaging.

Performance of integrated FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT in the staging and restaging of colorectal cancer: comparison with PET and enhanced CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of PET/CT as a one step examination in patients with colorectal cancer. Therefore we proved whether diagnostic PET/CT adds information over PET or contrast-enhanced CT alone for staging or restaging of patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: Seventy-three patients (46 males and 27 females; age range: 50-81 years; mean age: 67 years) with known colorectal cancer underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT for staging or restaging.

Integrated contrast-enhanced diagnostic whole-body PET/CT as a first-line restaging modality in patients with suspected metastatic recurrence of breast cancer.

Objective(s): Only few information exist about the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT for restaging patients with metastatic recurrence of breast carcinoma. Therefore, our study hypothesis was to perform diagnostic contrast enhanced CT (ce-CT) and FDG-PET in a one-step investigation, to prove sensitivity of each modality and to determine whether diagnostic PET/CT adds information over PET or contrast enhanced CT alone for restaging of patients with suspected recurrence of breast cancer.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with suspected recurrence of breast cancer were included in our study.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the breast improves detection of invasive cancer, preinvasive cancer, and premalignant lesions during surveillance of women at high risk for breast cancer.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast in the surveillance of women at high risk for breast cancer.

Experimental Design: In this prospective comparison study, women at high risk for breast cancer were offered annual surveillance examinations, consisting of mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, at a single tertiary care breast center. The sensitivity and specificity of each modality was based on the histopathologic evaluation of suspicious findings from all modalities plus the detected interval cancers.

Mammalian expression of full-length bovine aggrecan and link protein: formation of recombinant proteoglycan aggregates and analysis of proteolytic cleavage by ADAMTS-4 and MMP-13.

Aggrecan, a large chondroitin sulfate (CS) and keratan sulfate (KS) proteoglycan, has not previously been expressed as a full-length recombinant molecule. To facilitate structure/function analysis, we have characterized recombinant bovine aggrecan (rbAgg) and link protein expressed in COS-7 cells. We demonstrate that C-terminally truncated rbAgg was not secreted.

The negative predictive value of electrical impedance scanning in BI-RADS category IV breast lesions.

Objectives: We sought to prospectively assess the value of electrical impedance scanning (EIS) in discriminating benign from malignant lesions classified as BI-RADS category IV in mammography in comparison with ultrasound (US), with a special focus on negative prediction.

Materials And Methods: EIS was performed on 128 BI-RADS category IV lesions in 121 women (mean, 51.8 years).

Postoperative pain control in total joint arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized study of a fixed-dose, around-the-clock, oral regimen.

This randomized, prospective study assessed postoperative pain control in 119 patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Group 1 (59 patients) received scheduled, around-the-clock, oral opioids and group 2 (60 patients) received oral opioids on an as-needed basis. Both groups had parenteral opioids available for breakthrough pain.

Prevention of gastrointestinal iron absorption by chelation from an orally administered premixed deferoxamine/charcoal slurry.

Study Objective: To investigate the effect of an orally administered premixed slurry of deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) and activated charcoal (AC) on the gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of ferrous sulfate under physiologic conditions.

Methods: This was a prospective, crossover, controlled human volunteer study. Participants were healthy adult subjects aged 25 to 38 years.

Oligosaccharide sequences of endothelial cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan with affinity for lipoprotein lipase.

Lipoprotein lipase (LpL) catalyzes the hydrolysis of triglycerides in plasma lipoproteins at the luminal surface of the vascular endothelium. This enzyme is bound via electrostatic interactions to heparan sulfate (HS). The specific endothelial cell surface HS oligosaccharide sequences that are necessary for binding of LpL to HS have not been characterized.

Development of techniques for the isolation of iron from biological material for measurement of isotope ratios by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

Stable isotopes have gained prominence in nutrition and trace element research. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) measurement of iron isotope ratios has an accuracy of > or equal to 99.7% with the stable isotopes (54)Fe, (56)Fe, and (58)Fe with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of < or equal to 0.

Tandem mass spectrometric studies of the fragmentation of penicillins and their metabolites.

The fragmentation of two penicillins, ampicillin and amoxicillin, and their principal metabolites has been studied by a combination of liquid chromatography/thermospray mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry. A high-resolution tandem mass spectrometer was used to obtain chemical ionization, fast-atom bombardment, and collision-induced dissociation mass spectra. Structural information and fragmentation mechanisms have been deduced from ions in the mass and collision spectra.

3-Phenylpropenes as mechanism-based inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase: evidence for a radical mechanism.

A series of ring-substituted 3-phenylpropenes has been examined as mechanism-based inhibitors for the copper protein dopamine beta-hydroxylase. p-HO-, p-CH3O-, m-HO-, m-CH3O-, p-Br-, and p-CN-substituted phenylpropenes all inactivate the enzyme under turnover conditions, requiring ascorbate and oxygen. Replacement of the benzylic hydrogens in 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propene with deuterium results in a kinetic isotope effect of 2.

Abiotic synthesis of purines and other heterocyclic compounds by the action of electrical discharges.

The synthesis of purines and pyrimidines using Oparin-Urey-type primitive Earth atmospheres has been demonstrated by reacting methane, ethane, and ammonia in electrical discharges. Adenine, guanine, 4-aminoimidazole-5-carboxamide (AICA), and isocytosine have been identified by UV spectrometry and paper chromatography as the products of the reaction. The total yields of the identified heterocyclic compounds are 0.

On the abiotic formation of amino acids. I. HCN as a precursor of amino acids detected in extracts of lunar samples. II. Formation of HCN and amino acids from simulated mixtures of gases released from lunar samples.

Two studies on the abiotic formation of amino acids are presented. The first study demonstrates the role of hydrogen cyanide as a precursor of amino acids detected in extracts of lunar samples. The formation of several amino acids, including glycine, alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid, under conditions similar to those used for the analysis of lunar samples is demonstrated.

Search for organic and volatile inorganic compounds in two surface samples from the chryse planitia region of Mars.

Two surface samples collected from the Chryse Planitia region of Mars were heated to temperatures up to 500 degrees C, and the volatiles that they evolved were analyzed with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Only water and carbon dioxide were detected. This implies that organic compounds have not accumulated to the extent that individual components could be detected at levels of a few parts in 10(9) by weight in our samples.