Modified Transhumeral Amputation: A Case Report.

Case: A 7-year-old boy presented with osteosarcoma of the ulna that required a transhumeral amputation. The patient completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. To prevent bone overgrowth and improved prosthetic fitting, a modified amputation was performed with acute shortening and distal epiphysis preservation.

The outcome of early revision of malaligned pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.

Background: Supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHF) are the most common elbow fractures requiring surgical treatment in the pediatric age group. Most fractures are reduced and stabilised adequately. Yet, post-surgical malunion may occur.

United we stand not dividing: the syncytiotrophoblast and cell senescence.

The multinucleate syncytiotrophoblast of the human placenta is responsible for transport functions between maternal and fetal blood supplies and is a major site of protein synthesis and steroid production. It is formed by cell fusion of the underlying cytotrophoblast cells. The nuclei of the multinucleate syncytiotrophoblast are non-mitotic yet the mechanism of cell cycle arrest in the syncytiotrophoblast is not known.

The alpha-defensins stimulate proteoglycan-dependent catabolism of low-density lipoprotein by vascular cells: a new class of inflammatory apolipoprotein and a possible contributor to atherogenesis.

Inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. On the basis of previous reports that human atherosclerotic lesions contain alpha-defensins, a class of cationic proteins released by activated neutrophils, the study was designed to ask whether defensins modulate the binding and catabolism of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by human vascular cells. The results of the study demonstrated that defensin stimulated the binding of (125)I-LDL to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts approximately 5-fold in a dose-dependent and saturable manner.

Urokinase-derived peptides regulate vascular smooth muscle contraction in vitro and in vivo.

We examined the effect of urokinase (uPA) and its fragments on vascular smooth muscle cell contraction. Single-chain uPA inhibits phenylepherine (PE) -induced contraction of rat aortic rings, whereas two-chain uPA exerts the opposite effect. Two independent epitopes mediating these opposing activities were identified.

Novel interactions between urokinase and its receptor.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) binds to its receptor (uPAR) with a K(d) of about 1 nm. The catalytic activity of the complex is apparent at uPA concentrations close to K(d). Other functions of the complex, such as signal transduction, are apparent at much higher concentrations (35-60 nm).

Serum ferritin levels in preterm infants after multiple blood transfusions.

We have examined the effect on iron stores of blood transfusions given to premature neonates during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit as reflected by serum ferritin levels measured for 6 months after discharge. Premature infants who were transfused with more than 100 ml packed cells (group D; n = 11) had higher ferritin levels for a longer period than premature infants who were transfused with smaller volumes (group c; n = 9) or premature and mature infants who were not transfused at all (group B; n = 24 and group A; n = 21, respectively). At 4-5 months the serum ferritin levels in group D (489.