תוצאת חיפוש

Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation - from Science Fiction to Routine Clinical Practice

Dror Robinson, Hana Ash, David Aviezer, Gabriel Agar, Nahum Halperin, Zvi Nevo

Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv; Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin; and CTI Ltd., Science Park, Kiriat Weizmann, Nes Ziona

Adult articular cartilage lacks the capacity for self-repair. The limiting factor appears to be the inability of chondrocytes to proliferate while embedded in the extracellular matrix typical of hyaline cartilage. Cartilage defects larger than 1 cm² change articular biomechanics and lead to eventual osteoarth-ritis and joint destruction.

During the past decade, several competing techniques have evolved to stimulate articular cartilage repair. Small lesions can be successfully treated by either micro-fracture or osteochondral cylinder grafting. The latter technique allows immediate weight bearing but leads to damage of previously uninvolved areas of articular cartilage, which limits its application to lesions of less than 2 cm².

When the damaged area is more extensive, grafting of autologous chondrocytes should be considered. First a diagnostic arthroscopy is performed to assess the damaged area and a small cartilage biopsy is taken. 6 weeks later, arthrotomy and chondrocyte transplantation are performed. In the interval, the antologous chondrocytes have expanded by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. Our experience to date includes 10 cases with follow-up of 6 months to 5 years. Preoperative complaints of crepitation and locking disappear. There is functional improvement and pain reduction of approximately 50%. This procedure, currently limited to patients under 55 years of age with limited damage to an articular surface, for the first time allows reconstruction of damaged articular areas without resorting to allografts.

Multicenter Community-Based Trial of Amlodipine in Hypertension

C. Yosefy, J.R. Viskoper, Y. Leshem, Y. Rav-Hon, G.I. Rosenberg, E. Yaskil

(Representing the 39 Investigators of Project AML-IL-95-001, WHO Collaborative Center for Prevention of CV Diseases) Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba; Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon; Hypertension Clinic, Kupat Holim Afula; Statistics Consulting Unit, Haifa University; and Promedico Ltd., Petah Tikva

The safety and efficacy of Amlodipine (AML) for mild to moderate hypertension was evaluated in a "real life" setting. This open non-comparative trial included 123 men and 143 women (age 30-91 years, mean 59.4). All had sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 95 and 115 mmHg, confirmed in most by 2 baseline measurements, 2 weeks apart.

Eligible patients were given AML 5 mg daily as add-on or monotherapy and were evaluated 4 weeks later. If DBP was then >90 mmHg, the daily dose was raised to 10 mg; those with <90 mmHg remained on 5 mg. AML was continued for 8 weeks. Other BP-lowering drugs were unchanged.

Of the original 266 patients 22 (8.2%) withdrew due to adverse events (AE), and others were protocol violators, lost to follow-up or withdrew, leaving 211 available for efficacy analysis. In this major group BP was reduced from 165±15/101±4 to 139±11/83±5 after 12 weeks of AML (p<0.05). The reduction was greater in those under 70 years, from 173±12/100±5 to 142±12/80±4 (p<0.05). In those with BMI>30 kg/m², BP decreased from 165±15/101±5 to 140±12/83±5 (p<0.05).

Mean change in heart rate was -1.5 bpm (p<0.05). Mean final AML dose was 5.5 mg/day. The most common AML-related AE requiring cessation of the drug was pedal edema in 2.6% of the 266 patients; in 3.7% it persisted during therapy. Other AE occurring in >1% were dizziness in 1.8%, headache 1.5%, flushing 1.1% and fatigue 1.1%.

We conclude that AML is an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive suitable for most hypertensive patients.

Knowledge and Practice of Primary Care Physicians Relating to Streptococcal Pharyngitis

S. Leshem, H. Tabenkin, E. Dan, A. Tamir

Family Medicine Dept., Emek Medical Center and Northern District of Kupat Holim; and Northern Branch of Specialization Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Knowledge and practice of primary care physicians as to diagnosis and treatment of group A, b-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, and the degree to which they agreed with the medical literature and current clinical guidelines were examined. The study was conducted in a group of 195 general physicians, pediatricians, and family medicine specialists and residents. The data were collected using questionnaires which included personal information and questions relating to b-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis and were analyzed by chi-square and t-tests, and logistic regression, as appropriate. A new dependent variable, good clinical practice (GCP), was defined as the total number of correct answers to the questions in the questionnaire. 147 of the 195 eligible physicians returned completed questionnaires, a compliance rate of 76%.

96.6% cited pV as the drug of choice at a daily dosage of 1 g (43.7%) or 2 g (25.4%), for 10 days (90%). 133 physicians (90%) stated that the goal of penicillin therapy for beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis is to prevent late complications. 116 physicians (82%) cited rheumatic fever as a complication of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, preventable by appropriate antibiotic therapy. However, only 84 (59%) cited glomerulonephritis as a preventable complication.

When the knowledge and attitudes of the respondents was analyzed in terms of the new variable, GCP, a significant association (p<0.001) was found between physicians’ attitudes and variables such as where they had studied medicine, and work seniority. Those with less seniority and or medical graduates of the Americas demonstrated greater knowledge and better clinical judgment than their more senior colleagues and graduates of European and Asian medical schools. Most primary care physicians in northern Israel treat group A b-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis as recommended in the medical literature.

The level of medical studies in Israel and the Americas and the quality of training of residents in family medicine and pediatrics, have a positive influence on the degree of knowledge of as common a subject as b-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Emphasis should be placed on continuing medical education among primary care physicians, particularly veteran general physicians and those who studied in European or Asian medical schools.

Early Results with Threaded Spinal Cage Fusion Systems

Ely Ashkenazi, Stephen T. Onesti

Neurosurgery Depts. of Hadassah-University Hospital, Jerusalem and Montefiore Medical Center, New York

Lumbar interbody fusion is a surgical technique used to treat symptomatic lumbar disc disease. Low back disorders are the most common of the musculoskeletal disorders causing a tremendous burden of disability. One of the causes of low back pain and radiculopathy is spinal instability, which can be treated by spinal fusion. In the past year, threaded cage systems have become available for segmental lumbar fusion for degenerative disc disease. These systems offer several biomechanical advantages over traditional lumbar fusion and instrumentation techniques, and are better tolerated.

From December 1996 until June 1997 we operated and fused spines of 17 patients, using 2 different fusion systems (anterior and posterior approaches). We present our early results.

Distraction Osteogenesis for Hypoplastic Facial Bones

Adi Rachmiel, Dina Lewinson, Dror Eizenbud, Daren Rosen, Dov Laufer

Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Orthodontics and Cleft Palate Unit, Rambam Medical Center; and Division of Morphological Sciences, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Distraction osteogenesis is a well-known method for bone lengthening which stretches callus to generate new bone in the distracted area. The method was developed by Ilizarov for the lengthening of long enchondral bones. In recent years the method has also been applied to the facial bones and to the jaw.