Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: more than ten years of experience with Puddu plate technique supports its indication.

PURPOSE: To describe the short-term and long-term results of patients who underwent a medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOW-HTO) for unicompartmental medial knee joint osteoarthritis. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of patients with MOW-HTO using a Puddu plate®, with more than ten year follow-up. The degree of correction, initial chondral damage, number of meniscal lesions, preoperative and 1-year postoperative functional scale scores (IKDC and Lysholm), and arthroplasty conversion rates at the ten year follow-up were registered. We assumed early indication when patients underwent the operation before they were 40 years old and delayed ≥ 40. Functional outcomes were analyzed by adjusting for pre-operative values. Fisher's exact test was used to study the association between the arthroplasty conversion rates and the timing of indication. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were included, 37 of whom were male (67%). Twenty-nine patients had early indications for surgery (53%). All patients completed ten year follow-up. All patients improved IKDC (p < 0.01) and Lysholm (p < 0.01) scores compared to their presurgical scores at the one year post-operative evaluation. We had six minor complications, none requiring revision surgery. We had three conversions to arthroplasty, all in the late indication group, not statistically significant different. Linear regression showed that early indication was associated with a higher IKDC score when adjusting for the Outerbridge chondral damage score, the number of meniscal lesions, and sex (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: All patients improved functional scores one year after surgery. Early indication (i.e., younger than 40 years of age) was independently associated with better functional outcomes than late indication at one year follow-up.

[Chronic lymphoid leukemia and renal complication: Report on 10 cases from Marseille over 16 years]. / Néphropathies au cours de la leucémie lymphoïde chronique : à propos d'une étude monocentrique de 10 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is a hematological malignant disease, associated with a clonal B cell proliferation. The incidence is 4400 new cases per year in France. The prevalence increases with age with a median age at diagnostic of 65 years. Renal involvement is rare and estimated at 1.2% of patients with CLL. Renal pathological diagnoses associated with CLL are variable and are not always related to the hematological disease. We report here on cases of patients with CLL who underwent a renal biopsy over the past 16 years in Marseille. METHODS: All cases of renal biopsies performed in patients with CLL between2000 and 2016 in Marseille were included. Pathological analysis was performed by the same experimented pathologist. Data were collected at the time of biopsy and after treatment. RESULTS: Ten patients were included in this study. The reason for renal biopsy was acute kidney injury or the onset of nephrotic syndrome. We report on 4 cases of membranous nephropathy, 1 minimal change disease, 1 cryglobulinemia-related membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis, 1 light chain amyloidosis, 1 fibrillary glomerulonephritis, 1 interstitial monoclonal infiltration and one case of non-specific tubular lesions. Only one patient was treated before the biopsy, 7 patients received a specific hematological treatment of CLL because of its renal involvement. Renal and hematological responses were variable. CONCLUSION: Renal involvement of CLL is rare and is not mentioned in the Binet classification. Yet, it can be severe, with acute kidney injury or nephrotic syndrome, and can lead to the initiation of a specific treatment. The most frequent presentation this series was secondary MN, which differs from previous series.

The use of femoral stems with exchangeable necks in primary total hip arthroplasty increases the rate of revision.

AIMS: Femoral stems with exchangeable (modular) necks were introduced to offer surgeons an increased choice when determining the version, offset and length of the femoral neck during total hip arthroplasty (THA). It was hoped that this would improve outcomes and reduce complications, particularly dislocation. In 2010, the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) first reported an increased rate of revision after primary THA using femoral stems with an exchangeable neck. The aim of this study was to provide a more comprehensive up-to-date analysis of primary THA using femoral stems with exchangeable and fixed necks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data included all primary THA procedures performed for osteoarthritis (OA), reported to the AOANJRR between 01 September 1999 and 31 December 2014. There were 9289 femoral stems with an exchangeable neck and 253 165 femoral stems with a fixed neck. The characteristics of the patients and prostheses including the bearing surface and stem/neck metal combinations were examined using Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) and Kaplan-Meier estimates of survivorship. RESULTS: It was found that prostheses with an exchangeable neck had a higher rate of revision and this was evident regardless of the bearing surface or the size of the femoral head. Exchangeable neck prostheses with a titanium stem and a cobalt-chromium neck had a significantly higher rate of revision compared with titanium stem/titanium neck combinations (HR 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.49 to 2.23, p < 0.001). Revisions were higher for these combinations compared with femoral stems with a fixed neck. CONCLUSION: There appears to be little evidence to support the continued use of prostheses with an exchangeable neck in primary THA undertaken for OA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:766-73.

