Spectrocolorimetric assessment of cartilage plugs after autologous osteochondral grafting: correlations between color indices and histological findings in a rabbit model

We investigated the use of a commercial spectrocolorimeter and the application of two color models (L* a* b* colorimetric system and spectral reflectance distribution) to describe and quantify cartilage plugs in a rabbit model of osteochondral autografting. Osteochondral plugs were removed and then replaced in their original positions in Japanese white rabbits. The rabbits were sacrificed at 4 or 12 weeks after the operation and cartilage samples were assessed using a spectrocolorimeter. The samples were retrospectively divided into two groups on the basis of the histological findings (group H: hyaline cartilage, successful; group F: fibrous tissue or fibrocartilage, failure) and investigated for possible significant differences in the spectrocolorimetric analyses between the two groups. Moreover, the relationships between the spectrocolorimetric indices and the Mankin histological score were examined. In the L* a* b* colorimetric system, the L* values were significantly lower in group H than in group F (P = 0.02), whereas the a* values were significantly higher in group H than in group F (P = 0.006). Regarding the spectral reflectance distribution, the spectral reflectance percentage 470 (SRP470) values, as a coincidence index for the spectral reflectance distribution (400 to 470 nm in wavelength) of the cartilage plugs with respect to intact cartilage, were 99.8 ± 6.7% in group H and 119.8 ± 10.6% in group F, and the difference between these values was significant (P = 0.005). Furthermore, the a* values were significantly correlated with the histological score (P = 0.004, r = -0.76). The SRP470 values were also significantly correlated with the histological score (P = 0.01, r = 0.67). Our findings demonstrate the ability of spectrocolorimetric measurements to predict the histological findings of cartilage plugs after autologous osteochondral grafting. In particular, the a* values and SRP470 values can be used to judge the surface condition of an osteochondral plug on the basis of objective data. Therefore, spectrocolorimetry may contribute to orthopedics, rheumatology and related research in arthritis, and arthroscopic use of this method may potentially be preferable for in vivo assessment

“Hook and Roll Technique” Using an Articulating Hook Cautery to Provide a Critical View during Single-incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

We describe a new simple and easy technique called the "Hook and roll technique" (HRT) that uses an articulating hook cautery to provide a critical view during single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC). A 2-cm incision is made at the umbilicus to insert three 5-mm trocars or a multichannel port. After dissection of the serosa of the dorsal and ventral sides of the gall bladder, including Calot's triangle, the angled tip of the hook cautery is inserted between the cystic artery and duct with its tip placed dorsally. The tip is then rotated in a clockwise manner to avoid bile duct injury, allowing the connective tissue between them to be hooked, coagulated and cut. This procedure is repeated several times, followed by dissection between the cystic artery and the liver bed to achieve a critical view. From December 2008 to May 2011, 121 patients underwent SILC using HRT in our hospital without any serious complications. This technique is suitable for SILC, as it is consists of simple procedures that can be performed safely and easily, even by left hand in a cross-over approach, and it allows complete dissection of Calot's triangle to achieve a critical view without using any dissector under dangerous in-line viewing

Laparoscopic repair of an abdominal incisional hernia above the pubis

　　Laparoscopic repair of a suprapubic hernia typically carries a high risk of recurrence, because fixation of the mesh in the peripubic area is difficult. We herein report a patient undergoing laparoscopic repair of a suprapubic hernia, along with a description of the surgical techniques employed. 　A 78-year-old woman visited our hospital with a chief complaint of swelling at the median hypogastric incision site after surgery for an ovarian cyst performed at age 25 years. Laparoscopic examination revealed the hernia orifice to be 3.5×3.0 cm in size and that the distance between the caudal margin of the hernia orifice and the pubis was 2.5 cm. Parietex composite mesh was used for fixation through all layers of the abdominal wall with non-absorbable sutures and tack fixation. On the pubic side, after the pubis had been exposed by separating it from the bladder, we performed mesh fixation through all layers of the abdominal wall immediately above the pubis with the sutures placed inside the mesh, combined with tack mesh fixation directly to the pubis. This procedure enabled definite fixation of the mesh. Six days after surgery, she was discharged without complications. To date, two years and five months after surgery, no recurrence has been observed

