Impact of preoperative antibiotic use in preventing complications of cochlear implantation surgery

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis on the occurrence of postoperative complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of 491 patients undergoing cochlear implantation were included in a non-randomized retrospective comparative cohort study. Demographic data, cochlear implant and surgical details, use of preoperative antibiotics and occurrence of postoperative complications were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model.

RESULTS

There were 317 patients (64.56%) who did not receive preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and 174 (35.44%) patients who received preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis with ceftriaxone. The overall rate of complications requiring surgical treatment was 2.85%. Younger patient age was identified as a positive predictive factor for administering preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (p<0.001, OR 1.05 CI 95% 1.0124-1.0826). No difference in complication rate was observed between the two groups. No correlation between sex, age, manufacturer, surgeon and postoperative complications were noted (p=0.45).

CONCLUSION

There is insufficient evidence to inform decision making regarding preoperative intravenous ceftriaxone use for prevention of infection after cochlear implantation surgery, with data failing to show that administration of preoperative antibiotics leads to a decrease in complication rate. Considering a very low overall complication rate, with few complications related to infection, routine use of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis should be analyzed further.

Quantitative investigation of dose accumulation errors from intra-fraction motion in MRgRT for prostate cancer

Accurate spatial dose delivery in radiotherapy is frequently complicated due to changes in the patient's internal anatomy during and in-between therapy segments. The recent introduction of hybrid MRI radiotherapy systems allows unequaled soft-tissue visualization during radiation delivery and can be used for dose reconstruction to quantify the impact of motion. To this end, knowledge of anatomical deformations obtained from continuous monitoring during treatment has to be combined with information on the spatio-temporal dose delivery to perform motion-compensated dose accumulation (MCDA). Here, the influence of the choice of deformable image registration algorithm, dose warping strategy, and magnetic resonance image resolution and signal-to-noise-ratio on the resulting MCDA is investigated. For a quantitative investigation, four 4D MRI-datasets representing typical patient observed motion patterns are generated using finite element modeling and serve as a gold standard. Energy delivery is simulated intra-fractionally in the deformed image space and, subsequently, MCDA-processed. Finally, the results are substantiated by comparing MCDA strategies on clinically acquired patient data. It is shown that MCDA is needed for correct quantitative dose reconstruction. For prostate treatments, using the energy per mass transfer dose warping strategy has the largest influence on decreasing dose estimation errors.

Deep correction of breathing-related artifacts in real-time MR-thermometry

Real-time MR-imaging has been clinically adapted for monitoring thermal therapies since it can provide on-the-fly temperature maps simultaneously with anatomical information. However, proton resonance frequency based thermometry of moving targets remains challenging since temperature artifacts are induced by the respiratory as well as physiological motion. If left uncorrected, these artifacts lead to severe errors in temperature estimates and impair therapy guidance. In this study, we evaluated deep learning for on-line correction of motion related errors in abdominal MR-thermometry. For this, a convolutional neural network (CNN) was designed to learn the apparent temperature perturbation from images acquired during a preparative learning stage prior to hyperthermia. The input of the designed CNN is the most recent magnitude image and no surrogate of motion is needed. During the subsequent hyperthermia procedure, the recent magnitude image is used as an input for the CNN-model in order to generate an on-line correction for the current temperature map. The method's artifact suppression performance was evaluated on 12 free breathing volunteers and was found robust and artifact-free in all examined cases. Furthermore, thermometric precision and accuracy was assessed for in vivo ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound. All calculations involved at the different stages of the proposed workflow were designed to be compatible with the clinical time constraints of a therapeutic procedure.

Generation of intense and coherent sub-femtosecond X-ray pulses in electron storage rings

Temporally short X-ray pulses are an indispensable tool for the study of electron transitions close to the Fermi energy and structural changes in molecules undergoing chemical reactions which take place on a time-scale of hundreds of femtoseconds. The time resolution of experiments at 3^rd generation light sources which produce intense synchrotron radiation is limited fundamentally by the electron-bunch length in the range of tens of picoseconds. Here we propose a new scheme for the generation of intense and coherent sub-femtoseconds soft X-ray pulses in storage rings by applying the Echo-Enabled Harmonic Generation (EEHG) method. Many issues for obtaining the EEHG structure such as two modulators and a radiator are solved by a paradigm shift in an achromatic storage ring cell. Numerical demonstration of the feasibility of the scheme for the BESSY II beam parameters is presented.

