Experimental blunt chest trauma impairs fracture healing in rats

In poly‐traumatic patients a blunt chest trauma is an important trigger of the posttraumatic systemic inflammatory response. There is clinical evidence that fracture healing is delayed in such patients, however, experimental data are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the influence of a thoracic trauma on fracture healing in a rat model. Male Wistar rats received either a blunt chest trauma combined with a femur osteotomy or an isolated osteotomy. A more rigid or a more flexible external fixator was used for fracture stabilization to analyze whether the thoracic trauma influences regular healing and mechanically induced delayed bone healing differently. The blunt chest trauma induced a significant increase of IL‐6 serum levels after 6 and 24 h, suggesting the induction of a systemic inflammation, whereas the isolated fracture had no effect. Under a more rigid fixation the thoracic trauma considerably impaired fracture healing after 35 days, reflected by a significantly reduced flexural rigidity (three‐point‐bending test), as well as a significantly diminished callus volume, moment of inertia, and relative bone surface (µCT analysis). In confirming the clinical evidence, this study reports for the first time that a blunt chest trauma considerably impaired bone healing, possibly via the interaction of the induced systemic inflammation with local inflammatory processes. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:734–739, 2011     

长链非编码RNA HIF1A-AS2在结直肠癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的检测LncRNA HIF1A-AS2在结直肠癌组织中的表达,并探讨其临床意义。 方法选取2012年12月至2015年12月行结直肠癌患者根治术的114例结直肠癌患者临床病理资料;收集其癌组织及相对应的癌旁组织(距病灶2 cm)和正常组织(距癌灶边缘>5 cm)标本。通过qRT-PCR检测结直肠癌组织、癌旁组织及癌旁正常组织中HIF1A-AS2相对表达水平。取114例入组患者HIF1A-AS2表达水平的平均数,将HIF1A-AS2表达水平大于等于平均数的89例纳入高表达组,其余纳入低表达组;分析HIF1A-AS2表达与临床病理特征之间的关系;Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析两组患者术后5年生存情况,Log-rank检验比较生存差异;COX比例风险回归模型分析预后不良的独立危险因素;P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果结直肠癌组织中HIF1A-AS2相对表达量高于癌旁组织及正常组织(P<0.001)。HIF1A-AS2表达与临床分期及组织分化程度显著相关(P<0.05)。HIF1A-AS2高表达组患者术后5年总生存率低于HIF1A-AS2低表达组(Log-rank χ²＝5.037, P＝0.025)。COX多因素分析显示淋巴结转移、临床分期Ⅳ期、中-低分化、有远处转移及HIF1A-AS2显著高表达是影响结直肠癌患者预后不良的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。 结论结直肠癌组织中HIF1A-AS2显著高表达,与临床病理及预后密切相关,是影响结直肠癌患者预后不良的危险因素之一。     

直肠肛门畸形术后患儿排便功能康复训练

目的探讨直肠肛门畸形术后排便功能康复训练的方法及效果。方法对直肠肛门畸形患儿61例分别行腹腔镜辅助和倒"Y"字肛门成形手术,术后43例可自主排便,18例排便异常,对排便异常患儿采取肠道治疗、肛门功能和排便训练,持续1年。结果1年后,17例恢复排便功能,1例大便失禁患儿症状有所改善。结论早期积极手术治疗以及直肠肛门畸形术后加强新肛门排便功能的训练,有助于患儿排便功能恢复,改善其生活质量。     

