Influence of the inclination angle of the S1 pedicle on screw malposition and operative revision in percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation of posterior pelvic ring fractures.

Introduction: Due to aging society, osteoporotic posterior ring fractures of the pelvis are gaining importance. Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation can reduce pain if conservative therapy is not sufficient. One of the surgical complications is the malposition of the screws in neuroforamen.

Vertical traction device prevents abdominal wall retraction and facilitates early primary fascial closure of septic and non-septic open abdomen.

Purpose: One of the major challenges in the management of patients with septic and non-septic open abdomen (OA) is to control abdominal wall retraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a novel vertical traction device (VTD) on primary fascial closure (PFC) and prevention of fascial retraction.

Methods: Twenty patients treated with OA were included in this retrospective multicenter study.

Reconstruction of complex radial head fractures using fine-threaded K-wires : clinical outcome and remaining instability.

Radial head replacement or ORIF are established treatment options for Mason type-III and type-IV fractures. The aim of this study was to provide results for reconstruction of these complex fractures using fine-threaded K-wires. We present results after reconstruction of 15 Mason type-III and 8 Mason type-IV fractures.

A new device to prevent fascial retraction in the open abdomen - proof of concept in vivo.

Background: An open abdomen is often necessary for survival of patients after peritonitis, compartment syndrome, or in damage control surgery. However, abdominal wall retraction relieves delays and complicates abdominal wall closure. The principle of the newly fascia preserving device (FPD) is the application of anteriorly directed traction on both fascial edges over an external support through a longitudinal beam to relieve increased abdominal pressure and prevent fascial retraction.

Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation after osteoporotic posterior ring fractures of the pelvis reduces pain significantly in elderly patients.

Introduction: Osteoporotic posterior ring fractures of the pelvis are common injuries in the elderly, but the treatment of these fractures still remains controversial. Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation is one surgical option if conservative treatment cannot provide sufficient pain reduction. The aim of this study is to provide short-term results of elderly patients with percutaneous screw fixation.

Treatment of unstable elbow dislocations with hinged elbow fixation-subjective and objective results.

Background: The aim of this study was to provide subjective and objective results of surgical treatment of unstable elbow dislocations with the hinged external fixation technique.

Methods: Twenty-six patients were available for re-examination after treatment. Parameters used to quantify the subjective functional results were the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, and the stability of the elbow joint.

Intestinal cancer risk in Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis.

Aim Of The Study: To clarify the intestinal cancer risk in Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: 20 clinical studies (1965-2008) with a total of 40,547 patients with Crohn's disease-associated cancer (CDAC) were included in the meta-analysis ("inverse variance weighted" method).

Results: The incidence of CDAC in any CD patient was 0.

Insulin-like growth factor 1-coated sutures improve anastomotic healing in an experimental model of colitis.

Background: : Exogenously applied insulin-like growth factor (rhIGF-1) may improve normal intestinal healing. This study examined the effect of rhIGF-1-coated sutures on anastomotic healing in experimental colitis.

Methods: : Acute colitis was induced in rats by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS).

Mechanisms of platelet and leukocyte recruitment in experimental colitis.

Both leukocytes and platelets accumulate in the colonic microvasculature during experimental colitis, leading to microvascular dysfunction and tissue injury. The objective of this study was to determine whether the recruitment of leukocytes and platelets in inflamed colonic venules are codependent processes. The rolling and adherence of leukocytes and platelets in colonic venules of mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis were monitored by intravital videomicroscopy.

PECAM-1 (CD 31) mediates transendothelial leukocyte migration in experimental colitis.

Transendothelial migration of circulating leukocytes into the colonic wall is a key step in the development of the inflammatory infiltrate in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 PECAM-1 (CD31) is expressed in the tight junction area of endothelial cells, where it is supposed to support the transmigration process. The aim of this study was to determine the role of PECAM-1 in experimental IBD and to show whether blockade of PECAM-1 has therapeutic effects.

Efficient activation of autologous tumor-specific T cells: a simple coculture technique of autologous dendritic cells compared to established cell fusion strategies in primary human colorectal carcinoma.

Different technologies have been employed to deliver the whole spectrum of tumor antigens (TAs) to dendritic cells (DCs) to be presented to T cells. These include whole tumor RNA-transfected DCs, preparations of DCs loaded with tumor-derived apoptotic bodies or tumor cell lysates, and DC tumor cell fusions. Early clinical trials have been conducted using such techniques.

Daily variations of homocysteine concentration may influence methylation of DNA in normal healthy individuals.

The regulation of genetic expression is tightly controlled and well balanced in the organism by different epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. DNA methylation occurring after embryogenesis is seen mainly as an irreversible event. Even small changes in genomic DNA methylation might be of biological relevance, and several factors influencing DNA methylation have been identified so far, one being homocysteine.

