The anterolateral approach leads to less disruption of the femoral head-neck blood supply than the posterior approach during hip resurfacing.

In 12 patients, we measured the oxygen concentration in the femoral head-neck junction during hip resurfacing through the anterolateral approach. This was compared with previous measurements made for the posterior approach. For the anterolateral approach, the oxygen concentration was found to be highly dependent upon the position of the leg, which was adjusted during surgery to provide exposure to the acetabulum and femoral head.

Real time PCR for the assessment of CD8+ T cellular immune response after prophylactic vaccinia vaccination.

Background: The magnitude of specific CD8+ T cell reactivity responsible for vaccine-induced protection against smallpox infection has not yet been fully elucidated. Among other techniques, RT-PCR for the monitoring of cytokine release in effector T cells against tumor and viral antigens has demonstrated a novel promising method.

Objective: To determine the functional status of antigen specific CD8+ T cells in healthy participants before and 4 weeks after prophylactic vaccination (Lister strain) against smallpox using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

The effects of Efaproxyn (efaproxiral) on subcutaneous RIF-1 tumor oxygenation and enhancement of radiotherapy-mediated inhibition of tumor growth in mice.

Efaproxiral, an allosteric modifier of hemoglobin, reduces hemoglobin-oxygen binding affinity, facilitating oxygen release from hemoglobin, which is likely to increase tissue pO(2). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of efaproxiral on tumor oxygenation and growth inhibition of RIF-1 tumors that received X radiation (4 Gy) plus oxygen breathing compared to radiation plus oxygen plus efaproxiral daily for 5 days. Two lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc) deposits were implanted in RIF-1 tumors in C3H mice for tumor pO(2) measurements using EPR oximetry.

Drug-free holidays: pre-travel versus during travel malaria chemoprophylaxis.

Although efficacious forms of malaria chemoprophylaxis currently exist, many travelers to malaria-endemic areas fail to use them effectively. We suggest that taking antimalarial medications prior to travel may prevent more malaria by improving compliance. Treatment regimens of antimalarial drugs taken prior to travel could protect persons for up to one month of exposure.

The impact of silicone hydrogel materials on overnight corneal swelling.

Purpose: To identify the corneal swelling response associated with silicone hydrogel contact lens wear.

Methods: Twenty-five subjects were recruited to participate in this single-center, controlled, single-masked, clinical trial. The corneal swelling response was evaluated by central corneal pachymetry after overnight wear of balafilcon A, etafilcon A, lotrafilcon A, senofilcon A, and no lens wear.

Imported infectious disease and purpose of travel, Switzerland.

We evaluated the epidemiologic factors of patients seeking treatment for travel-associated illness from January 2004 through May 2005 at the University Hospital of Zurich. When comparing persons whose purpose of travel was visiting friends and relatives (VFR travelers; n = 121) with tourists and other travelers (n = 217), VFR travelers showed a distinct infectious disease and risk spectrum. VFR travelers were more likely to receive a diagnosis of malaria (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.

A phase 1 study of pralatrexate in combination with paclitaxel or docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose: Pralatrexate is a rationally designed antifolate with greater preclinical antitumor activity than methotrexate. Pralatrexate was synergistic with paclitaxel and with docetaxel in mouse xenograft experiments. This phase 1 study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose and toxicity of pralatrexate plus paclitaxel or docetaxel in patients with advanced cancer.

Inter-disciplinary European guidelines on surgery of severe obesity.

In 2005, for the first time in European history, an extraordinary Expert panel named 'The BSCG' (Bariatric Scientific Collaborative Group), was appointed through joint effort of the major European Scientific Societies which are active in the field of obesity management. Societies that constituted this panel were: IFSO - International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity, IFSO-EC - International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity - European Chapter, EASO - European Association for Study of Obesity, ECOG - European Childhood Obesity Group, together with the IOTF (International Obesity Task Force) which was represented during the completion process by its representative. The BSCG was composed not only of the top officers representing the respective Scientific Societies (four acting presidents, two past presidents, one honorary president, two executive directors), but was balanced with the presence of many other key opinion leaders in the field of obesity.

Cholera: assessing the risk to travellers and identifying methods of protection.

This review is based on the findings of a consultation meeting involving consultants in travel medicine and focusing on the risks of cholera to the traveller. Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease transmitted via the faeco-oral route and commonly associated with poor sanitation. Between the years of 1995 and 2001, the WHO reported 1829 cases of cholera in developed countries, the majority of which were imported.

Rifaximin treatment of pathogen-negative travelers' diarrhea.

Background: Antibacterial drugs appear to be effective in shortening the illness of a majority of cases of travelers' diarrhea.

Methods: This was a subanalysis from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adult travelers with acute diarrhea treated with rifaximin 200 mg three times a day or placebo for 3 days. Efficacy was assessed by the interval beginning with the first dose of medication and ending with the last unformed stool passed after becoming well [time to last unformed stool (TLUS)]; number of unformed stools passed; percent with clinical improvement; and incidence of wellness achieved.