Mental health outcomes in elderly men with prostate cancer

ObjectiveTo examine the burden of mental health issues (MHI), namely anxiety, depressive disorders, and suicide, in a population-based cohort of older men with localized prostate cancer and to evaluate associations with primary treatment modality.Patients and methodsA total of 50,856 men, who were 65 years of age or older with clinically localized prostate cancer diagnosed between 1992 and 2005 and without a diagnosis of mental illness at baseline, were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database. The primary outcome of interest was the development of MHI (anxiety, major depressive disorder, depressive disorder not elsewhere classified, neurotic depression, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and suicide) after the diagnosis of prostate cancer.ResultsA total of 10,389 men (20.4%) developed MHI during the study period. Independent risk factors for MHI included age≥75 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.29); higher comorbidity (Charlson comorbidity index≥3, HR = 1.63); rural hospital location (HR = 1.14); being single, divorced, or widowed (HR = 1.12); later year of diagnosis (HR = 1.05); and urinary incontinence (HR = 1.47). Black race (HR = 0.79), very high-income status (HR = 0.87), and definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy [RP], HR = 0.79; radiotherapy [RT], HR= 0.85, all P<0.001) predicted a lower risk of MHI. The rates of MHI at 10 years were 29.7%, 29.0%, and 22.6% in men undergoing watchful waiting (WW), RT, and RP, respectively.ConclusionOlder men with localized prostate cancer had a significant burden of MHI. Men treated with RP or RT were at a lower risk of developing MHI, compared with those undergoing WW, with median time to development of MHI being significantly greater in those undergoing RP compared with those undergoing RT or WW.     

Moist dressing coverage supports proliferation and migration of transplanted skin micrografts in full-thickness porcine wounds

Transplantation of skin micrografts in a 1:100 ratio regenerate the epidermis of full-thickness wounds in pigs within 14 days in a wet environment. The aim of the current study was to combine micrografts and commercially available moist dressings. We hypothesized that micrografts regenerate the epidermis when covered with a moist dressing. 5 cm × 5 cm and 10 cm × 10 cm full-thickness wounds were created on the backs of pigs. Wounds were transplanted with 0.8 mm × 0.8 mm micrografts created from a split-thickness skin graft in a 1:100 ratio. 5 cm × 5 cm wounds were treated with wound chambers, moist dressings or dry gauze (non-transplanted control group). 10 cm × 10 cm wounds were compared to non-transplanted wounds, both covered with moist dressings. Reepithelialization was assessed in biopsies from day 10, 14 and 18 post-transplantation. 5 cm × 5 cm transplanted wounds covered with moist dressings showed 69.5 ± 20.6% reepithelialization by day 14 and 90.5 ± 10.4% by day 18, similar to wounds covered with a wound chamber (63.9 ± 16.7 and 86.2 ± 11.9%, respectively). 18 days post-transplantation, 10 cm × 10 cm transplanted wounds covered with moist dressings showed 66.1 ± 10.3% reepithelialization, whereas nontransplanted wounds covered with moist dressings were 40.6 ± 6.6% reepithelialized. We conclude that micrografts combined with clinically available moist dressings regenerate the epidermis of full-thickness wounds.     

Fear-avoidance beliefs—a moderator of treatment efficacy in patients with low back pain: a systematic review

Background contextPsychological factors are believed to influence the development of chronic low back pain. To date, it is not known how fear-avoidance beliefs (FABs) influence the treatment efficacy in low back pain.PurposeTo summarize the evidence examining the influence of FABs measured with the Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire or the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia on treatment outcomes in patients with low back pain.Study design/settingThis is a systematic review.Patient samplePatients with low back pain.Outcome measuresWork-related outcomes and perceived measures including return to work, pain, and disability.MethodsIn January 2013, the following databases were searched: BIOSIS, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, OTSeeker, PeDRO, PsycInfo, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. A hand search of the six most often retrieved journals and a bibliography search completed the search. Study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions: research studies that included patients with low back pain who participated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating nonoperative treatment efficacy. Out of 646 records, 78 articles were assessed in full text and 17 RCTs were included. Study quality was high in five studies and moderate in 12 studies.ResultsIn patients with low back pain of up to 6 months duration, high FABs were associated with more pain and/or disability (4 RCTs) and less return to work (3 RCTs) (GRADE high-quality evidence, 831 patients vs. 322 in nonpredictive studies). A decrease in FAB values during treatment was associated with less pain and disability at follow-up (GRADE moderate evidence, 2 RCTs with moderate quality, 242 patients). Interventions that addressed FABs were more effective than control groups based on biomedical concepts (GRADE moderate evidence, 1,051 vs. 227 patients in studies without moderating effects). In chronic patients with LBP, the findings were less consistent. Two studies found baseline FABs to be associated with more pain and disability and less return to work (339 patients), whereas 3 others (832 patients) found none (GRADE low evidence). Heterogeneity of the studies impeded a pooling of the results.ConclusionsEvidence suggests that FABs are associated with poor treatment outcome in patients with LBP of less than 6 months, and thus early treatment, including interventions to reduce FABs, may avoid delayed recovery and chronicity. Patients with high FABs are more likely to improve when FABs are addressed in treatments than when these beliefs are ignored, and treatment strategies should be modified if FABs are present.     