Patch-based field-of-view matching in multi-modal images for electroporation-based ablations

Various multi-modal imaging sensors are currently involved at different steps of an interventional therapeutic work-flow. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), computed tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance (MR) images thereby provides complementary functional and/or structural information of the targeted region and organs at risk. Merging this information relies on a correct spatial alignment of the observed anatomy between the acquired images. This can be achieved by the means of multi-modal deformable image registration (DIR), demonstrated to be capable of estimating dense and elastic deformations between images acquired by multiple imaging devices. However, due to the typically different field-of-view (FOV) sampled across the various imaging modalities, such algorithms may severely fail in finding a satisfactory solution. In the current study we propose a new fast method to align the FOV in multi-modal 3D medical images. To this end, a patch-based approach is introduced and combined with a state-of-the-art multi-modal image similarity metric in order to cope with multi-modal medical images. The occurrence of estimated patch shifts is computed for each spatial direction and the shift value with maximum occurrence is selected and used to adjust the image field-of-view. The performance of the proposed method - in terms of both registration accuracy and computational needs - is analyzed in the practical case of on-line irreversible electroporation procedures. In total, 30 pairs of pre-/per-operative IRE images are considered to illustrate the efficiency of our algorithm. We show that a regional registration approach using voxel patches provides a good structural compromise between the voxel-wise and "global shifts" approaches. The method was thereby beneficial for CT to CBCT and MRI to CBCT registration tasks, especially when highly different image FOVs are involved. Besides, the benefit of the method for CT to CBCT and MRI to CBCT image registration is analyzed, including the impact of artifacts generated by percutaneous needle insertions. Additionally, the computational needs using commodity hardware are demonstrated to be compatible with clinical constraints in the practical case of on-line procedures. The proposed patch-based workflow thus represents an attractive asset for DIR at different stages of an interventional procedure.

Hypertrophic recurring lichen planus of the external auditory canal

INTRODUCTION

We report a case of unilateral progressive primary hypertrophic lichen planus of the external auditory canal requiring several surgical interventions to deal with constant pruritus, otorrhoea, stenosis and conductive hearing loss.

CASE SUMMARY

A 58-year-old woman was initially treated with meatoplasty for suspected chronic obliterating otitis externa. She remained symptom-free for 5 years, before the disease recurred, affecting other body surfaces as well. Otorrhoea, conductive hearing loss and pruritus worsened, and a canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy was performed, removing the skin of the external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane completely. Lichen planus was confirmed histopathologically.

DISCUSSION

Very few surgical results have been published on stenosis of the external auditory canal caused by lichen planus. Complete medial external auditory canal skin elevation and removal with postoperative split-skin grafting is advised for initial treatment. We discuss treatment options and surgical outcome after initial surgical failure.

Transverse resonance island buckets for synchrotron-radiation based electron time-of-flight spectroscopy

At the Metrology Light Source (MLS), the compact electron storage ring of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) with a circumference of 48 m, a specific operation mode with two stable closed orbits for stored electrons was realized by transverse resonance island buckets. One of these orbits is closing only after three turns. In combination with single-bunch operation, the new mode was applied for electron time-of-flight spectroscopy with an interval of the synchrotron radiation pulses which is three times the revolution period at the MLS of 160 ns. The achievement is of significant importance for PTB's future programs of angular-resolved electron spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation and similar projects at other compact electron storage rings. The scheme applied here for selecting the photons originating from a particular orbit by optical imaging has been used before in fs slicing applications and may be relevant for the BESSY VSR project of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.

Anatomically plausible models and quality assurance criteria for online mono- and multi-modal medical image registration

Medical imaging is currently employed in the diagnosis, planning, delivery and response monitoring of cancer treatments. Due to physiological motion and/or treatment response, the shape and location of the pathology and organs-at-risk may change over time. Establishing their location within the acquired images is therefore paramount for an accurate treatment delivery and monitoring. A feasible solution for tracking anatomical changes during an image-guided cancer treatment is provided by image registration algorithms. Such methods are, however, often built upon elements originating from the computer vision/graphics domain. Since the original design of such elements did not take into consideration the material properties of particular biological tissues, the anatomical plausibility of the estimated deformations may not be guaranteed. In the current work we adapt two existing variational registration algorithms, namely Horn-Schunck and EVolution, to online soft tissue tracking. This is achieved by enforcing an incompressibility constraint on the estimated deformations during the registration process. The existing and the modified registration methods were comparatively tested against several quality assurance criteria on abdominal in vivo MR and CT data. These criteria included: the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), the Jaccard index, the target registration error (TRE) and three additional criteria evaluating the anatomical plausibility of the estimated deformations. Results demonstrated that both the original and the modified registration methods have similar registration capabilities in high-contrast areas, with DSC and Jaccard index values predominantly in the 0.8-0.9 range and an average TRE of 1.6-2.0 mm. In contrast-devoid regions of the liver and kidneys, however, the three additional quality assurance criteria have indicated a considerable improvement of the anatomical plausibility of the deformations estimated by the incompressibility-constrained methods. Moreover, the proposed registration models maintain the potential of the original methods for online image-based guidance of cancer treatments.

