Three-dimensional culture of canine articular chondrocytes on multiple transplantable substrates.

Objective: To determine the effects of transplantable substrates on canine chondrocytes grown in three-dimensional culture.

Animals: 3 canine cadavers.

Procedure: Articular cartilage harvested from canine cadavers was used to obtain chondrocytes for primary culture.

Detection of clenbuterol in bovine retinal tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A method for the detection of the beta-agonist drug clenbuterol in bovine retinal tissue has been developed. The extraction procedure involves sonication and centrifugation, followed by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to the supernatant. The pH of the supernatant is then brought to 12.

An audit of 267 consecutively excised mammographically detected breast lesions 1989-1993.

Pathology reports and slides were reviewed from 267 mammographically detected impalpable breast lesions, excised after hookwire localisation. There were 182 benign and 85 malignant lesions (benign to malignant ratio of 2.1:1).

Surgical conditions of the cervical spine.

This article reviews the four most common surgical conditions of the cervical spinal cord other than vertebral fractures including atlantoaxial instability, cervical disc disease, caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, and spinal cord tumors. Each disease is reviewed by signalment, history, neurological examination, differential diagnosis, pertinent diagnostic testing, treatment, postoperative care, and prognosis.

Current techniques in total knee replacement: results of a national survey.

A postal questionnaire was sent to all Fellows of the British Orthopaedic Association to obtain a census of total knee replacement (TKR) preferences in the United Kingdom; 1162 questionnaires were sent and 721 replies received. There were 92 Fellows who had retired or filled in the forms incorrectly, and 32 no longer perform TKR. Thus, 597 responded correctly, giving a 62% response rate.

The U.S. Army HIV testing program: the first decade.

In response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, the U.S. military established comprehensive policies to protect individual and public health and to assure military readiness.

Modified distraction-stabilization technique using an interbody polymethyl methacrylate plug in dogs with caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy.

A modified technique for distraction-stabilization that used an interbody polymethyl methacrylate plug was performed in 22 dogs with confirmed caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy. Myelographically, all compressive lesions were dynamic and predominantly located ventral to the spinal cord. Nineteen of 21 (90%) dogs for which success/failure could be determined had a successful outcome, and 11 of 22 (50%) dogs attained normal neurologic status.

Pleural-based mesothelioma in immune competent rats: a model to study adenoviral gene transfer.

Background: Despite multimodality approaches, pleural-based malignant mesothelioma remains a disease with a very poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic strategies such as gene therapy clearly are needed to improve the survival of patients with this neoplasm. To aid in the evaluation of new treatment strategies, animal models that closely mimic human disease are required.

Pathology of canine bladder and urethral cancer and correlation with tumour progression and survival.

Biopsy and necropsy specimens, comprising 107 primary carcinomas and three mesenchymal tumours, were reviewed from 110 dogs with cancer of the bladder, urethra, or both. Histological classifications developed for the assessment of human bladder cancer were found to be readily applicable to the dog. These classifications are based on histological features, including the pattern of growth, the cell type, the grade of transitional tumour and the depth of invasion of the bladder wall.

Use of general practitioner beds in Leicestershire community hospitals.

Background: The shift in care from secondary to primary services is likely to place greater demands on community hospitals. Before changes in the provision of community hospitals can occur, baseline data are needed, outlining their current use.

Aim: A study was undertaken to obtain baseline data describing the use of general practitioner beds in Leicestershire community hospitals.

Articular fractures of the distal portion of the humerus in Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs: six cases (1988-1992).

Medical records of 6 Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs with articular fractures of the distal portion of the humerus were reviewed. Evaluation of the medical records did not reveal a sex predilection. All fractures were associated with minor traumatic episodes in young pigs.

Effects of three intramedullary pinning techniques on proximal pin location and articular damage in the canine tibia.

The effects of three different techniques of intramedullary (IM) pin placement on pin location and incidence of stifle joint injury were evaluated using 70 cadaver canine tibiae after mid-disphyseal osteotomy. In 50 tibiae, pins were placed retrograde in either a nondirected (group A) or a craniomedially directed fashion (group B) with 25 tibiae in each group. Pins were driven normograde (group N) in 20 tibiae.

Effect of gamma carboxylation on prothrombinase inhibitory activity of catalytically inactive factor XA.