[Prospective evaluation of the direct costs of prostate enucleation by the HoLEP® laser during the learning curve period]. / Évaluation prospective des coûts directs de l'énucléation prostatique par le laser HoLEP® pendant la courbe d'apprentissage.

OBJECTIVE: Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) has been shown to be effective in treating large prostates compared to prostate transurethral resection (TURP). There are no published data evaluating specifically the impact of the learning curve on the direct costs of HoLEP. The objective of this study was to evaluate the direct costs generated by the use of HoLEP laser during the learning curve period. METHOD: The costs of all medical devices (DM) and drugs used, pre- and post-operative parameters during surgery have been prospectively collected between March and October 2016. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 70.8 years and a mean prostate volume of 68.6 cm3. The mean cost of anesthesia was 39.0 € and that of drugs and DM used for surgery was 257.95 € but could reach 470.76 € in case of conversion to bipolar resection. The mean duration of enucleation and morcellation was 150minutes with a mean weight of enucleated specimens of 40.4g. The total mean duration of patient care was 197minutes at an estimated hourly cost of € 636. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some limitations, this study makes it possible to analyze the direct costs of the management of benign prostatic hypertrophy using HoLEP, an innovative surgical technique, and to specify that these costs are more related to bipolar conversion and voluminous adenomas especially during the learning curve. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

A phase III comparison of high dose ARA-C (HIDAC) versus HIDAC plus mitoxantrone in the treatment of first relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia Southwest Oncology Group Study.

The aim of this study is to determine whether the addition of mitoxantrone to high dose cytarabine improves the outcome of treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). One hundred and sixty-two eligible patients, 14-76 years of age, with AML either in first relapse or that failed to respond to initial remission induction therapy, with no CNS involvement were randomized to receive therapy with cytarabine 3 gm/M2 i.v. over 2 h every 12 h for 12 doses on days 1-6 (Arm I) (HIDAC); or HIDAC plus mitoxantrone 10 mg/M2 i.v. daily on days 7 9 (Arm II) (HIDAC + M). Patients achieving complete remission were treated with three courses of consolidation including HIDAC (Ara-C 3 gm/M2 i.v. 12 h days 1 3; 2 gm/M2 over age 50) alone (ARM I) or with mitoxantrone (10 mg/M2 i.v. day 1) (ARM II). Among 162 patients (81 HIDAC, 81 HIDAC + M) evaluated for induction toxicity, there were 10 (12%) induction deaths with HIDAC and 13 (17%) with HIDAC + M (2-tailed P = 0.65). Most early deaths were due to infection and/or hemorrhage. Among 162 patients evaluated for responses to induction therapy, 26/81 (32%) HIDAC and 36/81 (44%) HIDAC + M patients achieved complete remission (two-tailed P = 0.15). Although this difference was not statistically significant in univariate analysis, it was after adjusting for the effects of WBC and PMN percentage in multivariate analysis (P=0.013). Median survivals from study entry were 8 months (HIDAC) and 6 months (HIDAC + M); 2-tailed logrank P = 0.58. Among 48 patients registered for consolidation, the median disease-free survivals from that registration were 8 months with HIDAC and 11 months with HIDAC + M (P = 0.60). There were three treatment-related deaths during consolidation (1 HIDAC, 2 HIDAC + M), all due to infections. In this randomized trial, the addition of mitoxantrone to high-dose cytarabine was associated with a trend toward a higher CR rate. There was less evidence for an advantage in disease-free or overall survival, although any such conclusion is limited by the size of the study.

Cavernous sinus syndrome due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

We describe a 49-year-old woman with a history of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and classic signs and symptoms of left-sided cavernous sinus syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion in the left cavernous sinus consistent with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The patient received radiation therapy totaling 4,600 cGy, with complete resolution of symptoms. This represents the first case report of renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the left cavernous sinus.

Desarrollo puberal y edad ósea en niños con antecedentes de desnutrición calórico-proteica grave precoz / Puberal development and bone age in children with early severe protein-energy malnutrition

