[The relationship between neuroendocrine dysfunction and free-radical oxidation in old age alcoholism].

OBJECTIVE: to study the relationship between dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and free-radical oxidation in old age alcoholism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Authors examined 46 men and women, aged 60-80 years, with alcoholism. Contents of cortisol, lipid peroxidation products and the level of an oxidatively modified protein were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A decrease in blood cortisol content and correlations between its level and activity of free-radical oxidation were identified. The severity of neuroendocrine dysfunction in old patients was sex-related. It has been suggested that the impairment of HPA system activity may be a cause of oxidative stress and development of alcoholism.

Nanoparticles enhance the ability of human neutrophils to exert phagocytosis by a Syk-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Some reports indicate that NPs are ingested by cells via different mechanisms, including phagocytosis. In contrast, the direct role of NPs on the phagocytic process is not well documented. The aim of this study was to determine if titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), zinc oxide (ZnO) and cerium dioxide (CeO(2)) NPs, could alter the ability of neutrophils to exert phagocytosis. METHODS: Freshly isolated human neutrophils were incubated with NPs and their ability to phagocytose opsonized sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) or fluorescent latex beads (LBs) was assessed by optical and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Syk activation was assessed by western blot experiments and a pharmacological approach with piceatannol, a Syk inhibitor, was used to determine its role in NPs-induced neutrophils. The cytokine granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was used as a positive control. RESULTS: All tested NPs enhanced the ability of neutrophil to phagocytose SRBCs and LBs. Syk was activated in NPs-induced neutrophils as evidenced by its increased tyrosine phosphorylation level vs controls and the ability of NPs-induced phagocytosis was reversed by piceatannol. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the tested NPs enhanced phagocytosis, although at different degree, and this occurred by a Syk-dependent mechanism. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study demonstrating that NPs, by themselves, can directly enhance FcR-mediated (opsonized SRBCs) and complement-mediated (LBs) phagocytosis. Moreover, as part of their mode of action, we determined that NPs can act similarly to GM-CSF leading to Syk activation involved in phagocytosis. This has to be taken under consideration for future nanobiology and nanomedicine studies.

Risk factors for heterotopic ossification and spur formation after total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated the incidence and risk factors of heterotopic ossification (HO) after implantation of knee prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a retrospective cohort study in 434 cases (363 patients) treated with a total knee replant using a Press-Fit-Condylar (P.F.C.(®)Sigma(®)) prosthesis. The occurrence of HO in radiograph after a follow-up period of 11.2 ± 2.4 months was correlated in a regression model with a variety of influencing factors. RESULTS: 21 patients (4.8 %) developed heterotopic ossifications, all located in the area of the distal femur. The only risk factor found concerning the development of HO was osteoarthritis when compared to rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 4.07, 95 % CI 1.18-14.05; p = 0.0201) and postoperative wound healing problems (OR = 11.32, 95 % CI 3.26-39.33; p = 0.0001). Notching (OR = 2.22, 95 % CI 0.92-5.36; p = 0.0765) and osteophyte forming (hypertrophic) arthrosis (OR = 2.40, 95 % CI 0.97-5.95; p = 0.0596), however, were associated with the development of a bony spur in the contact area of the femoral component of the prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has revealed that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at lower risk of HO than patients with osteoarthritis. An impairment of wound healing would appear to promote the development of a HO. Notching and hypertrophic arthrosis are highly likely to be associated with the development of a bony spur in the ventral contact area of the prosthesis.

Combined treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia, including recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2: a case series.

The use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) for the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia has been investigated in only one previous study, with promising results. The aim of this study was to determine whether rhBMP-2 might improve the outcome of this disorder. We reviewed the medical records of five patients with a mean age of 7.4 years (2.3 to 21) with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia who had been treated with rhBMP-2 and intramedullary rodding. Ilizarov external fixation was also used in four of these patients. Radiological union of the pseudarthrosis was evident in all of them at a mean of 3.5 months (3.2 to 4) post-operatively. The Ilizarov device was removed after a mean of 4.2 months (3.0 to 5.3). These results indicate that treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia using rhBMP-2 in combination with intramedullary stabilisation and Ilizarov external fixation may improve the initial rate of union and reduce the time to union. Further studies with more patients and longer follow-up are necessary to determine whether this surgial procedure may significantly enhance the outcome of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia, considering the refracture rate (two of five patients) in this small case series.

Team building for the staff development department.

Development of effective teamwork is a deliberate process. The leader assumes a major role in this process. The payoff for team building begins with the increased professional growth of members that may ultimately result in improved overall organizational effectiveness. This article describes the major roles a leader plays in helping groups become teams.