Treatment of ruptures of the lateral ankle ligaments: a meta-analysis.

Background: Ruptures of the lateral ankle ligaments are very common; however, treatment remains controversial. The aim of the current study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials of existing treatment strategies for acute ruptures of the lateral ankle ligaments.

Methods: Randomized, controlled trials reported between 1966 and 1998 were included if they involved acute ruptures of the lateral ankle ligaments.

Relationship of lipoprotein(a) and its phenotypes with the albumin excretion rate in diabetic patients: a multivariate analysis.

Background/aim: The possible association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and albumin excretion rate (AER) is a topic that has generated conflicting views. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum Lp(a) concentrations and AER in diabetic patients, taking into account Lp(a) phenotypes in a multivariate analysis.

Methods: For this purpose 191 consecutive diabetic patients (69 type 1 and 122 type 2) were included in the study.

Study of evolution of PCDD/F in sewage sludge-amended soils for land restoration purposes.

The evolution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) in sewage sludge-amended soils used in the restoration of degraded lands, like quarries, has been studied. Two experiments were performed: one in the lab, under controlled conditions, and another in a quarry. Two different doses of sewage sludge were applied in both experiments (with two types of application in the quarry experiment) and the evolution of the amended soils were compared with that of the respective control soils (without addition of sewage sludge).

Separation of non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyl congeners on pre-packed carbon tubes. Application to analysis in sewage sludge and soil samples.

The analysis of planar (non-ortho) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by HRGC-ECD or HRGC-HRMS requires a fractionation step to avoid the interferences of the bulk of PCB, usually in much higher concentration than the planar ones. In this paper, a new method, based on the fractionation of PCB on SPE commercial tubes pre-packed with Carbopack B, has been developed. After the extract has been applied on the stationary phase, the bulk of PCD are eluted with 15 ml of hexane (fraction I), mono-ortho PCB with 20 ml of hexane/toluene 99:1 (fraction II) and planar PCB with 20 ml of toluene (fraction III) in a station under vacuum.

Serum laminin as a marker of diabetic retinopathy development: a 4-year follow-up study.

Purpose: The usefulness of laminin as a serum marker of diabetic retinopathy is a topic that generates conflicting views. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of diabetic retinopathy on serum laminin-P1, the larger pepsin resistant fragment of laminin, and to elucidate whether serum laminin-P1 could be an indicator of the risk for development of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: In a prospective study, 97 consecutive diabetic patients (35 type 1 and 62 type 2) without diabetic retinopathy and a urinary albumin excretion rate lower than 20 microg per minute were enrolled in a 4-year follow-up study.

Occurrence of Hodgkin's disease and cutaneous B-cell lymphoma in the same patient: a report of two cases.

The occurrence of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the same patient is well known. The most frequent observation has been the development of large B cell lymphoma in patients affected with the nodular form of lymphocytic predominant HD. A less common situation is the development of NHL among patients successfully treated for HD.

The Gore-Tex prosthetic ligament as a salvage procedure in deficient knees.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of prosthetic ligament replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) with the Gore-Tex polytetrafluorethyene prosthesis (W.L. Gore and Co.

Ontogeny of neurokinin-1 receptors in the porcine respiratory system.

We characterized the ontogeny of NK-1 receptor agonist affinity (Kd) and density (Bmax) in membranes from tracheal epithelium, smooth muscle, and lung of pigs aged 1-7 days, 8-21 days, and adult in comparison to contractile responses in vitro. Affinity of [125I] Bolton-Hunter substance P ([125I]BH-SP) in epithelium and smooth muscle was three- to fourfold lower in young piglets than in adults. The Bmax of NK-1 sites in epithelium was elevated by more than twofold at 8-21 days relative to 1-7 days piglets and adults.

Clavicle malunion.

The clavicle fracture that has united with deformity or shortening may have an adverse effect on normal shoulder girdle function. We report on 4 patients in whom a malunited fracture of the clavicle was believed to be a contributing factor to shoulder girdle dysfunction. In each patient, the functional status of the involved limb was improved after corrective osteotomy at the site of deformity, realignment, and plate fixation.

Subtalar arthrodesis with correction of deformity after fractures of the os calcis.

We have reviewed the long-term results of 22 patients (23 fusions) with fractures of the os calcis, who had subtalar arthrodesis with correction of the deformity between 1975 and 1991. The mean follow-up was nine years (5 to 20). All patients were evaluated according to a modified foot score.

Effect of panretinal photocoagulation on serum levels of laminin in patients with diabetes: a prospective study.

