Lateral rim variable angle locked plating versus tension band wiring of simple and complex patella fractures: a biomechanical study.

Introduction: Treatment of both simple and complex patella fractures is a challenging clinical problem. Although tension band wiring has been the standard of care, it can be associated with high complication rates. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical performance of recently developed lateral rim variable angle locking plates versus tension band wiring used for fixation of simple and complex patella fractures.

An Analysis of Past Surgical Infection Society Award Recipients.

Background: The Surgical Infection Society (SIS) through its foundation (FDTN) confers awards to individuals who demonstrate interest in researching infection in the surgical setting. We sought to characterize the research output from prior award recipients and determine the impact of these awards on the individual and the SIS.

Methods: The SIS website was queried for the names of all past award recipients.

Experience with 274 cardiac transplant recipients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder: a report from the Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry.

Background: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a life-threatening complication that occurs in a small but significant minority of solid organ transplant recipients. Published experiences with PTLD in cardiac transplant recipients are limited to relatively small single-center reports.

Methods: This report presents experience with 274 cases of PTLD in cardiac transplant recipients reported to the Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry (IPITTR).

Car radiator burns: a prevention issue.

Scald burns continue to be the major cause of injury to patients admitted to the burn center. Scald burns occurring from car radiator fluid comprise a significant subgroup. Although manufacturer warning labels have been placed on car radiators, these burns continue to occur.

The effect of an intermediate care unit on the demographics and outcomes of a surgical intensive care unit population.

Hypothesis: Many surgical intensive care units (SICUs) face bed shortages for acutely ill patients that may result from a large proportion of bed occupation by chronically ill patients. We hypothesized that the introduction of a new intermediate care or step-down unit (SDU) managed by surgically trained intensivists would allow the admission of more acutely ill patients while maintaining satisfactory outcomes.

Design: Prospective retrospective comparison of SICU patient populations before and after the introduction of an SDU.

Optimal modes and targets of gene therapy in transplantation.

Genetic modification strategies have the potential to improve outcome following cell/organ transplantation. A unique opportunity in transplantation is that gene therapies need not be restricted to in vivo approaches and that ex vivo genetic modification of cell and/or organs can be of value. Improvements in vector design, production, and delivery should enhance transfection efficiency and optimize gene expression.

Negative fluid displacement: an alternative method to assess patency of arterial line cannulation.

Optimal flow rate with minimal pressure gradient is the goal of arterial cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Misplacement of the arterial cannula or vascular pathology can lead to hemolysis or intimal damage with subsequent aortic dissection. The risk of dissection with aortic cannulation is low, 0.

Diagnosis and treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a major side effect secondary to the administration of heparin. This syndrome is serious and potentially life threatening. This response is the result of antibodies formed against the platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complex.

Current medical, rehabilitation, and surgical management of vertebral compression fractures.

Approximately 25% of women over the age of 50 in the United States will suffer one or more vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) related to osteoporosis. VCFs are the most common of all osteoporotic fractures, with an incidence of approximately 700,000 annually. Such a fracture may cause significant pain, disability, and loss of general health and mobility and may lead to a progressive decline in quality of life.

Topical therapy with tretinoin and ammonium lactate for acanthosis nigricans associated with obesity.

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a cutaneous marker of various underlying systemic conditions. To date, no satisfactory topical therapy for this cutaneous disorder has been described. The following is a report of the successful use of a combination of 12% ammonium lactate cream and 0.

Trichilemmal carcinoma in an African American.

Background: Trichilemmal carcinoma is an uncommon cutaneous neoplasm found primarily on the sun-exposed skin of the elderly.

Objective: To report a case of trichilemmal carcinoma presenting as a forehead nodule in an African American patient.

Methods: Case report and review of the literature.

The wisdom of hormone-replacement therapy in survivors of ovarian and endometrial cancer.

This article reviews the relationship between estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the development of endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers. The wisdom of HRT in survivors of ovarian and endometrial cancers is reviewed by critically analyzing recent data. Because of methodological limitations in the reported studies, there are no definite data to support the safety of ERT and HRT in survivors of ovarian or endometrial cancer.

Enteroclysis: a multidisciplinary approach.

We developed a method for passing the enteroclysis catheter at endoscopy in patients requiring upper endoscopy and enteroclysis. This method reduced patient discomfort, the time needed for fluoroscopic tube placement, and overall radiation doses. We conclude that endoscopy and enteroclysis performed together is practical in these patients.

Caspofungin acetate: an antifungal agent.

The pharmacology, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and adverse effects of caspofungin acetate are reviewed. Caspofungin acetate is an echinocandin with fungicidal activity against a wide range of pathogens, including Candida spp., Aspergillus spp.

Spontaneous interpolated atrial premature complex detected by 12-lead ambulatory monitoring.

Spontaneous occurrence of an interpolated atrial premature complex, an unusual finding outside of the experimental electrophysiology laboratory, was detected and confirmed by evaluation of P-wave morphology in a patient who underwent 12-lead ambulatory electrocardiography.

QT dispersion, T-wave projection, and heterogeneity of repolarization in patients with coronary artery disease.

The clinically useful prognostic value of precordial QT dispersion in patients with heart disease is generally attributed to its measurement of regional heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization. However, when repolarization is abnormal, differences in measured QT intervals might result simply from variation in projection of the T-wave loop. To provide insight into the mechanism of QT dispersion, we used an analog device to transform conventional 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) of 78 patients to derived 12-lead ECGs based on the heart vector.

Gait variables of patients after lower extremity burn injuries.

Functional ambulation is an expected outcome of physical therapy after burn injuries on the lower extremities. The purpose of this study was to document temporal and spatial gait parameters of adult patients with the use of the GAITRite system (CIR Systems Inc, Clifton, NJ) after the patients were burned on their lower extremities and to compare these results with previous data reported for normal subjects. Twenty-five adults with lower extremity burns (19 men and 6 women; mean age, 35.

Childhood asthma: causes, epidemiological factors and complications.

Asthma is common in children and its prevalence in this age group is increasing. While the reasons for this reported increase, and indeed the true magnitude of the increase, remain unclear, there can be no doubt that asthma is now a major health problem in children worldwide. Fortunately, our knowledge of the pathophysiology of asthma is also increasing.