Thrombolysis in Newborns and Infants

This review analyses literature reports from 1970 to 1998 assessing the use of streptokinase (SK), urokinase (UK) or recombinant tissuetype plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for thrombolytic therapy in neonates and infants. From 1970 to 1998 182 infants were reported to have received SK (n = 54; 29.5%), UK (n = 41; 22.5%) or rt-PA (n = 87; 48%). During thrombolytic therapy no concomitant heparin administration or low dose heparin therapy (5 U/kg/h) were recorded. To perform reocclusion prophylactics heparin was reinitiated at the end of thrombolytic therapy usually in the recommended dosage of 20 U/kg/h. The overall thrombolytic patency rate in neonates varied from 39% to 86%. Besides bleeding from local puncture sites or recent catheterisation sites (10.4%), pulmonary embolism was reported in 1.1% of the 182 infants. Major bleeding complications, i.e. pulmonary bleeding (0.6%), gastrointestinal bleeding (0.6%) or intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH 2.7%) are rarely reported side effects and only 2 thrombolysis related deaths due to haemorrhage were mentioned. Bleedings reported in the central nervous system (n = 4) mainly occurred in preterm infants (n = 3). In conclusion, data of this preliminary analysis suggest that there is no big difference (p = 0.09; χ2-test) in the efficacy rate between the 3 thrombolytic agents used in the first year of life. In each case an assessment must be made with respect to the relative benefit conferred by thrombolytic therapy in preventing organ or limb damage versus the potential side effects, costs and inconvenience for the childhood patient. Controlled prospective multicentre studies on thrombolytic therapy in neonates and infants are recommended to evaluate patency rates and adverse effects for the different thrombolytic agents used.

An improved optical flow tracking technique for real-time MR-guided beam therapies in moving organs

Magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasound and external beam radiotherapy interventions, which we shall refer to as beam therapies/interventions, are promising techniques for the non-invasive ablation of tumours in abdominal organs. However, therapeutic energy delivery in these areas becomes challenging due to the continuous displacement of the organs with respiration. Previous studies have addressed this problem by coupling high-framerate MR-imaging with a tracking technique based on the algorithm proposed by Horn and Schunck (H and S), which was chosen due to its fast convergence rate and highly parallelisable numerical scheme. Such characteristics were shown to be indispensable for the real-time guidance of beam therapies. In its original form, however, the algorithm is sensitive to local grey-level intensity variations not attributed to motion such as those that occur, for example, in the proximity of pulsating arteries.In this study, an improved motion estimation strategy which reduces the impact of such effects is proposed. Displacements are estimated through the minimisation of a variation of the H and S functional for which the quadratic data fidelity term was replaced with a term based on the linear L(1)norm, resulting in what we have called an L(2)-L(1) functional.The proposed method was tested in the livers and kidneys of two healthy volunteers under free-breathing conditions, on a data set comprising 3000 images equally divided between the volunteers. The results show that, compared to the existing approaches, our method demonstrates a greater robustness to local grey-level intensity variations introduced by arterial pulsations. Additionally, the computational time required by our implementation make it compatible with the work-flow of real-time MR-guided beam interventions.To the best of our knowledge this study was the first to analyse the behaviour of an L(1)-based optical flow functional in an applicative context: real-time MR-guidance of beam therapies in moving organs.

[Nora's Lesion: A Rare Differential Diagnosis for Benign Peripheral Bone Tumours]

We report on a bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP), also known as Nora's lesion, in a 43-year-old female patient.

Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) ablation of liver tumours

Recent decades have seen a paradigm shift in the treatment of liver tumours from invasive surgical procedures to minimally invasive image-guided ablation techniques. Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is a novel, completely non-invasive ablation technique that has the potential to change the field of liver tumour ablation. The image guidance, using MR imaging and MR temperature mapping, provides excellent planning images and real-time temperature information during the ablation procedure. However, before clinical implementation of MR-HIFU for liver tumour ablation is feasible, several organ-specific challenges have to be addressed. In this review we discuss the MR-HIFU ablation technique, the liver-specific challenges for MR-HIFU tumour ablation, and the proposed solutions for clinical translation.

Towards optimized MR thermometry of the human heart at 3T

Catheter ablation using radio frequency (RF) has been used increasingly for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and may be combined with proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) -based MR thermometry to determine the therapy endpoint. We evaluated the suitability of two different MR thermometry sequences (TFE and TFE-EPI) and three blood suppression techniques. Experiments were performed without heating, using an optimized imaging protocol including navigator respiratory compensation, cardiac triggering, and image processing for the compensation of motion and susceptibility artefacts. Blood suppression performance and its effect on temperature stability were evaluated in the ventricular septum of eight healthy volunteers using multislice double inversion recovery (MDIR), motion sensitized driven equilibrium (MSDE), and inflow saturation by saturation slabs (IS). It was shown that blood suppression during MR thermometry improves the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), the robustness of the applied motion correction algorithm as well as the temperature stability. A gradient echo sequence accelerated by an EPI readout and parallel imaging (SENSE) and using inflow saturation blood suppression was shown to achieve the best results. Temperature stabilities of 2 °C or better in the ventricular septum with a spatial resolution of 3.5 × 3.5 × 8mm(3) and a temporal resolution corresponding to the heart rate of the volunteer, were observed. Our results indicate that blood suppression improves the temperature stability when performing cardiac MR thermometry. The proposed MR thermometry protocol, which optimizes temperature stability in the ventricular septum, represents a step towards PRFS-based MR thermometry of the heart at 3 T.

