[Arthroscopy after hip joint injury. Case studies and indications]. / Arthroskopie nach Trauma des Hüftgelenks. Fallbeispiele und Indikationen.

Intra-articular injuries are common after dislocation and fracture of the hip joint and can be addressed using hip arthroscopy. The most common indications for this procedure are loose bodies, labral tears and chondral defects. In addition, preexisting femoroacetabular impingement can be addressed at the time of surgery. Arthroscopically guided fracture reduction and fixation has been described. We present two case reports of intra-articular lesions after traumatic hip dislocation. The first is a case of a man with an anterior labral tear and loose bodies after closed hip reduction. The second case is a man with a large anterior labral tear with preexisting femoroacetabular impingement. Both of them were treated by arthroscopic debridement of the unstable labrum. In addition loose bodies were removed in the first patient and a femoral osteoplasty was performed in the second patient. Hip arthroscopy has proven to be a safe and effective surgical technique for treating specific post-traumatic lesions and preexisting femoroacetabular impingement. The current case reports provide an overview of the indication for hip arthroscopy following traumatic injuries to the hip.

[A model of intervention on company canteens to promote healthy diet]. / Un modello di intervento sulle mense aziendali per promuovere l'alimentazione corretta.

The Workplace Health Promotion project, operating in the precinct of the Local Health Authority of Bergamo, contemplates that the partaking Companies should develop specific activities ("good practices") in the thematic area of proper nutrition. Six best practices have been defined on the basis of: contextual data, actions deemed most effective by the scientific publications, the "Guidelines for a healthy diet for the Italian, population" released by the Italian National Research Institute for Food and Nutrition the "Directions for healthy snacks for adults" elaborated by the Italian Association of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, and the national project "Gaining Health". Twenty-six Companies have chosen to implement good practices in the area of proper nutrition. The results of the undertaken actions have been measured at the first Company which participated in this program, and have been obtained through the administration of a pre- and postintervention questionnaire. The collected data show the efficacy of the proposed practices in modifying some incorrect dietary habits.

Osteotomía cervical cuneiforme femoral para el tratamiento de la secuela de epifisiolisis / Cuneiform osteotomy of femoral neck as treatment for slipped capital femoral epiphysis sequelae

Introducción. La alteración anatómica de la epifisiolisis no tratada, prototipo de la deformidad del pinzamiento femoro-acetabular tipo cam, causa degeneración articular precoz de la cadera. Objetivo. Describir una técnica original de osteotomía cervical cuneiforme (OCC) para reposicionar anatómicamente la epífisis femoral, en la secuela de epifisiolisis. Material y método. Se operaron 7 caderas en 6 pacientes masculinos, con secuela de epifisiolisis severa; edad promedio de 15 años (13-16), cuyo motivo de consulta fue coxalgia y claudicación severa de 9,2 meses promedio. Todos con cierre del cartílago fisiario femoral al momento de la consulta. Técnica quirúrgica y resultados . En todos los casos se efectuó una OCC y reposición de la epífisis femoral. Se realizó disección y elevación del periostio cervical para proteger los vasos epifisiarios de la cabeza femoral; a continuación se ejecutó la OCC, se reposicionó la epífisis femoral en la ubicación anatómica y se realizó una osteosíntesis. Se logró una corrección del ángulo eje epifisiario desde 66° preoperatorio a 11° postoperatorio. El seguimiento promedio fue 37 meses (4-59). Conclusión. La OCC femoral, propuesta en pacientes con secuela de epifisiólisis, es una alternativa de tratamiento, que logra buenos resultados anatómicos y radiológicos en pacientes jóvenes (AU)

