Bone-site-specific responses to zoledronic acid.

Objectives: Bisphosphonates are widely used to treat bone diseases such as osteoporosis. However, they may cause osteonecrosis of the jaw. Here, we investigated whether in vivo exposure to bisphosphonates has a different effect on long bone and jaw osteoclasts, and on the turnover of these different bones.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw-a Bone Site-Specific Effect of Bisphosphonates.

A known complication that can occur in patients using bisphosphonates (BPs) is osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ features bone exposure that may be associated with severe pain, swelling, local infection, and pathological fracture of the jaw. Current literature indicates that a complex combination of factors is necessary to induce ONJ.

Implications of high-dosage bisphosphonate treatment on bone tissue in the jaw and knee joint.

Bisphosphonates are bone antiresorptive agents traditionally used on a relatively large scale for treatment of bone metabolic diseases and on a smaller scale for bone metastasis treatment. A study on the effects of bisphosphonate treatment on healthy instead of diseased animals will give more insight into the basic mechanisms of bisphosphonates and their effects on different bone sites. We aimed to assess the effect of BP on the mouse knee and jaw joint.

Contrast-enhanced microCT (EPIC-μCT) ex vivo applied to the mouse and human jaw joint.

Objectives: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is susceptive to the development of osteoarthritis (OA). More detailed knowledge of its development is essential to improve our insight into TMJ-OA. It is imperative to have a standardized reliable three-dimensional (3D) imaging method that allows for detailed assessment of both bone and cartilage in healthy and diseased joints.

One-step surgical procedure for the treatment of osteochondral defects with adipose-derived stem cells in a caprine knee defect: a pilot study.

Regenerative therapies offer attractive alternatives for the treatment of osteochondral defects. Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells allow the development of one-step surgical procedures by their abundant availability and high frequency. In this pilot study we evaluated the in vivo safety, feasibility, and efficacy of this concept using scaffolds seeded with freshly isolated (SVF) or cultured adipose stem cells (ASCs), and compared these to their acellular counterparts.

Mineral heterogeneity affects predictions of intratrabecular stress and strain.

Knowledge of the influence of mineral variations (i.e., mineral heterogeneity) on biomechanical bone behavior at the trabecular level is limited.

Biomechanical effect of mineral heterogeneity in trabecular bone.

Due to daily loading, trabecular bone is subjected to deformations (i.e., strain), which lead to stress in the bone tissue.

Regional variations in mineralization and strain distributions in the cortex of the human mandibular condyle.

The strain (i.e. deformation) history influences the degree of mineralization of cortical bone (DMB) as well as its osteonal microstructure.

Porosity of human mandibular condylar bone.

Quantification of porosity and degree of mineralization of bone facilitates a better understanding of the possible effects of adaptive bone remodelling and the possible consequences for its mechanical properties. The present study set out first to give a three-dimensional description of the cortical canalicular network in the human mandibular condyle, in order to obtain more information about the principal directions of stresses and strains during loading. Our second aim was to determine whether the amount of remodelling was larger in the trabecular bone than in cortical bone of the condyle and to establish whether the variation in the amount of remodelling was related to the surface area of the cortical canals and trabeculae.

Degree and distribution of mineralization in the human mandibular condyle.

The degree of mineralization of bone (DMB) in the mandibular condyle reflects the age and remodeling rate of the bone tissue. Quantification of DMB facilitates a better understanding of possible effects of adaptive remodeling on mineralization of the condyle and its possible consequences for its mechanical quality. We hypothesized differences in the degree and distribution of mineralization between trabecular and cortical bone and between various cortical regions.

True hermaphroditism with hydrocolpos.

A case of true hermaphroditism with hydrocolpos in a 7-month-old infant is presented. This is, to the authors' knowledge reported case of association of both anomalies. Hydrocolpos is a clinical entity characterized by vaginal distension with accumulation of fluid, which can cause respiratory embarrassment and urinary, intestinal and circulatory obstruction.

Cold knife optical urethrotomy.

Cold knife optical urethrotomy with the Sachse urethrotome was used in 44 patients with urethral strictures. Appraisal if the results, after a mean follow-up of fourteen months, showed 77.3 per cent success rate regarding urine flow rates and 81.

Anterior vaginal repair, cause of troublesome voiding disorders?

Clinical experience and urodynamic observations in 85 female patients with voiding disorders after anterior vaginal repair are presented. Iatrogenic or persistent urinary stress incontinence (72%), irritable trigone syndrome (48%), bladder outlet obstruction (40%), unstable bladder (25%) and recurrent cystitis (23.5%) were the most frequent findings.

[The place of surgery in the treatment of testicular tumors other than seminoma (author's transl)].

Surgery plays an important part in the treatment of non seminomatous testicular tumors. An oncologically correct technique of orchidectomy is the first essential if the better prognosis of these tumors, noted in the past decade, is to be further improved. The testis should be removed through an inguinal approach.

Uretero-neo-cystostomy in renal transplantation. Is an antireflux mechanism mandatory?

We report a retrospective analysis of 120 kidney transplantations in which a simple end-to-end ureteric implantation in the bladder without antireflux mechanism was made. From this study no greater incidence of vesico-ureteric reflux could be demonstrated and, even when present, reflux neither interfered with graft function nor caused an increased incidence of recurrent urinary tract infections. The incidence of other urological complications (leakage, obstruction) being equal, this very simple technique yielded in our hands the best results and we recommend its use in kidney transplantation.

Successful management of postoperative hemorrhage of the kidney by selective transcatheter embolization.

A case is reported where postoperative hemorrhage from the kidney was successfully managed by selective transcatheter embolization of the bleeding vessel. A review of the literature reveals that only three papers have been published dealing with selective embolization for controlling hemorrhage from the kidney. Our case is another illustration of the possibilities and usefulness of this method of treatment in the management of persistent postoperative hemorrhage.

Epidermoid cyst of the testis.

Surgical exploration of a mass in the right testis revealed an epidermoid cyst. In the literature some controversy exists on surgical treatment of this lesion. Orchiectomy seems to be recommended although several patients treated by simple enucleation had an uneventful follow-up from 6 to 15 years.

Intrarenal arteriovenous fistula following renal allograft biopsy.

Arteriovenous fistulae in renal allograft are rarely mentioned in papers dealing with vascular complications after renal transplantations. 2 cases of such central fistulae are reported. In our patients the fistulae remained asymptomatic and were incidentally detected, so that neither surgical nor medical measures had to be taken.