Effect of Etanercept Concentration on Human Islet Integrity

Background

Etanercept is widely used as an antiinflammatory drug to improve engraftment after intraportal islet transplantation. In contrast to other immunosuppressive agents, very little is known about detrimental effects of etanercept on islets. The aim of this pilot study was to define the toxic range of etanercept.

Hypoxia-Induced Damage in Human Islets Is Reduced With the Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cell–Preconditioned Medium

Background

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are protective for islets when cotransplanted in a hypoxic environment. However, the risk of neoplasia is increased when MSCs are transplanted into immunosuppressed patients. This initial study aimed to investigate whether the production of protective factors from MSC can be stimulated by different culture conditions to benefit human islets cultured in hypoxia.

Uncemented Austin-Moore and cemented Thompson unipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture neck of femur--comparison of complications and patient satisfaction

Austin-Moore and Thompson monobloc prostheses are both commonly used for hemiarthroplasty for displaced fractures of the neck of femur in adults. There is an ongoing debate about, which of these prostheses should be preferred. We present a comparison of two groups of patients with this fracture treated using cemented Thompson prosthesis and uncemented Austin-Moore prosthesis. Mortality, morbidity and patient satisfaction in the two groups were compared. Cemented Thompson hemiarthroplasty was associated with significantly better patient satisfaction scores. There was no difference in the mortality rates and hospital stay. Patients preferred cemented unipolar Thompson hemiarthroplasty over the uncemented unipolar Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty. A larger randomised prospective trial is needed to confirm this finding.     

Can the Oxford Scores Be Used to Monitor Symptomatic Progression of Patients Awaiting Knee or Hip Arthroplasty?

We report the week-to-week variation of the Oxford Knee and Oxford Hip Score (OKS, OHS) in individuals with severe osteoarthritis. People waitlisted for knee (n = 51) or hip arthroplasty (n = 52) were assessed twice, 1-week apart. There were no major week-to-week systematic biases in the scores. Limits of agreement (LOA) for both scores were wide (OKS, − 9.5 to 6.6; OHS, − 7.7 to 7). For most individual questions, the answers varied by ≤ 1 point in over 90% of participants. The week-to-week 95% LOA for the Oxford scores are unacceptably large, but variations within the individual questions are minimal. Consequently, reference to variation in the individual questions may be more useful for monitoring a patient's preoperative clinical change than changes in the total Oxford score. We conclude that the total scores are not suitable for monitoring the progression of OA in individual patients.     

Patient-reported outcomes after total hip and knee arthroplasty: comparison of midterm results

The aim of this study was to compare the midterm functional outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). A cross-sectional postal audit survey of all consecutive patients who had a primary joint replacement at one orthopedic center 5 to 8 years ago was conducted. Participants completed an Oxford hip score or Oxford knee score, which are self-report measures of functional ability. Completed questionnaires were returned from 1112 THA patients and 613 TKA patients, giving a response rate of 72%. The median Oxford knee score of 26 was significantly worse than the median Oxford hip score of 19 (P < .001). In conclusion, TKA patients experience a significantly poorer functional outcome than THA patients 5 to 8 years postoperatively.     

Arthroscopic capsular release for idiopathic frozen shoulder with intra-articular injection and a controlled manipulation

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the immediate and long-term effectiveness of arthroscopic capsular release in a large cohort of patients with a precise and isolated diagnosis of stage II idiopathic frozen shoulder.

METHODS

All patients underwent a preoperative evaluation. Patients with secondary frozen shoulder and those with concurrent pathology at arthroscopy were excluded. This left 136 patients with a stage II arthroscopically confirmed idiopathic frozen shoulder. At each postoperative attendance, a record was made of pain, function and range of motion. At 12 months, the Oxford shoulder score was calculated, and pain and range of motion were assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty per cent achieved good pain relief within a week and eighty per cent within six weeks of arthroscopic capsular release. The mean preoperative visual analogue scale pain score was 6.6 and the mean postoperative score was 1.0. The mean time to achieving good pain relief was 16 days following surgery. No patient could sleep through the night prior to surgery while 90% reported having a complete night’s sleep at a mean of 12 days after surgery. The mean postoperative Oxford shoulder score was 38/48 and the mean improvement was 19.2.