Introduction: Abnormal hip anatomy of untreated Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE), a prototype of cam impingement deformity, is a cause of early hip degeneration. Objective: To describe an original technique of cuneiform osteotomy of the femoral neck to relocate femoral epiphysis in patients with sequelae of SCFE. Methods: Seven hips in 6 male patients with sequelae of severe SCFE, with a mean age of 15 years (13-16), and with a mean of 9.2 months of hip pain and severe limp, were treated. All of the cases had closed growth cartilage at the time of consultation. Surgical technique and results: In all cases we performed a cuneiform osteotomy of the femoral neck with relocation of epiphysis. A dissection and elevation of cervical periosteum to protect the epiphyseal vessels of the femoral head was performed. Then, the cuneiform osteotomy of the femoral neck was performed with relocation of the femoral epiphysis to the anatomical position and osteosynthesis. We achieved an epiphyseal-shaft angle correction from 66◦ preoperative to 11◦ postoperative. The mean follow up was 37 months (4-59). Conclusion: Cuneiform osteotomy of the femoral neck proposed in patients with sequelae of SCFE is an alternative treatment that achieves good anatomical and imaging results in young patients (AU)

[Arthroscopic treatment of an intra-articular tumor of the hip joint]. / Arthroskopische Therapie eines intraartikulären Tumors am Hüftgelenk.

We present the clinical case of an 18-year-old woman who complained of acute hip pain. MRI showed an intra-articular tumor 4 cm in size with osteolysis (18 mm) on the distal region of the femoral head-neck junction. Focal pigmented villonodular synovitis infiltrating the bone was diagnosed. A complete resection of the tumor including the osteolytic area was done by an arthroscopic procedure. There was no sign of relapse after 8 months of follow-up, with no pain and complete function of the hip. Arthroscopic treatment has the advantage of minimal surgical trauma and good mid-term results for treating a focal lesion in selected cases.

Quantification of DDX3Y, RBMY1, DAZ and TSPY mRNAs in testes of patients with severe impairment of spermatogenesis.

Y chromosome microdeletion is the most important genetic cause of impairment of spermatogenesis. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of patients with spermatogenic failure do not have this condition. This study investigated the expression level of AZF genes, DDX3Y (DBY), RBMY1, DAZ and TSPY in testicular tissues of 42 subjects with impaired spermatogenesis compared with 33 with normal spermatogenesis. Histopathological evaluation was performed in all subjects and tissues were classified according to Johnsen Score. Transcript amounts were determined by quantitative-competitive RT-PCR. Patients with complete Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) did not exhibit RBMY1, DAZ and TSPY gene expression, however, we detected very low expression of DDX3Y transcript. Tissue samples with focal SCOS showed significantly decreased expression of all genes (P < 0.001). Maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis tissues expressed significantly low levels of DDX3Y testicular transcript (P < 0.001), while the mRNA levels of the other genes were similar to that in tissues from the normal spermatogenesis group. Negative or diminished gene expression of DDX3Y, RBMY1, DAZ and TSPY in tissues samples with SCOS or focal SCOS reflects the absence or the lower number of germ cells, respectively. The finding that the testicular transcript of DDX3Y is significantly decreased in patients with severe spermatogenenic failure, especially in those presenting maturation arrest, suggests an important role of DDX3Y during spermatogenesis.

[Acid-base equilibrium in the critically ill]. / L'equilibrio acido-base nel paziente in area critica.

The reasons causing a patient to be hospitalized in the ICU, the degree of organs involvement and the subsequent therapeutic interventions, are all elements that can interfere with the acid-base homeostasis. It may be difficult to correctly evaluate the disturbances of the acid-base balance and to understand the underlying physiopathological process. Though, it is crucial to clarify the steps that resulted in the alteration, in order to increase the probability of detecting the correct diagnosis and therapy. Two other elements make the understanding more complex first, it is difficult to estimate, even approximately, the degree of involvement of the 'structural' buffer systems (intracellular buffers, proteins, activation or inhibition of metabolic pathways, etc.) to calculate the total acid load and then quantify the bases necessary to restore the patient balance. Then, the disorder severity is too often assessed through the arterial blood gas analysis parameters, which limits observation to a restricted vascular area, and the disorder assessment to the bicarbonate-carbonic acid system.