Secondary CIC-rearranged sarcoma responsive to chemotherapy regimens for Ewing sarcoma: A case report

Capicua transcriptional repressor (CIC)-rearranged sarcoma is an Ewing-like sarcoma with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. No standard treatment has been established. The present study describes a case of CIC-rearranged sarcoma with lung metastases developing in a 24-year-old woman as a therapy-associated malignancy following chemotherapy for anaplastic large cell lymphoma at nine years old. This was treated with palliative regimens used for Ewing sarcoma. The patient achieved disease control for one year. Of note, ifosfamide and etoposide (IE), which were used as a second line treatment lead to a partial response. The case described in the present study indicated that treatment with Ewing regimens is a reasonable option for patients with metastatic CIC-rearranged sarcoma, including those with a second malignant case

Convergent Synthesis of a Bisecting N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-Containing N-Glycan

The chemical synthesis of a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-containing N-glycan was achieved by a convergent synthetic route through [4+2] and [6+2] glycosylations. This synthetic route reduced the number of reaction steps, although the key glycosylations were challenging in terms of yields and selectivities owing to steric hindrance at the glycosylation site and a lack of neighboring group participation. The yields of these glycosylations were enhanced by stabilizing the oxocarbenium ion intermediate through ether coordination. Glycosyl donor protecting groups were explored in an effort to realize perfect α selectivity by manipulating remote participation. The simultaneous glycosylations of a tetrasaccharide with two disaccharides was investigated to efficiently construct a bisecting GlcNAc-containing N-glycan

Correlations of the histological scores from microscopic findings and the spectrocolorimetric indices

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Spectrocolorimetric assessment of cartilage plugs after autologous osteochondral grafting: correlations between color indices and histological findings in a rabbit model"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/9/5/R88</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007;9(5):R88-R88.</p><p>Published online 10 Sep 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2212560.</p><p></p> The a* values are significantly correlated with the Mankin histological score (= 0.004, r = -0.76). The SRPvalues are significantly correlated with the Mankin histological score (= 0.01, r = 0.67). < 0.05 by non-parametric Spearman's rank-order correlation

Bar graphs representing the spectral reflectance percentages (SRPs) of the cartilage plugs at 4 and 12 weeks (4 w and 12 w, respectively) after transplantation

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Spectrocolorimetric assessment of cartilage plugs after autologous osteochondral grafting: correlations between color indices and histological findings in a rabbit model"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/9/5/R88</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007;9(5):R88-R88.</p><p>Published online 10 Sep 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2212560.</p><p></p> The black bar represents the control cartilage for each group. The SRP values are used as a coincidence index of the spectral reflectance distribution of the repaired cartilage with respect to standard intact cartilage. The SRPvalues of the cartilage plugs are used as a coincidence index between 400 and 700 nm in wavelength (left four bars), while the SRPvalues of the cartilage plugs are used as a coincidence index between 400 and 470 nm in wavelength (right four bars). Error bars represent the standard deviation of each group

The Bartonella autotransporter BafA activates the host VEGF pathway to drive angiogenesis

Pathogenic bacteria of the genus Bartonella can induce vasoproliferative lesions during infection. Here, Tsukamoto et al. show that this effect is caused by a secreted protein that induces cell proliferation and angiogenesis by acting as an analog of the host’s vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Bar graphs representing the spectral reflectance percentages (SRPs) of groups H and F

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Spectrocolorimetric assessment of cartilage plugs after autologous osteochondral grafting: correlations between color indices and histological findings in a rabbit model"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/9/5/R88</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007;9(5):R88-R88.</p><p>Published online 10 Sep 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2212560.</p><p></p> The black bar represents the control cartilage for each group. The SRPvalues of groups H and F (left four bars) and SRPvalues of groups H and F (right four bars) are shown. Error bars represent the standard deviation of each group. *< 0.05, group H versus group F; **P < 0.05, versus the control; non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test