Clinical and radiographic results after ACL reconstruction using an adjustable-loop device.

BACKGROUND: The femoral cortical suspension device such as fixed loop devices (FLD) and adjustable-loop device (ALD) are used for ACLR technique in recent days. However, there was few studies of clinical and radiographic results for ACLR using ALD. This study was conducted to clarify the clinical and radiographic results, stability and bone tunnel enlargement after ACLR using a ToggleLoc with a zip loop as ALD. METHODS: 80 patients who had data available from the most recent follow-up at ≥2 years since ACLR were evaluated both clinical and radiographic results. They were divided into single bundle reconstruction group (SBR) and double bundle reconstruction group (DBR). Clinical scores were included subjective scores and objective scores at pre- and postoperatively 2 years. The subjective scores were the Cincinnati knee rating system, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (RSI) scale. The objective scores were the isokinetic muscle strength, side-to-side difference in anterior instability and single hop test. In radiographical assessment, femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement was evaluated by three-dimensional computed tomography. RESULTS: In both SBR and DBR group, the postoperative subjective scores were significantly improved compared to the preoperative values, except for the Tegner activity score. Similarly, the side-to-side differences in muscle strength, anterior instability and single hop test were significantly improved after surgery. The changes in the femoral and tibial tunnel maximum cross section areas of SBR were 104.3 % ± 21.2 % and 89.2 % ± 15.2 %, respectively, at 2 years post-operatively. In DBR, in the femoral bone volume change of the antero medial (AM) and postero lateral (PL) bundle were 107.0 ± 3.5 % and 108.1 ± 3.3, and in the tibial bone volume change of AM and PL bundle were 90.6 ± 3.3 % and 87.0 ± 4.2 %. At the femoral site, the rate of tunnel enlargement increased for the first 12 months and then decreased through 24 months postoperatively. At the tibial site, by contrast, the rate of tunnel enlargement decreased consistently over the two-year postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to include clinical data on ACLR using a ToggleLoc with a zip loop device. ACLR using these devices as ALDs resulted in good clinical outcomes and provided good stability of the knee with relatively little bone tunnel enlargement in both SBR and DBR group.

Enhanced renal image contrast by ethanol fixation in phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography.

Phase-contrast X-ray imaging using a crystal X-ray interferometer can depict the fine structures of biological objects without the use of a contrast agent. To obtain higher image contrast, fixation techniques have been examined with 100% ethanol and the commonly used 10% formalin, since ethanol causes increased density differences against background due to its physical properties and greater dehydration of soft tissue. Histological comparison was also performed. A phase-contrast X-ray system was used, fitted with a two-crystal X-ray interferometer at 35 keV X-ray energy. Fine structures, including cortex, tubules in the medulla, and the vessels of ethanol-fixed kidney could be visualized more clearly than that of formalin-fixed tissues. In the optical microscopic images, shrinkage of soft tissue and decreased luminal space were observed in ethanol-fixed kidney; and this change was significantly shown in the cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla. The ethanol fixation technique enhances image contrast by approximately 2.7-3.2 times in the cortex and the outer stripe of the outer medulla; the effect of shrinkage and the physical effect of ethanol cause an increment of approximately 78% and 22%, respectively. Thus, the ethanol-fixation technique enables the image contrast to be enhanced in phase-contrast X-ray imaging.

p53 antibodies in the serum of patients with prostate cancer.

UNLABELLED: We assessed the potential clinical utility of levels of p53-specific antibodies as a novel serum biomarker of prostate cancer that could be used in conjunction with level of PSA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum levels of p53-specific antibodies in patients with relapsed, newly diagnosed prostate cancer and in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. RESULT: There was no significant difference (P=0.96) between the serum levels of p53-specific antibodies in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and with benign prostatic hyperplasia. In the newly diagnosed prostate cancer group, stage T1c (n=8) showed the lowest p53-specific antibody level. However, the difference between T1c group and benign prostatic hyperplasia group was not significant (P=0.686). The relapsed cancer group tended to have low levels of the antibodies, and, there was no significant difference between the relapsed prostate cancer group and the benign prostatic hyperplasia group (P=0.14). The serum levels of p53-specific antibodies in patients with metastatic and with localized prostate cancer showed no significant difference (P=0.68). CONCLUSION: The use of titers of p53-specific antibodies to make differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia might have no role, and the antibodies should not be used as a marker of prostate cancer by itself. Because our study is based on small number of patients, further studies are necessary before its absolute validity can be determined.

[Photography of the endoscopic picture with a consumer-grade digital camera].

In spite of the progress of digital camera technology, photography of the endoscopic picture, with a digital still camera, has not spread in the urologic setting. We attempted to photograph an endoscopic picture with a consumer-grade digital camera. An attachment was produced by pasting step-up rings for digital cameras on a coupler, or eye piece, for endoscopes. An endoscope lens, attachment, and the digital camera were connected, and the endoscopic picture was photographed. The endoscopic picture taken with the digital still camera was high definition compared to the one with the video camera for endoscopes. The conditions of the digital camera, which can be used, require having mounting threads for filters on the lens. Although a way of sterilizing and waterproofing a camera must first be discovered, a digital still camera enables one to obtain a high-definition image inexpensively, and to store and arrange the picture.