Background/aim: Laminin, a major specific non-collagenous glycoprotein of basement membrane, has been proposed as an index of diabetic retinopathy and high serum concentrations have been reported in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. On the other hand, panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) prevents the progression of severe diabetic retinopathy and reverses preretinal neovascularisation. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of PRP on serum levels of laminin in patients with diabetes.

Thrombomodulin levels in asymptomatic familial hypercholesterolemia.

In order to ascertain whether young asymptomatic patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) but without clinical signs of atherosclerosis have increased plasma thrombomodulin (TM) levels expressing early endothelial damage, we determined TM in 23 heterozygous FH subjects (aged 28-44 years, x: 32 +/- 6) and in a well matched control group (CG). In addition, carotid Doppler ultrasonography was done in all the patients and controls in order to assess the state of the vascular tree. Results show a tendency for FH subjects to have higher TM values than the CG (37.

[Cost of early management of chronic inflammatory intestinal disease].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cost of the first management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from the onset of first symptoms until 6 weeks after the diagnosis. This cost was calculated in French francs (FF) for all IBD and namely for Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and ulcerative proctitis (UP).

Material And Methods: Data concerning 258 patients were collected by the mean of a standardized questionnaire from 3 different sources: the patient, his general practitioner, and his gastroenterologist.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease].

Background: The period of time required for the diagnosis of a chronic illness depends on initial clinical symptoms and their perception by the patient and the physicians. The aim of this study was to describe the procedures of diagnosis of incident cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Methods: Patients reported by the Registry of inflammatory bowel disease of northern France (EPIMAD) in 1994 were included.

Hemostasis using high intensity focused ultrasound.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been shown to be an effective method of hemostasis, in animal studies, for both solid organs and blood vessels. Two distinct effects of HIFU, thermal and mechanical, appear to contribute to hemostasis. Acoustic hemostasis may provide an effective method in surgery and prehospital settings for treating trauma and elective surgery patients.

[Fibronectin and diabetes mellitus: the factors that influence its plasma concentrations and its usefulness as a marker of late complications].

Background: The usefulness of plasma fibronectin (FNp) as a marker of late diabetic complications is controversial. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of several variables on FNp in diabetic patients and to determine its usefulness as a marker of late diabetic complications.

Patients And Methods: 79 diabetic patients randomly selected were included in the study.

Interleukin-6, nitric oxide, and the clinical and hemodynamic alterations of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objective: Nitric oxide has been proposed as a mediator of hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhosis. Endotoxin and cytokines induce the synthesis of nitric oxide. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between endotoxemia, cytokines, and nitric oxide in patients with cirrhosis, and to correlate these findings with clinical, biochemical, and hemodynamic parameters.

Plasma thrombomodulin is not increased in familial hypercholesterolemic children with rheological alterations.

In order to ascertain whether hemorheological alterations precede the atherosclerotic lesion in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), we studied the lipid and hemorheological profile of 29 heterozygous FH children (12 males and 17 females), aged 12+/-3 years, and a well-matched control group (CG), and assessed their plasma thrombomodulin level as an early marker of endothelial injury. No differences were found between FH children's plasma thrombomodulin values (31.7+/-11.

Use of remifentanil in a patient with chronic hepatic failure.

We describe a 73-yr-old woman anaesthetized for a laminectomy. She suffered from hepatic failure with mild encephalopathy complicated by several exacerbations associated with sedative and opioid therapy. The challenge for anaesthesia management was to provide adequate analgesia and avoid causing hepatic encephalopathy during and after the surgery.

Comparison of the results of the Girdlestone pseudarthrosis with reimplantation of a total hip replacement.

A Girdlestone pseudarthrosis of the hip (resection arthroplasty) is nowadays mainly carried out for failed hip replacements. A decision may have to be made whether to reimplant a new hip prosthesis or to accept the result of a pseudarthrosis. We followed 2 groups of patients: 32 patients had a long standing pseudarthrosis; in the other group of 16 patients, a total hip replacement was reimplanted at an average of 3 years after a pseudarthrosis.

The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio of the erythrocyte membrane in children with familial hypercholesterolemia. Its relationship with plasma lipids and red blood cell aggregability.

The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (C/PL) of the red blood cell membrane, plasma lipids and erythrocyte aggregability were evaluated in 20 children with familial hypercholesterolemia (age: 10.4+/-4.6 years) but without detectable vascular injury.

Socket wear in ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasties: fixed versus rotating heads.

We measured radiographically the polyethylene socket wear in 34 hip prostheses with a 32 mm Al2O3-ceramic head with a rotating bearing and in 37 prostheses with a "fixed" ceramic head. The mean follow-up was 12 years in both groups. The mean annual linear wear of the polyethylene was 0.