Outcome of locking compression plating for proximal humeral fractures: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of open reduction and internal fixation using locking compression plates for proximal humeral fractures. METHODS: 54 men and 16 women aged 28 to 79 (mean, 54) years underwent open reduction and internal fixation using a locking compression plate for closed 2-part (n=22), 3-part (n=38), and 4-part (n=10) proximal humeral fractures. 10 of the patients also had dislocation of the humeral head; 4 had fractures extending to the shaft. Wound condition, functional outcome, bone union, amount of collapse, and malalignment were assessed. Functional outcome was assessed using the Constant-Murley score. RESULTS; The mean follow-up period was 15 (range, 6-24) months. All fractures achieved union after a mean of 9 (range, 6-12) weeks. The mean Constant-Murley scores for the injured and normal shoulders were 72 and 82, respectively (88% of normal). The final outcome was excellent in 14 patients, good in 28, moderate in 22, and poor in 6. In the latter 6 patients, 2 had screw penetration, 2 had plate impingement, one had a mal-reduced greater tuberosity, and one had adhesive capsulitis. All were preventable. In all, 18 patients had 20 complications: subacromial impingement of the plate (n=6), mal-reduction of the greater tuberosity (n=6), screw penetration (n=2), adhesive capsulitis (n=2), superficial infection (n=2), and haematoma (n=2); 12 of these complications were technique-related. CONCLUSION: Locking proximal humeral plates enabled stable fixation in all Neer-type proximal humeral fractures. Most complications were technique-related.

Pharmacognostical studies of Portulaca oleracea Linn / Estudos farmacognósticos de Portulaca oleracea Linn

Portulaca oleracea Linn, belongs to family Portulaceae and is a widely distributed weed. It has been used as a folk medicine in many countries as diuretics, febrifuge, antiseptic, antispasmodic and vermifuge. This paper deals with the microscopic study of leaf; stem and root of Portulaca oleracea, along with the physico-chemical and preliminary phytochemical analyses that were also studied.

Portulaca oleracea Linn, pertence à família Portulaceae e é uma erva daninha amplamente distribuída. Ela tem sido utilizada como remédio popular em muitos países como diurético, febrífugo, anti-séptico, antiespasmódico e vermífugo. Este artigo aborda o estudo microscópico da folha, caule e raiz de Portulaca oleracea, juntamente com as análises físico-química e fitoquímica preliminar que foram também estudadas.

Solid phase extraction method for the determination of lead, nickel, copper and manganese by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using sodium bispiperdine-1,1'-carbotetrathioate (Na-BPCTT) in water samples.

A novel column solid phase extraction procedure was developed for the determination of lead, nickel, copper and manganese in various water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after preconcentration on sodium bispiperdine-1,1'-carbotetrathioate (Na-BPCTT) supported by Amberlite XAD-7. The sorbed element was subsequently eluted with 1M nitric acid and the acid eluates are analysed by Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Various parameters such as pH, amount of adsorbent, eluent type and volume, flow-rate of the sample solution, volume of the sample solution and matrix interference effect on the retention of the metal ions have been studied. The optimum pH for the sorption of above mentioned metal ions was about 6.0+/-0.2. The loading capacity of adsorbent for Pb, Cu, Ni and Mn were found to 28, 26, 22 and 20x10(-6) g/mL, respectively. The recoveries of lead, copper, nickel and manganese under optimum conditions were found to be 96.7-99.2 at the 95% confident level. The limit of detection was 3.0, 3.2, 2.8 and 3.6x10(-6) g/mL for lead, copper, nickel and manganese, respectively by applying a preconcentration factor 50. The proposed enrichment method was applied for metal ions in various water samples. The results were obtained are good agreement with reported method.

Spectrum of immune reactivity to mycobacterial (BCG) antigens in healthy hospital contacts in south India.

In an effort to study the immunological responses to antigens of tubercle bacilli, 49 tuberculin positive and 41 tuberculin negative hospital contacts aged 20-29 years (staff nurses and students working in Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, South India) were studied for serum antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA classes) to BCG by ELISA and diameter of induration to PPD by Mantoux procedures. The two immunological parameters were correlated in regression analysis. The results have revealed higher anti-BCG serum antibody levels in hospital contacts than in non-contacts, significantly higher antibodies in tuberculin negative hospital contacts than in tuberculin positive hospital contacts, an inverse correlation of tuberculin reactivity and antibodies and a bimodal decline (regression) of antibodies against the increase in skin test induration. This study has thus suggested the existence of an immunological spectrum in hospital contacts from south India; persons at one pole of the spectrum were tuberculin negative and possessed significantly elevated antibody levels and those at the other pole of the spectrum were tuberculin positive and possessed low antibody levels. Thus the spectrum of immune reactivity may be due to an inherent susceptibility/resistance of an individual to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Scintiphotography of lungs with dry aerosol--generation and delivery system: concise communication.

A compressed-air nebulizer with low holdup and high output was used to nebulize [99mTc] pertechnetate presented in normal saline. Generated droplets were dried in line and led to an inhalation chamber from which the dry aerosol was inhaled using a nose or mouth inhalation unit. The mass median diameter of the particles was 0.8 microns, with an associated geometric standard deviation of 2.0. The deep lung delivery efficiency--defined as the ratio of the activity deposited in the lung area to the activity nebulized--was found to be reproducible and consistent (15-22%) in all the subjects studied. A 3-5 min inhalation of aerosol, nebulized from 20 mCi, was sufficient to provide a lung image of good information density. No noticeable deposit was seen in the trachea or major brochi. The system is inexpensive, stable in performance, adaptable to other solutions or colloids, and is promising for routine use.