Autologous platelet gel and fibrin sealant enhance the efficacy of total knee arthroplasty: improved range of motion, decreased length of stay and a reduced incidence of arthrofibrosis

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Exogenous application of platelet-leukocyte gel during open subacromial decompression contributes to improved patient outcome

Background: Platelet-leukocyte gel (PLG) is being used during various surgical procedures in an attempt to enhance the healing process. We studied the effects of PLG on postoperative recovery of patients undergoing open subacromial decompression (OSD). Methods: PLG was produced from platelet-leukocyte-rich plasma (P-LRP), prepared from a unit of whole blood. Forty patients were included in the study. Self-assessed evaluations, using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scoring system of activities of daily living (ADL), joint instability, pain levels, pain medications, and clinical evaluations for range of motion were conducted. Results: Platelet and leukocyte counts were significantly increased in the P-LRP compared to baseline counts. Treated patients demonstrated decreased visual analog scales for pain and used significantly less pain medication, had an improved range of motion during passive forward elevation, external rotation, external rotation with arm at 90 degrees abduction, internal rotation, and cross body adduction compared to control patients (p < 0.001). No differences in the instability score were observed between the groups. Furthermore, treated patients performed more ADL (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In the PLG-treated group, recovery was faster and patients returned earlier to daily activities and also took less pain medication than control subjects

Fully nonlinear inversion of fundamental mode surface waves for a global crustal model

We use neural networks to find 1-dimensional marginal probability density functions (pdfs) of global crustal parameters. The information content of the full posterior and prior pdfs can quantify the extent to which a parameter is constrained by the data. We inverted fundamental mode Love and Rayleigh wave phase and group velocity maps for pdfs of crustal thickness and independently of vertically averaged crustal shear wave velocity. Using surface wave data with periods T &gt; 35 s for phase velocities and T &gt; 18 s for group velocities, Moho depth and vertically averaged shear wave velocity of continental crust are well constrained, but vertically averaged shear wave velocity of oceanic crust is not resolvable. The latter is a priori constrained by CRUST2.0. We show that the resulting model allows to compute global crustal corrections for surface wave tomography for periods T &gt; 50 s for phase velocities and T &gt; 60 s for group velocities

Distribution of chromosome 18 and X centric heterochromatin in the interphase nucleus of cultured human cells

In situ hybridization of human chromosome 18 and X-specific alphoid DNA-probes was performed in combination with three dimensional (3D) and two dimensional (2D) image analysis to study the interphase distribution of the centric heterochromatin (18c and Xc) of these chromosomes in cultured human cells. 3D analyses of 18c targets using confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated a nonrandom disposition in 73 amniotic fluid cell nuclei. The shape of these nuclei resembled rather flat cylinders or ellipsoids targets were preferentially arranged in a domain around the nuclear center, but close to or associated with the nuclear envelope. Within this domain, however, positionings of the two targets occurred independently from each other, i.e., the two targets were observed with similar frequencies at the same (upper or lower) side of the nuclear envelope as those on opposite sides. This result strongly argues against any permanent homologous association of 18c. A 2D analytical approach was used for the rapid evaluation of 18c positions in over 4000 interphase nuclei from normal male and female individuals, as well as individuals with trisomy 18 and Bloom's syndrome. In addition to epithelially derived amniotic fluid cells, investigated cell types included in vitro cultivated fibroblastoid cells established from fetal lung tissue and skin-derived fibroblasts. In agreement with the above 3D observations 18c targets were found significantly closer (P < 0.01) to the center of the 2D nuclear image (CNI) and to each other in all these cultures compared to a random distribution derived from corresponding ellipsoid or cylinder model nuclei. For comparison, a chromosome X-specific alphoid DNA probe was used to investigate the 2D distribution of chromosome X centric heterochromatin in the same cell types. Two dimensional Xc-Xc and Xc-CNI distances fit a random distribution in diploid normal and Bloom's syndrome nuclei, as well as in nuclei with trisomy X. The different distributions of 18c and Xc targets were confirmed by the simultaneous staining of these targets in different colors within individual nuclei using a double in situ hybridization approach

Detection of chromosome aberrations in the human interphase nucleus by visualization of specific target DNAs with radioactive and non-radioactive in situ hybridization techniques: diagnosis of trisomy 18 with probe L1.84

