No abstract

No abstract

The congruency of the joint surface can not be restored to the original status, particularly in larger defects with irregular shapes. However, we did not find any aspects which affected the function of the knee joint following OCT. It can be assumed that remaining lesions at the surrounding cartilage could maintain the inflammatory process and therefore maintain the pain and a low knee function. Further investigations are needed to specify the effects of the OCT on the transplanted cartilage and its influence on the later clinical outcome.

The fine structural localization of the 5'-nucleotidase was investigated in the CA3 region of the rat hippocampus. The attention was focussed on the occurrence of the enzyme in the synaptic region. The 5'-nucleotidase activity was demonstrated at the surface membranes of axons and dendrites. Prominent portions of enzyme activity were detectable in the nuclei and the nuclear envelope, whereas the cytoplasmic organelles were nearly devoid of reaction product. In synapses five types of 5'-nucleotidase localization were revealed. A participation of the enzyme in the process of neurotransmission is discussed.

The purpose of this animal study was to determine if tissue glue-coated collagen sponge is an effective barrier method to prevent localized adhesions in a modified rabbit sidewall model. Rabbits were divided into two groups and underwent laparotomy with subsequent creation of a cecal wound according to the rabbit sidewall model. Rabbits of group I (treatment group; n = 10) were treated with a TachoComb H patch placed on the defect, whereas group II animals (control group; n = 6) did not receive further treatment. All animals were sacrificed 2 weeks postoperatively and adhesions were evaluated using special adhesion score. A further six rabbits underwent TachoComb H application at the cecum to investigate the histological changes during a course of 12 weeks. The average adhesion scores were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the treatment group compared to the controls. Histologically the TachoComb H patch was surrounded by granulation tissue without signs of infection. Tissue glue-coated collagen sponge (TachoComb H) is effective to prevent localized intraabdominal adhesions in the modified rabbit sidewall model.