Mechanisms underpinning protection against eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage by ischemic preconditioning.

Eccentric exercise training is effective for increasing muscle mass and strength, and improving insulin sensitivity and blood lipid profiles. However, potential muscle damage symptoms such as prolonged loss of muscle function and delayed onset of muscle soreness may restrict the use of eccentric exercise, especially in clinical populations. Therefore, strategies to reduce eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) are necessary, and an extensive number of scientific studies have tried to identify potential intervention modalities to perform eccentric exercises without adverse effects.

The extracellular isoform of superoxide dismutase has a significant impact on cardiovascular ischaemia and reperfusion injury during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objectives: Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) provokes ischaemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). Superoxide is a main mediator of IRI and is detoxified by superoxide dismutases (SODs). Extracellular SOD (SOD3) is the prevailing isoform in the cardiovascular system.

Modulation of Immunologic Response by Preventive Everolimus Application in a Rat CPB Model.

Everolimus (EVL) is widely used in solid organ transplantation. It is known to have antiproliferative and immunosuppressive abilities via inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Preventive EVL administration may lower inflammation induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and reduce systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

Readmission to the intensive care unit in times of minimally invasive cardiac surgery: does size matter?

Objectives: It is well known that patients who undergo readmission to an intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery face an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The present study sought to evaluate whether less invasive procedures might be associated with a reduction of this economically as well as individually important problem. The role of the quantity of ICU and intermediate care (IMC) beds was investigated as well.

BRI2-BRICHOS is increased in human amyloid plaques in early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

BRI2 protein binds amyloid precursor protein to halt amyloid-β production and inhibits amyloid-β aggregation via its BRICHOS-domain suggesting a link between BRI2 and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigate the possible involvement of BRI2 in human AD pathogenesis. BRI2 containing BRICHOS-domain was increased up to 3-fold in AD hippocampus (p = 0.

A novel customizable modular bioreactor system for whole-heart cultivation under controlled 3D biomechanical stimulation.

In the last decade, cardiovascular tissue engineering has made great progress developing new strategies for regenerative medicine applications. However, while tissue engineered heart valves are already entering the clinical routine, tissue engineered myocardial substitutes are still restrained to experimental approaches. In contrast to the heart valves, tissue engineered myocardium cannot be repopulated in vivo because of its biological complexity, requiring elaborate cultivation conditions ex vivo.

Osteoblastic potency of bone marrow cells cultivated on functionalized biometals with cyclic RGD-peptide.

The fixation of cementless endoprostheses requires excellent fixation at the bone implant interface. Although the surface structures of these implants are designed to promote osteoblastic differentiation, poor bone quality may prevent or delay osseointegration. There is evidence that RGD peptides known as recognition motifs for various integrins, promote cellular adhesion, influence cellular proliferation, and differentiation of local cells.

Development of a growing rat model for the in vivo assessment of engineered aortic conduits.

Background: Numerous limitations of aortic valve grafts currently used in pediatric patients cause the need for alternative prostheses. For the purpose of in vivo evaluation of novel engineered aortic conduit grafts, we aimed at downsizing a previously described model to create a growing rodent model.

Materials And Methods: U-shaped aortic conduits were sutured to the infrarenal aorta of young Wistar rats (70-80 g, n = 10) in an end-to-side manner.

Chronic dura erosion and intradural lumbar disc herniation: CT and MR imaging and intraoperative photographs of a transdural sequestrectomy.

Introduction: A 47-year-old male with a history of recurrent low-back pain presented with acute left radiculopathy.

Material And Methods: The CT and MR scans showed a severe osteochondrosis of the L4/5 segment, a broad protrusion of the disc annulus and extrusion of nucleus material into the spinal canal on the left side.

Results: The caudally dislocated sequester pieces were visualised intradurally and the intraoperative finding confirmed this rare pathology.

Pulsatile extracorporeal circulation during on-pump cardiac surgery enhances aortic wall shear stress.

Controversy on superiority of pulsatile versus non-pulsatile extracorporeal circulation in cardiac surgery still continues. Stroke as one of the major adverse events during cardiopulmonary bypass is, in the majority of cases, caused by mobilization of aortic arteriosclerotic plaques that is inducible by pathologically elevated wall shear stress values. The present study employs computational fluid dynamics to evaluate the aortic blood flow and wall shear stress profiles under the influence of antegrade or retrograde perfusion with pulsatile versus non-pulsatile extracorporeal circulation.

Oxidative stress in secondary osteoarthritis: from cartilage destruction to clinical presentation?

Due to an increasing life expectance, osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases. Although strong efforts have been made to regenerate degenerated joint cartilage, OA is a progressive and irreversible disease up to date. Among other factors the dysbalance between free radical burden and cellular scavenging mechanisms defined as oxidative stress is a relevant part of OA pathogenesis.

Physiology and pathophysiology of nitrosative and oxidative stress in osteoarthritic joint destruction.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases, with increasing importance due to increased life expectancy. On a cellular level, the pathophysiology of joint function impairment and ultimate destruction associated with OA remains poorly understood. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules involved in both normal intracellular signal transduction and degenerative cellular processes.

