Mucosal Progranulin expression is induced by H. pylori, but independent of Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) expression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mucosal levels of Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) are specifically reduced in relation to <it>H. pylori</it>-induced gastritis. Progranulin is an epithelial growth factor that is proteolytically degraded into fragments by elastase (the main target of SLPI). Considering the role of SLPI for regulating the activity of elastase, we studied whether the <it>H. pylori</it>-induced reduction of SLPI and the resulting increase of elastase-derived activity would reduce the Progranulin protein levels both <it>ex vivo </it>and <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression of Progranulin was studied in biopsies of <it>H. pylori</it>-positive, -negative and -eradicated subjects as well as in the gastric tumor cell line AGS by ELISA, immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>H. pylori</it>-infected subjects had about 2-fold increased antral Progranulin expression compared to <it>H. pylori</it>-negative and -eradicated subjects (P < 0.05). Overall, no correlations between mucosal Progranulin and SLPI levels were identified. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the upregulation of Progranulin in relation to <it>H. pylori </it>infection; both epithelial and infiltrating immune cells contributed to the higher Progranulin expression levels. The <it>H. pylori</it>-induced upregulation of Progranulin was verified in AGS cells infected by <it>H. pylori</it>. The down-regulation of endogenous SLPI expression in AGS cells by siRNA methodology did not affect the Progranulin expression independent of the infection by <it>H. pylori</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together, Progranulin was identified as novel molecule that is upregulated in context to <it>H. pylori </it>infection. In contrast to other diseases, SLPI seems not to have a regulatory role for Progranulin in <it>H. pylori</it>-mediated gastritis.</p

Complications after surface replacing and silicone PIP arthroplasty: an analysis of 703 implants

INTRODUCTION The aim was to analyse complications after surface replacing and silicone proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS All complications, reoperations (subsequent intervention without implant modification) and revisions (subsequent surgery with implant modification or removal) were extracted out of our registry for two cohorts: (1) Patients who received a surface replacing arthroplasty at the PIP joint using the CapFlex-PIP prosthesis and (2) patients who received a PIP silicone implant. Furthermore, radiographs were evaluated for deviations from the longitudinal finger axis. RESULTS In our registry, 279 surface replacing implants and 424 silicone implants have been documented. The overall complication rate was 20% for surface replacements and 11% for silicone arthroplasties (p ≤ 0.01) with soft tissue-related events being the most prevalent in both groups. Reoperations were significantly more frequent after surface replacement (5.4%) than silicone arthroplasty (0.5%; p ≤ 0.001), while the revision rates did not differ significantly (4.4% and 3.3%, respectively; p = 0.542). Postoperative axis deviations were significantly less frequent in the surface replacement group (19% versus 58% for silicone arthroplasty; p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION We recommend using a surface replacing implant in fingers with preoperative axis deviations and correctable anatomical situation, bearing in mind the higher risk of a second surgery. However, treatment outcomes also need to be considered before choosing one implant over another

Circular Abscess Formation of the Inner Preputial Leaf as a Complication of a Penile Mondor's Disease: The First Case Report

Introduction. Mondor's disease of the penis is an uncommon condition characterized by thrombosis or thrombophlebitis involving the superficial dorsal veins. An accompanied lymphangitis is discussed. There is typical self-limiting clinical course. Case Presentation. This paper firstly reports a secondary abscess formation of the preputial leaf two weeks after penile Mondor's disease and subcutaneous lymphangitis as complication of excessive sexual intercourse of a 44-year-old man. Sexual transmitted diseases could be excluded. Lesions healed up completely under abscess drainage, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory medication. Conclusion. Previous reports in the literature include several entities of the penile Mondor's disease. Our patient is very unusual in that he presented with a secondary preputial abscess formation due to superficial thrombophlebitis, subcutaneous lymphangitis, and local bacterial colonisation. Abscess drainage plus antiphlogistic and antibiotic medication is the treatment of choice

Does distal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis affect proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty outcomes in the same finger?

The purpose of this study was to analyse the 1-year outcomes after combining a surface replacing proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty and a distal interphalangeal screw arthrodesis and to compare the combined surgery with proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty alone. To obtain two groups with similar baseline data from our prospective registry, propensity score matching was used to match 23 fingers with the combined operations with 115 fingers with proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty alone. One year after surgery, the mean ranges of motion were 60° (95% CI: 53° to 67°) in the combined group and 63° (95% CI: 60° to 66°) in the control group and did not differ significantly. Grip strength, the brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire and pain also did not differ between the groups 1 year after surgery. All the proximal interphalangeal implants in patients treated with a distal interphalangeal screw arthrodesis remained in situ. Combining proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty with distal interphalangeal arthrodesis leads to 1-year outcomes that are similar to those achieved by proximal interphalangeal joint replacement alone.Level of evidence: III