A serum-free medium formulation supporting growth of human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in long-term cultivation.

A serum-free medium formulation - TUD-1 - was developed supporting growth of HUVEC in tissue culture. Special features of the basal medium formulation are highly elevated levels of glutamine and serine as well as the inclusion of N-acetylcysteine and phosphoascorbic acid. The cellular mitogenic needs are satisfied by bFGF, VEGF, EGF and liver growth factor.

Ankle arthrodesis using the cable technique.

Objective: Arthrodesis of the ankle with a cable technique for restitution of pain-free gait with the foot in functional alignment.

Indications: Painful osteoarthritis of the ankle unresponsive to conservative and surgical treatment or in instances where these treatments do not seem sensible.

Contraindications: Osteomyelitis, acute arthritis, neuropathic arthropathy.

[Proper and improper tension band fixation exemplified by patellar fracture].

The tension band, performed with rigid cerclage wire, is known worldwide as a standard operation technique for the patella fracture as well as for all fractures gaping under strong muscular tensile forces. Eccentricity of power input and transformation of tension into pressure forces are its theoretical rationale. This is a contradiction to the knowledge of engineers.

[From "bone suture" to modern osteosynthesis--a chronology].

The five extremely well-known principals of osteosyntheses have been developed since the mid 19th century. Anaesthesia and antisepsis as absolute conditions blossomed into the heyday of surgery. Wire was the earliest material for osteosyntheses, successfully applied for the first time in 1827 by Rodgers in New York, systematically by Lister in Glasgow since about 1870, and later used in form of various 'bone sutures' and cerclages.