Sports capacity after rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament--surgical versus non-surgical therapy

Using a new rating system (Innsbruck Knee-Sports Rating Scale) 75 patients 5 to 6 years after ACL-injury have been compared to their sports activity (47 patients with ACL reconstruction and 28 conservative treated patients). Under the viewpoint of knee load and especially the demand on stability sports activities have been divided into 3 categories: High Risk, Low Risk and Non Risk Pivoting Sports. Operative therapy shows an advantage in High Risk Pivoting sports (e.g. soccer, basketball) and in Low Risk Pivoting (e.g. running, hiking) sports, expressed by fewer knee related symptoms and higher participation levels. In the Non Risk Pivoting category (e.g. swimming, cycling) good results could also be achieved by conservative therapy. The careful evaluation of each patient's sports activities is therefore an important factor in the decision for the right therapy on one hand, and for comparing the results of different therapy programs or patient collectives on the other.     

Growth potential of Rana tigerina skin lipids in cell cultures

The structure of the hexameric L-alanine dehydrogenase from Phormidium lapideum reveals that the subunit is constructed from two domains, each having the common dinucleotide binding fold. Despite there being no sequence similarity, the fold of alanine dehydrogenase is closely related to that of the family of D-2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases, with a similar location of the active site, suggesting that these enzymes are related by divergent evolution. L-alanine dehydrogenase and the 2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases also use equivalent functional groups to promote substrate recognition and catalysis. However, they are arranged differently on the enzyme surface, which has the effect of directing opposite faces of the keto acid to the dinucleotide in each case, forcing a change in absolute configuration of the product.     

The pre-Flexnerian reports: Mark Twain''s criticism of medicine in the United States

Dopamine has been implicated in the function of a diverse set of central nervous system and peripheral functions. We theoretically evaluated the chemistry of interaction between dopamine and its receptor using ab initio molecular orbital calculation. First, we calculated the total energy of dopamine on either a protonated or deprotonated molecule at the meta- or para-position hydroxy group of the catechol ring, and then evaluated the hydrogen bond effect in these hydroxy groups. These results suggested that the meta-position hydroxy group was liable to be protonated, and subsequently deprotonated by a negatively charged receptor site. It was considered that proton flopping, which occurred within the receptor site via the meta-position hydroxy group, appeared to be essential for exerting the biological action of dopamine. On the other hand, the para-position hydroxy group of the catechol ring contributed to stabilization of a dopamine molecule at the receptor site through a hydrogen bond. Second, we showed that the side-chain amino group of dopamine was readily protonated and bound a negatively charged receptor site by coulomb interaction. Third, we calculated the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital to elucidate chemical reactivities of these functional groups on the electron level. From the molecular orbital contour maps, it was suggested that frontier orbital interaction was involved in the dopamine-receptor interaction, in which the meta- and para-position hydroxy groups may function as a proton acceptor and a proton donor, respectively. Considering these theoretical results together, we hereby propose a model of the dopamine-receptor interaction: (1) a protonation-deprotonation at the meta-position hydroxy group takes place, (2) the protonated side-chain amino group of dopamine binds to a negatively charged receptor site by an ionic bond, and (3) the para-position hydroxy group not only contributes to stabilization for dopamine binding but may also enhance the protonation-deprotonation at the meta-position through bond interaction along the pi-bond between OH and the benzene ring.     

Advanced renal cell carcinoma: treatment with xenogeneic immune ribonucleic acid and appropriate surgical resection

Herein we describe the first clinical treatment of renal cell carcinoma in humans with xenogeneic immune ribonucleic acid. Twelve patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma have been treated by appropriate operations to remove tumor bulk followed by specific passive immunotherapy. Xenogeneic specific immune ribonucleic acid was prepared from the spleen of normal sheep that had received 4 weekly injections of a homogenate of renal cell carcinoma. Results indicate that 1) xenogeneic specific immune ribonucleic acid can safely be given to humans without local or systemic toxicity, 2) there is a suggestion of clinical benefit, since only 2 patients have had progression of known metastases during treatment with immune ribonucleic acid and 3) xenogeneic immune ribonucleic acid can enhance the immune response to renal cell carcinoma, as demonstrated by in vitro lymphocytoxicity tests.