Morphometric parameters of the radial head: an anatomical study.

Introduction: Exact anatomical description of the proximal radius is imperative for the development of radial head prostheses. The purpose of this study was to measure the anatomical parameters of the radial head.

Methods: Optosil imprints of 18 pairs of proximal radii fixed with formalin were taken.

CD40-CD40 ligand mediates the recruitment of leukocytes and platelets in the inflamed murine colon.

Background And Aims: Although the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, the nature of its contribution to intestinal inflammation remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether CD40-CD40L contributes to the intestinal inflammatory response, tissue injury, and disease activity elicited by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) through the modulation of leukocyte and platelet recruitment in the colonic microvasculature.

Methods: Wild-type (WT), CD40(-/-), and CD40L(-/-) mice were fed DSS drinking water.

Role of blood- and tissue-associated inducible nitric-oxide synthase in colonic inflammation.

There is evidence that inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS)-derived NO contributes to the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation. The aims of this study were to assess the role of iNOS in the development of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colonic inflammation and to define the contribution of tissue-specific iNOS expression to this inflammatory response. Study groups included: 1) wild-type (WT) mice; 2) WT=>WT bone marrow chimeras with normal iNOS function; 3) WT=>iNOS-/- chimeras (with functional blood cell iNOS, but iNOS-deficient tissue); 4) iNOS-/-=>WT chimeras (with iNOS-deficient blood cells, but normal tissue iNOS activity); and 5) iNOS-deficient mice.

Intestinal cancer in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: Surveillance of intestinal cancer in Crohn's disease (CD) has often been advocated. To date, no clear evidence exists whether CD patients are at special risk for intestinal cancer. An increased incidence of small bowel adenocarcinoma is suggested.

Reconstruction of ureteral necrosis in kidney transplantation using an ileum interposition.

Purpose: Ureteral necrosis is a serious problem in kidney transplantation. Sometimes re-ureterocystostomy is possible, while other cases require an elaborate reconstruction to maintain kidney function. We report our experience with ileum interposition for ureteral reconstruction.

Kidney transplantation using donors with history of diabetes and hypertension.

Purpose: Due to the persistant organ shortage for kidney transplantation, donor selection has changed in the past years. Although hypertension and diabetes mellitus are known to be risk factors for renal insufficiency, kidneys from donors with these diagnoses in their history have been accepted for kidney transplantation even with an increased risk of poor graft function. Herein we have reported our experience with kidney transplantation using grafts from donors with both, a history of type II diabetes and hypertension.

Mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory actions of boswellic acid derivatives in experimental colitis.

Recent clinical trials of the gum resin of Boswellia serrata have shown promising results in patients with ulcerative colitis. The objective of this study was to determine whether a semisynthetic form of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (sAKBA), the most potent anti-inflammatory component of the resin, also confers protection in experimental murine colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to compare its effects with those standard medications of ulcerative colitis like steroids and to examine whether leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion is a major target of action of sAKBA. Clinical measurements of disease activity and histology were used to assess disease progression, and intravital microscopy was employed to monitor the adhesion of leukocytes and platelets in postcapillary venules of the inflamed colon.

Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD 106) in normal and neoplastic human esophageal squamous epithelium.

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), a key receptor for the leukocyte-associated integrin (VLA4), is a crucial mediator of leukocyte adhesion and has co-stimulatory functions in inflammation at various organ sites. Specifically, VCAM-1/VLA4 interactions have been shown to play important roles in the setting of cutaneous immune responses, such as psoriatic lesions in humans and acute Graft-versus-Host-Disease in mice. VCAM-1 is generally expressed on activated endothelial cells in inflamed tissues, mediating endothelium-leukocyte interactions, leading to leukocyte diapedesis to the site of inflammation.

Differential expression and regulation of murine CD40 in regional vascular beds.

There is emerging evidence for a role of the CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) dyad as a signaling mechanism in different inflammatory conditions. The aims of this study were to 1) quantify the constitutive and induced expression of CD40 in different regional vascular beds of the mouse and 2) assess the role of CD40L as a modulator of vascular endothelial CD40 expression. The dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to quantify the expression of endothelial CD40 in control and LPS-challenged wild-type (WT) mice.

Bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, reduces leucocyte adhesion and inflammation in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: Endothelins, a group of polyfunctional cytokines, induce the adhesion of circulating leucocytes to venous endothelium, an initial step in the pathogenesis of a cellular infiltrate in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The effect of bosentan, a non-selective endothelin receptor antagonist, on leucocyte adhesion and inflammation in a murine model of IBD was studied.

Materials And Methods: Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into three groups of 10 animals: untreated controls, chronic colitis [dextran sodium sulphate (DSS), 3% w/v for 30 days], and treatment with bosentan (30 mg/kg i.