Spondylodiscitis by drug-multiresistant bacteria: a single-center experience of 25 cases

Background contextAlthough the incidence of pyogenic spinal infections is increasing, the ideal treatment of spondylodiscitis is still a controversially discussed issue. Furthermore, the proportion of multiresistant bacteria in spondylodiscitis is increasing, and treatment recommendations or reported results are missing for this especially difficult subset of patients.PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcome and the postoperative antibacterial treatment regime.Study designRetrospective case series.Patient samplePatients treated for a spondylodiscitis from multiresistant bacteria at our department between 2006 and 2011.MethodsData were gathered through review of patients' case notes, relevant imaging, and electronic records. Magnetic resonance imaging of the whole spine including gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced T1 sequences and computed tomography scans of the affected regions were obtained in all cases.Outcome measuresC-reactive protein (CRP) and complete blood cell count were analyzed in all cases using routine laboratory techniques. Neurologic deficits were classified according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale.ResultsTwenty-five patients were identified (15 gram-positive and 10 gram-negative drug-multiresistant bacteria). The mean age at presentation was 66 years, and 14 patients were male (56%). All patients presented with pain, and a neurologic deficit was present in 11 (44%) cases. An epidural abscess was found in 11 (44%) cases. At admission, CRP was elevated in all cases with a mean of 13±9.2 mg/dL. The main source of infection was previous spine surgery (36%). All patients in this series underwent surgical debridement of the infection and instrumentation of the spine. Postoperative intravenous antibiotics were administered for 19±8.6 days followed by 3±0.3 months of oral antibiotic therapy. Eradication of the infection was achieved ultimately in all surviving patients. Out of 11 patients with neurologic deficits, 4 had a full recovery, 4 improved incompletely, and 3 remained unchanged after surgery.ConclusionsStaged surgical immobilization and instrumentation and optimal debridement at the interdiscal space and spinal canal is a reliable approach to achieve complete healing of spinal infection with multiresistant bacteria. A period of intravenous antibiotic therapy of 2 to 3 weeks followed by a 3-month oral antibiotic therapy seems appropriate for most cases.     

Biomechanical advantage of C1 pedicle screws over C1 lateral mass screws: a cadaveric study

Purpose

The established technique for posterior C1 screw placement is via the lateral mass. Use of C1 monocortical pedicle screws is an emerging technique which utilizes the bone of the posterior arch while avoiding the paravertebral venous plexus and the C2 nerve root. This study compared the relative biomechanical fixation strengths of C1 pedicle screws with C1 lateral mass screws.

Methods

Nine human C1 vertebrae were instrumented with one lateral mass screw and one pedicle screw. The specimens were subjected to sinusoidal, cyclic (0.5 Hz) fatigue loading. Peak compressive and tensile forces started from ±25 N and constantly increased by 0.05 N every cycle. Testing was stopped at 5 mm displacement. Cycles to failure, displacement, and initial and end stiffness were measured. Finally, CT scans were taken and the removal torque measured.

Results

The pedicle screw technique consistently and significantly outperformed the lateral mass technique in cycles to failure (1,083 ± 166 vs. 689 ± 240 cycles), initial stiffness (24.6 ± 3.9 vs. 19.9 ± 3.2 N/mm), end stiffness (16.6 ± 2.7 vs. 11.6 ± 3.6 N/mm) and removal torque (0.70 ± 0.78 vs. 0.13 ± 0.09 N m). Only 33 % of pedicle screws were loose after testing compared to 100 % of lateral mass screws.

Conclusions

C1 pedicle screws were able to withstand higher toggle forces than lateral mass screws while maintaining a higher stiffness throughout and after testing. From a biomechanical point of view, the clinical use of pedicle screws in C1 is a promising alternative to lateral mass screws.