Deaths caused by malaria in Switzerland 1988-2002.

Despite sophisticated intensive medicine, between one and three malaria-associated deaths occur annually in Switzerland. In this retrospective study, 33 deaths (25 men and 8 women) caused by falciparum malaria reported in Switzerland from 1988 to 2002 were analyzed. The case fatality ratio (CFR) for the falciparum infections for the 15-year period was 1.

Prevention of travel-related infectious diseases: knowledge, practices and attitudes of Swedish travellers.

More Swedish residents travel to countries where they are at risk for contracting malaria, hepatitis, and other serious travel-related diseases. To safeguard the public's health, it is important to determine if travellers accurately perceive health risks and take appropriate preventative measures before and during their trips. This study examined travel health knowledge, attitudes and practices among Swedish residents traveling to destinations with risk of malaria and hepatitis.

[Triple pelvic osteotomy (according to Tönnis and Kalchschmidt) in the treatment of acetabular dysplasia--medium-term results].

Aim: The triple pelvic osteotomy according to Tönnis and Kalchschmidt has gained major significance in the surgical treatment of acetabular dysplasia in adolescents and adults. The curative and prophylactic potentials of this operative procedure are reviewed in this study by means of a clinical and radiological follow-up trial.

Methods: 34 patients/38 hip joints treated by the triple pelvic osteotomy between 1996 and 2005 were reviewed clinically and radiologically with an average follow-up of 3.

Okadaic acid, an apoptogenic toxin for symbiotic/parasitic annelids in the demosponge Suberites domuncula.

The role of okadaic acid (OA) in the defense system of the marine demosponge Suberites domuncula against symbiotic/parasitic annelids was examined. Bacteria within the mesohyl produced okadaic acid at concentrations between 32 ng/g and 58 ng/g of tissue (wet weight). By immunocytochemical methods and by use of antibodies against OA, we showed that the toxin was intracellularly stored in vesicles.

Efaproxiral red blood cell concentration predicts efficacy in patients with brain metastases.

Efaproxiral (Efaproxyn, RSR13), a synthetic allosteric modifier of haemoglobin (Hb), decreases Hb-oxygen (O(2)) binding affinity and enhances oxygenation of hypoxic tumours during radiation therapy. This analysis evaluated the Phase 3, Radiation Enhancing Allosteric Compound for Hypoxic Brain Metastases; RT-009 (REACH) study efficacy results in relation to efaproxiral exposure (efaproxiral red blood cell concentration (E-RBC) and number of doses). Recursive partitioning analysis Class I or II patients with brain metastases from solid tumours received standard whole-brain radiation therapy (3 Gy/fraction x 10 days), plus supplemental O(2) (4 l/min), either with efaproxiral (75 or 100 mg/kg daily) or without (control).

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of rifaximin compared with placebo and with ciprofloxacin in the treatment of travelers' diarrhea.

Rifaximin was compared with placebo and ciprofloxacin for treatment of travelers' diarrhea in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Adult travelers (N = 399) consulting travel clinics in Mexico, Guatemala, and India were randomized to receive rifaximin 200 mg three times a day, ciprofloxacin (500 mg two times a day and placebo once a day), or placebo three times a day for 3 days. Patients recorded in daily diaries the time and consistency of each stool and documented symptoms for 5 days after treatment.

Hepatitis A virus infections in travelers, 1988-2004.

Background: Uncertainty exists about the current risk of hepatitis A virus infection in nonimmune travelers to destinations with high or intermediate risk of transmission. We analyzed recent epidemiological data on imported hepatitis A to determine region-specific attack rates and incidences.

Methods: Surveillance data on hepatitis A virus infections diagnosed during 1988-2004 were evaluated on the basis of notification by laboratories, additional reports of physicians, and traveler's statistics.

[Surgical procedures for severely obese patients: impact and long-term results].

Obesity is a multifactorial, genetically-determined, neuroendocrine, and chronic condition. Conservative treatment of patients with class II and III obesity (BMI >35 kg/m(2)) has only modest long-term success. Surgical procedures have been used since 1954, and the methods used are continually being updated and improved.

Changing travel-related global epidemiology of hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is highly endemic in many emerging cultures. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines and some improvements in sanitation in developing countries, hepatitis A remains a significant cause of morbidity for nonimmune travelers visiting such destinations. All are at risk, including short-term vacationers or business travelers who stay in deluxe accommodations.

Epidemiology of traveler's diarrhea.

Among travelers from developed countries who visit developing countries, >60% may experience traveler's diarrhea, accounting for 40,000 travelers daily or >15 million travelers annually. Traveler's diarrhea is often accompanied by other symptoms, most often abdominal cramps. Although the spontaneous cure occurs after a mean of 4 days, a few patients have symptoms for weeks, and it is increasingly noted that some patients may later develop irritable bowel syndrome.