La desnutrición grave y prolongada retrasa el crecimiento y desarrollo en el niño. Esto se ve objetivado en el menor tamaño corporal y el enlentecimiento dela maduración de diferentes tejidos, incluyendo el hueso. El retraso de la edad ósea alargaría el período de crecimiento recuperacional, si la situación nutricional mejorara. Se comparó, a una edad promedio de 12 años y 5 meses, el crecimiento estatural, la maduración ósea y el desarrollo puberal en 20 niños (10 niñas) que sufrieron desnutrición calórico-proteica grave precoz que requirió tratamiento hospitalario, con las de otros 20 niños de igual condición socioeconómica, edad y sexo, sin antecedentes de desnutrición. Se registraron diferencias significativas en el tamaño corporal en favor del grupo control (p<0,001) tanto entre los hombres como en las mujeres. Las edades óseas medidas en 18 niños de grupo de estudio (9 mujeres) y 17 controles (9 mujeres) mostraron un retraso leve, que no alcanzó significación, en todos los grupos. Las etapas puberales alcanzadas fueron semejantes en casos y controles para los dos sexos, independientemente del antecedente nutricional. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la desnutrición grave precoz, tratada, produce retraso en el crecimiento estatural pero no afectaría la maduración ósea y la maduración sexual

Analysis of treatment failure in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia patients over fifty years of age. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Fourteen participating centers registered 33 patients on a Southwest Oncology Group Study of adults with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Induction consisted of cytosine arabinoside 70 mg/m2 days 1-7 by continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion, VP-16 50 mg/m2 i.v. over 1 hour days 1-3, and daunomycin 30 mg/m2 i.v. bolus days 1-3. Twenty-five patients (median age 69 years) were evaluable for response. Eleven (44%) achieved a remission marrow but only 8 fulfilled both blood and marrow criteria for complete remission. Of the 11 patients with a remission marrow, there were no patients over 70 years of age. Major coexisting disease data were evaluated. Only 5 patients had no major coexisting disease and 4 of those 5 achieved a remission marrow. The study illustrates and underscores the following problems of remission induction in the elderly: (a) increased susceptibility to the stress of the induction period, with 6 patients (24%) dying before treatment day sixteen; (b) disease resistance to antileukemic therapy with persistent ANLL in 6 patients (24%), despite two induction courses; and (c) hematopoietic stem cell sensitivity in the elderly with marrow regeneration failure documented in 2 patients (8%) following induction. Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in the elderly has a poor prognosis, and novel therapeutic approaches are warranted.

Crecimiento después de desnutrición grave precoz / Growth after early severe undernutrition

Con el propósito de investigar el crecimiento en niños que han sufrido desnutrición calórica proteica severa precozmente se comparó la evolución antropométrica en 40 de tales niños, previamente tratados y recuperados en un centro de recuperación nutricional, y la estatura de sus madres, con las de 40 controles sanos de las mismas edades, sexos y condición socioeconómica, a lo largo de 9 años y por el mismo observador. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en favor de los controles en la talla de las madres (154,8 ñ 5,2 vs. 150 ñ 3,6 cm) y en el peso de nacimiento de los niños (varones 3453,5 ñ 522,3 vs. 3018,2 ñ 490,3 y mujeres 3328,4 ñ 563,4 vs. 2654,6 ñ 579,6 g, p < 0,001). También había diferencias significativas en las relaciones talla/edad y peso/edad (p < 0,001), pero no en la de peso/talla entre ambos grupos. No se detectaron diferencias en la edad ósea. La velocidad de crecimiento fue semejante en los varones de ambas muestras (10,4 ñ 2,3 vs. 9,81 ñ 1,4 cm y 12,94 ñ 2,53 vs. 12,8 ñ 1,64 cm de 5 a 7 y de 7 a 9 años respectivamente), pero fue significativamente mayor en las niñas controles (11,22 ñ 2,7 vs. 9,3 ñ 1,6 y 15,6 ñ 1,66 vs. 12,8 ñ 2,2 cm de 5 a 7 y 7 a 9 años respectivamente, p < 0,01). Estos hallazgos sugieren que la desnutrición calórica proteica antes de la edad de 2 años puede producir efectos en el largo plazo en niños de baja condición socioeconómica que son devueltos al medioambiente desfavorable después de tratarlos y recuperarlos de la desnutrición

Microambiente de la desnutrición marásmica / Social background in severe undernutrition

La desnutrición se relaciona a malas condiciones socioculturales y hay evidencia que permite establecer clara asociación entre nivel de vida y calidad de la nutrición. En Chile se han formulado programas para mejorar la situación nutricional de la población infantil. Uno de ellos corresponde al de Centros Cerrados de Recuperación Nutricional. La persistencia de la recuperación obtenida en estas instituciones puede depender en forma importante de la calidad de la situación de la familia. En un seguimiento de 9 años, hecho a niños de extrema pobreza que fueron tratados en uno de tales centros, sólo el 13%conservaban el estado nutricional logrado. Entre los factores que se asocian con evoluciones desfavorables después del alta destacan el alcoholismo del padre y otro hermano con desnutrición, pero también influyen la educación deficiente y las madres solas

Trisomy 4 in a case of acute undifferentiated myeloblastic leukemia with hand-mirror cells.