Local tissue properties of human osteoarthritic cartilage correlate with magnetic resonance T(1) rho relaxation times

The objective of this study is to examine the local relationship between T(1ρ) relaxation times and the mechanical behavior of human osteoarthritic articular cartilage using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and local in situ microindentation. Seven human tibial plateaus were obtained from patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty due to severe osteoarthritis (OA). Three to six sites were selected from each sample for visual classification using the ICRS Outerbridge scale (a total of 36 sites). Samples were imaged by MR, and the local distribution of T(1ρ) relaxation times were obtained at these selected sites. The elastic and viscoelastic characteristics of the tissue were quantified nondestructively using dynamic microindentation to measure peak dynamic modulus, energy dissipation, and phase angle. Measured Outerbridge scores, MR T(1ρ) relaxation times, and mechanical properties were highly heterogeneous across each cartilage surface. Site-specific measures of T(1ρ) relaxation times correlated significantly with the phase angle (p < 0.001; R = 0.908), a viscoelastic mechanical behavior of the cartilage. The novel combination of high-resolution MR imaging and microindentation allows the investigation of the local relationship between quantitative MRI and biomechanical properties in highly heterogeneous OA cartilage. These findings suggest that MRI T(1ρ) can provide a functional assessment of articular cartilage.

Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase alfa in patients with Fabry's disease: an analysis of registry data

BACKGROUND

We analysed 5-year treatment with agalsidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy in patients with Fabry's disease who were enrolled in the Fabry Outcome Survey observational database (FOS).

METHODS

Baseline and 5-year data were available for up to 181 adults (126 men) in FOS. Serial data for cardiac mass and function, renal function, pain, and quality of life were assessed. Safety and sensitivity analyses were done in patients with baseline and at least one relevant follow-up measurement during the 5 years (n=555 and n=475, respectively).

FINDINGS

In patients with baseline cardiac hypertrophy, treatment resulted in a sustained reduction in left ventricular mass (LVM) index after 5 years (from 71.4 [SD 22.5] g/m(2.7) to 64.1 [18.7] g/m(2.7), p=0.0111) and a significant increase in midwall fractional shortening (MFS) from 14.3% (2.3) to 16.0% (3.8) after 3 years (p=0.02). In patients without baseline hypertrophy, LVM index and MFS remained stable. Mean yearly fall in estimated glomerular filtration rate versus baseline after 5 years of enzyme replacement therapy was -3.17 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) for men and -0.89 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) for women. Average pain, measured by Brief Pain Inventory score, improved significantly, from 3.7 (2.3) at baseline to 2.5 (2.4) after 5 years (p=0.0023). Quality of life, measured by deviation scores from normal EuroQol values, improved significantly, from -0.24 (0.3) at baseline to -0.17 (0.3) after 5 years (p=0.0483). Findings were confirmed by sensitivity analysis. No unexpected safety concerns were identified.

INTERPRETATION

By comparison with historical natural history data for patients with Fabry's disease who were not treated with enzyme replacement therapy, long-term treatment with agalsidase alfa leads to substantial and sustained clinical benefits.

FUNDING

Shire Human Genetic Therapies AB.

High-flexion, motion-guided total knee arthroplasty: who benefits the most?

A multicenter study was performed to determine which patients have the most potential to benefit from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a high-flexion, guided-motion design. In 201 consecutive TKAs, the mean gain in range of motion (ROM) was 14 degrees at 3 months and 24 degrees at 6 months. The gain in flexion was significant at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. No differences were found based on preoperative diagnosis, age, or sex. There was a poor correlation between body mass index and ROM. Pre- and postoperative flexion also displayed a weak correlation. Patients with the least preoperative flexion (<90 degrees) gained the most degrees of flexion (26 degrees). We conclude that the use of a high-flexion, guided-motion TKA allows a significant functional improvement in patients with preoperative stiffness and the preservation of good flexion in patients with normal preoperative flexion.

In vivo T(1rho) and T(2) mapping of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis of the knee using 3 T MRI

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation and treatment of patients with early stages of osteoarthritis (OA) is dependent upon an accurate assessment of the cartilage lesions. However, standard cartilage dedicated magnetic resonance (MR) techniques are inconclusive in quantifying early degenerative changes. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of MR T1rho (T(1rho)) and T(2) mapping to detect cartilage matrix degeneration between normal and early OA patients.

