High pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe-Why trends of virus evolution are more difficult to predict.

Since 2016, A(H5Nx) high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of clade 2.3.4.

Comparison of 2016-17 and Previous Epizootics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Guangdong Lineage in Europe.

We analyzed the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 epizootic of 2016-17 in Europe by epidemiologic and genetic characteristics and compared it with 2 previous epizootics caused by the same H5 Guangdong lineage. The 2016-17 epizootic was the largest in Europe by number of countries and farms affected and greatest diversity of wild birds infected. We observed significant differences among the 3 epizootics regarding region affected, epidemic curve, seasonality, and outbreak duration, making it difficult to predict future HPAI epizootics.

One-component revision in total hip arthroplasty: the fate of the retained component.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of the unrevised part in one-component total hip arthroplasty revision (index operation). Forty-four patients (46 hips) with a mean age of 58years at the time of the index operation were included. At the final follow-up, 4 of the 19 (21%) unrevised acetabular components and 6 of the 27 (22%) unrevised femoral components were subsequently revised at a mean time of 14 and 11years from the index operation, and 22 and 24years from the primary operation, respectively.

Charnley low-friction arthroplasty in patients 35 years of age or younger. Results at a minimum of 23 years.

We evaluated the outcome of 41 consecutive Charnley low-friction arthroplasties (LFAs) performed by a single surgeon in 28 patients aged ≤ 35 years at operation between 23 and 36 years previously. There were 20 women and eight men with a mean age of 32 years (23 to 35) at surgery. Two patients (three hips) were lost to follow-up at 12 and 17 years post-operatively, respectively, and one patient (one hip) died at 13 years post-operatively.

The twenty-year survivorship of two CDH stems with different design features.

Unlabelled: Previous studies have shown that anatomical abnormalities of the femur in dislocated hips require the application of special CDH prosthesis for the reconstruction of the proximal femur in total hip arthroplasty (THA). We have retrospectively examined the clinical records and radiographs of 50 patients (67 hips) with low and high dislocations treated with THA in our institution, between January 1987 and December 1994. For the reconstruction of the femur, the stainless steel Charnley CDH stem, with polished surface, monoblock and collarless, was used in 32 hips; the Harris CDH stem, made of CoCr, precoated at the proximal part, modular and with collar was used in 35 hips.

Frailty predicts outcome of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in geriatric patients.

Background: Frailty is a phenotype characterized by complex and challenging medical problems and higher susceptibility to adverse health outcomes. It can be derived at by a multidimensional process known as comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), which assesses the functional reserves of the elderly. In this study we report for the first time on a prospective evaluation of the association between CGA and postoperative complications after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary disease.

Trochanteric osteotomy in total hip replacement for congenital hip disease.

We studied the effect of trochanteric osteotomy in 192 total hip replacements in 140 patients with congenital hip disease. There was bony union in 158 hips (82%), fibrous union in 29 (15%) and nonunion in five (3%). The rate of union had a statistically significant relationship with the position of reattachment of the trochanter, which depended greatly on the pre-operative diagnosis.

An examination of the association between different morphotypes of femoroacetabular impingement in asymptomatic subjects and the development of osteoarthritis of the hip.

We retrospectively examined the long-term outcome of 96 asymptomatic hips in 96 patients with a mean age of 49.3 years (16 to 65) who had radiological evidence of femoroacetabular impingement. When surveillance commenced there were 17, 34, and 45 hips with cam, pincer, and mixed impingement, respectively.

Effect of cementless acetabular component orientation, position, and containment in total hip arthroplasty for congenital hip disease.

We evaluated the effect of the inclination angle, position, and containment of 53 cementless cups inserted in patients with congenital hip disease (CHD), after a minimum of 10 years of follow-up. The polyethylene wear rate was significantly greater when the cup was placed in more than 45° inclination (P=.045) or if the cup was placed lateral to the teardrop position by more than 25 mm (P=.

Detection and quantification of infectious avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in environmental water by using real-time reverse transcription-PCR.

Routes of avian influenza virus (AIV) dispersal among aquatic birds involve direct (bird-to-bird) and indirect (waterborne) transmission. The environmental persistence of H5N1 virus in natural water reservoirs can be assessed by isolation of virus in embryonated chicken eggs. Here we describe development and evaluation of a real-time quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (qRT-PCR) method for detection of H5N1 AIV in environmental water.

