Reliability and accuracy of the critical shoulder angle measured by anteroposterior radiographs: using digitally reconstructed radiograph from 3-dimensional computed tomography images.

BACKGROUND: Accuracy of current standard radiographic measurement of the critical shoulder angle (CSA) is not well established. This study analyzed the reliability and accuracy of the CSA measurements obtained via anteroposterior (AP) radiographs, using a digitally reconstructed radiograph (true AP view) generated from a computed tomography image as the gold standard. METHODS: The CSA was measured on the radiographs and true AP views of 88 consecutive patients who had undergone shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff tears. Intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities of the CSA, measured by 2 orthopedic surgeons, were evaluated, and the average deviation of the CSA between radiographs and true AP views was calculated. Moreover, we compared the deviation of CSA between standard AP films (types A1 and C1) and nonstandard AP films (other types) against the Suter-Henninger criteria. RESULTS: Intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities were almost perfect on radiographs (0.96, 0.86) and true AP views (0.93, 0.85). The average deviation of CSA was 2.1° ± 1.6° for observer 1 and 2.2° ± 1.9° for observer 2. The percentage of cases with deviations of 2° or more when compared with the true AP view was 42% (37 of 88) for observer 1 and 53% (47 of 88) for observer 2. Only 22% (19 of 88) of films were standard AP films. The average deviation of CSA was not significantly different between standard and nonstandard AP films for observer 1 (standard 1.9° ± 1.3°; nonstandard 2.1° ± 1.7°; P = .76) and observer 2 (standard 1.6° ± 1.5°; nonstandard 2.4° ± 1.9°; P = .09). CONCLUSION: The CSA measurements using radiography were highly congruent, but a large measurement deviation occurred between radiographs and true AP views. The clinical usefulness and role of CSA in diagnosis require careful consideration.

Combined gene therapy with adenovirus vectors containing CTLA4Ig and CD40Ig prolongs survival of composite tissue allografts in rat model.

BACKGROUND: The blockade of costimulatory signal pathway by anti-CD40 ligand antibody or cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig) prolongs allograft survival in various vascularized organ transplantations. Because of the short half life of these agents, repeated administration of proteins is required to achieve significant graft survival. Furthermore, there is limited information regarding the effect of cosimulatory blockade on the survival of composite tissue allografts. Therefore, we examined the effect of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig gene or both in composite tissue allotransplantation. METHODS: The hind limbs removed from male ACI rats (RT1 ) were transplanted into female Lewis rats (RT1 ) heterotopically. The recombinant adenovirus carrying CTLA4Ig (AxCTLA4Ig) or CD40Ig (AxCD40Ig) was intravenously administered after limb transplantation. RESULTS: Limb allograft survival was significantly prolonged by either AxCTLA4Ig or AxCD40Ig treatment at 1 x 10 plaque forming unit (mean survival time [MST] of 39.4+/-6.0 and 13.0+/-2.9, respectively) compared with the adenovirus vector containing beta-galactosidase-treated group (MST of 4.8+/-0.8). Combination of AxCTLA4Ig and AxCD40Ig led to significant prolongation of graft survival (MST of 49.2+/-6.6). Serum levels of CD40Ig were higher in rats treated with combination therapy than those treated with AxCD40Ig alone, whereas the serum levels of CTLA4Ig in rats treated with AxCTLA4Ig alone and AxCTLA4Ig and AxCD40Ig combined were very similar. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that an adenovirus-mediated gene therapy of CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig has a therapeutic potential for preventing rejection in composite tissue transplantation. Furthermore, a combination therapy of AxCTLA4Ig and AxCD40Ig was even more effective in preventing acute rejection and prolonging the survival of allografted limbs without apparent complication.