METHOD

Sixteen healthy volunteers (mean age 41.3) without clinical or radiological evidence of OA and 10 patients (mean age 55.9) with OA were scanned using a 3Tesla (3T) MR scanner. Cartilage volume and thickness, and T(1rho) and T(2) values were compared between normal and OA patients. The relationship between T(1rho) and T(2) values, and Kellgren-Lawrence scores based on plain radiographs and the cartilage lesion grading based on MR images were studied.

RESULTS

The average T(1rho) and T(2) values were significantly increased in OA patients compared with controls (52.04+/-2.97ms vs 45.53+/-3.28ms with P=0.0002 for T(1rho), and 39.63+/-2.69ms vs 34.74+/-2.48ms with P=0.001 for T(2)). Increased T(1rho) and T(2) values were correlated with increased severity in radiographic and MR grading of OA. T(1rho) has a larger range and higher effect size than T(2), 3.7 vs 3.0.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that both in vivo T(1rho) and T(2) relaxation times increase with the degree of cartilage degeneration. T(1rho) relaxation time may be a more sensitive indicator for early cartilage degeneration than T(2). The ability to detect early cartilage degeneration prior to morphologic changes may allow us to critically monitor the course of OA and injury progression, and to evaluate the success of treatment to patients with early stages of OA.

Myeloperoxidase predicts risk of vasculopathic events in hemizgygous males with Fabry disease

Fabry disease results in a global vasculopathy leading to early-onset stroke and renal and cardiac failure. We found that random myeloperoxidase in serum and plasma was significantly elevated in 73 consecutive male patients with Fabry disease. Random serum myeloperoxidase level in men predicted the risk of a Fabry vasculopathy-related event in subsequent years. Long-term enzyme replacement therapy did not reduce myeloperoxidase level or eliminate the risk of vasculopathic events.

PCA-based magnetic field modeling: application for on-line MR temperature monitoring

Magnetic Resonance (MR) temperature mapping can be used to monitor temperature changes during minimally invasive thermal therapies. However, MR-thermometry contains artefacts caused by phase errors induced by organ motion in inhomogeneous magnetic fields. This paper proposes a novel correction strategy based on a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to estimate magnetic field perturbation assuming a linear magnetic field variation with organ displacement. The correction method described in this paper consists of two steps: a magnetic field perturbation model is computed in a learning step; subsequently, during the intervention, this model is used to reconstruct the magnetic field perturbation corresponding to the actual organ position which in turns allow computation of motion corrected thermal maps.

A review of ceramic bearing materials in total joint arthroplasty

Bearings made of ceramics have ultra-low wear properties that make them suitable for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). When compared to cobalt chrome (CoCr)-on-polyethylene (PE) articulations, ceramics offer drastic reductions in bearing wear rates. Lower wear rates result in fewer wear particles produced by the articulating surfaces. In theory, this should reduce the risk of periprosthetic osteolysis and premature implant loosening, thereby contributing to the longevity of total joints. In addition to ceramics, other alternative bearing couples, such as highly cross-linked PE (XLPE) and metal-on-metal also offer less wear than CoCr-on-PE articulations in total joint arthroplasty. Alumina and zirconia ceramics are familiar to orthopaedic surgeons since both materials have been used in total joints for several decades. While not new in Europe, alumina-on-alumina ceramic total hips have only recently become available for widespread use in the United States from various orthopaedic implant manufacturers. As the search for the ideal total joint bearing material continues, composite materials of existing ceramics, metal-on-ceramic articulations, and new ceramic technologies will offer more choices to the arthroplasty surgeon. The objective of this paper is to present an overview of material properties, clinical applications, evolution, and limitations of ceramic materials that are of interest to the arthroplasty surgeon.

