Prognostic Significance of Cereblon Expression in Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

BACKGROUND: To personalize the treatment approach for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), molecular markers such as cereblon (CRBN) are currently the focus of investigation. The aim of the present study was to test the prognostic significance of CRBN expression in MM patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data from 92 previously untreated patients were analyzed. The distribution according to the International Staging System score was 26.1%, 30.4%, and 43.5% with a score of 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Thalidomide- and bortezomib-based combinations were used in 83.7% and 16.3% of the patients, respectively. RESULTS: A treatment response (complete remission, very good partial remission, partial remission) was achieved in 83.7% of the patients and correlated with high CRBN expression (P = .006), mainly in the patients treated with thalidomide (P = .028). Low CRBN expression affected progression-free survival (PFS; P = .017) but not overall survival (OS) in patients treated with thalidomide and had no influence on OS in the bortezomib group. In the Cox regression model, low CRBN expression was the most important prognostic parameter that influenced PFS in the thalidomide-treated patients (P = .012). CONCLUSION: CRBN expression is of prognostic value in MM patients ineligible for ASCT treated with thalidomide as an immunomodulatory drug. With low expression indicating a possible suboptimal treatment outcome, measurement of CRBN expression might serve as additional prognostic tool in the personalized treatment approach.

THE TIBIAL APERTURE SURFACE ANALYSIS IN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

INTRODUCTION: The tibial tunnel aperture in the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is usually analyzed as an ellipse, generated as an intersection between a tibial plateau and a tibial bone tunnel. The aim of this study is to show that the tibial tunnel aperture, which utilizes 3D tibial surface bone model, differs significantly from common computations which present the tibial tunnel anterior cruciate ligament aperture surface as an ellipse. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An interactive program system was developed for the tibial tunnel aperture analysis which included the real tibia 3D surface bone model generated from a series of computed tomography images of ten male patients, their mean age being 25 years. In aperture calculation, the transverse drill angle of 10 degrees was used, whereas sagittal drill angles of 40 degrees, 50 degrees and 60 degrees were used with the drill-bit diameter set to 10 mm. The real 3D and 2D tibial tunnel aperture surface projection was calculated and compared with an ellipse. RESULTS: According to the calculations, generated 3D aperture surfaces were different for every patient even though the same drill parameters were used. For the sagittal drill angles of 40 degrees, 50 degrees and 60 degrees, the mean difference between the projected 3D and 2D area on the tibial plateau was 19.6 +/- 5.4%, 21.1 +/- 8.0% and 21.3 +/- 9.6%, respectively. The difference between the projected 3D area on the tibial plateau and ellipse surface was 54.8 +/- 16.3%, 39.6 +/- 10.4% and 25.0 +/- 8.0% for sagittal drill angles of 40 degrees, 50 degrees and 60 degrees, respectively. CONCLUSION: The tibial tunnel aperture surface area differs significantly from the ellipse surface area, which is commonly used in the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction analysis. Inclusion of the 3D shape of the tibial attachment site in the preoperative anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction planning process can lead to a more precise individual anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on the tibial bone. Both tibial aperture area generated in 3D and its projection on a tibial plateau are larger than the ellipse surface; therefore, individual characteristics of each patient have to be taken into consideration.

[Comparative analysis of the position of the graft in the femur after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction done through the front inner portal and through the shin bone].

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most common surgically treated knee ligament. If we take into account the fact that incidence of ACL injuries is growing, it is clearly that the interest of orthopedic surgeons for this pathology is also growing. Increasing number of this operations leads to increasing of complications, which requires its analysis. One of the most common failure of ACL reconstruction is a bad position of the graft in the femoral condyle. This study aimed to analyze the positioning of the graft in to the femur by two generally accepted techniques--transtibial technique and technique through the antero-medial portal. The analysis included postoperative radiographs in 60 patients, of whom 30 were operated by transtibial technique and 30 by technique through anteromedial portal. Radiographic analysis involved the measurement of the AP digital imaging, the tunnel projection X ray measurements and measurements of the computed tomography (CT), which was here a control method. The accuracy of measurement was set at 0.5 degrees or 1 min. All radiographs were made in the same way according to the literature. The results showed that the neoligaments were placed lower in the femoral condyle by technique through anteromedial portal than by transtibial technique, and the difference was statistically significant (on tunnel X ray by anteromedial portal screws were average placed at 50.0 degrees and 10:20 am, and by transtibial technique at 37.5 degrees or 10:45 am). Based on the results, it was concluded that the neoligaments were positioned closer to its anatomical position by technique through anteromedial portal.