Recombinant catalytically inactive factor Xa (factor rXai) is capable of assembly into inactive prothrombinase complexes, thus serving as a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 0.3nM) of active factor Xa. In order to study the role of gamma carboxylation in prothrombinase complex assembly, we have prepared differentially gamma carboxylated factor rXai and have measured the activities of these proteins in prothrombinase complex inhibition and in extension of plasma clotting.

Teaching student-centred educational approaches to general practice teachers.

The people responsible for undergraduate medical education are being urged to devise curricula which are more learner centred and community oriented. This has huge implications for teacher training. A project is reported aimed at helping general practice teachers develop learner-centred educational approaches through one-day workshops, themselves arranged on learner-centred lines.

Reliability of measurements of static weight distribution of manual wheelchairs.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of measurements of weight distribution among the wheels of wheelchairs using a commercial balance testing system. Reliable data may be useful in the wheelchair evaluation and adjustment process.

Subjects: Three male full-time manual wheelchair users aged 30, 26, and 27 years with cervical spinal cord injuries 7.

Deformation of metal brackets: a comparative study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of material and design on the force and stress required to permanently deform metal brackets. Fourteen types of metal brackets were categorized according to raw material composition, slot torque degree, and wing type. Five types of raw materials, three types of slot torque degree, and four types of wing design were tested using an archwire torque test developed by Flores.

A comparison of nonthreaded, enhanced threaded, and Ellis fixation pins used in type I external skeletal fixators in dogs.

Three different pin types (Ellis, enhanced threaded, and nonthreaded) were used in type 1 external skeletal fixation after transverse osteotomy of the radius and ulna in 12 skeletally mature dogs. Dogs were placed into three groups of four dogs based on the pin type used. Axial extraction forces were determined for each of the pin types after 8 weeks of weight bearing (chronic study).

Effect of sodium acid pyrophosphate on ranitidine bioavailability and gastrointestinal transit time.

During development of a ranitidine effervescent oral solution dosage form, a marked decrease was observed in the extent of ranitidine absorption relative to the conventional oral tablet. Two studies were conducted in healthy volunteers to confirm the involvement of an excipient, SAPP (sodium acid pyrophosphate), and the mechanism of interaction, altered gastrointestinal transit. The first study (n = 12) involved single-dose crossover comparisons of (A) 150 mg ranitidine with 1132 mg SAPP versus (B) 150 mg ranitidine and (C) 150 mg ranitidine with all the effervescent tablet excipients except SAPP versus (D) a 150-mg ranitidine effervescent tablet, all administered as oral solutions.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma developing in burn scar of the ear.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma. The tumours usually present as a painless enlarging mass deep to the subcutaneous tissue most often in the thigh. Wide excision is the recommended treatment, as the incidence of recurrence is high in patients with marginal excision.

Mechanism of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) AA, AB, and BB binding to alpha and beta PDGF receptor.

The biological effects of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) are mediated by cell surface alpha and beta PDGF receptors, which, as a result of ligand binding, undergo dimerization in a manner consistent with PDGF being bivalent. In order to directly demonstrate PDGF bivalency and to define the binding of PDGF AB to isolated beta receptor, we developed solid-phase binding assays using purified recombinant extracellular domain of human PDGF receptors. PDGF AA, AB, and BB were prepared from the monomeric chains expressed in Escherichia coli, and each was purified to homogeneity; PDGF AB contained < 0.

Epidemiology of injuries associated with physical training among young men in the army.

It is widely acknowledged that musculoskeletal injuries occur as a result of vigorous physical activity and exercise, but little quantitative documentation exists on the incidence of or risk factors for these injuries. This study was conducted to assess the incidence, types, and risk factors for training-related injuries among young men undergoing Army infantry basic training. Prior to training we evaluated 303 men (median age 19 yr), utilizing questionnaires and measurements of physical fitness.

A novel monoclonal antibody dependent on domain 5 of the platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor inhibits ligand binding and receptor activation.

Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) induces activation of the protein tyrosine kinase domain of the PDGF receptor, resulting in receptor dimerization and the initiation of mitogenesis in responsive cells. In order to identify domains of the receptor involved in these processes, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the extracellular region of the human PDGF receptor was developed and screened to identify which of these specifically block PDGF binding. One of these, MAb 2A1E2, binds PDGF beta receptor with high affinity and blocks PDGF BB binding in a whole cell binding assay with an IC 50 of 0.