The Pavlik Harness in the Treatment of Congenital Dislocating Hip: Report on a Multicenter Study of the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society

The results of functional treatment using the Pavlik harness in congenital dislocation and congenital dysplasia of the hip in children aged less than 11 months were examined by an EPOS study group. This study was conducted on 3,611 hips in 2,636 patients for a period of 1-9 years after treatment. The reduction rate was 92% in grade Tonnis 2 and 3; the healing rate was 80%. In children with dysplastic hips, the healing rate was 95.35%. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was observed in 2.38%. The Pavlik harness is designed for outpatient treatment if the parents are complian

Expression, purification and in vitro biological activity from human recombinant BMP-2 produced by a novel approach

Bone tissue engineering has been an increasing field of research during the last years. The ideal approach for a regenerative application would consist in the use of cells from the patient, scaffolding materials and differentiation growth factors. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is one such growth factors with a strong ability to induce new bone and cartilage formation and has been used as a powerful osteoinductive component of several late-stage tissue engineering products for bone grafting. In this work, we aimed at obtaining high yields of human recombinant BMP-2 in a stable, pure and biologically active form by use of a new bacteria expression system that circumvents the disadvantages of conventional recombinant protein preparation methods and to perform a study of the stability conditions and functionality of these peptides in vitro in human mesenchymal stem cells and C2C12 murine cell line.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, FCT (PhD Grant to PC Bessa, to PC Bessa, SFRH/BD/17049/2004 SFRH/BD/17049/2004 ). This work was ). This work was also partially supported by the European STREP HIPPOCRATES (NMP3 also partially supported by the European STREP HIPPOCRATES (NMP3--CTCT--2003 2003--505758) and carried out under the scope of 505758) and carried out under the scope of European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3 European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3--CTCT- -2004 2004 --500283). 500283info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A novel system for producing human recombinant BMP-2 and study of the growth factor stabilizing conditions

Bone tissue engineering has been an increasing field of research during the last years. The ideal approach for a regenerative application would consist in the use of cells from the patient, scaffolding materials and differentiation growth factors. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is one such growth factors with a strong ability to induce new bone and cartilage formation and has been used as a powerful osteoinductive component of several late-stage tissue engineering products for bone grafting. In this work, we aimed at obtaining high yields of human recombinant BMP-2 in a stable, pure and biologically active form by use of a new bacteria expression system that circumvents the disadvantages of conventional recombinant protein preparation methods and to perform a study of the stability conditions and the functionality of these peptides in vitro in human mesenchymal stem cells and C2C12 murine cell line.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PhD Grant to PC Bessa, SFRH/BD/17049/2004). This work was also partially supported by the European STREP HIPPOCRATES (NMP3-CT-2003-505758) and carried out under the scope of European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004- 500283).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A novel approach for the production of human recombinant BMP-2 for bone tissue engineering applications

Bone tissue engineering has been an increasing field of research during the last years. The ideal approach for a regenerative application would consist in the use of cells from the patient, scaffolding materials and differentiation growth factors. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is one such growth factors with a strong ability to induce new bone and cartilage formation and has been used as a powerful osteoinductive component of several late-stage tissue engineering products for bone grafting. In this work, we aimed at obtaining high yields of human recombinant BMP-2 in a stable, pure and biologically active form by use of a new bacteria expression system that circumvents the disadvantages of conventional recombinant protein preparation methods and to perform a study of the stability conditions and the functionality of these peptides in vitro in human mesenchymal stem cells and C2C12 murine cell line.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cortical thickness mapping to identify focal osteoporosis in patients with hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with osteoporosis are predisposed to hip fracture during trips, stumbles or falls, but half of all hip fractures occur in those without generalised osteoporosis. By analysing ordinary clinical CT scans using a novel cortical thickness mapping technique, we discovered patches of markedly thinner bone at fracture-prone regions in the femurs of women with acute hip fracture compared with controls. METHODS: We analysed CT scans from 75 female volunteers with acute fracture and 75 age- and sex-matched controls. We classified the fracture location as femoral neck or trochanteric before creating bone thickness maps of the outer 'cortical' shell of the intact contra-lateral hip. After registration of each bone to an average femur shape and statistical parametric mapping, we were able to visualise and quantify statistically significant foci of thinner cortical bone associated with each fracture type, assuming good symmetry of bone structure between the intact and fractured hip. The technique allowed us to pinpoint systematic differences and display the results on a 3D average femur shape model. FINDINGS: The cortex was generally thinner in femoral neck fracture cases than controls. More striking were several discrete patches of statistically significant thinner bone of up to 30%, which coincided with common sites of fracture initiation (femoral neck or trochanteric). INTERPRETATION: Femoral neck fracture patients had a thumbnail-sized patch of focal osteoporosis at the upper head-neck junction. This region coincided with a weak part of the femur, prone to both spontaneous 'tensile' fractures of the femoral neck, and as a site of crack initiation when falling sideways. Current hip fracture prevention strategies are based on case finding: they involve clinical risk factor estimation to determine the need for single-plane bone density measurement within a standard region of interest (ROI) of the femoral neck. The precise sites of focal osteoporosis that we have identified are overlooked by current 2D bone densitometry methods