Neuropathic and cerebrovascular correlates of hearing loss in Fabry disease

Fabry disease, OMIM 301500, is a progressive multisystem storage disorder due to the deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A (GALA). Neurological and vascular manifestations of this disorder with regard to hearing loss have not been analysed quantitatively in large cohorts. We conducted a retrospective cross sectional analysis of hearing loss in 109 male and female patients with Fabry disease who were referred to and seen at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA on natural history and enzyme replacement study protocols. There were 85 males aged 6-58 years (mean 31 years, SD 13) and 24 females aged 22-72 years (mean 42 years, SD 12). All patients underwent a comprehensive audiological evaluation. In addition, cerebral white matter lesions, peripheral neuropathy, and kidney function were quantitatively assessed. HL(95), defined as a hearing threshold above the 95th percentile for age and gender matched normal controls, was present in 56% [95% CI (42.2-67.2)] of the males. Prevalence of HL(95) was lower in the group of patients with residual GALA enzyme activity compared with those without detectable activity (33% versus 63%) HL(95) was present in the low-, mid- and high-frequency ranges for all ages. Male patients with HL(95) had a higher microvascular cerebral white matter lesion load [1.4, interquartile range (IQR) 0-30.1 +/- versus 0, IQR 0-0], more pronounced cold perception deficit [19.4 +/- 5.5 versus 13.5 +/- 5.5 of just noticeable difference (JND) units] and lower kidney function [creatinine: 1.6 +/- 1.2 versus 0.77 +/- 0.2 mg/dl; blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 20.1 +/- 14.1 versus 10.3 +/- 3.28 mg/dl] than those without HL(95) (P < 0.001). Of the females, 38% had HL(95). There was no significant association with cold perception deficit, creatinine or BUN in the females. Word recognition and acoustic reflexes analyses suggested a predominant cochlear involvement. We conclude that hearing loss involving all frequency regions significantly contributes to morbidity in patients with Fabry disease. Our quantitative analysis suggests a correlation of neuropathic and vascular damage with hearing loss in the males. Residual GALA activity appears to have a protective effect against hearing loss.

Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging of focal lesions in human osteoarthritic cartilage

Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging (FTIRI) is a new method for quantitatively assessing the spatial-chemical composition of complex materials. This technique has been applied to examine the feasibility of measuring changes in the composition and distribution of collagen and proteoglycan macromolecules in human osteoarthritic cartilage. Human cartilage was acquired post-operatively from total joint replacement patients. Samples were taken at the site of a focal lesion, adjacent to the lesion, and from relatively healthy cartilage away from the lesion. Sections were prepared for FTIRI and histochemical grading. FTIRI spectral images were acquired for the superficial, intermediate, and deep layers for each sample. Euclidean distance mapping and quantitative partial least squares analysis (PLS) were performed using reference spectra for type-II collagen and chondroitin 6-sulphate (CS6). FTIRI results were correlated to the histology-based Mankin scoring system. PLS analysis found relatively low relative concentrations of collagen (38 +/- 10%) and proteoglycan (22 +/- 9%) in osteoarthritic cartilage. Focal lesions were generally found to contain less CS6 compared to cartilage tissue adjacent to the lesion. Loss of proteoglycan content was well correlated to histological Mankin scores (r=0.69, p<0.0008). The evaluation of biological tissues with FTIRI can provide unique quantitative information on how disease can affect biochemical distribution and composition. This study has demonstrated that FTIRI is useful in quantitatively assessing pathology-related changes in the composition and distribution of primary macromolecular components of human osteoarthritic cartilage.

Fabry disease defined: baseline clinical manifestations of 366 patients in the Fabry Outcome Survey

BACKGROUND

Fabry disease is a rare X-linked disorder caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. Progressive accumulation of the substrate globotriaosylceramide in cells throughout the body leads to major organ failure and premature death. In response to the recent introduction of enzyme replacement therapy, the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) was established to pool data from European clinics on the natural history of this little-known disease and to monitor the long-term efficacy and safety of treatment. This paper presents the first analysis of the FOS database and provides essential baseline data against which the effects of enzyme replacement can be measured.

DESIGN

Baseline data from a cohort of 366 patients from 11 European countries were analysed in terms of demography and clinical manifestations of Fabry disease.

RESULTS

Misdiagnosis of Fabry disease is common, and the mean delay from onset of symptoms to correct diagnosis was 13.7 and 16.3 years in males and females, respectively. Although previously thought to have serious manifestations only in hemizygous men, the FOS database has confirmed that females heterozygous for Fabry disease are similarly affected. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Fabry disease may be present from early childhood.

CONCLUSIONS

With the advent of enzyme replacement therapy, it is important that general practitioners and physicians in a range of specialties recognize the signs and symptoms of Fabry disease so that effective treatment can be given. Baseline data from FOS demonstrate that enzyme replacement therapy should not be restricted to hemizygous men, but should be considered for both heterozygous females and children.

The Mainz Severity Score Index: a new instrument for quantifying the Anderson-Fabry disease phenotype, and the response of patients to enzyme replacement therapy

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is an X-linked disorder caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The availability of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for this debilitating condition has led to the need for a convenient and sensitive instrument to monitor clinical effects in an individual patient. This study aimed to develop a scoring system--the Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI)--to measure the severity of AFD and to monitor the clinical course of the disease in response to ERT. Thirty-nine patients (24 males and 15 females) with AFD were assessed using the MSSI immediately before and 1 year after commencing agalsidase alfa ERT. Control data were obtained from 23 patients in whom AFD was excluded. The MSSI of patients with AFD was significantly higher than that of patients with other severe debilitating diseases. The MSSI indicated that, although more men than women had symptoms classified as severe, overall, the median total severity scores were not significantly different between male and female patients. One year of ERT with agalsidase alfa led, in all patients, to a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in MSSI score (by a median of nine points). This study has shown that the MSSI score may be a useful, specific measure for objectively assessing the severity of AFD and for monitoring ERT-related treatment effects.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of the interrelationship between articular cartilage and trabecular bone of the osteoarthritic knee

