A case of sudden cardiac death due to mitochondrial disease

A 25-year-old, emaciated man without medical treatment was found to have died suddenly at home by his mother. At autopsy, there were no injuries to his body, but significant circulatory insufficiency was observed. Electron microscopy revealed abnormal mitochondria in cells of the cardiac conduction system. The conduction system was filled with mitochondrial size abnormalities and mitochondrial cristae abnormalities. No notable abnormal findings were observed in other organs. Genetic examination of the blood revealed the mitochondrial pathogenetic variant m.3243A>G. Epileptic seizures, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state were unlikely to be the cause of sudden death. The cause of death was diagnosed as arrhythmia possibly induced by the failure of the cardiac conduction system due to mitochondrial disease. This is a rare case of sudden death caused by an accumulation of abnormal mitochondria in the cardiac conduction system.     

Ankle fractures: High implant cost is not associated with better patient reported outcomes

IntroductionAnkle fractures comprise 9% of all fractures and are among the most common fractures requiring operative management. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and screws is the gold standard for the treatment of unstable, displaced ankle fractures. While performing ORIF, orthopaedic surgeons may choose from several fixation methods including locking versus nonlocking plating and whether to use screws or suture buttons for syndesmotic injuries.Nearly all orthopaedic surgeons treat ankle fractures but most are unfamiliar with implant costs. No study to date has correlated the cost of ankle fracture fixation with health status as perceived by patients through patient reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between increasing implant cost and PROs after a rotational ankle fracture.MethodsAll ankle fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) at a level I academic trauma center from January 2018 to December 2022 were identified. Inclusion criteria included all rotational ankle fractures with a minimum 6-month follow-up and completed 6-month PRO. Patients were excluded for age <18, polytrauma and open fracture. Variables assessed included demographics, fracture classifications, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-ADL) score, implant type, and implant cost.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in cost between fracture types (p < 0.0001) with trimalleolar fractures being the most expensive. The mean FAAM-ADL score was lowest for trimalleolar fractures at 78.9, 95% CI [75.5, 82.3]. A diagnosis of osteoporosis/osteopenia was associated with a decrease in cost of $233.3, 95% CI [−411.8, −54.8]. There was no relationship between syndesmotic fixation and implant cost, $102.6, 95% CI [−74.9, 280.0]. There was no correlation between implant cost and FAAM-ADL score at 6 months (p = 0.48).ConclusionsThe utilization of higher cost ankle fixation does not correlate with better FAAM-ADL scores. Orthopaedic surgeons may choose less expensive implants to improve the value of ankle fixation without impacting patient reported outcomes.     

Comment on “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis”

The present letter to the editor is in response to the research “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis” by Elshaarawy et al in World J Gastroenterol 2021; 13(5): 424–439. The preoperative assessment of the liver reserve function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with cirrhosis is crucial, and there is no universal consensus on how to assess it. Based on a retrospective study, Elshaarawy et al investigated the impact of various classical clinical indicators on liver failure and the prognosis after hepatectomy in HCC patients with cirrhosis. We recommend that we should strive to explore new appraisal indicators, such as the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min.     

The effect of drugs on implant osseointegration- A narrative review

ObjectiveThis narrative review aims to investigate the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration, analyzing their potential positive or negative impact on the direct structural and functional connection between bone and load-carrying implants.BackgroundThe review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of osseointegration, which refers to the successful integration of an implant with living bone, resulting in no progressive relative movement between them. Exploring the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration is crucial for optimizing outcomes and enhancing patient care in orthopedic implant procedures.MethodsRelevant studies on the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration were identified through a literature search. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, were utilized, employing appropriate keywords and MeSH terms related to osseointegration, implants, and drug interventions. The search was limited to English studies.DiscussionThis overview presents a detailed analysis of the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration. It explores drugs such as bisphosphonates, teriparatide, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, nitrites, and thiazide diuretics as promoters of osseointegration. Conversely, loop diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, cyclosporine A, cisplatin, methotrexate, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antiepileptics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and anticoagulants are discussed as inhibitors of the process. The role of vitamin D3 remains uncertain. The complex relationship between drugs and the biology of implant osseointegration is emphasized, underscoring the need for further in vitro and in vivo studies to validate their effectsConclusionThis narrative review contributes to the literature by providing an overview of the effects of drugs on implant osseointegration. It highlights the complexity of the subject and emphasizes the necessity for more extensive and sophisticated studies in the future. Based on the synthesis of the reviewed literature, certain drugs, such as bisphosphonates and teriparatide, show potential for promoting implant osseointegration, while others, including loop diuretics and certain antibiotics, may impede the process. However, additional research is required to solidify these conclusions and effectively inform clinical practice.     

