Acellular nerve graft enriched with mesenchymal stem cells in the transfer of the phrenic nerve to the musculocutaneous nerve in a C5-C6 brachial plexus avulsion in a rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Phrenic nerve transfer has been shown to achieve good nerve regeneration in brachial plexus avulsion. Acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) showed inferior results to autografts, which is why its use with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is currently being studied. The aim is to study the effect of BM-MSCs associated with ANAs in a rat model of phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve in a C5-C6 avulsion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 42 Wistar-Lewis rats underwent a C5-C6 lesion in the right forelimb by excising a 3 mm segment from both roots, followed by a phrenic nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve associated with the interposition of a three types of nerve graft (randomly distributed): control (autograft) group (n = 12), ANAs group (n = 12), and ANAs + BM-MSCs group (n = 18) After 12 weeks, amplitude and latency of the NAP and the compound motor action potential (CMAP) were measured. Biceps muscles were studied by histological analysis and nerve grafts by electron microscopy and fluorescence analysis. RESULTS: Statistically significant reductions were found in latency of the CMAP between groups control (2.48 ± 0.47 ms) and experimental (ANAs: 4.38 ± 0.78 ms, ANAs + BM-MSCs: 4.08 ± 0.85 ms) and increases in the amplitude of the CMAP between groups control (0.04388 ± 0.02 V) and ANAs + BM-MSCs (0.02275 ± 0.02 V), as well as in the thickness of the myelin sheath between groups control (0.81 ± 0.07 µm) and experimental (ANAs: 0.72 ± 0.08 µm, ANAs + BM-MSCs: 0.72 ± 0.07 µm) and in the area of the myelin sheath between groups control (13.09 ± 2.67 µm2 ) and ANAs (10.01 ± 2.97 µm2 ) (p < .05). No statistically significant differences have been found between groups ANAs and ANAs + BM-MSCs. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a model for the study of lesions of the upper trunk and validates the autologous graft as the gold standard.

Análisis de la utilización de un protocolo de profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía mamaria / Analysis of the use of a protocol of antibiotic prophylaxis in breast surgery

Introducción y Objetivos. El concepto de profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía tiene como objetivo la reducción de la incidencia de infección postquirúrgica, con mínima morbilidad para el paciente. Es habitual encontrar protocolos teóricos diseñados para optimizar, unificar, facilitar y estandarizar los procesos clínicos. Sin embargo cuando estos son llevados a la práctica, se cometen errores de ejecución que menguan su efectividad. En el presente trabajo valoramos de forma objetiva la aplicación del protocolo de profilaxis antibiótica durante la cirugía mamaria en el Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, España, así como los errores más frecuentes que se presentan durante la ejecución del proceso, con la idea de que nuestras conclusiones puedan ser también válidas para su aplicación en otros centros. Material y Método. Revisamos retrospectivamente el porcentaje de cumplimiento adecuado en la administración de la profilaxis antibiótica prequirúrgica en cirugía mamaria (tanto benigna como maligna), analizando 5 variables objetivas consideradas como estándares de calidad. Resultados. Recogimos de la base de datos hospitalaria todas las cirugías mamarias realizadas entre 2008 y 2012, obteniendo una muestra representativa de 45 casos/año que fue objeto de estudio mediante la cualificación de 5 variables de calidad: 1.- indicación de la profilaxis, 2.- elección adecuada del antibiótico, 3.- dosis y vía de administración, 4.- momento de administración de la primera dosis, y 5.- duración de la profilaxis. Quedó reflejado un porcentaje de correcta aplicación superior al 90% en todos los indicadores de calidad, excepto en el 4, momento de administración de la primera dosis antibiótica. Conclusiones. Detectamos que los errores más frecuentes en la administración de la profilaxis antibiótica en nuestro centro radican en que se realiza en un momento inadecuado, siendo el ideal entre 2 horas y 15 minutos antes del inicio de la cirugía, según el antibiótico que se utilice. Toda mejora en el circuito organizativo durante la administración de la profilaxis, redundará en una mejoría en la aplicación de la misma y por supuesto en su mayor eficacia (AU)

Background and Objectives. The concept of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery aims to reduce the incidence of postoperative infection, with minimal patient morbidity. It is common to find theoretical protocols designed to optimize, unify, facilitate and standarize clinical processes. However when they are put into practice, execution errors that diminish their effectiveness, are made. In this paper we value objectively the application of protocol antibiotic prophylaxis during breast surgery at the University Hospital of A Coruña, Spain, and the most frequent errors that occur during the execution of the process, with the idea that our findings may be also valid for application in other centers. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the percentage of adequate compliance in the administration of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in breast surgery (both benign and malignant), analyzing variables considering 5 objective quality standards. Results.All breast surgeries performed between 2008 and 2012 were collected from the hospital database, obtaining a representative sample of 45 cases / year that was studied through the qualification of 5 quality variables: 1. indication of prophylaxis, 2. appropriate choice of antibiotic, 3. dose and route of administration, 4. time of administration of the first dose, and 5. duration of prophylaxis. It was reflected a higher percentage of correct application to 90% in all quality indicators, except in 4, time of administration of the first antibiotic dose. Conclusions.We found that the most frequent errors in the administration of antibiotic prophylaxis in our center is that it is done at the wrong time, being the ideal between 2 hours and 15 minutes before the start of surgery, depending on the antibiotic used. Any improvement in the organizational circuit during the administration of prophylaxis, results in an improvement in its application and of course, in a better effective (AU)

Growth factor expression after lesion creation in the avascular zone of the meniscus: a quantitative PCR study in rabbits.

PURPOSE: To define the variations in the expression of 5 growth factor genes in meniscal tissue after a lesion is created in the avascular zone of the medial meniscus of the rabbit. METHODS: A longitudinal lesion was created in the avascular zone of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus in 42 rabbits. Six animals were killed at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 120 days after lesion creation. Meniscal tissue from the avascular and vascular zones was harvested. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to evaluate the expression levels of 5 different growth factors: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), platelet-derived growth factor ß (PDGF-ß), and interleukin 1ß. RESULTS: The basal expression levels of all the growth factors studied were similar in the avascular and vascular zones. There was an increase in VEGF-A expression in the avascular zone on the 14th day, an increase in IGF-1 expression in the vascular zone on the 14th day, a decrease in PDGF-ß expression in both zones in the first week, an increase in interleukin 1ß expression in both zones on the first day, and a decrease in TGF-ß1 expression in the vascular zone in the first week. At 120 days, the expression levels of all 5 growth factors returned to basal levels. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant variations in the expression of the growth factors studied during the first weeks after meniscal lesion creation. The preinjury expression levels are similar in the avascular and vascular zones and are not significantly different from the basal levels 4 months after injury. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study identifies potential therapeutic molecular targets (VEGF-A, IGF-1, TGF-ß1, and PDGF-ß) that can be used in the treatment of meniscal tears.