Eighty consecutive patients with chronic laxity due to a torn ACL underwent arthroscopically assisted reconstruction with either autogenous patellar tendon or doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Reconstructions were performed on a one-to-one alternating basis. Preoperatively, no significant differences between the two groups were noted with respect to age, sex, level of activity, and degree of laxity (chi square analysis). A standard rehabilitation regimen was used for all patients after surgery including immediate passive knee extension, early stationary cycling, protected weightbearing for 6 weeks, avoidance of resisted terminal knee extension until 6 months, and return to activity at 10 to 12 months postoperatively. Seventy-two patients were evaluated at a minimum of 24 months postoperatively (range, 24 to 40 months). No significant differences were noted between groups with respect to subjective complaints, functional level, or objective laxity evaluation, including KT-1000 measurements. Seventeen of 72 patients (24%) experienced anterior knee pain after ACL reconstruction. Overall, 46 of 72 patients (64%) returned to their preinjury level of activity. Mean KT-1000 scores were 1.6 +/- 1.4 mm for the patellar tendon group and 1.9 +/- 1.3 mm for the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons group. This study did find a statistically significant weakness in peak hamstrings torque at 60 deg/sec when reconstruction was performed with double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis tendons.

Summary:A total of 75 patients underwent sibling allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for chronic myeloid leukaemia in first chronic phase from 1984 to 2000. Of these patients, 51 (68%) were alive at a median follow-up of 98 months (range 34-217 months). Nine (18%) patients relapsed and seven (14%) received donor lymphocyte transfusions. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed crosssectionally using the EORTC QLQ-C30, a Leukaemia-BMT-specific module and questionnaires on sexual functioning, fertility and late effects. A total of 46 (90%) replied. Scores for Role (P ¼ 0.018) and Cognitive (Po0.001) function were significantly lower when compared to an age-adjusted general population. Dyspnoea (P ¼ 0.022) and Financial Difficulties (Po0.001) were significantly more common in the SCT group. No difference was found for scores in the Physical, Emotional and Social domains or the overall Global Health Status/ QoL. Decreased sexual functioning was found in one-third of respondents. Although most BMT recipients reported a good QoL, a minority have difficulty with reintegration into professional roles and consequent monetary problems. Identified cognitive and sexual impairments highlight the need for long-term access to psychosocial support. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 34, 545-556. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704638 Published online 9 August 2004 Keywords: chronic myeloid leukaemia; quality-of-life; allogeneic SCT Recent years have seen an increase in the therapeutic options available for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). 1 Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), however, remains the standard of care for younger patients with an HLA-compatible donor. The most recent EBMT registry survey reported that the median survival of patients who underwent non-T-celldepleted transplantation for CML in first chronic phase (CP) from an HLA-matched sibling donor had not been reached at 10 years. 2 Health-related quality of life (QoL) has been defined as referring 'to the extent to which one's usual or expected physical, emotional and social well-being are affected by a medical condition or its treatment'. 3 Most of the previous studies are cross-sectional in design, apply one of several available instruments and pool all patients transplanted for different diagnoses at a single centre. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Although marked morbidity in the first few years is evident, there is a clear trend to improved QoL in long-term survivors of transplantation. 6,8 Nonetheless, aggregated studies confirm that a minority of individuals continue to suffer from the effects of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and sexual dysfunction. Our observations confirm and extend those of Kiss et al 12 in a group of 24 patients receiving SCT for CML in first CP.The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL questionnaire -QLQ-C30 13 -was used in this study. Both EORTC population reference data and CML-specific data have been generated using this instrument. [14][15][16] In addition to t...

A dynamic compressive rheometric technique was used to determine the true or complex viscosity (eta*) of three poly (methyl methacrylate), PMMA-based bone cement formulations (one commercially available and two experimental), as a function of the time that elapsed from commencement of hand mixing of the cement constituents (t). For each cement, two rheological parameters [namely, the time of onset of cure (t(ons)) and the critical cure rate (CCR), which is herein defined as the complex viscosity rate computed at t(ons)] were determined from the eta*-t data. For each cement, particle analysis was used to obtain the powder particle size distribution, from which the following parameters were obtained: (a) the overall mean particle diameter D(m), and (b) the relative amounts of small-sized PMMA beads (mean diameter d between 0 and 40 mum) (alpha) and large-sized PMMA beads (d > 75 mum) (beta). It is seen that the key particle parameter is not D(m) per se but alpha and beta. Thus, the highest values of t(ons) and CCR were obtained from a cement with the highest values of alpha and beta. An explanation for these trends is given, and two areas for further research work in this field are outlined.

No abstract