Knee stability and graft function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a comparison of a lateral and an anatomical femoral tunnel placement.

Background: Locations of femoral tunnels for anterior cruciate ligament replacement grafts remain a subject of debate.

Hypothesis: A lateral femoral tunnel placed at the insertion of the posterolateral bundle of the anterior cruciate ligament can restore knee function comparably to anatomical femoral tunnel placement.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Permeability modulation of human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers by interferons.

We investigated the effects of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and IFN-gamma on the drug efflux activity of the human intestinal Caco-2 cell line, expressing the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on the apical membrane. The cells grown on Transwell plates were pretreated with 1000U/ml IFN-beta, IFN-gamma or a combination of both for 3 days, and then the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the vectorial transport of rhodamine-123 (Rho-123) across the cell monolayers were evaluated. Exposure to IFN-gamma reduced substantially the TEER, but the effect of IFN-beta was minimal? The apparent permeability of Rho-123 in both the basolateral-to-apical and apical-to-basolateral directions was significantly increased by IFN-gamma but scarcely by IFN-beta.

Macrophage activation by a DNA/cationic liposome complex requires endosomal acidification and TLR9-dependent and -independent pathways.

Previously, we showed that bacterial DNA and vertebrate DNA/cationic liposome complexes stimulate potent inflammatory responses in cultured mouse macrophages. In the present study, we examined whether endocytosis and subsequent acidification are associated with these responses. The endocytosis inhibitor, cytochalasin B, reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production by a plasmid DNA (pDNA)/cationic liposome complex.

Effects of growth hormone (GH) on mRNA levels of uncoupling proteins 1, 2, and 3 in brown and white adipose tissues and skeletal muscle in obese mice.

We have investigated whether GH treatment influences the expression of UCP1, 2 and 3 mRNA in a KK-Ay obese mouse model. KK-Ay mice (n = 10) and C57Bl/6J control mice (n = 10) were injected subcutaneously with human GH (1.0 mg/kg/day and 3.

Osteogenic potential of cultured bone/ceramic construct: comparison with marrow mesenchymal cell/ceramic composite.

Osteogenesis occurs in porous hydroxyapatite (HA) when porous HA blocks combined with marrow mesenchymal cells are grafted in vivo. In vitro bone formation occurs in HA pores when HA combined with marrow cells is cultured in osteogenic medium containing dexamethasone. This cultured bone/HA construct possesses higher osteogenic ability when it is grafted in vivo.

Secretion mode and subcellular localization of human interferon-beta exogenously expressed in porcine renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells.

We have investigated the secretion polarity of human interferon-beta (HuIFN-beta) exogenously expressed in the porcine renal proximal tubule cell line, LLC-PK1. In these cells, stably expressed HuIFN-beta was secreted to the apical and basolateral sides. However, when transiently expressed by apical lipofection, HuIFN-beta was secreted to both cell sides, while basolateral-preferential secretion was seen for basal transfection.

Axial radiographic evaluation in hallux valgus: evaluation of the transverse arch in the forefoot.

To quantitatively evaluate the shape of the transverse arch in the forefoot with hallux valgus, a method for axial imaging and analysis of the forefoot has been developed. A foot was imaged at 30 degrees of flexion. A two-dimensional coordinate system was established by drawing a vertical line on the X-ray image through the lowest point of the head of the second metatarsal.

Inhibition of experimental hepatic metastasis by targeted delivery of catalase in mice.

Bovine liver catalase derivatives possessing diverse tissue distribution properties were synthesized, and their effects on hepatic metastasis of colon carcinoma cells were examined in mice. An intraportal injection of 1 x 10(5) colon 26 cells resulted in the formation of more than 50 metastatic colonies on the surface of the liver at 14 days after injection. An intravenous injection of catalase (CAT; 35000 units/kg of body weight) significantly (P < 0.

Simultaneous detection of DsRed2-tagged and EGFP-tagged human beta-interferons in the same single cells.

The red fluorescent protein DsRed2 is a useful fusion tag for various proteins, together with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). These chromoproteins have spectral properties that allow simultaneous distinctive detection of tagged proteins in the same single cells by dual color imaging. We used them for tagging a secretory protein, human interferon-beta (IFN-beta).

A case of tuberculous tenosynovitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 52-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was infected with tuberculosis (TB) on her forearm and hand, after 16 years of steroid therapy. Debridements and anti-TB therapy were performed successfully. Recently, the risk of significant morbidity from TB has been on the rise; this appears to be a complication of steroid therapy used to treat AIDS and some collagen vascular diseases.

Twenty-five years followup of patients who had valgus osteotomy for arthritic hips.

We reviewed the long-term outcomes of intertrochanteric valgus femoral osteotomies in patients with arthritic hips to clarify any influencing factors. One hundred six patients (127 hips) were followed up during an average of 25 years. The average age of the patients at surgery was 42 years.

