[Attitude of health care workers towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination].

Objectives: Attitude of health care workers (HCW), namely registered nurses, towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and compulsory vaccination.

Method: In a structured anonymous scientific survey from January 29 to April 26, 2021 a questionnaire was sent to 72 heads of orthopedic and trauma departments. The doctors were asked to distribute and recollect the questionnaire after obtaining informed consent from the hospital administration, the nursing management and the works council.

Perioperative multi-system optimization protocol in elderly hip fracture patients: a randomized-controlled trial.

Purpose: Hip fractures in elderly patients are associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. We evaluated whether a perioperative multi-system optimization protocol can reduce postoperative complications in these patients.

Methods: Immediately after diagnosis of hip fracture, patients ≥ 60 yr were randomized to an intervention or control group.

Influence of Absorbable Calcium Sulfate-Based Bone Substitute Materials on Human Haemostasis-In Vitro Biological Behavior of Antibiotic Loaded Implants.

Calcium sulfate (CS) formulations are frequently implanted as antibiotically impregnated bone substitutes in orthopedic and trauma surgery to prevent or treat bone infections. Calcium ions have been discussed as candidates to accelerate blood coagulation. The goal of this study is to evaluate substance-specific influences of CS formulations on blood coagulation.

Polyaxial locking plates in treating distal humeral fractures: a comparative randomized trial for clinical outcome.

Background: Management of distal humeral fractures remains to be one of the most challenging aspects in trauma surgery. Low profile plating systems with variable angle screw fixation represent a crucial advancement to the established angular stable locking plates with considerable attention in current research. The aim of the prospective randomized trial was to review the preliminary results and patients' outcome following treatment with these newly developed implants and to rule out potential differences in fracture treatment of two different plating systems.

Malpositioned olecranon fracture tension-band wiring results in proximal radioulnar synostosis.

Background: Tension-band wiring (TBW) is a well-established fixation technique for two-part, transverse fracture types of the olecranon. However, complication rates up to 80 % are reported. By reporting on the enormous impact on the patient if failed the aim of the present report was to emphasize the importance of correct K wire positioning in TBW.

Tumor Growth Inhibition via Occlusion of Tumor Vasculature Induced by N-Terminally PEGylated Retargeted Tissue Factor tTF-NGR.

tTF-NGR retargets the extracellular domain of tissue factor via a C-terminal peptide GNGRAHA, a ligand of the surface protein aminopeptidase N (CD13) and upon deamidation of integrin αvβ3, to tumor vasculature. tTF-NGR induces tumor vascular infarction with consecutive antitumor activity against xenografts and selectively inhibits tumor blood flow in cancer patients. Since random PEGylation resulted in favorable pharmacodynamics of tTF-NGR, we performed site-directed PEGylation of PEG units to the N-terminus of tTF-NGR to further improve the antitumor profile of the molecule.

Anticancer therapy by tumor vessel infarction with polyethylene glycol conjugated retargeted tissue factor.

tTF-NGR consists of the extracellular domain of tissue factor and the peptide GNGRAHA, a ligand of the surface protein aminopeptidase N and of integrin αvβ3. Both surface proteins are upregulated on endothelial cells of tumor vessels. tTF-NGR shows antitumor activity in xenografts and inhibition of tumor blood flow in cancer patients.

Monocytes do not transdifferentiate into proper osteoblasts.

Recent publications suggested that monocytes might be an attractive cell type to transdifferentiate into various cellular phenotypes. Aim was, therefore, to evaluate the potential of blood monocytes to transdifferentiate into osteoblasts. Monocytes isolated from peripheral blood were subjected to two previously published treatments to obtain unique, multipotent cell fractions, named programmable cells of monocytic origin (PCMOs) and monocyte-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (MOMPs).

New method for detection of complex 3D fracture motion--verification of an optical motion analysis system for biomechanical studies.

Background: Fracture-healing depends on interfragmentary motion. For improved osteosynthesis and fracture-healing, the micromotion between fracture fragments is undergoing intensive research. The detection of 3D micromotions at the fracture gap still presents a challenge for conventional tactile measurement systems.

A new mechanism preventing proarrhythmia in chronic heart failure: rapid phase-III repolarization explains the low proarrhythmic potential of amiodarone in contrast to sotalol in a model of pacing-induced heart failure.

Aims: Life-threatening arrhythmias are a major problem in chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the low proarrhythmic potential of amiodarone in a model of pacing-induced heart failure.

Methods And Results: Heart failure was induced in 35 female rabbits by rapid ventricular pacing, resulting in a significant decrease of ejection fraction.