CONCLUSIONS

This large series demonstrates that arthroscopic capsular release is a safe procedure, with rapid improvement in pain and a marked improvement in range of motion.     

Surgical treatment of ventricular arrhythmias using epicardial, transmural, and endocardial mapping.

In 3 patients with ischemic coronary disease or primary myocardiopathy who were unresponsive to conventional and experimental antiarrhythmia therapy, surgical treatment of intractable ventricular tachycardia was performed using epicardial, transmural, and endocardial mapping techniques. An experimental canine model of acute and chronic myocardial ischemia with recurrent ventricular tachycardia was developed to refine the mapping technique for clinical use. In patients and animals alike, atrial overdrive pause pacing, premature ventricular pacing, or both were used to bring outa repeatable pattern of tachycardia. Mapping techniques distinguished the irritable focus so that surgical excision of the site of earliest activation could be performed. In addition, the mapping techniques were used in the validation following excision. The limitations of epicardial mapping alone in locating all areas of premature focus are discussed, and the need for mapping in ventricular aneurysm is demonstrated.     

Improvements in knee range and symptomatic and functional behavior after knee arthroplasty based on preoperative restriction in range

Recovery of knee range and Oxford Knee Score post knee arthroplasty based on preoperative knee range is described. A total of 191 patients recruited across 5 hospitals were assessed preoperatively, at 8 weeks postoperatively and 1 year. Preoperative knee range was categorized into "low" (≤ 109), "moderate" (> 109 to ≤ 120), and "high" (> 120°) flexion and "normal" (± -5) and "restricted" (> +5°) terminal extension. Recovery was analyzed using MIXED modeling procedures. The low-flexion group gained flexion across time. The moderate-flexion and high-flexion groups lost flexion initially then recovered, but 1-year flexion remained lower than preoperative values. The restricted terminal extension group gained extension across time. The normal terminal extension group lost extension initially then recovered to preoperative values at 1 year. Recovery in Oxford score was independent of preoperative knee range limitation. Improvement in knee range postoperatively, but not self-reported behavior, is highly dependent on the initial restriction in range.     

Clinical and histopathologic profile of patients with primary IgA nephropathy seen in a tertiary hospital in India

Background IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is known to have an aggressive course in Asians. There is a paucity of data regarding the Oxford classification pattern of Indian patients with IgAN. This study aims to characterize the clinical and histopathologic profile of these patients. Methods All patients diagnosed to have primary IgAN by kidney biopsy in the nephrology department from July 2009 to July 2014 were included in this study. All kidney biopsies were reviewed and the MEST score was assigned as per the Oxford classification. The clinical features and Oxford classification score of patients were characterized. Results Nephrotic range proteinuria (NRP) (65/103, 63.1%) with or without edema was the commonest presentation. 67.0% patients had eGFR ≥?60 mL/min and 16.5% patients had eGFR Conclusion Indian patients with primary IgA nephropathy have a unique profile. They commonly present with nephrotic range proteinuria. A significant proportion of these patients have normal renal function despite heavy proteinuria. Mesangial proliferative lesions are predominant with a paucity of endocapillary proliferation and crescents compared to other Asian populations. Immunosuppressive use is more common in Indian patients.     

Frostbite in Oxfordshire: the impact of a severe winter on an unprepared civilian population

The winter of 1981–1982 in Oxfordshire was unusually cold. During this winter, 18 patients with frostbite were referred to the Peripheral Vascular Service of the Nuffield Department of Surgery. The age-range was 52–83 years. None was diabetic. Seven were smokers. All had frostbite of either feet or fingers, sometimes of both. Patients could be divided into 2 groups based on the severity of their injury.

In the first group 10 patients had mild injuries and were managed as outpatients. One patient had terminal phalanges amputated as a day case. Patients in this group had adequate homes and no associated medical disease.

Eight patients in the second group had severe frostbite. All were socially disadvantaged and 4 had significant medical disease (mitral valve disease, lymphoma, alcoholism and depression). Because of social circumstances and because it takes time to establish the line of demarcation between healthy and dead tissue, all patients in this group were in hospital for a minimum of 2 months (range 2–10 months). Four patients required skin grafting and 2 needed special shoes to enable them to walk.

There needs to be greater public awareness of the dangers and risks of cold injury.     