Intra-articular synovial hemangioma; a rare cause of knee pain and swelling.

Introduction: Synovial hemangioma is a rare intra-articular benign tumor that is difficult to diagnose because of its nonspecific symptoms. Patients are generally children or young adults with a nontraumatic recurrent swollen painful knee.

Case Presentation: A 24-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of recurrent pain and swelling in the right knee.

Exogenous expression of interferon-beta in cultured brain microvessel endothelial cells.

Brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMECs) make up the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and regulate the passage of therapeutic proteins as well as drugs from the cerebrovasucular circulation to the brain. In the present study, we transferred mouse or human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) gene via cationic liposomes into primary cultures of bovine BMECs developed as an in vitro model of the BBB. The gene-transferred BMECs secreted transiently a substantial amount of IFN activity more efficiently during the growth phase than at confluence.

Regeneration of peripheral nerve gaps with a polyglycolic acid-collagen tube.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report by means of objective methods on the effectiveness of a nerve reconstruction procedure using a bioresorbable tube in two patients. Our previous successes in regenerating canine peripheral nerves across long distances (80-mm gaps) using a bioabsorbable tube have led us to investigate the value of such a tube for the treatment of human patients with chronic nerve injuries.

Methods: The device was made from a cylindrically woven polyglycolic acid tube filled with a collagen sponge.

Adiponectin gene polymorphism (G276T) is not associated with incipient diabetic nephropathy in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G276T in the adiponectin gene has been associated with lower plasma adiponectin levels and insulin resistance, which are related to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes or diabetic complications of macroangiopathy. We performed a case-control study to examine whether the SNP276 of the adiponectin gene was also related to early diabetic nephropathy. SNP276 was examined with genomic DNA obtained from 108 type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (urinary albumin creatinine ratio [ACR] between 30 mg/g x Cr and 300 mg/g x Cr; case subjects), and 208 patients with normoalbuminuria (ACR < 30 mg/g x Cr; control subjects).

Significant role of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in hepatic uptake and degradation of naked plasmid DNA after intravenous injection.

Purpose: Uptake and degradation of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) were investigated.

Methods: Tissue distribution and intrahepatic localization were determined after an intravenous injection of 111In- or 32P-labeled pDNA into rats. Cellular uptake and degradation of fluorescein- or 32P-labeled pDNA were evaluated using primary cultures of rat LSECs.

[Neurosyphilis presenting the left total ophthalmoplegia: a case report].

We report a 73-year-old woman with meningitis-type neurosyphilis presenting the main symptom of the left total ophthalmoplegia. Three months after the appearance of the deviation of the eyeball to the inside and ptosis of the left eyelid, the left eyelid was completely closed. On admission, about four months after the appearance of neurosyphilis, she showed paralysis of the left oculomotor nerve, trochlearis nerve and abducens nerve, and the right mydriasis and absent light reflex.

Subcellular trafficking of exogenously expressed interferon-beta in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

We have recently demonstrated that when IFN-beta was exogenously expressed in epithelial cells, transiently expressed IFN-beta was predominantly secreted from the cell side to which the transfection was performed, while stably expressed one was almost equally secreted to the apical and basolateral sides. In the present study, we analyzed the subcellular transport of IFN-beta using confocal imaging with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged IFN-beta in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Stably expressed and transiently expressed human IFN-beta (HuIFN-beta)-GFPs were seen in upper regions of the nucleus.

Free dorsoulnar perforator flap transfers for the reconstruction of severely injured digits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of transferring the free dorsoulnar perforator flap nourished by the cutaneous perforator branched dorsoulnar artery to reconstruct severely injured fingers under upper arm anesthesia. Between April of 2001 and April of 2002, 13 free dorsoulnar perforator flaps were used in 13 patients. There were 11 men and two women ranging in age from 18 to 64 years, with an average age of 38 years.

Bone regeneration by grafting of cultured human bone.

A 3-mL sample of bone marrow was collected from the iliac bones of 27 orthopedic patients (8 men and 19 women with a mean age of 56.1 years [range, 17 to 76 years]), followed by culture in standard culture medium (minimal essential medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum). In all 7 patients randomly selected from these 27 patients, significant in vitro osteogenic ability of marrow mesenchymal cells was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and biochemical analyses.

Clinical application of marrow mesenchymal stem cells for hard tissue repair.

Human marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in a medium containing glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid, and dexamethasone (Dex) on alumina ceramic discs and on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) dishes. Cell proliferation followed by osteogenic differentiation was observed to be equal on both culture substrata. The differentiation resulted in the appearance of bone-forming osteoblasts, which fabricated mineralized matrices on these substrata.