Surgical hip dislocation in symptomatic cam femoroacetabular impingement: what matters in early good results?

In order to assess outcome and possible predictors of early good results, a prospective study on 22 patients who were treated with save surgical hip dislocation for symptomatic isolated cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) was performed. After a follow-up of 6 and 12 months, standard clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded. A statistically significant improvement of the clinical status according to the Harris hip score could be assessed at six months (p-value = 0.

Convergence of two independent mental disease genes on the protein level: recruitment of dysbindin to cell-invasive disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 aggresomes.

Background: Both disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) and dysbindin have been identified as schizophrenia candidate genes in independent genetic linkage studies. The proteins have been assigned distinct subcellular locations and functions. We investigated whether both proteins converge into a common pathway specific for schizophrenia or mental diseases.

Migration pattern of cementless press fit cups in the presence of stabilizing screws in total hip arthroplasty.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial acetabular implant stability and late acetabular implant migration in press fit cups combined with screw fixation of the acetabular component in order to answer the question whether screws are necessary for the fixation of the acetabular component in cementless primary total hip arthroplasty. One hundred and seven hips were available for follow-up after primary THA using a cementless, porous-coated acetabular component. A total of 631 standardized radiographs were analyzed digitally by the "single-film-x-ray-analysis" method (EBRA).

Open chest management after cardiac operations: outcome and timing of delayed sternal closure.

Objective: Open chest management (OCM) after cardiac surgery is a therapeutic option in the treatment of the severely impaired heart. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the incidence, survival and predictors of poor outcome for OCM with delayed sternal closure (DSC), particularly with regard to parameters to determine the time of closure.

Methods: Prolonged open chest was used in 212 of 6041 cardiac surgery patients between 2004 and 2009 (3.

Principles of a new treatment algorithm in multiple sclerosis.

We are entering a new era in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The first oral treatment (fingolimod) has now gained US FDA approval, addressing an unmet need for patients with MS who wish to avoid parenteral administration. A second agent (cladribine) is currently being considered for approval.

Delayed sternal closure (DSC) after cardiac surgery: outcome and prognostic markers.

Background: Maintenance of an open sternotomy (OS) after a complicated cardiac operation is an adjunct in the treatment of the severely impaired heart. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence, survival, and predictors of poor outcome for open chest management (OCM) with delayed sternal closure (DSC) at our department.

Methods: Prolonged open chest (OC) was used in 179 of 5122 cardiac surgery patients between 2004 and 2008 (3.

Bridging the gap: bone marrow aspiration concentrate reduces autologous bone grafting in osseous defects.

Although autologous bone grafting represents an effective tool to induce osteogenic regeneration in local bone defects or pseudarthroses, it is associated with significant donor site morbidity and limited by the amount available for grafting. We investigate the potency of bone marrow aspiration concentrate (BMAC) to augment bone grafting and support bone healing. The functional and radiographic outcome of 39 patients with volumetric bone deficiencies treated with BMAC are presented and evaluated in a prospective clinical trial.

Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC), after slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in hip joint cartilage in mature hips with a history of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) using delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC).

Methods: 28 young-adult subjects (32 hips) with a mean age of 23.8 ± 4.

Intralesional hemorrhage and thrombosis without rupture in a pure spinal epidural cavernous angioma: a rare cause of acute lumbal radiculopathy.

Pure spinal epidural cavernous angiomas are extremely rare lesions, and their normal shape is that of a fusiform mass in the dorsal aspects of the spinal canal. We report a case of a lumbo-sacral epidural cavernous vascular malformation presenting with acute onset of right-sided S1 radiculopathy. Clinical aspects, imaging, intraoperative findings, and histology are demonstrated.

Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage in the long-term follow-up after Perthes disease.

Background: Aim of this study was to assess the glycosaminoglycan content in hip joint cartilage in mature hips with a history of Legg-Calvé-Perthes (LCPD) disease using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC).

Methods: Thirty one hips in 27 adults (mean age: 30.5+/-10.

Clinical presentation of young adults after Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

The purpose of the present study was to review the clinical and radiological outcome of young adult individuals who had Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) during child age. After a mean follow-up of 18.7 +/- 6.

Initial increased wear debris of XLPE-Al₂O₃ bearing in total hip arthroplasties.

Introduction: Aseptic implant loosening caused by wear debris is a common reason for early implant failure after total hip replacement (THR).

Materials And Methods: We prospectively studied 96 patients (110 hips), 48 men and 48 women (mean age 46.8 years, mean body mass index 26.

Intraoperative CD133+ cell transplantation during coronary artery bypass grafting in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

If traditional treatment of coronary artery disease has failed, intramyocardial transplantation of CD133+ stem cells with the potential to improve myocardial function is an alternative approach to treating ischemic cardiomyopathy. The INSTEM trial aims at evaluating safety and feasibility of isolation and subsequent intramyocardial transplantation of CD133+ cells in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients suffering from severe ischemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction ≫15% and ≪35%) are enrolled in this trial.