Quantitative PCR for hepatitis B virus with colorimetric detection.

A novel, sensitive colorimetric test is described for quantification of the initial number of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes amplified in PCR. The viral genomes are amplified together with a synthetic internal standard (IS) to correct for the variability of the efficiency factor. One of the two primers is biotinylated, and the amplified mixtures of HBV and IS DNAs are bound to streptavidin-coated microtiter plates for quantitative detection.

A comparison of transfusion requirements after total knee arthroplasty using the Solcotrans autotransfusion system.

Twenty-five consecutive total knee arthroplasties were performed with the Solcotrans unit for scavenging postoperative drainage (study group) and were compared with the previous 25 arthroplasties performed without the Solcotrans unit (control group). Mean preoperative hematocrits, estimated blood loss, and fluid replacement for both control and study groups were nearly identical. When the autotransfusion system was not used, 10 patients in the control group required transfusion of a total of 20 units of packed red blood cells, while only two patients utilizing the Solcotrans unit required transfusion of five units of packed red blood cells (P less than .

Fracture healing in metastatic bone disease.

In 123 cancer patients with metastatic disease, 129 pathologic fractures of long bones were assessed to determine the rate of osseous union. Bony healing was observed in 67% of malignant fractures from multiple myeloma, in 44% of fractures secondary to metastatic hypernephroma, and in 37% of neoplastic fractures from breast carcinoma. No patient with a pathologic fracture secondary to lung carcinoma demonstrated bony repair, and none of these patients lived for more than six months after fracture.