Haftfestigkeit eines mit β-Trikalziumphosphat angereichertem Knochenadhäsivs

Background: This investigation describes experimental tests of the biomechanical features of a new resorbable bone adhesive based on methacrylate-terminated oligolactides enhanced with osteoconductive β-tricalcium phosphate. Material and Methods: 51 New Zealand white rabbits were randomised to an adhesive group (n = 29) and a control group (n = 22). An extra-articular bone cylinder was taken from the proximal tibia, two stripes of adhesive were applied and the cylinders were replanted. After 10 and 21 days, 3 and 12 months tibial specimens were harvested and the cylinder pull-out test was performed with a servo-hydraulic machine. Additionally the pull-out force was evaluated with the bone-equivalent Ebazell® after 5, 10 and 360 minutes in 14 specimens each. Results: Average pull-out forces in the adhesive group were 28 N after 10 days (control: 57 N), 155 N after 21 days (216 N), 184 N after 3 months (197 N) and 205 N after 12 months (185 N). Investigations with Ebazell® showed almost identical pull-out forces after 5 min, 15 min and 360 min. Adhesive forces were as high as 125 N/cm2 of adhesive surface and more than 1200 N/g of adhesive mass. Conclusions: The adhesive investigated here has a very good primary adhesive power, compared to the literature data, achieved after only 5 minutes. Even in moist surroundings the adhesive capacity remains sufficient. The adhesive has to prove its resorptive properties in further investigations and in first line its medium-term and long-lasting biocompatibility. Furthermore, biomechanical features will have to be compared to those of conventional fixation techniques.

CT screening and follow-up of lung nodules: effects of tube current-time setting and nodule size and density on detectability and of tube current-time setting on apparent size

The purpose of the study was to quantify and compare the effect of CT dose and of size and density of nodules on the detectability of lung nodules and to quantify the influence of CT dose on the size of the nodules.

[Tremorgenic syndrome in a cattle herd after feeding silage contaminated with A. clavatus];;Tremorgenes Syndrom in einem Rinderbestand nach Verfütterung einer mit A. clavatus befallenen Silage

The clinical signs, pathological and laboratory findings of cattle suffering from a tremorgenic syndrome are described. Animals on a farm with a total of 22 cows, 18 heifers and 9 calves were fed mouldy grass and spent malt-grain silage. Five heifers were affected with muscular tremor, hyperexcitability and hypersensitivity. They were ataxic or in sternal recumbency, while their appetite remained normal. Haematology and blood chemistry in two heifers as well as cerebrospinal fluid from one sick animal were unremarkable. The pathological examination of one animal brought no macroscopic changes to light. Histological examination, however, revealed the degeneration of motor neurones in the midbrain, brain stem and spinal cord. Analysis of a silage sample provided evidence of the presence of Aspergillus clavatus, a mould capable of producing neurotoxic tremorgenic mycotoxins. Epidemiology, clinical findings, pathology and microbiological examination suggest that the five cattle were suffering from neuromycotoxicosis.

Bluetongue disease: impact of the 2008 vaccination on fertility in supervised dairy herds

In June 2008 the compulsary nationwide vaccination against BTV-8 (Bluetongue virus serotype 8) was started. After a short time, several owners complained about undesirable effects of the vaccination on fertility and milk quality. Data from 47 dairy farms, regularly supervised by herd health practitioners, were analysed in order to clarify a possible connection between vaccination and fertility. Both vaccinations given each cow for basic immunization were evaluated according to their effects on conception rate and pregnancy. In model calculations the first vaccination had no significant effect on the first service conception rate (FCR), the all service conception rate (ACR) and on the abortion rate. The second vaccination led to a significantly reduced FCR when the cow was inseminated within 20 days of being vaccinated and to a significantly worse ACR when inseminated 10 days before or after vaccination. However, these individually established reductions of the insemination rate had only little influence on overall data.