Venetoclax alone or in combination with other regimens treatment achieve deep and sustained remission of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a meta-analysis

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Recently, the use of novel targeted drugs significantly improved the overall response rate (ORR) and survival of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic...     

解剖锁定钢板联合同种异体腓骨治疗肱骨近端骨折疗效的Meta分析

文题释义：肱骨近端骨折：肱骨近端包括肱骨头及大结节、小结节，中老年人骨质疏松及低能量损伤可导致肱骨近端骨折。 同种异体腓骨：取自于人体异体，经过加工处理，去除其免疫原性，保留其骨性结构，可用于移植修复骨缺损，起到支撑作用。 背景：肱骨近端骨折是临床常见骨折，但对肱骨近端内侧柱缺乏支撑的骨折目前仍是治疗难点，并发症常见，失败率较高。 目的：比较解剖锁定钢板联合同种异体腓骨与单纯解剖锁定钢板治疗肱骨近端骨折的疗效。 方法：使用计算机检索PubMed、Embase、Cochrane Library、Google Scholar、中国知网、万方、维普数据库，检索时间均从建库到2020年2月。检索国内外关于对比研究解剖锁定钢板联合同种异体腓骨与单纯解剖锁定钢板治疗肱骨近端骨折疗效的文献。2名研究员根据纳入和排除标准分别独立筛选文献，提取数据，评估文献中的偏倚风险。纳入12篇相关文献使用RevMan 5.2软件将以下指标进行Meta分析，包括影像学数据、功能评分和并发症。结果与结论：①通过文献检索、根据纳入和排除标准，12篇文献纳入研究，其中11篇为回顾性队列研究，1篇为随机对照研究；纳入研究文献质量高，但GRADE证据质量级别较低。②共纳入958例患者，其中解剖锁定钢板联合同种异体腓骨组411例，单纯解剖锁定钢板组547例；③Meta分析结果显示，解剖锁定钢板联合同种异体腓骨组术后1年肱骨头高度差值(MD=-2.40，95%CI：-2.49至-2.31)、颈干角差值(MD= -6.14，95%CI：-6.62至-5.67)、目测类比评分(MD=-0.22，95%CI：-0.35至-0.08)、肩关节功能评分(MD=4.12，95%CI：2.18-6.06)，上肢伤残评分(MD=-10.32，95%CI：-13.44至-7.19)、术后2年的目测类比评分(MD=-0.37，95%CI：-0.55至-0.19)、肩关节功能评分(MD=5.07，95%CI：2.86-7.27)、总体并发症(OR=0.31，95%CI：0.20-0.48)及肱骨头螺钉切出(OR=0.25，95%CI：0.11-0.55)均明显优于单纯解剖锁定钢板组(P < 0.05)，肱骨头坏死(OR=0.94，95%CI：0.47-1.88)，两组间差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)；④因此，较弱的证据提示，肱骨近端解剖锁定钢板联合同种异体腓骨治疗肱骨近端骨折的短期疗效优于解剖锁定钢板，可减少并发症的发生，促进功能恢复。ORCID: 0000-0002-8486-3932(阳运康) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节；骨植入物；脊柱；骨折；内固定；数字化骨科；组织工程