[Isolated rupture of the biceps tendon of the knee joint]. / Die isolierte Bizepssehnenruptur am Kniegelenk.

Traumatic injuries of the posterolateral structures of the knee are normally the result of a severe rotation trauma, and as a rule, associated with intraarticular lesions. Two cases will be presented, whereby, without injuries to the knee, an isolated rupture of the distal part of the biceps femoris tendon occurred. Intraoperatively as also histologically there was no evidence of degenerative changes. The operative treatment in both cases achieved a good functional result. The better result was achieved with rigid fixation and a limiting protective rehabilitation program as it is used after the operative reconstruction of the torn posterolateral structures.

[An interesting case--calcific tendinitis of the popliteal tendon]. / Der interessante Fall--Tendinosis calcarea der Popliteussehne des Kniegelenkes.

We present a case of a calcifying tendinopathy of the lateral aspect of the knee. A 72 years old woman developed an acute calcifying tendinitis in the region of the popliteus tendon of the left knee. In the course of treatment the calcium deposit drained spontaneously into the knee joint. All initially severe clinical complaints died down.

Experimental studies on the stem cell concept of liver regeneration. II.

There is increasing evidence in support of the existence of a hepatic stem or progenitor cell system as well as its participation in the physiological as well as reparative regeneration of the liver and in carcinogenesis. In the present paper it will be demonstrated that under the condition of a simultaneous intoxication with allyl alcohol and tetrachlorcarbon a regenerative process occurs, which is composed of two distinct partial processes: 1. a "proliferative wave" of the persisting, non-necrotic differentiated hepatocytes of the acinus, starting at 24 h after intoxication and ending after >48 h, and 2. a proliferation of cells at the rim of the portal fields, which afterwards enter the acinus and differentiate into hepatocytes, starting at 48 h after intoxication. These results support the participation of a stem or progenitor cell system in the reparative regeneration of the liver.

Experimental studies on the stem cell concept of liver regeneration. I.

There are increasing references for the existence of a hepatic stem or progenitor cell system as well as its participation in the physiological as well as reparative regeneration of the liver and in carcinogenesis. For the physiological regeneration the existence of a dynamic "cell-renewal" system finds increasing consideration and in the "streaming liver concept" (Zajicek et al. 1985) its functional expression. This concept is still under discussion. The present paper tries to check this animal-experimentally (Wistar rats) under use of two different thymidine analogues (3H-thymidine and Bromodeoxyuridine). In different time intervals after labelling (1 h, 14, 30, 60, 90, 120 d) a shift of the labelling bias or a migration of the hepatocytes in the liver acinus (Rapaport) in portovenous direction could be shown. The average migration speed is 0.575 microm or 0.0315 cell positions per day, the cell production rate is one in 31.5 days. The present paper results support the inclusion of a stem or progenitor cell system into the physiological regeneration of the liver and allow the classification into the "streaming liver concept" (Zajicek et al. 1985).

[Sports fitness of active handball and soccer players with anterior instability of the knee joint]. / Sportfähigkeit von aktiven Handball- und Fussballspielern mit einer vorderen Instabilität des Kniegelenkes.

Based on an epidemiological study of 582 active handball and soccer players the abilities and limitations were analysed for sports activities of 24 athletes with an ACL-deficient knee. 22 of the 24 athletes suffered from a straight anterior instability. 50% attempted to avoid cutting mechanisms. The level of motivation was better than in the whole population. Handball players could continue their sports better and longer than soccer players. However, 19 athletes had to be classified as "knee-abusers" because they continued their sports inspite of having complaints. If athletic participation following ligament injuries of the knee should be rated, an accurate quantification and qualification is imperative.

[The knee arthrometer KT-1000: value of instrumental measurement in diagnosis of complex anterior knee instability]. / Knie-Arthrometer KT-1000: Stellenwert der instrumentellen Messung bei der Diagnose einer komplexen vorderen Knieinstabilität.

Clinical examination is the most accurate means of determining cruciate ligament integrity in the initial evaluation. In the case of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament the Lachman test has a high diagnostic accuracy, especially if the end point is absent. The Knee Arthrometer KT-1000 is a useful tool, as it is easy and fast to handle by an experienced examiner. Supplementary to noninvasive diagnostical methods it improves the confidence in clinical diagnosis. However, the importance of instrumental measurement should not be overrated even though reproducible results can be obtained. To compare the results of different studies the design has to be very similar. Although the examination conditions in this study were very homogeneous, a systematic mistake was produced. The average value of tibial displacement was significantly higher for the left knee. Data, obtained retrospectively in clinical practice, should not be used to scientifically document the results of therapeutic procedures.