[Fracture of a pyrolytic carbon proximal interphalangeal prosthesis: clinical case]. / Fracture d'une prothèse en pyrocarbone de l'articulation interphalangienne proximale : cas clinique.

Pyrolytic carbon prostheses are one of the options for the treatment of arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Deficiency of the extensor mechanism, instability, dislocation and infection are the most frequent causes described for revision. We report the case of a female patient who underwent a PIP arthroplasty with a pyrolytic carbon implant of her right long finger; she suffered from an implant fracture only 11 months after surgery, a rare complication of this kind of implant; it makes think to fragility of this kind of implant.

Enhancement of liver size by stimulation of intact rat liver with exogenous hepatotrophic factors.

In mammals, liver size is related to animal body weight at the 2.5 to 3% proportion, a ratio mediated by the afflux of hepatotrophic factors. Formulas capable of modifying this ratio have been developed in previous studies on the rat, with enhancement of liver size brought about by intraperitoneal (portal) infusion of exogenous factors such as glucose, amino acids, insulin, glucagon, vitamins, electrolytes, and triiodothyronine. However, the efficacy of these formulations was accompanied by increased animal mortality (PARRA et al.). The present study, which was carried out with small methodological modifications on a larger number of rats using daily intraperitoneal injections of a solution of exogenous hepatotrophic factors (40 ml/kg) for seven days, confirms the previous findings, with a 114.16 +/- 7.90% enhancement of liver size beyond the expected value for the body weight of the animal. However, the problem of animal mortality was not fully resolved.

Reduction of liver mass due to malnutrition in rats. Correlation with emaciation of animals and size of organs not inserted in the portal system.

We studied the effects of protein-energy malnutrition on the liver morphology of rats as compared to animal emaciation and to reduction in size of the organs not irrigated by splanchnic blood such as kidneys and spleen. The animals were divided into two groups, one of them fed ad libitum rate (N = 10) and the other (N = 14) receiving water but no food for 7 days, and the changes in animal weight, liver, kidney and spleen mass were determined. DNA and the protein/DNA ratio, as well as hepatocyte size, were determined in liver tissue. The liver decreased in mass (27.14%) at a significantly higher proportion (p < 0.05) when compared to body emaciation (19.22%). Similar to the reduction in body weight, the masses of kidneys and spleen were reduced by 18.68% and 24.28%, respectively. The reduction in liver mass occurred due to hypoplasia and atrophy, i.e., a decrease in hepatocyte number and size, respectively. We conclude that there is a preferential consumption of liver protein in protein-energy malnutrition which is suggested to result from the additive action of the effects of overall consumption of organic reserves due to malnutrition proper and to the reduction of the hepatotrophic stimulus.