Treatment of extra-abdominal desmoid tumors with interferon-alpha with or without tretinoin.

Background And Objectives: Surgery is the main treatment for extra-abdominal desmoid tumors, but the results of further management remain uncertain. Therefore, a retrospective analysis was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) +/- tretinoin in this setting.

Methods: Thirteen patients with extra-abdominal desmoid tumors and a median age of 32 years (range, 15-73) received IFN-alpha.

Erb:YAG and Hol:YAG laser osteotomy: the effect of laser ablation on bone healing.

Sixty-nine male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups of 23 animals each and osteotomies were performed in group 1 with a power saw, in group 2 with the Erb:Yag laser, and in group 3 with the Hol:YAG laser. Two animals of each group were sacrificed 1 week, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation for histologic investigation, and five animals of each group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after osteotomy for torque testing. Anterior-posterior (AP) radiographs were taken at the same time points and investigated for callus formation and development of pseudoarthrosis.

Comparison of tuberculous and pyogenic spondylitis. An analysis of 122 cases.

One hundred twenty-two patients with tuberculous or pyogenic spondylitis were investigated retrospectively. Patient histories, laboratory tests, and radiographic findings were compared statistically between the two groups. Significant differences were calculated for the interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean vertebral loss at discharge, and sclerosis of the vertebral bodies involved.

[Effects of inflammation-induced spinal fusion of the lumbar area on movement of the lumbar spine].

Lateral x-rays of the lumbar spine in standing position and functional flexion-extension roentgenograms of 21 patients with spontaneous fusion within the lumbar area after spondylitis were checked related to kyphosis of the block, lordosis and mobility of the lumbar spine and the single discs, and the appearance of degenerative spondylolisthesis. 76% demonstrated degenerative spondylolisthesis of the neighbouring discs, the half of them more than 5 mm with a significant higher number of segmental loosening of the disc caudal to the fusion. The kind of instability is a pseudo-spondylolisthesis (Junghans 1930) above and a retrolisthesis below the fused area.

Ablation of polymethylmethacrylate by Ho:YAG, Nd:YAG, and Erb:YAG lasers.

Ho:YAG, Nd:YAG, and Erb:YAG laser ablation of Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was investigated under in vitro and simulated clinical conditions. Ablation rates were measured for all lasers and after ablation, macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the ablation site was investigated. The mean ablation rates of the Erb:YAG, Ho:YAG, and Nd:YAG laser increased from 8 microns per pulse at 100 mJ to 44 microns per pulse at 300 mJ from 100 microns per pulse at 200 mJ to 222 microns per pulse at 800 mJ and from 28 microns per pulse at 100 mJ to 189 microns per pulse at 800 mJ, respectively.