Charnley low-friction arthroplasty in young patients with osteoarthritis: outcomes at a minimum of twenty-two years.

Background: We previously reported the outcomes at a minimum of twelve years after eighty-four Charnley low-friction arthroplasties performed in patients with osteoarthritis who were less than fifty-six years old at the time of the surgery. We now update the results of that cohort at a minimum of twenty-two years postoperatively.

Methods: Eighty-four hips (in sixty-nine patients) with osteoarthritis, which was secondary to congenital hip disease in sixty-four (76%) of them, were followed prospectively with use of the Merle D'Aubigné and Postel scoring system as modified by Charnley and with serial radiographs.

Unilateral hip osteoarthritis: can we predict the outcome of the other hip?

Objective: The objective of this study was to define, in unilateral hip osteoarthritis (OA), factors predicting the outcome of the other hip.

Materials And Methods: We examined the anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis of 95 white patients with unilateral idiopathic (56 patients) or secondary to congenital hip diseases (39 patients) OA. The other hip was free from symptoms (pain or limping) at the initial examination and without radiographic evidence of OA; it was what we call a "normal" hip.

Evaluation of two surgical techniques for acetabular reconstruction in total hip replacement for congenital hip disease: results after a minimum ten-year follow-up.

We have evaluated the results of total hip replacement in patients with congenital hip disease using 46 cemented all-polyethylene Charnley acetabular components implanted with the cotyloplasty technique in 34 patients (group A), and compared them with 47 metal-backed cementless acetabular components implanted without bone grafting in 33 patients (group B). Patients in group A were treated between 1988 and 1993 and those in group B between 1990 and 1995. The mean follow-up for group A was 16.

A comparison of the outcome of cemented all-polyethylene and cementless metal-backed acetabular sockets in primary total hip arthroplasty.

We compared, after a 10-year-minimum follow-up, the outcome of 50 cemented all-polyethylene Charnley acetabular sockets with that of 51 cementless metal-backed sockets in 2 comparable cohorts of young patients. Although the revision rate for the cemented and cementless group was 28% and 35%, respectively, the revision rate for aseptic loosening was 28% for the cemented and 12% for the cementless group. The mean polyethylene wear was 0.

Human ORF (ecthyma contagiosum).

Orf is a viral cutaneous infection typically seen on the hands of people involved in sheep and goat farming. We report 31 cases of orf and consider its pathology, characteristic appearance, diagnosis, treatment and complications.

Mid-term behaviour of cemented titanium stems: A seven to eleven year clinical.

A controversy exists regarding the results of cemented Ti-alloy femoral stems. Although most authors reported unfavourable results, there is no clear evidence of the exact reason for the increased failure rate. We studied 35 arthroplasties in 30 patients with a mean age at the time of surgery of 49.

Surgical treatment of gastric impaction in farmed ostriches.

Partial or complete impaction of the proventriculus and/or the ventriculus is usually seen in juvenile ostriches. Common impaction materials include stones, sand, hay stems and leaves, and even plastic and metallic objects. Six live ostriches showing signs of impaction and three dead ones suspected to have impacted stomachs were presented to the Department of Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Temperature and serum proinflammatory cytokine changes in patients with NSCLC after BAL.

We examined the effects of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and BAL fluid characteristics on the systemic proinflammatory cytokine expression and their relation to clinical and laboratory findings. Thirty patients suspected to have lung cancer were subjected to fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB) and BAL. Clinical and laboratory findings were determined at baseline, 4 h, and 24 h, including lung auscultation, temperature, chest X-ray, WBC, neutrophils, and serum IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with pulmonary embolism and disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with low-molecular-weight heparin.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a severe adverse effect of heparin therapy. Although most cases occur in patients receiving unfractionated heparin, HIT can arise in venous thrombosis prophylaxis with a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). We report an uncommon case of HIT in a postoperative orthopedic patient associated with LMWH (nadroparin), complicated by deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, treated successfully with recombinant hirudin and immunoglobulin therapy.

Cases of swollen head syndrome in broiler chickens in Greece.

From 50 commercial broiler flocks included in a study concerning respiratory disease, signs of swollen head syndrome (SHS) were shown in eight. Postmortem examination was performed in eight birds showing signs of SHS from each flock. The trachea and head from each bird were collected for laboratory investigation.