OBJECTIVE

To use high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the relationship between articular cartilage degeneration and trabecular bone changes of the femur, condyles and tibia in human knees with osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Subjects were divided into three groups: without OA (OA0), mild OA (OA1) and severe OA (OA2). Sagittal images of the knee (0.234 x 0.234mm2, 2-mm slice thickness) were obtained at 1.5T and used for calculating the volume and thickness of the femoral and tibial cartilage. Axial images (0.195 x 0.195mm2, 1-mm slice thickness) were used for calculating the trabecular bone structure parameters: apparent bone volume fraction, trabecular number, trabecular separation and trabecular thickness.

RESULTS

Cartilage volume and thickness were less in patients with OA compared to normal controls (P<0.1). Articular cartilage thinning is associated with bone structure loss in the opposite femoral condyle (P<0.05). In varus OA, there were extensive correlations between medial tibia and medial femoral cartilage degeneration, and loss of bone structure in the lateral tibia and lateral condyle. Additional correlations existed between the compartmental differences (lateral minus medial) of cartilage thickness and bone structure.

CONCLUSION

Degradation of articular cartilage within a compartment correlates with a loss of bone structure in the opposite compartment. The correlation between the (L-M) differences corroborates this relationship. Malalignment of the knee due to cartilage degeneration is associated with bone formation in the diseased condyle and bone resorption in the opposite compartment.

Intestinal perforations in a premature infant caused by Bacillus cereus

Although Bacillus cereus is a ubiquitous bacterium, the incidence of neonatal infections is very low with only a few cases of B. cereus infections in neonates reported in the literature. We report the case of a premature infant with multiple intestinal perforations and an abdominal B. cereus infection. The initial course was characterized by severe cardiovascular shock, anemia, thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation, leading to periventricular leukomalacia, alopecia capitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The possible role of B. cereus-associated enterotoxins for the clinical manifestations are discussed. Our case confirms previous reports of severe clinical symptoms in B. cereus infection in premature neonates. We speculate that the systemic complications of B. cereus infection are at least partly related to the effect of B. cereus-associated enterotoxins.

A micro-computed tomography study of the trabecular bone structure in the femoral head

The goal of this study was to characterize the trabecular microarchitecture of the femoral head using micro-computed tomography (ICT). Femoral head specimens were obtained from subjects following total hip replacement. Cylindrical cores from the specimens were scanned to obtain 3-D images with an isotropic resolution of 26 Im. Bone structural parameters were evaluated on a per millimeter basis: relative bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), thickness (Tb.Th) and separation (Tb.Sp), structure model index (SMI), and connectivity (Conn.D). The ICT data show that the first two millimeters, starting at the joint surface, are characterized by more plate-like trabeculae, and are significantly denser than the underlying trabecular bone. Regional differences in the trabecular architecture reveal that the superior pole has significantly higher BV/TV, Tb.N and Tb.Th values, with lower Tb.Sp compared to the inferior and side poles. Because subchondral bone is essential in the load attenuation of joints, the difference in bone structure between the subchondral and trabecular bone might arise from the different functions each have within joint-forming bones. The denser trabecular structure of the superior pole as compared to the inferior pole can be interpreted as a functional adaptation to higher loading in this area.

Functional MRI of the kidney

Functional MR imaging of the kidney has a great potential of development because the functional parameters, which can be approached noninvasively, are multiple: glomerular filtration, tubular concentration and transit, blood volume and perfusion, diffusion, and oxygenation. Until now, its limitations in clinical applications are due to the difficulties in obtaining reproducible and reliable information in this mobile organ and, sometimes, in understanding the physiologic substrate of the signal changes observed. These approaches require either endogeneous contrast agents, such as water protons (for perfusion and diffusion) or deoxyhemogobin (for oxgenation), or exogeneous contrast agents such as gadolinium chelates (for filtration and perfusion) or iron oxide particles (for perfusion). Clinical validation of these methods and evaluation of their clinical impact are now worthwhile before diffusing them in clinical practice.

Use of gabapentin to reduce chronic neuropathic pain in Fabry disease

The effect of the anticonvulsant gabapentin on neuropathic pain was studied in six male patients with Fabry disease, aged 15-45 years. After 4 weeks of treatment, pain, as measured using the Brief Pain Inventory, was decreased compared with baseline. Treatment was generally well tolerated. This study indicates that gabapentin should be considered as a treatment option for the neuropathic pain of Fabry disease.