Increased sperm DNA damage in patients with varicocele: relationship with seminal oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of the testicular damage in varicocele has not been completely understood. Oxidative stress and related sperm DNA damage have been identified as significant causes of male infertility. The current study was designed to determine the extent of sperm nuclear DNA damage in patients with varicocele and to examine its relationship with oxidative stress. METHODS: Semen samples from 55 patients with clinical varicocele and 25 normozoospermic donors were examined. Varicocele sperm samples were classified as normal or abnormal according to World Health Organization guidelines. Sperm DNA damage was evaluated by the sperm chromatin structure assay/flow cytometry and by the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity were assessed by a chemiluminescence assay. RESULTS: DNA fragmentation index (DFI) (percentage of sperm with denatured DNA) values and the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells were significantly greater in patients with varicocele, either with normal (DFI, 20.7 +/- 4.0; TUNEL positive, 26.1 +/- 3.2) or with abnormal (DFI, 35.5 +/- 9.0; TUNEL positive, 32.2 +/- 4.1) semen profile, compared with controls (DFI, 7.1 +/- 0.9; TUNEL positive, 14.2 +/- 1.2). Similarly, ROS levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in both groups of patients with varicocele. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a varicocele is associated with high levels of DNA-damage spermatozoa even in the presence of normal semen profile. The results also indicate that oxidative damage is associated with sperm DNA damage in these patients.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with early signs of organ damage in nondiabetic, hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. To get a better understanding of the pathophysiology underlying this association, we evaluated the relationship between MS and subclinical organ damage in essential hypertensive patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: A total of 354 untreated, nondiabetic patients with primary hypertension were included in the study. A modified ATP III definition for MS was used, with body mass index replacing waist circumference. Albuminuria was measured as albumin to creatinine ratio, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was assessed by echocardiography and carotid abnormalities by ultrasonography. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was 25%. Patients with MS were more likely to be smokers (P = 0.004) and had higher serum uric acid levels (P = 0.004). Moreover, they showed higher urinary albumin excretion (P = 0.0004) and LVMI (P = 0.0006), increased intima-media thickness (P = 0.045), as well as higher prevalence of microalbuminuria (P = 0.03) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; P = 0.003). After adjusting for age, gender and duration of hypertension, we found that the presence of MS entails a twofold greater risk for microalbuminuria (P = 0.04), LVH (P = 0.003) and carotid abnormalities (P < 0.05). When patients were stratified according to the number of components of MS, albuminuria (P = 0.002) and LVMI (P = 0.005) increased progressively across categories. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome is associated with subclinical organ damage in nondiabetic, essential hypertensive patients. These data may, in part, explain the high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality that is observed in hypertensive patients with MS.

Creatinine clearance and signs of end-organ damage in primary hypertension.

A reduction in renal function is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between creatinine clearance and subclinical organ damage in 957 never previously treated, middle-aged patients with primary hypertension. Renal function was estimated by means of the serum creatinine level using the Cockcroft-Gault formula; left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was determined according to electrocardiographic criteria; and retinal vascular changes were evaluated by direct ophthalmoscopy. Creatinine clearance was, on the average, 83+/-21.2 ml/min, and the prevalence of LVH and retinopathy was 13 and 49%, respectively. Creatinine clearance was inversely related to the duration of disease (r=-0.132, P<0.0001), systolic blood pressure (r=-0.110, P=0.001), serum glucose (r=-0.090, P=0.007), total cholesterol (r=-0.196, P<0.0001), and LDL-cholesterol (r=-0.196, P<0.0001). Patients in the lower quintile of creatinine clearance showed a higher prevalence of electrocardiogram (ECG) determined LVH (P=0.04), as well as retinal changes (P=0.02). The risk of having LVH or retinal vascular changes increases significantly with each s.d. decrease in creatinine clearance, regardless of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Moreover, patients with ECG-determined LVH and retinal changes showed lower creatinine clearance as compared to those with lesser degrees of target organ involvement (P<0.01). In conclusion, a mild reduction in creatinine clearance is associated with preclinical end-organ damage in patients with normal creatinine and primary hypertension. These data may help explain the high cardiovascular mortality observed in patients with renal dysfunction. Routine evaluation of creatinine clearance could be useful for identifying patients at higher cardiovascular risk.