Impact of image quality, radiologists, lung segments, and Gunnar eyewear on detectability of lung nodules in chest CT

BackgroundDespite the increasingly higher spatial and contrast resolution of CT, nodular lesions are prone to be missed on chest CT. Tinted lenses increase visual acuity and contrast sensitivity by filtering short wavelength light of solar and artificial origin.PurposeTo test the impact of Gunnar eyewear, image quality (standard versus low dose CT) and nodule location on detectability of lung nodules in CT and to compare their individual influence.Material and MethodsA pre-existing database of CT images of patients with lung nodules >5 mm, scanned with standard does image quality (150 ref mAs/120 kVp) and lower dose/quality (40 ref mAs/120 kVp), was used. Five radiologists read 60 chest CTs twice: once with Gunnar glasses and once without glasses with a 1 month break between. At both read-outs the cases were shown at lower dose or standard dose level to quantify the influence of both variables (eyewear vs. image quality) on nodule sensitivity.ResultsThe sensitivity of CT for lung nodules increased significantly using Gunnar eyewear for two readers and insignificantly for two other readers. Over all, the mean sensitivity of all radiologist raised significantly from 50% to 53%, using the glasses (P value = 0.034). In contrast, sensitivity for lung nodules was not significantly affected by lowering the image quality from 150 to 40 ref mAs. The average sensitivity was 52% at low dose level, that was even 0.7% higher than at standard dose level (P value = 0.40). The strongest impact on sensitivity had the factors readers and nodule location (lung segments).ConclusionSensitivity for lung nodules was significantly enhanced by Gunnar eyewear (+3%), while lower image quality (40 ref mAs) had no impact on nodule sensitivity. Not using the glasses had a bigger impact on sensitivity than lowering the image quality.

Monitoring eines Hundes mit traumatischem Hämoabdomen durch serielle Messung von abdominalem und peripher venösem Hämatokrit

Objective: This case report describes the use of serial measurements of peripheral venous and abdominal fluid hematocrits as a guide to treatment in a dog with traumatic hemoabdomen. Material and methods: An 18-month-old, female mixed-breed dog was presented with traumatic hemoabdomen. The dog was treated with intravenous fluids, and concurrent measurements of venous and abdominal fluid hematocrits were performed. Results: The initial hematocrit values were 39% in venous blood and 42% in abdominal fluid. Following fluid therapy, the venous hematocrit decreased to 20%, whereas the abdominal hematocrit remained stable at 40%. Based on this finding severe ongoing intra-abdominal hemorrhage was ruled out, and the dog was treated conservatively. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Comparison of serial abdominal and venous hematocrits may be useful in assessing the need for surgical management in patients with traumatic hemoabdomen.

Cleavage of CXCR1 on neutrophils disables bacterial killing in cystic fibrosis lung disease

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) activates neutrophils via the chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. However, the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis are frequently colonized by bacterial pathogens, despite the presence of large numbers of neutrophils and IL-8. Here we show that IL-8 promotes bacterial killing by neutrophils through CXCR1 but not CXCR2. Unopposed proteolytic activity in the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis cleaved CXCR1 on neutrophils and disabled their bacterial-killing capacity. These effects were protease concentration-dependent and also occurred to a lesser extent in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Receptor cleavage induced the release of glycosylated CXCR1 fragments that were capable of stimulating IL-8 production in bronchial epithelial cells via Toll-like receptor 2. In vivo inhibition of proteases by inhalation of alpha1-antitrypsin restored CXCR1 expression and improved bacterial killing in individuals with cystic fibrosis. The cleavage of CXCR1, the functional consequences of its cleavage, and the identification of soluble CXCR1 fragments that behave as bioactive components represent a new pathophysiologic mechanism in cystic fibrosis and other chronic lung diseases.

Floppy Baby mit makrozytärer Anämie und veganischer Mutter

We report the case of a 7 month-old girl that presented with acute anemia, generalized muscular hypotonia and failure to thrive. Laboratory evaluation revealed cobalamin deficiency, due to a vegan diet of the mother. The clinical triad of an acquired floppy baby syndrome with megaloblastic anemia and failure to thrive is pathognomic for infantile cobalamin deficiency. Neurological abnormalities are often irreversible and may be associated with delayed myelinization in the MRI. A normal cobalamin level in maternal serum and absence of anemia do not exclude subclinical deficiency. If cobalamin deficiency is suspected, e.g. in pregnant women on vegan diet, urinary methylmalonic acid excretion and plasma homocysteine levels should be determined and cobalamin substitution should be started at an early stage to avoid potentially irreversible damage of the fetus.