Percutaneous endovascular catheter aspiration thrombectomy of severe superior vena cava syndrome

We report a combined percutaneous endovascular approach, including thrombus aspiration and catheter directed local thrombolysis, followed by systemic thrombolytic therapy to treat severe superior vena cava syndrome in a 2 and 1/2 week old infant. This procedure was performed on the fifth postoperative day after major surgery. No treatment complications were observed. The only predisposing condition for thrombosis was a central venous line. No other acquired or genetic risk factors for thrombosis could be found.

Virtual reality computer animation of the effect of component position and design on stability after total hip arthroplasty

Virtual reality technology was utilized to assess the effect of component orientation and component design on the range of motion prior to impingement following total hip arthroplasty. Components were digitized, oriented in the pelvis, and computer animations were performed to assess the likelihood of dislocation with different combinations of component orientation.

Differences between neonates and adults in tissue-type-plasminogen activator (t-PA)-catalyzed plasminogen activation with various effectors and in carbohydrate sequences of fibrinogen chains

Our study investigates the effect of fetal and adult soluble fibrin (SF), fetal and adult fibrinogen Aalpha- and gamma-chains, as well as adult CNBr-fibrinogen fragments on tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)-catalyzed plasminogen activation of both fetal and adult Glu-plasminogen types 1 and 2. In addition, we determined carbohydrate sequences of fetal and adult Bbeta- and gamma-chains by mass spectrometric analysis. In the absence of an effector, no substantial differences in the rate of plasmin formation could be seen between the fetal and adult plasminogen types. In the presence of an effector, both fetal Glu-plasminogen types revealed lower values for k(cat app) than the respective adult types. No differences could be seen in the values for K(m app). The resulting differences in catalytic efficiencies between the fetal and adult plasminogen types were much less than previously reported. No differences could be seen between fetal and adult effectors in stimulating t-PA-catalyzed plasminogen activation. Detailed analyses of the activation kinetics revealed a longer initial phase of slow plasmin formation of both fetal Glu-plasminogen types compared to their respective adult types, indicating a slower plasmin-induced modification of CNBr-fibrinogen fragments or SF by fetal plasmin. Mass spectrometric analysis of the N-glycans present on adult and fetal Bbeta- and gamma-fibrinogen chains showed the presence of a major monosialylated biantennary structure with lesser amounts of the disialylated form. In contrast to previous data, we conclude that catalytic efficiency of t-PA-catalyzed plasminogen activation in neonates is only slightly lower than in adults.

Comparison of three joint simulator wear debris isolation techniques: acid digestion, base digestion, and enzyme cleavage

Quantification of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear debris remains a challenging task in orthopedic device analysis. Currently, the weight loss method is the only accepted practice for quantifying the amount of wear generated from a PE component. This technique utilizes loaded soak controls and weight differences to account for polymeric material lost through wear mechanisms. This method enables the determination of the amount of wear in the orthopedic device, but it provides no information about debris particulate size distribution. In order to shed light on wear mechanisms, information about the wear debris and its size distribution is necessary. To date, particulate isolation has been performed using the base digestion technique. The method uses a strong base, ultracentrifugation, and filtration to digest serum constituents and to isolate PE debris from sera. It should be noted that particulate isolation methods provide valuable information about particulate size distribution and may elucidate the mechanisms of wear associated with polymeric orthopedic implants; however, these techniques do not yet provide a direct measure of the amount of wear. The aim of this study is to present alternative approaches to wear particle isolation for analysis of polymer wear in total joint replacements without recourse to ultracentrifugation. Three polymer wear debris isolation techniques (the base method, an acid treatment, and an enzymatic digestion technique) are compared for effectiveness in simulator studies. A requirement of each technique is that the wear particulate must be completely devoid of serum proteins in order to effectively image and count these particles. In all methods the isolation is performed through filtration and chemical treatment. Subsequently, the isolated polymer particles are imaged using scanning electron microscopy and quantified with digital image analysis. The results from this study clearly show that isolation can be performed without the use of ultracentrifugation and that these methods provide a viable option for wear debris analysis.

Diffusion tensor MRI of the human kidney

This study characterizes the diffusion anisotropy of the human kidney using a diffusion-weighted, single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence in order to access the full apparent diffusion tensor (ADT) within one breathhold. The fractional anisotropy (FA) of the cortex and the medulla were found to be 0.22 +/- 0.12 and 0.39 +/- 0.11, respectively (N = 10), which emphasizes the need for rotationally invariant diffusion measurements for clinical applications. Additional limitations for clinical diffusion imaging on the kidney are the strong susceptibility variations within the abdomen that restrict the use of imaging techniques employing long echo trains, and the severe motion sensitivity that limits the available imaging time to one breath-hold. To overcome these problems an isotropic, diffusion-weighted, segmented EPI protocol that facilitates the acquisition of high-resolution diffusion-weighted images within a single breath-hold was implemented. Using this method, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the cortex and medulla were found to be 2.89 +/- 0.28. 10(-9) m2/s and 2.18 +/- 0.36. 10(-9) m2/s (N = 10).