Synovial fluid D-lactate - a pathogen-specific biomarker for septic arthritis: a prospective multicenter study.

Objectives: The performance of synovial fluid biomarker D-lactate to diagnose septic arthritis (SA) and differentiate it from crystal-induced arthritis (CA), other non-infectious rheumatic joint diseases (RD) and osteoarthrosis (OA) was evaluated.

Methods: Consecutive adult patients undergoing synovial fluid aspiration due to joint pain were prospectively included in different German and Swiss centers. Synovial fluid was collected for culture, leukocyte count and differentiation, detection of crystals, and D-lactate concentration.

Excellent midterm survival and functional outcomes of a fully hydroxyapatite-coated cementless stem: first results of a prospective multicenter study.

Background: The Polarstem (Smith & Nephew, Baar, Switzerland) is a tapered straight stem, an implant with an excellent survival rate. Although the most recent annual report of the National Joint Registry in the United Kingdom also reports excellent survivorship for the cementless Polarstem, no prospective studies have been published focusing on both its efficacy and clinical performance. Therefore, the present study was designed to prospectively evaluate its functional and radiographic outcomes at midterm.

Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV-like activity mediate antifibrotic effects in normal and keloid-derived skin fibroblasts.

Suppression of collagen and matrix synthesis and inhibition of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) is a major therapeutic goal in the treatment of fibrosis and keloids. Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP IV)-like activity affect cell growth and cytokine production and are currently under investigation for the treatment of metabolic, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We show here that the inhibitors of DP IV-like activity, Lys[Z(NO(2))]-thiazolidide and Lys[Z(NO(2))]-pyrrolidide, suppress proliferation in human skin fibroblasts and keloid-derived skin fibroblasts in vitro.

Five-year results of two cemented hip stem models each made of two different alloys.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of two different cemented hip stems each made of two different alloys concerning survival and outcome.

Materials And Methods: The 5-year results with 161 Mueller straight stems made of cobalt chromium (SS CoCr), 272 Mueller straight stems made of titanium (SS Ti), 233 Mueller SL stems made of titanium (SL Ti) and 255 SL stems made of cobalt chromium (SL CoCr) implanted consecutively in this order were compared. All patients were followed up prospectively during the first 5 years after implantation.