Das zyanotische Kind mit kardialer Erkrankung im Notfalldienst

m Gegensatz zu Erwachsenen mit vorwiegend pulmonalen Erkrankungen wie der chronisch obstruktiven Lungenerkrankung, entsteht bei Kindern eine zentrale Zyanose meist durch angeborene Herzfehler. Zyanotische Herzfehler kommen mit einer Häufigkeit von ca. 13 pro 10.000 Lebendgeburten vor. Dadurch, dass heutzutage auch komplexe Herzfehler erfolgreich palliiert werden, steigt die Wahrscheinlichkeit stetig an, im Rettungsdienst Kindern mit einer zentralen Zyanose zu begegnen. Ursachen für das untersättigte Blut in den großen Arterien können eine Minderperfusion der Lungen oder eine vermehrte Durchmischung von arteriellen mit venösem Blut über einen Rechts-Links-Shunt sein. Der beste Indikator einer zentralen Zyanose ist die Zunge, da sie reichlich vaskularisiert und frei von Pigmenten ist. Je nach Altersklasse ist eher eine primäre Volumentherapie oder eine großzügige Sauerstoffapplikation essenziell, oder aber auch keine Notfalltherapie notwendig. Nach der präklinischen Versorgung ist eine stationäre Einweisung unabdingbar, bevorzugt in ein Zentrum mit der Option der kinderintensivmedizinischen oder kinderkardiologischen Betreuung.

TLR expression on neutrophils at the pulmonary site of infection: TLR1/TLR2-mediated up-regulation of TLR5 expression in cystic fibrosis lung disease

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a sustained accumulation of neutrophils. In this study, we analyzed 1) the expression of MyD88-dependent TLRs on circulating and airway neutrophils in P. aeruginosa-infected CF patients, P. aeruginosa-infected non-CF bronchiectasis patients, and noninfected healthy control subjects and 2) studied the regulation of TLR expression and functionality on neutrophils in vitro. TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, and TLR9 expression was increased on airway neutrophils compared with circulating neutrophils in CF and bronchiectasis patients. On airway neutrophils, TLR5 was the only TLR that was significantly higher expressed in CF patients compared with bronchiectasis patients and healthy controls. Studies using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that TLR5 was stored intracellularly in neutrophils and was mobilized to the cell surface in a protein synthesis-independent manner through protein kinase C activation or after stimulation with TLR ligands and cytokines characteristic of the CF airway microenvironment. The most potent stimulator of TLR5 expression was the bacterial lipoprotein Pam(3)CSK(4). Ab-blocking experiments revealed that the effect of Pam(3)CSK(4) was mediated through cooperation of TLR1 and TLR2 signaling. TLR5 activation enhanced the phagocytic capacity and the respiratory burst activity of neutrophils, which was mediated, at least partially, via a stimulation of IL-8 production and CXCR1 signaling. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism of TLR regulation in neutrophils and suggests a critical role for TLR5 in neutrophil-P. aeruginosa interactions in CF lung disease.

Datenanalyse. Das Null-Ritual und der Umgang mit Effekten in der Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie

Ziel dieses Beitrages ist die Analyse der Anwendung empirischer Tests in der deutschsprachigen Sportpsychologie. Die Ergebnisse vergleichbarer Analysen, bspw. in der Psychologie, zeigen, dass zwischen Anforderungen aus Testkonzepten und empirischer Realität Unterschiede existieren, die bislang für die Sportpsychologie nicht beschrieben und bewertet worden sind. Die Jahrgänge 1994–2007 der Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie (früher psychologie und sport) wurden danach untersucht, ob Forschungsfragen formuliert, welche Stichprobenart gewählt, welches Testkonzept verwendet, welches Signifikanzniveau benutzt und ob statistische Probleme diskutiert wurden. 83 Artikel wurden von zwei unabhängigen Bewertern nach diesen Aspekten kategorisiert. Als Ergebnis ist festzuhalten, dass in der sportpsychologischen Forschung überwiegend eine Mischung aus Fishers Signifikanztesten sowie Neyman-Pearsons-Hypothesentesten zur Anwendung kommt,das sogenannte „Hybrid-Modell” oder „Null-Ritual”. Die Beschreibung der Teststärke ist kaum zu beobachten. Eine zeitliche Analyse der Beiträge zeigt, dass vor allem die Benutzung von Effektgrößen in den letzten Jahren zugenommen hat. Abschließend werden Ansätze zur Verbesserung und der Vereinheitlichung der Anwendung empirischer Tests vorgeschlagen und diskutiert.