Microalbuminuria is an integrated marker of subclinical organ damage in primary hypertension.

Increased urine albumin excretion is associated with an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile and prognosis in primary hypertension, even though its pathogenesis is currently unknown. Microalbuminuria (Mi) has been proposed as an integrated marker to identify patients with subclinical organ damage, but its routine use is still too often neglected in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between urinary albumin excretion and early signs of subclinical target organ damage (TOD), namely left ventricular hypertrophy and carotid atherosclerosis in a large group of non diabetic hypertensive patients. A group of 346 never treated patients with primary hypertension (212 men, 134 women, mean age 47 +/- 9 years) referred to our clinic were included in the study. They underwent the following procedures: (1) family and personal medical history and physical examination; (2) clinical blood pressure measurement; (3) routine blood chemistry and urine analysis including determination of urinary albumin excretion (ACR); (4) electrocardiogram; (5) ultrasound evaluation of left ventricular mass (LVMI) and carotid artery thickness (IMT). The overall prevalence of Mi, left ventricular hypertrophy, and carotid plaque was 13, 51, and 24% respectively. Mi was significantly correlated with LVMI (P < 0.0001), IMT (P < 0.0001) and several metabolic and non-metabolic risk factors (blood pressure, body mass index, serum lipids). Cluster analysis identified three subgroups of patients who differ significantly with regards to TOD and albuminuria (P < or = 0.001 for each of the examined variables). Patients with higher IMT and LVMI values also showed increased ACR levels. Furthermore, patients with microalbuminuria were more likely to have both LVH and IMT values above the median for the study population (OR 21, C.I. 4.6-99.97, P < 0.0001). Mi is an integrated marker of subclinical organ damage in patients with primary hypertension. Evaluation of urinary albumin excretion is a specific, cost-effective way to identify patients at higher risk for whom additional preventive and therapeutic measures are advisable.

Silanized nucleic acids: a general platform for DNA immobilization.

We have developed a method for simultaneous deposition and covalent cross-linking of oligonucleotide or PCR products on unmodified glass surfaces. By covalently conjugating an active silyl moiety onto oligonucleotides or cDNA in solutions we have generated a new class of modified nucleic acids, namely silanized nucleic acids. Such silanized molecules can be immobilized instantly onto glass surfaces after manual or automated deposition. This method provides a simple and rapid, yet very efficient, solution to the immobilization of prefabricated oligonucleotides and DNA for chip production.

Estudio comparativo de dos técnicas cefalométricas para la determinación del tipo facial / Comparative study of 2 cephalometric techniques for the determination of facial type

La determinación del tipo facial ha sido motivo de numerosas investigaciones en los últimos años, debido a su gran importancia en el diagnóstico y plan de tratamiento de ortodoncia. Este estudio tiene por objetivo comparar dos análisis cefalométricos para determinar tipo facial; uno de ellos es bastante conocido, el Vert de Ricketts y el otro basado en la cefalometría de varios autores, MacNamara, Riolo, Steiner, Schwartz, Broadbent; denominado Vert modificado. Se analizaron 22 individuos, a quienes se les tomaron telerradiografías laterales de perfil. Cada telerradiografía fue evaluada con ambos análisis cefalométricos, Vert de Ricketts y Vert modificado. Los resultados obtenidos para cada uno de ellos con ambos cefalometrías fueron comparados y analizados estadísticamente emdiante el test del Signo. Se determinó que no existen diferencias significativas entre ambos análisis, es decir, para el diagnóstico del tipo facial se puede utilizar cualquiera de las dos cefalometrías llegando a un mismo diagnóstico