Oxford shoulder score in a normal population

Background:

The function of the asymptomatic normal shoulder may differ according to gender and could also deteriorate with age. This may result in a disparity in the normal Oxford shoulder score (OSS) according to these variables. If a difference were to exist an adjusted OSS, for age and gender, could be calculated from the raw score using the expected normal score.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to define a normal OSS in an asymptomatic population according to age and gender.

Materials and Methods:

During the study period 202 patients aged from 20 years to 99 years with subjectively asymptomatic shoulders completed an OSS. These patients presented to the study center during a 1 week period for management of disorders out with their shoulder girdle. Patients with a known prior shoulder pathology, injury, or polyarthropathy were excluded.

Results:

The mean OSS varied according age and gender. There was a significant correlation between age and the OSS, with an increasing score (worse) being associated with older age (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001). The mean OSS for females was 18.8 (12-42, SD 5.4) and for males was 16.3 (12-30, SD 4.5), this difference was significant (P = 0.0001). We propose that a normalized OSS could be calculated as a percentage by the using the expected normal for that patient''s age and gender as demonstrated in this study ((raw score/normal score) × 100).

Conclusion:

Our study provides normal data for an urban population presenting to orthopedic services and allows for a relative OSS to be calculated from the raw score.     

Kinematic I and Oxford knee arthroplasty: A 5–8-year follow-up study

Sixty-seven consecutive Oxford Meniscal total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were compared prospectively with 66 Kinematic I TKAs. At follow-up examination an average of 5.5 (range, 5-8) years later, 20 (30%) of the Oxford Meniscal TKAs had been revised (nine due to aseptic loosenings, seven to aseptic loosening and patellofemoral syndrome, two to patellofemoral syndrome, one to meniscal bearing dislocation, and one to sepsis) and in 16% one or more of the remaining tibial components was radiographically at risk. Three (5%) Kinematic I TKAs had been reoperated upon (one for anterior dislocation, one for a loose patellar component, and one for sepsis) and no component was considered radiographically at risk. The remaining cases demonstrated good and excellent knee ratings (Oxford, 82 +/- 11; Kinematic I, 88 +/- 6; P less than .01; Hospital for Special Surgery). This study suggests that the results of Kinematic I TKA are superior to those of Oxford Meniscal TKA; that patellofemoral resurfacing is advisable; and that Kinematic I TKA yields 5-year data comparable to those of total hip arthroplasty.     

Posterior dislocation of the Oxford knee meniscal bearing: a treatment option

Unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) is now established as a treatment for medial compartment arthritis. The Oxford UKR (Biomet Orthopedics, Inc, Warsaw, IN, USA) has a mobile-bearing system, which minimizes wear. This has been shown to provide excellent long-term results. Dislocation of the mobile-bearing device is rare with an incidence of 1 in 200 (0.5 %). The treatment usually involves exploration of the knee through the original anteromedial incision, removal of the dislocated bearing and rectification of the underlying cause for the dislocation. We describe two cases of a posterior dislocation in which the mobile bearing could not be retrieved and was left in situ. In both cases a good outcome was achieved. We conclude that in extremely rare cases where a dislocated bearing has migrated posteromedially and cannot be retrieved, it can be left in place rather than exploring the joint acutely through a separate posterior incision.     

Oxford单髁置换术的术后影像学评价及分析

目的对Oxford单髁置换术治疗膝关节内侧间室骨关节炎（OA）的患者进行术后x线评价,并对假体位置不良原因分析和改进。方法回顾性分析2010年1月～2011年12月的35例膝OA患者行Oxford单髁置换的资料,男7例,女28例,左膝15例,右膝20例,年龄51～73岁,平均年龄63．8岁,体重48～68kg,均为内侧间室置换。手术后常规拍摄膝关节标准正侧位x线片,对患者术后假体位置进行x线片上测量,并按照Oxford单髁的标准值进行数据对比。结果股骨假体内外翻角（A角）和胫骨假体后倾角（F角）的变异百分比小,分别为0和2．857％,而股骨假体屈伸角（B角）和胫骨平台内外翻角（E角）变异百分比较大,分别为31．429％和17．143％。结论Oxford牛津单髁假体位置不良的好发部位是B角和E角,提高B角和E角的准确性将能够明显改善假体位置。