TGF-β1 as possible link between loss of bone mineral density and chronic inflammation.

Background: The TGF family plays a key role in bone homeostasis. Systemic or topic application of proteins of this family apparently positively affects bone healing in vivo. However, patients with chronic inflammation, having increased TGF-β(1) serum-levels, often show reduced bone mineral content and disturbed bone healing.

Compartment syndrome of the thigh. A case report with delayed onset after stable pelvic ring fracture and chronic anticoagulation therapy.

Compartment syndrome of the thigh is a rare occurrence potentially leading to devastating functional restrictions. There is a wide spectrum of reported conditions leading to increased tissue pressure in the thigh possibly resulting in a compartment syndrome, ranging from deep venous thrombosis to blunt injuries and femoral fractures. We report a case of a delayed development of a compartment syndrome of the thigh secondary to an undisplaced anterior pelvic ring fracture and chronic anticoagulation therapy in a 94-year-old woman.

Gentamycin delivered from a PDLLA coating of metallic implants: In vivo and in vitro characterisation for local prophylaxis of implant-related osteomyelitis.

Locally applied antibiotics support prophylaxis of highly feared implant associated infections. Implant coatings with poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA)/gentamicin seem to be a promising approach. Aims of this study were to analyse the release kinetics of gentamicin in vivo, in vitro, to analyse the antibacterial efficacy,the resistance development and its impact on osteoblasts.

The dynamic locking screw (DLS) can increase interfragmentary motion on the near cortex of locked plating constructs by reducing the axial stiffness.

Background: The plate-screw interface of an angular stable plate osteosynthesis is very rigid. So far, all attempts to decrease the stiffness of locked plating construct, e.g.

Medial migration of lag screw with intrapelvic dislocation in gamma nailing--a unique problem? A report of 2 cases.

Within the last decade, intramedullary nailing systems have gained popularity in the treatment of unstable fractures of the trochanteric region with good clinical results. However, these implants are not free of complications. Commonly reported treatment failures include implant cutout through the femoral neck, stress-derived femur fractures at the distal end of the nail, and secondary rotational displacement and varus deformity of the femoral neck and head.

Hemodynamic effects of titrated norepinephrine in healthy versus endotoxemic sheep.

In patients with sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome, hemodynamic support is often complicated by a vascular hyporesponsiveness to exogenously administered norepinephrine. Although norepinephrine tachyphylaxis represents a significant clinical problem, the relationship between norepinephrine dosages and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the presence of systemic inflammation is still not fully understood. This study was, therefore, designed as a prospective, controlled laboratory trial to elucidate the hemodynamic response to incremental norepinephrine doses in healthy and endotoxemic sheep.

Dobutamine reverses the vasopressin-associated impairment in cardiac index and systemic oxygen supply in ovine endotoxemia.

Introduction: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is increasingly used to treat sepsis-related vasodilation and to decrease catecholamine requirements. However, AVP infusion may be associated with a marked decrease in systemic blood flow and oxygen transport. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether dobutamine may be titrated to reverse the AVP-related decrease in cardiac index (CI) and systemic oxygen delivery index (DO2I) in an established model of ovine endotoxemia.

Prophylaxis and treatment of implant-related infections by antibiotic-coated implants: a review.

Implant-related infection is a feared complication in orthopedic and trauma surgery with tremendous consequences for the patient. To reduce this risk, administration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is a routine procedure in orthopedic surgery. A local delivery system for antibiotics based on a polymer implant coating has been developed to optimize the prophylaxis.

Collective review: bioactive implants coated with poly(D,L-lactide) and growth factors IGF-I, TGF-beta1, or BMP-2 for stimulation of fracture healing.

Demographic data reveal that due to the increasing aging of the population, complications with the musculoskeletal system will increase in the next years. One major problem in orthopedic and trauma surgery are the delayed healing or non-unions of long bone fractures. The exogenous application of growth factors can stimulate the bone healing to reduce these complications.

Local protection for surgical implants.

In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Jose and coworkers [1] describe the covalent attachment of vancomycin to a titanium surface. The tethered antibiotic is effective against S. aureus, suggesting that this material has the potential to complement clinical strategies for preventing infection following implant surgery.

Short term in vivo biocompatibility testing of biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide)--growth factor coating for orthopaedic implants.

Fracture healing can be stimulated by exogenous application of growth factors. Using porcine and rat models the efficacy of locally delivered IGF-I and TGF-beta1 from an implant coating has been demonstrated. A thin and biomechanical stable biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide) was used to coat implants and serve as a drug carrier.