Isokinetic strength of the trunk flexor muscles after surgical repair for incisional hernia

Purpose The repair of incisional hernias can be accomplished by open or laparoscopic techniques. The Biodex® dynamometer measures muscle strength during isokinetic movement. The objectives of this study are to compare the strength of the trunk Xexors between patients who underwent repair for incisional hernia and a control group, and to compare trunk Xexion after two kinds of operative techniques for incisional hernias with and without approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles. Methods The trunk Xexion of 30 patients after different operative techniques for midline incisional hernias and of 12 healthy subjects was studied with the Biodex® isokinetic dynamometer. Results The mean torque/weight (N m/kg) for trunk Xexion was significantly higher in the control group compared to the patient group after incisional hernia repair. A significantly higher peak torque/weight [coefficient 24.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.05; 48.94, P = 0.05] was found in the two-layered suture technique without mesh compared to the laparoscopic technique after adjusting for gender. Conclusions The isokinetic strength of the trunk Xexor muscles is reduced after an operation for incisional hernia. There is some evidence that a two-layered suture repair with approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles results in higher isokinetic strength of the trunk Xexor muscles compared to the laparoscopic technique

Preventing Damage Limitation: Targeting DNA-PKcs and DNA Double-Strand Break Repair Pathways for Ovarian Cancer Therapy.

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the cornerstone of ovarian cancer treatment, and its efficacy is dependent on the generation of DNA damage, with subsequent induction of apoptosis. Inappropriate or aberrant activation of the DNA damage response network is associated with resistance to platinum, and defects in DNA repair pathways play critical roles in determining patient response to chemotherapy. In ovarian cancer, tumor cell defects in homologous recombination - a repair pathway activated in response to double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) - are most commonly associated with platinum-sensitive disease. However, despite initial sensitivity, the emergence of resistance is frequent. Here, we review strategies for directly interfering with DNA repair pathways, with particular focus on direct inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), another DSB repair pathway. DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a core component of NHEJ and it has shown considerable promise as a chemosensitization target in numerous cancer types, including ovarian cancer where it functions to promote platinum-induced survival signaling, via AKT activation. The development of pharmacological inhibitors of DNA-PKcs is on-going, and clinic-ready agents offer real hope to patients with chemoresistant disease

Economic aspects of nuclear energy in the Czech Republic in comparison with other selected types of energy sources

Cílem této bakalářské práce je analýza ekonomických aspektů výroby elektřiny, zejména podle metodiky LCOE a overnight costs. Hypotézou provázející tuto práci je tvrzení, že je jaderná energetika vhodným nástrojem k dekarbonizaci a k naplňování SEK. Teoretickou část tvoří přehled jednotlivých vybraných zdrojů elektrické energie a jejich ekonomické aspekty v rámci zemí OECD a ČR, a to na základě domácí i zahraniční literatury a dat mezinárodních organizací. V praktické části je provedena komparace jednotlivých zdrojů, analýza Státní energetické koncepce, a detailní analýza bezemisních zdrojů. V rámci výzkumu byly provedeny rozhovory s tvůrci energetické politiky, zástupci soukromého sektoru a se zástupcem ekologické organizace včetně vyhodnocení a polemiky s jejich názory. Z komparace ekonomických parametrů a dalších dopadů včetně externalit bylo potvrzenou, že jaderná energetika je narozdíl od OZE téměř ve všech aspektech ekonomicky nejvýhodnější zdroj a z celkového pohledu optimální nástroj k dekarbonizaci a k udržení stabilní a soběstačné národní energetiky, ale i z pohledu národohospodářského s ohledem na pozitivní dopady na trh práce a vysokou přidanou hodnotu na území ČR.The aim of this bachelor thesis is the analysis of economic aspects of electricity generation, especially according to the methodology of LCOE and overnight costs. In connection with the retreat from coal energy, it is necessary to use emission-free energy sources as a tool for decarbonization and energy self-sufficiency. The state energy concept is currently a key issue for economic policy. The hypothesis accompanying this work is the statement that nuclear energy is a suitable tool for decarbonization and for fulfilling the SEC. The theoretical part consists of an overview of individual selected sources of electricity and their economic aspects within the OECD and the Czech Republic, based on domestic and foreign literature and data from international organizations. The practical part is a comparison of individual sources, analysis of the State Energy Concept, and a detailed analysis of emission-free sources. As part of the research, work was conducted on the views of interviews with energy policy makers, representatives of the private sector and with a representative of environmental organizations, including evaluation and controversy with and my controversy with their views. The comparison of economic parameters and other impacts, including externalities, confirmed the conclusion that nuclear energy is, in contrast to RES in almost all aspects the most economically most advantageous source and overall optimal tool for decarbonization and maintaining stable and self-sufficient national energy, but also from the national with regard to the positive effects on the labor market and high added value in the Czech Republic