Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery induces systemic release of proinflammatory cytokines causing unspecific inflammatory reactions. This study deals with the development of a sensitive technique for detecting changes at the mRNA level in monocytes of patients undergoing CPB surgery, by using real-time PCR. Blood samples from patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were obtained at six different time points. RNA was extracted from isolated monocytes and cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcriptase. CPB surgery induced gene expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, followed by a decrease below the preoperative expression values 6 h post CPB. High significant increases in gene expression for IL-8 at the end of surgery (p = 0.001) were detected. Real-time PCR is a powerful tool for getting simultaneously numerous sensitive, accurate, and reliable results from small amounts of biological material. This method avoids time-consuming and hazardous post-PCR manipulations and decreases the potential risk of PCR contamination.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fast wavelength scanning reflectance spectrophotometer for noninvasive determination of hemoglobin oxygenation in human skin.

Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (HbSO2) in skin vessels may be determined with photometric methods. However, the optical complexity of the skin makes quantitative measurements difficult. A possible approach is the analysis of reflectance spectra using the two-flux theory of Kubelka and Munk. The final equation of this theory which describes the transformation between absorbed and reflected light has been approximated by a hyperbola. Based on this approximation we evaluated skin spectra obtained from the forearm of 23 healthy subjects with a fast scanning reflection photometer (Oxyscan) applying visible light (535-620 nm). The hyperbola was used in a multicomponent analysis in which the measured spectrum is recalculated using reference spectra of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin (gaussian least-square method). A crucial requirement for the evaluation is the subtraction of the individual skin spectrum, obtained by clearing a spot of skin of hemoglobin exerting external pressure. At rest HbSO2 was in the range between 42 and 89% (mean +/- SD: 72.9 +/- 12.2%). Pharmacological and thermal generation of hyperemia combined with respiration of pure oxygen raised the values to 86-100% (97.9 +/- 4.6%). This was in good agreement with capillary ex vivo analysis yielding 96-100% (98.7 +/- 0.4%). Under arterial occlusion HbSO2 fell below 30% (14.5 +/- 7.8%). Our method allows rapid determinations of absolute HbSO2 values in the skin. The evaluation error is estimated to be between 5% for oxygenated and 10% for deoxygenated values.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term results after placement of dental implants: longitudinal study of 1,964 implants over 16 years.

In a retrospective study, Kaplan-Meier implant survival analyses were conducted on 883 patients with 1,964 implants of various systems placed, followed up, documented, and statistically evaluated at an oral surgery and dentistry practice between January 1981 and January 1997. The goal of this study was to evaluate the success of osseointegrated implants of the Brånemark, Frialit-1 (Tübinger Implant), Frialit-2, and IMZ systems and Linkow blade implants. For all systems, mandibular implants were generally more successful than maxillary implants. The preprosthetic loss rate was 1.9%, and 4.3% of implants were lost after prosthetic treatment. The lowest loss rates were seen with implants in intermediate and distal extension spaces and with single-tooth replacements using IMZ, Frialit-2, and Brånemark implants. In edentulous arches, implants of the IMZ and Brånemark systems had the lowest failure rates.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Results of follow-up of arthroscopic meniscus operations 1983-1987].

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Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Spontaneous rupture of the stomach: a rare complication of Nissen's fundoplication.

Spontaneous rupture of the stomach may occur in cases of abnormal distension and reduced emptying capacity, either by normal peristalsis or by vomiting, of the stomach. We present a case of spontaneous rupture of the stomach in which the dilatation was due to apple fermentation and gas formation in the stomach. Peristalsis was inadequate for stomach emptying due to impaction of apple skins in the duodenum. The inability to vomit was due to a Nissen fundoplication performed 18 months earlier.

Bezoars↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of four drug-resistant P388 sublines: resistance/sensitivity in vivo, resistance-and proliferation-markers, immunogenicity.

It was the aim of this study to compare drug-resistant sublines of the murine P388 in relation to resistance markers, the resistant phenotype and immunogenicity. Resistance to drugs either belonging to the MDR type (Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Mitoxantrone) or to the non-MDR type (Methotrexate) was generated in vivo in order to mimic the clinical situation. All resistant sublines expressed the mdr1 gene and the p-glycoprotein determined on m-RNA level or immunohistochemically, while no expression was registered in the parent P388. The rhodamine 123 fluorescence as marker for the energy dependent drug efflux pump was decreased only in the MDR-sublines, while the parent P388 and the Methotrexate-resistant line retained 100% or 90% of the dye, respectively. This indicates that the rhodamine efflux is a more function-related marker for MDR than the mdr1 gene and the pgp. The in vivo characterization of the sublines as regards their sensitivity to cytostatics revealed a clear-cut cross-resistance to MDR drugs in the MDR-lines, while the Methotrexate resistant subline was only cross-resistant to Cytarabine. In each resistant subline collateral sensitivity to certain but different cytostatics was observed. Experiments to overcome resistance by concomitant treatment with the modulators Nifedipine, Verapamil, Cyclosporin A and Chloroquin led to only limited success. The sublines P388/Mitox, P388/Vinc and P388/MTX developed immunogenicity which was never registered in the original P388. Vaccination with lethally irradiated drug-resistant cells resulted in a substantial rejection of viable tumor cells of the same line. With the P388/Mitox and P388/Vinc also an over-cross immunization was possible. This generation of immunogenicity as a concomitant characteristic of resistance should be considered as therapeutic potential also in the treatment of clinical cancer.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