A case of acute undifferentiated myelocytic leukemic with trisomy 4 is described. The patient is a 61-year-old woman who developed leukemia 4 1/2 years after receiving radiation therapy for uterine carcinoma. Many leukemic cells exhibited hand-mirror configuration after the bone marrow aspirate was left at room temperature overnight. The relationship between trisomy 4 and hand-mirror cells in acute myelocytic leukemia is unknown.

Two ways to assess problems of evaluating third- and fourth-year medical students: a case study.

Clinical faculty commonly acknowledge that they have difficulty evaluating third- and fourth-year medical students. The faculty and administration of the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine in New Orleans conducted pilot tests of two types of materials to assess these problems as part of the Clinical Evaluation Program undertaken by the Association of American Medical Colleges in 1984-1985. The two types of materials--questionnaires and the Problem-Case Analysis--were developed by the staff of the AAMC program and used by the LSU Department of Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to identify problems in the process of evaluating clerks. Furthermore, the two methods proved complementary: both methods identified some of the same problems and each identified problems not identified by the other. Handling difficult students was the single problem identified by both methods in both departments. The questionnaires permit a simple method of collecting data about a broad range of problems. The Problem-Case Analysis, on the other hand, requires more time but evokes possible causes and alternative solutions, as well as identifying the problems. Improvement plans were developed by each department to address the problems that surfaced.

Adriamycin combined with 10-day Ara-C, vincristine, and prednisone (10-day ADOAP) in the treatment of adult acute leukemia patients under fifty years of age. A Southwest Oncology Group Study.

In a twelve-month period, 56 consecutive patients with acute leukemia, aged 15-50, were treated by administration of a 10-day continuous infusion of Ara-C in combination with adriamycin, oncovin and prednisone (10 day ADOAP). Of 50 evaluable patients, there were 39 complete remissions (78%) with a median remission duration of 71 weeks. After adjustment for age and other known prognostic factors, the complete remission rate is still 10% higher than that found using a similar regimen without adriamycin.

Doxorubicin and ifosfamide combination chemotherapy in previously treated acute leukemia in adults: a Southwest Oncology Group pilot study.

The Southwest Oncology Group did a limited institutional pilot study of the combination of doxorubicin and ifosfamide in the treatment of previously treated adult patients with acute leukemia. Thirty-four patients received one or two courses of the combination. All patients had received prior chemotherapy and 32 had received prior anthracycline chemotherapy. Three patients died before their responses could be fully evaluated. Fourteen patients achieved complete remission (41%) and one patient achieved partial remission. The complete remission rate was 27% for patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (myelomonoblastic leukemia, monoblastic leukemia, and erythroleukemia) and 89% for patients with acute lymphocytic and undifferentiated leukemia (ALL). Toxic effects included severe hematologic reactions in 33 of 34 patients, hematuria in six patients, altered sensorium in one patient, and congestive heart failure in one patient. The safety of the combination was established and toxic side effects of this therapy were tolerable. The 89% complete remission rate for previously treated patients with ALL suggests that the combination of doxorubicin and ifosfamide may be particularly effective in ALL.

A noninvasive technique for monitoring response to chemotherapy in human acute leukemia.

To see whether urine enzyme activities could be used as an index in evaluating the disease status of leukemia patients, we examined the activities of four enzymes: arylsulfatases A(AS-A) and B(AS-B), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). AP and LDH showed no consistent patterns. The activities of AS-A and AS-B correlated well with the patient's clinical status, increasing during progression of disease and decreasing toward normal activities during responses to therapy, as judged from bone marrow cellularity and differential. Among 23 untreated patients with a histologic diagnosis of acute leukemia we found increased activities of the urine enzymes in these proportions: AS-A in 23 patients (100%), AS-B in 22 (95.7%), AP in 7 (30.4%), and LDH in 10 (43.5%). Five patients in remission from acute leukemia had normal activities for all four enzymes. In one patient in remission for more than one year, a rise in urinary arylsulfatase activity preceded observable bone marrow relapse by 4 months. Unlike that of serum of urine lysozyme and serum copper, the determination of urine arylsulfatase activities appears to be a consistent, useful indicator of response to antileukemic therapy. In contrast to the determination of polyamines, the quantitation of arylsulfatase activity is achieved with greater ease and with instrumentation available in most clinical laboratories.