The localization of chromosome 18 in human interphase nuclei is demonstrated by use of radioactive and nonradioactive in situ hybridization techniques with a DNA clone designated L1.84. This clone represents a distinct subpopulation of the repetitive human alphoid DNA family, located in the centric region of chromosome 18. Under stringent hybridization conditions hybridization of L1.84 is restricted to chromosome 18 and reflects the number of these chromosomes present in the nuclei, namely, two in normal diploid human cells and three in nuclei from cells with trisomy 18. Under conditions of low stringency, cross-hybridization with other subpopulations of the alphoid DNA family occurs in the centromeric regions of the whole chromosome complement, and numerous hybridization sites are detected over interphase nuclei. Detection of chromosome-specific target DNAs by non-radioactive in situ hybridization with appropriate DNA probes cloned from individual chromosomal subregions presents a rapid means of identifying directly numerical or even structural chromosome aberrations in the interphase nucleus. Present limitations and future applications of interphase cytogenetics are discussed

Rapid interphase and metaphase assessment of specific chromosomal changes in neuroectodermal tumor cells by in situ hybridization with chemically modified DNA probes

Repeated DNAs from the constitutive heterochromatin of human chromosomes 1 and 18 were used as probes in nonradioactive in situ hybridization experiments to define specific numerical and structural chromosome aberrations in three human glioma cell lines and one neuroblastoma cell line. The number of spots detected in interphase nuclei of these tumor cell lines and in normal diploid nuclei correlated well with metaphase counts of chromosomes specifically labeled by in situ hybridization. Rapid and reliable assessments of aneuploid chromosome numbers in tumor lines in double hybridization experiments were achieved, and rare cells with bizarre phenotype and chromosome constitution could be evaluated in a given tumor cell population. Even with suboptimal or rare chromosome spreads specific chromosome aberrations were delineated. As more extensive probe sets become available this approach will become increasingly powerful for uncovering various genetic alterations and their progression in tumor cells

Specific metaphase and interphase detection of the breakpoint region in 8q24 of burkitt lymphoma cells by triple-color fluorescence in situ hybridization

Triple fluorescence in situ hybridization with a plasmid DNA library from sorted human chromosomes 8 in combination with bacteriophage clones flanking the breakpoint in 8q24 of the Burkitt lymphoma cell line Jl was used for the specific delineation of this breakpoint in individual tumor cells. With this approach, tumor-specific breakpoints in translocation chromosomes can be detected at all stages of the cell cycle with high specificity

Global crustal thickness from neural network inversion of surface wave data

We present a neural network approach to invert surface wave data for a global model of crustal thickness with corresponding uncertainties. We model the a posteriori probability distribution of Moho depth as a mixture of Gaussians and let the various parameters of the mixture model be given by the outputs of a conventional neural network. We show how such a network can be trained on a set of random samples to give a continuous approximation to the inverse relation in a compact and computationally efficient form. The trained networks are applied to real data consisting of fundamental mode Love and Rayleigh phase and group velocity maps. For each inversion, performed on a 2° × 2° grid globally, we obtain the a posteriori probability distribution of Moho depth. From this distribution any desired statistic such as mean and variance can be computed. The obtained results are compared with current knowledge of crustal structure. Generally our results are in good agreement with other crustal models. However in certain regions such as central Africa and the backarc of the Rocky Mountains we observe a thinner crust than the other models propose. We also see evidence for thickening of oceanic crust with increasing age. In applications, characterized by repeated inversion of similar data, the neural network approach proves to be very efficient. In particular, the speed of the individual inversions and the possibility of modelling the whole a posteriori probability distribution of the model parameters make neural networks a promising tool in seismic tomography

A family history of breast cancer will not predict female early onset breast cancer in a population-based setting

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: An increased risk of breast cancer for relatives of breast cancer patients has been demonstrated in many studies, and having a relative diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age is an indication for breast cancer screening. This indication has been derived from estimates based on data from cancer-prone families or from BRCA1/2 mutation families, and might be biased because BRCA1/2 mutations explain only a small proportion of the familial clustering of breast cancer. The aim of the current study was to determine the predictive value of a family history of cancer with regard to early onset of female breast cancer in a population based setting. METHODS: An unselected sample of 1,987 women with and without breast cancer was studied with regard to the age of diagnosis of breast cancer. RESULTS: The risk of early-onset breast cancer was increased when there were: (1) at least 2 cases of female breast cancer in first-degree relatives (yes/no; HR at age 30: 3.09; 95% CI: 128-7.44), (2) at least 2 cases of female breast cancer in first or second-degree relatives under the age of 50 (yes/no; HR at age 30: 3.36; 95% CI: 1.12-10.08), (3) at least 1 case of female breast cancer under the age of 40 in a first- or second-degree relative (yes/no; HR at age 30: 2.06; 95% CI: 0.83-5.12) and (4) any case of bilateral breast cancer (yes/no; HR at age 30: 3.47; 95%: 1.33-9.05). The positive predictive value of having 2 or more of these characteristics was 13% for breast cancer before the age of 70, 11% for breast cancer before the age of 50, and 1% for breast cancer before the age of 30. CONCLUSION: Applying family history related criteria in an unselected population could result in the screening of many women who will not develop breast cancer at an early age