Analysis of proximal bone margins in diabetic foot osteomyelitis by conventional culture,DNA sequencing and microscopy

Multiple approaches were employed to detect pathogens from bone margins associated with Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis (DFO). Intra‐operative bone specimens of 14 consecutive subjects with suspected DFO were collected over a six‐month study period from Liverpool Hospital. Infected bone and a proximal bone margins presumed to be ‘clean/non‐infected’ were collected. Bone material was subjected to conventional culture, DNA sequencing and microscopy. In total, eight of 14 (57%) proximal bone margins had no growth by conventional culture but were identified in all proximal bone specimens by DNA sequencing. Proximal margins had lower median total microbial counts than infected specimens, but these differences were not statistically significant. Pathogens identified by sequencing in infected specimens were identified in proximal margins and the microbiomes were similar (ANOSIM = 0.02, p = 0.59). Using a combination of SEM and/or PNA‐FISH, we visualized the presence of microorganisms in infected bone specimens and their corresponding proximal margins of seven patients (50%) with DFO. We identify that bacteria can still reside in what seems to be proximal ‘clean’ margins. The significance and implications of clinical outcomes requires further analysis from a larger sample size that incorporates differences in surgical and post‐operative approaches, correlating any outcomes back to culture‐sequence findings.     

中药灌洗负压治疗糖尿病足创面的疗效观察

目的:观察中药灌洗负压治疗糖足创面的临床疗效。方法:将60例糖尿病足住院患者随机分为观察组30例和对照组30例。观察组给予常规基础及中药灌洗负压技术治疗,对照组给予常规基础及盐水灌洗负压治疗,疗程为21 d,观察两组患者全血白细胞计数、C反应蛋白、创面面积变化、创面缩小率、换药次数及创面局部各症状积分的变化情况。结果:近期疗效结果表明观察组总有效率96.67%,明显高于对照组的90%(P0.05)。两组患者创面局部各症状积分治疗前后对比,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,观察组WBC、CRP、创面面积及换药次数等观察指标分别为(5.86±1.37)×109/L、(4.59±1.10) mg/L、(5.81±2.01) cm~2、(5.33±0.92)次,均明显低于对照组,治疗后创面缩小率(25.06±5.91)%明显高于对照组。结论:临床上应用中药灌洗负压技术治疗糖尿病足创面,可以明显缩短创面愈合时间,提高愈合率,减少换药次数,减轻患者换药痛苦和医护人员工作量。在治疗上具有自己的特色和优势,值得临床进一步推广应用。     

基于统计形状模型的三维足形状建模

目的构建足的三维统计形状模型(statistical shape model,SSM),揭示足形状的三维变化特征。方法 50名中国青年男性正常足数据用于三维统计形状建模,通过足面网格配准、点对齐及主成分(principal component,PC)降维分析等步骤,获得平均足形态及在各PC维度标准差等参数化的足形态。结果通过PC降维分析,三维足型主要在长短及宽窄(PC1,48.01%)、足弓高度及足背厚度(PC2,11.38%)及大脚趾展收(PC3,7.48%)等维度变化。结论通过构建参数化的足三维SSM,可运用至基于该人群的鞋楦制作、鞋垫定制及临床足病快速诊断等应用。     

跑者足部形态与足趾及跖趾关节屈肌力量的相关性

目的探究坐姿及站姿下跑者足部形态与足趾屈曲力量和跖趾关节屈肌力量的相关性。方法选取26名男性跑者,采用数显游标卡尺、跖趾关节屈肌力量测试仪、屈曲力量计测量足长、截脚长、足宽、足舟骨高度、50%足长处足背高度、跖趾关节屈肌力量、第1和其余四趾屈曲力量。使用偏相关分析足部形态与足部肌力的相关性。结果校正年龄与身体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)后,坐姿和站姿下截脚长以及站姿下足宽与第1足趾屈曲力量呈正相关;坐姿和站姿下足长、足宽、截脚长与其余四趾屈曲力量成正相关,坐姿下足弓高度指数与其余四趾屈曲力量成负相关;坐姿和站姿下足宽与跖趾关节屈肌力量成正相关。结论更长的足长、足宽、截脚长以及正常范围内更低的足弓可能意味着更好的足趾肌力。在进行足部形态测量时,因考虑不同姿态下足部形态特征差异,为预测下肢特别是足部肌力以及预防足部损伤提供参考。     

Nanotherapeutic approach to treat diabetic foot ulcers using tissue-engineered nanofiber skin substitutes: A review

Background and aimsDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease associated with long-term multisystem complications, among which nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are recognized as major cause of morbidity and mortality. Treating DFUs with surgical procedures such as synthetic or biological skin grafts or skin substitutes has several limitations, where none of the currently available skin substitutes is ideal.MethodsOVID/Medline and PubMed databases were searched using the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) or Title/Abstract words (“diabetic foot ulcers”, “skin substitutes”, and “nanofibers”), to identify published research studies on DFUs and nanofibers.ResultsElectrospinning nanotechnology is being used in the biomedical field to produce polymeric nanofibers impregnated with drugs for wound healing, burns and diabetic ulcers. Those nanofibers also enable seeding of cells into them and culturing them in vitro to synthesize tissue-like structures. Knowing the advantages of generating patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and organoids in three-dimension (3D), including skin organoids, it is worth mingling these technologies to develop tissue-engineered biological skin substitutes.ConclusionNanofiber-skin substitutes hold promise for treatment of patients suffering from DFUs and inspire novel strategies that could be applied to other organ systems as well, introducing a new era of “regenerative and personalized medicine”.     

The effect of induced joint restriction on plantar pressure during gait – a pilot study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyse the effect of induced lower limb joint restriction on plantar pressures during gait. Focusing on restricting a single joint, without the effect of other co-morbidities, would provide better understanding as to the resultant plantar loadings during gait, which would be especially beneficial in patients requiring offloading procedures.Research QuestionDoes induced lower limb joint restriction affect plantar pressure distribution during gait?MethodsA prospective, quasi-experimental study was conducted, recruiting ten healthy, adult participants who were instructed to walk barefoot over a Tekscan HR Mat™. This procedure was repeated after separately inducing restriction of the hip, knee and ankle joints. Mean peak plantar pressure (MPP) and pressure-time integral (PTI) data were analysed to compare between unrestricted and restricted data.ResultsSignificant plantar pressure changes were observed in the heel and first metatarsal regions. Rearfoot PTIs were increased with restriction of the contralateral hip (left p <0.001) (right p =0.02) and knee joints (left p =0.01) (right p =0.04). Both MPPs (left p =0.01; right p =0.01) and PTIs (left p =0.004; right p =0.03) were increased in the first metatarsal when restricting the hip joint of the same limb. MPP was decreased in the left first metatarsal with induced knee (left p =0.01; right p =0.04) and ankle (left and right p <0.001) joint restriction. Finally, MPP was decreased in the right first metatarsal with knee (left and right p =0.01) and ankle (left p =0.04; right p =0.01) joint restriction.SignificanceLimited joint mobility may have a direct effect on plantar pressure, particularly with restriction in the hip and knee joints, hence careful attention should be given especially in patients with conditions involving plantar loadings. Results in this study also show that PTI changes during gait should be equally evaluated clinically along with peak plantar pressure analysis.     

热敏灸治疗顽固性呃逆案

热敏灸作为一种新型的灸疗方法,《医宗金鉴》中述“凡灸诸病,必火足气到,始能求愈”,故热敏灸讲究“敏消量足”,举一临床顽固性呃逆病案加以细说。